A guide to giving on your travels

Knowing what to do to be reponsible on your travels can be tricky, so the Center for Responsible Travel has released a few tips to help you out....

 

The Center for Responsible Travel has recently released a guide detailing the best ways to make a difference through travelling and volunteering, without having a negative impact on local communities.

 

We at i-to-i are passionate about making sure volunteering abroad benefits the country. Projects are a great way to make a real difference, as long as they are set up for the right reasons. Working with projects already started by the local community means that volunteers can be sure that all of their hard work is what the community wants and needs.

 

When volunteering, it can be tempting for travellers to feel that giving hand outs, donations and equipment will help underprivileged countries get back on their feet. The Center for Responsible Tourism’s new guide is a great way to show travellers the right way to help out. They’ve asked 12 experienced tour operators for their views how to give responsibly, see the summaries below…

 

 

1. “I want to help build or finance a school/ water well.”

 

“Offering financial assistance towards a project is the most beneficial way of making a difference as a guest. Projects to be supported through guest donations emerge from many hours of negotiation and consultation [between the tourism company’s social development-practitioners and the community]. The project must be built on a basis of trust – a valuable and often unrecognized quality in achieving success and positive, lasting impact.”

 

 

2. “Let’s send books.”

 

“In 90% of cases, people send books in English, which is not helpful…Purchasing books in a local language is an effective way to ensure a donation will be used well. It’s important to buy locally to support the local economy and get books that are appropriate.”

 

3. “Let’s visit an orphanage, school, or health clinic.”

 

“Visits should only be undertaken with prior arrangement through your tour operator or through a local person in appropriate authority who can arrange a suitably managed opportunity…Children are not pets. Orphanages are not zoos. Unless the visitor is giving a skill to a place, interacting with kids needs to be monitored and shouldn’t be happening on a regular basis.”

 

4. “Let’s send used clothing.”

 

“Clothing should only be sent if requested and truly needed. Please check with a suitable organization working in the destination community, as to the specifics of what they require. Your tour operator may be able to suggest appropriate organizations. If you are able to hand carry in appropriate clothing, this can be helpful.”

 

 

5. “Should we bring school supplies to hand out?”

 

“What must be avoided is ‘donor’ driven support that does not fit community priorities. Gifts such as school supplies, computers, and clothing can be more harmful than beneficial if not given in the context of a mutually beneficial relationship…If there is an existing relationship with an organization that has needs, buy supplies from the local economy. The only exception to this is certain items that are unavailable or very expensive to buy locally…They should be given to a head teacher or principal who arranges their distribution at a suitable time, for instance, at the beginning of term or as incentives for achievement.

 

6. “Can we visit a village or home?”

 

“These are best pre-arranged through your tour operator or local friends at a time that is agreeable with the local community or household…If the villages have set up the program, and visitation benefits the community, then that is alright…Also, if a guide has built a relationship with one of the guests and wants to invite them to his home, that is fine as well. But just as it would be inappropriate to drop in on people unannounced at your home, you should not just stop in at a village without having a relationship or an invitation.”

 

7. “I’d like to volunteer for a week following my

vacation. What suggestions do you have?”

 

“When it comes to kids, there needs to be security and consistency. Volunteers should have a background check and training. All interventions should be approached with caution and respect.”

 

8. “Let’s take computers and set up a computer lab.”

 

“Depends on where. Is it in a town? What is the availability of servicing? Does the school need them?…There is no point in giving a printer to a school that cannot afford printer cartridges or giving computers without appropriate software.”

 

9. “Should I bring small gifts (pens, trinkets, candy, or other items)

to give to local children?”

 

“Definitely not candy – responsible for radical rise in tooth decay in communities around Mara and Serengeti (in East Africa).” In many cultures it is tradition to bring a gift as a gesture of gratitude for hospitality such as when you are a guest in someone's home. This may take the form of a small useful household item, a souvenir of your country, or food such as fresh fruit. But generally we would advise against giving items directly to children, particularly if you are just engaging with them for a short time.”

 

10. “Should I give anything (money, food, etc.) to street beggars?”

 

“This question is a tough one. We usually say to our visitors that it’s best to support organizations that work directly with beggars or street kids, or educational and capacity building programs that assist people so they won’t end up on street…Giving gifts in an arbitrary way often turns the people in a destination into beggars, who see Western travellers only as people who give them things… It is good to get local advice on what welfare services there are, particularly supporting people with disabilities and the elderly. If begging is their only option for survival then you may choose to give.”

 

11. “Should I help local children earn a bit of money by letting them carry bags or serve as my guide?”

 

“No, those children should be in school! Instead, travellers should support community initiatives that are working to get the children off the street and into school…It’s okay to do so if it is part of a structured relationship or agreement.”

 

12. “What do I do when I take a photograph of someone and they ask me for money in return?”

 

“The advice of those surveyed is:

 

• Ask in advance.

• If you have already taken the photo, and they demand payment, pay.

• If you ask beforehand, and they require payment, only pay if it is an official transaction and a fair price…

 

I don’t think it’s an appropriate transaction to take a photo of someone and then give them money in return because it may feed into the handout problem. It is important to interact with the person first and always ask their permission before photographing or videoing.”

 

The Center for Responsible Travel works towards making sure travel benefits everyone, to see this guide in full go to

 

http://www.travelersphilanthropy.com/resources/publications.shtml

 

Contact details for the Center for Responsible Travel are as follows:

 

Washington, DC Office

1333 H St. NW,

Suite 300, East Tower

Washington, DC 20005

Tel: 202‐347‐9203

 

Stanford Office

450 Serra Mall

Building 50 Room 51D,

Stanford, CA 94305

Tel: 650‐723‐0894

 

Email: staff@responsibletravel.org

 

Websites: www.travelersphilanthropy.org  & www.responsibletravel.org

 

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