Are people who go volunteering abroad doing so for selfish reasons?

steddyeddy

Vito Corleone wrote: »

Nope.

Well then that's a different situation completely.

PingO_O

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Why are things like sky diving and climbing kilamanjaro acts of selflessness?

Wouldn't everybody love to do these things on other peoples money.

Nah they're not really but I guess it takes balls to go through with a sky dive and people get sponsored and what not for over coming their fear.

hawkwind23

standard stuff really.
careerists f-off for a year "travelling" but do the volunteering but for a few weeks.
when they apply for their chosen job they havent been out getting wasted in Zanzibar and partying non stop for a year pissing around east Africa but working for a year helping the less fortunate.
this supposedly looks good on ones CV rather than a year out.
most of them are at it , and dont get me started on the mature slum tourists!!

PingO_O

Cohen Spicy Sweeper wrote: »

I have, as a doner.

Jesus! :eek:

steddyeddy

hawkwind23 wrote: »

standard stuff really.
careerists f-off for a year "travelling" but do the volunteering but for a few weeks.
when they apply for their chosen job they havent been out getting wasted in Zanzibar and partying non stop for a year pissing around east Africa but working for a year helping the less fortunate.
this supposedly looks good on ones CV rather than a year out.
most of them are at it , and dont get me started on the mature slum tourists!!

Well she did the bit in bold too! Who are the mature slum tourists by the way?

Aineoil

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

But perhaps the reality of it didn't kick in till she got there? It often sounds like a romantic idea on paper until your faced with the reality of it. Not defending her as you're right, she sounds like a wagon but I'm guessing she irrationally thought she would catch it off them.

I agree with you Legs.Eleven. Having a romantic notion is not quite the same as being faced with harsh reality.

I'm not defending her either. If she thought she would get Aids from the children why did she volunteer to do this kind of charity work?

She may write up a good CV, but truth outs eventually. She may fool a future employer but no matter how good an actress you are, you can't fake empathy all of the time. You may deceive some people, but not all of them.

In fact, why she is the focus makes me feel so sad, the children should really be the focus. They deserve better.

steddyeddy

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

But perhaps the reality of it didn't kick in till she got there? It often sounds like a romantic idea on paper until your faced with the reality of it. Not defending her as you're right, she sounds like a wagon but I'm guessing she irrationally thought she would catch it off them.

Maybe that's it. I'm just taken aback by it although I really shouldn't be.

Mardy Bum

I'd use the below quote to describe selflessness.

True heroism is minutes, hours, weeks, year upon year of the quiet, precise, judicious exercise of probity and care—with no one there to see or cheer

Volunteering in Africa is usually carried out by your typical law/politics/finance student before they start a career which robs people of large amounts of money in exchange for very little work.

/generalisation.

Aineoil

steddyeddy wrote: »

That came up aswell. She teaches in a primary school and she said that kids annoyed her. It seems she was a bit of an odd one either way.

Was she on career break from her school? Bet the school and staff were delighted she took one, if she did.

steddyeddy

Aineoil wrote: »

I agree with you Legs.Eleven. Having a romantic notion is not quite the same as being faced with harsh reality.

I'm not defending her either. If she thought she would get Aids from the children why did she volunteer to do this kind of charity work?

She may write up a good CV, but truth outs eventually. She may fool a future employer but no matter how good an actress you are, you can't fake empathy all of the time. You may deceive some people, but not all of them.

In fact, why she is the focus makes me feel so sad, the children should really be the focus. They deserve better.

That's her to a tee. She was an actress. The group that facilitated her coming her heard nothing but "I love kids and don't mind working with aids before she started volunteering" but when she came to Africa she changed. She was all friendly to us and when she left home she was a different person.

Shes now going to be writing an article for an Irish magazine about her teaching experiences I have just found out . A wagon pure and simple!

steddyeddy

Aineoil wrote: »

Was she on career break from her school? Bet the school and staff were delighted she took one, if she did.

No she was on summer holidays. If I seen her teaching my kids alarm bells would ring!

Czarcasm

Eddy I'm not sure, actually no, I haven't a bulls notion how international volunteering works, but are these people not vetted by some sort of an interview and assessment process surely?

Are they not offered any sort of training before they go over? Even in saying that I'm thinking all the training in the world doesn't prepare you for the reality sometimes, you think you'll be well able for it, but when you're actually working with the people concerned, it's a different story entirely and some people just aren't able for it.

Did the charity offer any sort of psych program for those volunteers who felt they couldn't cope or what sort of procedures are in place to keep an eye on the volunteers?

I can't imagine seven volunteers are just dropped from a helicopter into the middle of Africa and told "Run along now and go hug kids, make friends with them, get the kids to trust you, and just when they do, we'll be back to collect you and send in your replacements"...

It can't surely work like that, can it?

Legs.Eleven

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Perhaps she was afraid of "catching" AIDS? Illogical I know but people are fairly ignorant about the ins and outs of the disease and there's juge stigma attached to it. I doubt she hated the children though.

You don't need the inverted commas.

In reply to the OP, I think most people who do these things do them for selfish reasons. I can't see how it does these kids much good to have random white people showing up for a week or two at a time, only to go back home once attachments and bonds have formed. How exactly does that help?

Some people who volunteer are actually useful - those who have skills and can make a long-term commitment. The rest, IMO, are trying to make themselves look/feel good.

Aineoil

steddyeddy wrote: »

That's her to a tee. She was an actress. The group that facilitated her coming her heard nothing but "I love kids and don't mind working with aids before she started volunteering" but when she came to Africa she changed. She was all friendly to us and when she left home she was a different person.

Shes now going to be writing an article for an Irish magazine about her teaching experiences I have just found out . A wagon pure and simple!

Ah I see the light now. She's just a self publicist. She didn't change, she has always been like that. She manipulates. Writing an article for a magazine... figures.

She just wants the notoriety of turning up at future interviews or down at the local pub, or in the staff room regaling everyone with the phrase "When I was in Africa, working with all those poor children, whom I loved and adored........

Did I tell you about the time that I on my own and I single handed did (insert whatever you want here) ...blah, blah." (While wiping away a crocodile tear and gazing wistfully into the distance)"

I used to work with some one like this. It's incredible how many people can be fooled by a person like this. In the end I changed job.

CrazyRabbit

Nice going OP. Changing the thread title makes the first few replies nonsensical.

Appreciate that.

steddyeddy

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

Nice going OP. Changing the thread title makes the first few replies nonsensical.

Appreciate that.

As the Africans say Pole sana Crazy rabbit!

emuhead

Mardy Bum wrote: »

I'd use the below quote to describe selflessness.



Volunteering in Africa is usually carried out by your typical law/politics/finance student before they start a career which robs people of large amounts of money in exchange for very little work.

/generalisation.

Many of the university students who volunteer are being bankrolled by their family - don't need to work for the summer to finance themselves through college. Students from working class backgrounds are not represented.

/ also bit of generalisation

Legs.Eleven

You don't need the inverted commas.

I put the inverted commas because people presume you contract AIDS as you would a cold, forgetting that you contract HIV first which can actually be managed better than it was in the past nowadays in first world countries. You don't catch AIDS, you contract HIV first and it might never develop into full blown AIDS. I used the inverted commas to highlight the ignorance of it because perhaps she would've said something like that, "I'd probably catch AIDS off those kids".

steddyeddy

Aineoil wrote: »

Ah I see the light now. She's just a self publicist. She didn't change, she has always been like that. She manipulates. Writing an article for a magazine... figures.

She just wants the notoriety of turning up at future interviews or down at the local pub, or in the staff room regaling everyone with the phrase "When I was in Africa, working with all those poor children, whom I loved and adored........

Did I tell you about the time that I on my own and I single handed did (insert whatever you want here) ...blah, blah." (While wiping away a crocodile tear and gazing wistfully into the distance)

I used to work with some one like this. It's incredible how many people can be fooled by a person like this. In the end I changed job.

Well she made a fool of me aswell. I believed her when she said she was stuck for money and myself and other volunteers helped her out!

steddyeddy

emuhead wrote: »

Many of the university students who volunteer are being bankrolled by their family - don't need to work for the summer to finance themselves through college. Students from working class backgrounds are not represented.

/ also bit of generalisation

I'm working class by birth Emuhead and paid myself. I only did a week in this place though and will freely admit I made no real lasting change.

Legs.Eleven

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

I put the inverted commas because people presume you contract AIDS as you would a cold, forgetting that you contract HIV first which can actually be managed better than it was in the past nowadays in first world countries. You don't catch AIDS, you contract HIV first and it might never develop into full blown AIDS. I used the inverted commas to highlight the ignorance of it because perhaps she would've said something like that, "I'd probably catch AIDS off those kids".

Only there's no evidence at all that she said, or thought that.

steddyeddy

Czarcasm wrote: »

Eddy I'm not sure, actually no, I haven't a bulls notion how international volunteering works, but are these people not vetted by some sort of an interview and assessment process surely?

Are they not offered any sort of training before they go over? Even in saying that I'm thinking all the training in the world doesn't prepare you for the reality sometimes, you think you'll be well able for it, but when you're actually working with the people concerned, it's a different story entirely and some people just aren't able for it.

Did the charity offer any sort of psych program for those volunteers who felt they couldn't cope or what sort of procedures are in place to keep an eye on the volunteers?

I can't imagine seven volunteers are just dropped from a helicopter into the middle of Africa and told "Run along now and go hug kids, make friends with them, get the kids to trust you, and just when they do, we'll be back to collect you and send in your replacements"...

It can't surely work like that, can it?

No it doesnt work like that exactly C. You usually arrange it over here and then go to an interview (sometimes over the phone) and then you go to a training day. You usually have to give Garda clearence aswell but that's about it. Not Psych tests are involved.

You then make your own way to Africa and do your travelling before or after your volunteering.

Legs.Eleven

Kadence Flaky Dart wrote: »

Only there's no evidence at all that she said, or thought that.

No, she didn't but you hear people use this expression commonly nowadays ("Catch AIDS"). I was taking the piss out of that and the ignorance surrounding that belief.

If you'd like to nitpick on the grammar of my post further, feel free to PM me.

emuhead

steddyeddy wrote: »

I'm working class by birth Emuhead and paid myself. I only did a week in this place though and will freely admit I made no real lasting change.

No criticism intended - fair play to you paying yourself though

steddyeddy

Kadence Flaky Dart wrote: »

Only there's no evidence at all that she said, or thought that.

Indeed she often said it can't be transmitted as easy as people think.

Legs.Eleven

steddyeddy wrote: »

Indeed she often said it can't be transmitted as easy as people think.

Well at least she knew that much.

steddyeddy

emuhead wrote: »

No criticism intended - fair play to you paying yourself though

Thanks man but I also was lucky enough to travel around for a bit aswell.

Legs.Eleven

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

No, she didn't but you hear people use this expression commonly nowadays ("Catch AIDS"). I was taking the piss out of that and the ignorance surrounding that belief.

If you'd like to nitpick on the grammar of my post further, feel free to PM me.

I've never, ever met anyone who actually thought you could catch AIDS as opposed to HIV. Making such a judgement about someone you've never even met seems obnoxious to me, but hey, whatever you want to do.

Boombastic

With a population of 1.3 billion, what skills can an Irish person bring that the Africans can't learn themselves?

steddyeddy

Kadence Flaky Dart wrote: »

I've never, ever met anyone who actually thought you could catch AIDS as opposed to HIV. Making such a judgement about someone you've never even met seems obnoxious to me, but hey, whatever you want to do.

I agree Izzy but whatever her way of thinking she certaionly was an obnoxious woman.

Legs.Eleven

Kadence Flaky Dart wrote: »

I've never, ever met anyone who actually thought you could catch AIDS as opposed to HIV. Making such a judgement about someone you've never even met seems obnoxious to me, but hey, whatever you want to do.

I was speculating.


We make judgements on people we haven't met all the time. If you don't, well then we won't be meeting in hell then, I suppose.

Legs.Eleven

steddyeddy wrote: »

I agree Izzy but whatever her way of thinking she certaionly was an obnoxious woman.

I think it's fair to make the assumption that she was obnoxious from all you posted.

Aineoil

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well she made a fool of me aswell. I believed her when she said she was stuck for money and myself and other volunteers helped her out!

She didn't really steddyeddy.
There's the old saying is "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."

You weren't fooled a second time.

This girl has a personality that is so difficult to understand. One minute they are your friend, the next minute you are the enemy. You try to understand their viewpoint but in your heart you know they are wrong.

So you take the middle road and hope things will get better. But they don't. If you try to bring issues up in a chatty and non confrontational way, they tell you that you are not seeing things properly.

Then you begin to doubt yourself.

Once you doubt yourself, you are game for them.

Czarcasm

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

I was speculating.


We make judgements on people we haven't met all the time. If you don't, well then we won't be meeting in hell then, I suppose.

Save a seat for me will you? I bring marsh mallows!

johnr1

I went out with a girl who had "volunteered" in Guatemala and in Africa a couple of years ago. Truly one of the most self absorbed people I've ever had the misfortune to meet.

Not just from this but also from having raised money for the Niall Mellon project myself (I didn't go) I have become very cynical about Western Aid in the developing world.

.

Karl Stein

I hope she doesn't become a teacher. Sounds like the type of ****er who'll plaumase the children of 'professionals' and beat the poor kids with a thorny stick.

Bitch.

April O Neill

Kadence Flaky Dart wrote: »

In reply to the OP, I think most people who do these things do them for selfish reasons. I can't see how it does these kids much good to have random white people showing up for a week or two at a time, only to go back home once attachments and bonds have formed. How exactly does that help?

Some people who volunteer are actually useful - those who have skills and can make a long-term commitment. The rest, IMO, are trying to make themselves look/feel good.

Interesting article on the BBC Magazine site from a few months back:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22294205

April O Neill

steddyeddy wrote: »

Indeed she often said it can't be transmitted as easy as people think.

TBH, it just sounds like she doesn't like kids much. Worrying.

NoCrackHaving

I always find it a bit odd all these people who volunteer over seas but wouldn't even think of volunteering in Ireland. Is Dublin just not exotic enough?

Mardy Bum

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

I always find it a bit odd all these people who volunteer over seas but wouldn't even think of volunteering in Ireland. Is Dublin just not exotic enough?

Facebook pictures are not as good.

Whisko

Yes.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19123_6-socially-conscious-actions-that-only-look-like-they-help.html

Son Of A Vidic

steddyeddy wrote: »

Are people who go volunteering abroad doing so for selfish reasons?

Yes and the reason is called a CV.

Legs.Eleven

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

I always find it a bit odd all these people who volunteer over seas but wouldn't even think of volunteering in Ireland. Is Dublin just not exotic enough?

To be blunt, no.



It's completely stupid to believe that people are volunteering for altruistic reasons and selfishness doesn't come into it. I don't think any volunteer abroad would tell you that was the case. I volunteered in Buenos Aires because the nightlife was great and men are gorgeous but it doesn't mean I didn't do some good for those kids.

Surely the end result is what matters - people are being helped in some way (except the example given in the OP). When people complain about others volunteering in foreign countries, it sounds like jealousy to me tbh.

Legs.Eleven

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Yes and the reason is called a CV.

Among other things.

cletus van damme

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

To be blunt, no.



It's completely stupid to believe that people are volunteering for altruistic reasons and selfishness doesn't come into it. I don't think any volunteer abroad would tell you that was the case. I volunteered in Buenos Aires because the nightlife was great and men are gorgeous but it doesn't mean I didn't do some good for those kids.

Surely the end result is what matters - people are being helped in some way (except the example given in the OP). When people complain about others volunteering in foreign countries, it sounds like jealousy to me tbh.

dunno about gorgeous men , but the rest you say is spot on.
there are always people who look for the stain in every good thing because they are miserable people.

RDM_83 again

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

To be blunt, no.



It's completely stupid to believe that people are volunteering for altruistic reasons and selfishness doesn't come into it. I don't think any volunteer abroad would tell you that was the case. I volunteered in Buenos Aires because the nightlife was great and men are gorgeous but it doesn't mean I didn't do some good for those kids.

Surely the end result is what matters - people are being helped in some way (except the example given in the OP). When people complain about others volunteering in foreign countries, it sounds like jealousy to me tbh.

It is jealousy I'l freely admit my bitterness but its the fact that your meant to smile and nod along to it, its all about self validation, this is no bad thing in itself but its the attitude that this makes you a better person and that "its not just a holiday" that grinds my gears.

Thread reminds me about an event years ago at a college society night.
A guy at the event was collecting for his mates to go on an ecology based field school in South America, I didn't give him any money as I knew people who had gone on it (they had self funded and money from relatives), he got up in my face and replied "do you not care about people with cancer, these guys are going out there to do that" (the field school was straight ecology/conservation with no ethnopharmacology or such like), never been more angry in my life :mad:

Legs.Eleven

RDM_83 again wrote: »

It is jealousy I'l freely admit my bitterness but its the fact that your meant to smile and nod along to it, its all about self validation, this is no bad thing in itself but its the attitude that this makes you a better person and that "its not just a holiday" that grinds my gears.

Thread reminds me about an event years ago at a college society night.
A guy at the event was collecting for his mates to go on an ecology based field school in South America, I didn't give him any money as I knew people who had gone on it (they had self funded and money from relatives), he got up in my face and replied "do you not care about people with cancer, these guys are going out there to do that" (the field school was straight ecology/conservation with no ethnopharmacology or such like), never been more angry in my life :mad:

Smug, sanctimonious people are always annoying in every context, no doubt about it but I was really responding to the poster above who asked why don't people stay at home and volunteer as if you have to live like Ghandi before you can help someone and that enjoyment outside of the volunteering is strictly forbidden. Ridiculous.

hawkwind23

the modern day slum tourist may be affiliated with a church , club or small unregistered charity.
they collect everyones few quid and gather a few grand.
they then buy expensive flights and a few weeks digs.
maybe a few hundred left for the actual charity in Africa/India etc.
they then swan around the slums feeling pity for people getting on with it and feel much better about themselves.
nights will be dinners in the best restaurants hotels with drinks, bar the few days doing the orphanages etc , it will be day trips and nice lunches.
they then come home and play the do-gooder card to collect the price of the holiday again next year.
some of them even believe their own crap so much that they decide they should be paid to have this holiday and will start looking into registering as a charity.

recylingbin

Thinly veiled 'oooh, look at me, I went volunteering' thread.

In my experience, most people do volunteering for one of three reasons:

1) for the cv
2) for a free holiday
3) for the kudos.

The odd, very odd, person does it to help the less fortunate.

Legs.Eleven

recylingbin wrote: »

Thinly veiled 'oooh, look at me, I went volunteering' thread.

In my experience, most people do volunteering for one of three reasons:

1) for the cv
2) for a free holiday
3) for the kudos.

The odd, very odd, person does it to help the less fortunate.

Not very thinly-veiled "I'm jealous" post.