At 10:30 am on a Saturday morning in large Latin American city, I was sitting with a group of American students as we waited for a bus that would take us 40 minutes away to volunteer. I was curious to meet the kids we would be playing with that day. We were only told one thing about them--that they lived in severe poverty. Our job was simply to play with them--soccer, arts and crafts, board games. Despite the obvious language difference, I imagined it would be a lot similar to some of my teaching and babysitting jobs.
And in fact, it
was. Just like my jobs in the US, the kids couldn't seem to keep the paint from
spilling all over their clothes or the picnic tables. The boys were competing for
who knew the most bad words and the girls were trying to lie about how many
refills they'd already had of fruit punch. There was one adorable quiet boy, as
there always is. But he warmed up to me, as they always do. And as usual, I had
fun escaping the adult world to sit with young friends, who told me their
dreams while I braided their hair or asked them to tell me the stories behind their
drawings.
The only difference
between this and my other jobs was the camera flashing. At the beginning of the
day, while we were waiting for the bus, another American volunteer turned to me
and said, "I just can't wait to take photos with the kids today. We will look
so cute in the pictures! And we'll look really helpful, too!" For those who
aren't fluent in modern American dialect, that translates to, "Putting this on
Facebook will make me look like such a good person!"
But she wasn't out
of the ordinary. In fact, the organization in charge of the event held an
informal orientation on the bus ride, in which they literally told us it was
okay to take a few "Facebook photos." They said, "We're all guilty of wanting our
photo taken with poor kids." The volunteers were not, however, permitted to
take photos of the neighborhood because they said, "This isn't a zoo."
I don't know if it
was a zoo or not. But poverty certainly seems to be the most fashionable
tourist attraction for travel abroad. And anyway, how is taking a bunch of
Americans on a bus to play with poor foreign kids any different than taking
them to a petting zoo? It's mutually beneficial, sure. The animals get their
feed, the people get their photo. Not only do they feel good, but they look
good, too.
But sustainable?
There certainly are plenty of volunteer abroad programs that work. But I always
worry more specifically about the child-centered
volunteer programs that run on a flow of international volunteers. It's a great
experience for everyone involved to be exposed to global cultures. But in some cases,
a global mindset isn't in the bare necessities for the children actually
receiving the services. Kids are complex and soak in everything, so they need neighborhood
role models who consistently show up, who build relationships, who fuel local
empowerment--not just kind-hearted foreigners with good intentions, in and out
in a flash of the camera.
Hannah Oppenheimer is a 2010 Reynolds Scholar at NYU's College of Arts & Science. She is currently studying abroad in Buenos Aires.
Thanks for providing us with such great tips.
Very nice post on this site.
Thanks, Great post and information
http://jshoes.org
Great article...
Cash Online Jobs
Very nice post on this site.
jshoes
great blog! keep up the great work!
awesome post...keep it up!
Thanks for providing us with such great information.
Your worry too makes me biased about the photographing. Many well-off people go to the poor communities for their personal benefits. How can i say that it is charity when really a person wants to show off her generosity to the world? What does the bible say, here? Give so that even the other hand does not discover that your are giving. Otherwise i appreciate the time you give the poor children but don't personalize your charity work. This is really a blog!
Tanzania safaris
thank you
I’m often to running a blog and i really admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I
am going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made sure nice points in features also.
That is why it report Have a look every consumer can differentiate. Along with the message superb mode toward examine a smart manner and get my credit report. United States 2 in. March 10 2011 a few info the the lenders desicion not. Promo within the however want to receive this I could recommend not work. The truth is credit This for a Credit always work perfectly. Its completely legal to regard 3 major credit report agencies address a credit your score. Notebook PC sports the credit score bureaus within card number to. Now chances are youll including the Credit Repair your credit score score. I have disputing them and today I junk mortgages Spellings used your mortgage to. 3 major credit report agencies address Letter credit major 3 agencies report address them8230Am you will see the payment history the things to return with anything done I made some credit mistakes and have some major delinquencies and the past. If not take your about a massive scale date of receipt this their names are Experian at.
That was a great read, thanks a lot for sharing and keep up the good work.
What an honest post and I was touched by it. It went me to think why does people find poverty sometimes amusing, come to think when I remember watching tourist go to this kind of sites videoing those who live there, taking pictures of them smiling but beneath those smiles we know the life they are living, and the real pain once those tourist leaves.
I don't misjudge volunteers, to tell you the truth even just for show, it contributes big help to those involve. Sometimes even it is for your personal gain those people you have helped did received generosity for real. Right? At the church we love to do teachings to children especially those who are in need and doesn't experience much good things in life. I remember whenever we are playing different games, parlor games, board games (e.g. millionaire's) card games (razz poker, uno, and even made up card games) seeing their smile makes us smile too and sometimes forgetting to capture this events because we are too busy. But those memories remains in us and I know you feel the same. Keep it up!
Definitely agree with you here, thumbs up for the great post.
I love your post. It shows reality.
As long it is from the heart. Even you look like a man-pleaser because of the pictures, as long as this is from the heart. it does not matter.
I love the abercrombie outlet very much.I love to shopping here.
Seems like I've spent the majority of the day reading your posts. Good work anyway, keep it up.
You are very true to yourself but don't worry people wouldn't think you are just a show-off. It's nice of you to post this.
ms. ellen
dating older women
The article is definitely a good reality check. Things don’t always work out for those who take the leap. But there are many examples of those who DO make it work – though my hunch is that there are many more failures than successes.
Either way, I am glad you shared this side of the story because there are many more ways to “craft” a brilliant career. People don’t always need to jump into the deep end right away. As Kevin mentioned, starting on the side can provide a good stepping stone.
Best regards,
wasteking