An Examination of Current Practices in Short-term International Service Trips with Vulnerable Children and Youth

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic -Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Abstract

Introduction: Approximately two million people from the U.S. travel annually on short term international volunteer trips. A large proportion of these trips involve volunteering with vulnerable children and youth, some living in residential care (i.e. orphanages). The general conclusion among researchers is that short-term volunteering with this population is incompatible with the wellbeing of children (Richer & Norma, 2010; Zeanah, et al., 2019). Nevertheless, this type of voluntourism is a robust and growing niche in global tourism (Reas, 2015; Rotabi, et al., 2016). Though this type of voluntourism is prevalent, little research exists regarding pre-trip screening, training, and activities being conducted by volunteers while in the country.

Present Study: The goal of the present study was to provide data on current practices in short term international service trips. The study examined the pre-trip preparation and requirements, in country activities, and post-trip perceptions of preparation of volunteers.

Methods: Participants were 353 adults (M=27.32, SD=12.64) residing in the USA. Participants were primarily female (80.2%) and White (84.1%). Participants answered a series of questions about their experiences with international service trips, including:
Did you interact with children or youth under 18?
Did you enter the residential space of any children or youth (home, orphanage, foster home, etc.)?
Did you interact with children or youth unsupervised?

Results: Of the 353 participants, 334 (94.6%) reported that they interacted with children under the age of 18. Of those 295 (83.6%), entered the residential space of the children they were interacting with (i.e. home, orphanage, foster home). Further, 231 (67.1%) participants reported that they interacted with children in their residential space unsupervised. Results revealed that of the 231 participants who interacted with children unsupervised, 39% completed a background check, 27.3% submitted references, 61.4% completed some training, and 17.3% completed an interview. Similar patterns were seen for interacting with children and entered the residential space variables. If they received any training, most was in safety (i.e. personal safety, crime prevention, emergency or evacuation protocol, and first aid; 82.9%) and culture (i.e. cultural competency/sensitivity training; 75.1%). Data also revealed that participants with more pre-trip requirements (i.e. training, background check) reported feeling more prepared and were more satisfied with their trip.

Conclusions: The current data validates child protection concerns raised about short term international service trips and outlines the scope of the concern. Specifically, these findings indicate that a large number of short term international volunteers interacted with children and youth during their trips with little to no screening or preparation. The current data also showed participants felt more prepared and more satisfied with their trip when they had pre-trip requirements such as training. Guidance on informed and ethical engagement with vulnerable populations, some focusing specifically on best practices for working with children in residential care, has become readily available (CAFO, 2017; Guiney, 2015). Efforts should be made to bridge research and guidance to in the field practice.

Authors

• Amanda Howard, Samford University
  Presenting Author

• Nicole Wilke, CAFO
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jacqueline Gustafson, California Baptist University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Megan Roberts, Samford University
  Non-Presenting Author