Over the years, we have seen many well-intentioned travelers come to Nepal, hoping to make a difference — and leaving with mixed feelings. Through our own experiences and by observing countless volunteer projects, we have learned how easily “help” can turn into harm when commercial interests and cultural unawareness take over.
Fortunately, there is now a growing body of scientific and journalistic research examining the realities behind voluntourism. Researchers, journalists, and even former volunteers are openly questioning the ethics and long-term effects of such programs. Their findings confirm what we have witnessed on the ground: unprepared volunteers and profit-driven agencies often do more harm than good.
Below you’ll find a curated list of academic studies and journalistic investigations that help explain why responsible volunteering matters so much.
If you prefer a more accessible summary, you can also read our article The Dangers of Voluntourism.
Journalistic Articles on the Negative Impact of Commercial Voluntourism
- “Before you pay to volunteer abroad, think of the harm you might do” — by Ian Birrell, The Guardian
Read on The Guardian - “Voluntourism: What Could Go Wrong When Trying To Do Right?” — by Daniela Papi, Huffington Post
Read on Huffington Post - “Beware the ‘voluntourists’ doing good” — by Ossob Mohamud, The Guardian
Read on The Guardian - “Poverty porn: is sensationalism justified if it helps those in need?” — by Glendora Meikle, The Guardian
Read on The Guardian - “The Problem With Little White Girls (and Boys): Why I Stopped Being a Voluntourist” — by Pippa Biddle, former volunteer
Read on pippabiddle.com - “We Day to Me Day: The Damaging Effect of Voluntourism” — by Iram Sarwar, Huffington Post UK
Read on Huffington Post - “Is ‘voluntourism’ the new colonialism?” — by Kerry Stewart, ABC – Encounter
Read on ABC - “Is ‘Voluntourism’ Itself Being Exploited?” — by Daniela Papi, Huffington Post
Read on Huffington Post - “So you want to be a voluntourist?” — by Michael Nishimura, Nepali Times
Read on Nepali Times - “The Voluntourist’s Dilemma” — by Jacob Kushner, The New York Times Magazine
Read on NYT Magazine
Scientific Literature and Studies on Voluntourism
If you are a university student or have access to academic databases, try searching for the term “voluntourism” — you will discover a vast collection of research discussing its social, economic, and ethical implications. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot provide most PDF downloads, but below are several freely available publications worth reading:
- “Volunteer Tourism: A Global Analysis” — by Tourism Research and Marketing (2008)
Access report - “Volunteer Tourism: As Good as It Seems?” — by Daniel Guttentag (2011)
Read PDF - “From Volunteering to Voluntourism” — by Bread for the World (2015)
Read PDF
If you have further questions or would like to discuss this topic,
please feel free to Contact Us.