Orphanage Volunteer Programs

Orphanage Volunteer Programs

Do you love working with children and traveling abroad? Volunteers with a degree in child psychology or those who have professional experience working with children are the perfect candidates for orphanage volunteer abroad. There are a few things to keep in mind, however. Child exploitation is common in orphanage volunteer programs, which is why we want to guide you during your search for organization that has the child's best interest at heart. Continue reading to find out more about working in an orphanage and finding the perfect volunteer experience in an orphanage.

What is an Orphan?

According to UNICEF, an orphan is a child under the age of 18 that has lost at least 1 parent to any cause of death. 140 million children in the world are officially classified as orphans. 15 million children have lost both parents which is the definition any dictionary will give you for ‘orphan’.

It’s safe to say that, nowadays most children in orphanages still have a parent or another living relative that could take care of them. Children generally end up in an orphanage due to poverty. Their parents believe they have better access to education and nutrition in an orphanage. Continue reading to find out whether this really is the best option and what you can expect from a volunteer abroad program with children.

The other side of orphanages

More and more volunteers have started to realize something wasn’t quite right while working in orphanages overseas. Many have raised their voices on the topic leading to the media highlighting the foul practices of orphanages. It’s no secret many orphanage programs have become localized for-profit organizations exploiting local families, orphans and western volunteers. But that’s not the whole story.

Child exploitation

It's true that children are torn away from their families in rural areas in return for money. They are stripped of their identity and become official orphans (paper orphans) which makes it nearly impossible for their parents to track them down again. You can read more about this in an article published by 'the conversation'.

Volunteers from developed countries, on the other hand, are on a mission of traveling and volunteering abroad in development programs. They’re unaware they may be supporting a harmful practice while volunteering abroad for a childcare project.

The risks of institutionalized care at orphanages

You may think that if the child's family is poor the child may be better off in an orphanage with education and enough food. Research by Save the Children organization has shown that there are risks to institutionalized childcare as opposed to family care:

• Children in orphanages run a higher risk of being physically stunted and tend to fall behind on normal growth
• They tend to have lower IQs and levels of brain activity, particularly those who entered institutionalized care at a young age.
• Children in orphanages are more likely to show behavioral abnormalities like aggressive behavior, attention deficit disorders and delays in social and emotional development.

Benefits of the family setting

Recent research has made it clear that it’s beneficial for a child’s development to be supported in a safe family setting as opposed to institutionalized care.

Proponents in the industry claim that with some extra help and support, families should be able to continue care for their children. This would be more beneficial than giving up all rights over their children and handing them over to an orphanage.

They believe that efforts to support orphanages should be diverted towards helping families to continue caring for their children. The Australian government has mentioned plans to forbid Australians to volunteer in orphanages abroad.

Orphanages still play a role

Although the ideal scenario would be for children to stay with their families, we aren’t there yet and orphanages still play an important role in supporting of children who have no options.

To generalize what we know about some organizations and say all orphanages have profit as their sole purpose, is unfair. There are plenty of organizations overseas that do ethical work with the best intentions and are continuously striving to provide improved care and support for orphans.

There are situations where it isn’t safe for children to stay with their entire families to a disaster. In these cases, there’s no other option than to trust their care to an external organization. Rather than an end resort, orphanages should function as a safe haven for children as they transition to a new family situation.

Volunteers who decide to help out at an orphanage program, need to be mentally prepared. The time children spend at an orphanage is a challenging one and the aim is to make it as enjoyable as possible. It’s important that the children get enough attention and affection. While the permanent staff has their hands full, volunteers are excellent additions to help the team. Volunteering at orphanages abroad will give the kids some much-needed attention.

What will I do as a volunteer in an orphanage?

As a volunteer in an orphanage project abroad, your work will depend on the organization. You're likely to support the following tasks while working in an orphanage abroad:

• Interacting and engaging with the children
• Preparing activities to keep the children busy and entertained
• Teaching English and other subjects
• Playing outdoor games and sports
• Helping with food preparation and caretaking of children

By supporting an orphanage project you will also connect with the local community and learn a great deal about their culture.

Requirements for volunteering in an orphanage

Minimum stay

In order to provide the children and volunteers with a safe environment, Volunteer World allows only experienced childcare professionals to volunteer in orphanages. To guarantee a stable environment, volunteering at orphanages abroad requires you to stay a minimum of 4 weeks. We even advise you to stay for 3 months.

Children in orphanages struggle with attachment and fear of abandonment. This is why a 4-week stay is an absolute minimum. Orphans have experienced several disappointments in their lives. Stability is what they need most of all.

Experienced professionals

If you have a degree in psychology or have extensive work experience with young children, you are a viable candidate to volunteer in an orphanage abroad. Keep in mind that you will need to provide records of your studies or relevant proof of your experience.

This will be an emotionally challenging experience abroad. Volunteers need relevant past experience to successfully deal with difficult situations. Volunteers in orphanages overseas have shared more than once that they simply weren’t prepared for what they saw and felt too inexperienced to help. This is why Volunteer World only accepts applications from experienced professionals.

Blank criminal record

All volunteers need to submit their criminal records when they apply. Without this, Volunteer World won’t process your application.

Where will volunteering in an orphanage take me?

If you want to work with disadvantaged children and you have relevant experience, a world of opportunities is about to unfold. Let’s take a look at where this volunteer adventure will take you. Travel hungry volunteers who love kids and want to help are in for a treat:

South America

Volunteers who want to practice their Spanish while working with kids will find several opportunities in South America. Volunteer opportunities range from cultural hotspots like Ecuador and Peru to natural wonders like Chile. Volunteers who want to experience the Caribbean vibe have the option to support orphanage projects in Jamaica.

Africa

If there’s one part of the world where poverty has reared its ugly head, it's definitely Africa. Volunteer and work with orphans in Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe or South Africa and brighten up the days of adorable children who, despite everything they have been through, haven’t lost their smile.

Asia

Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Cambodia are your best options if Asia is where you're headed for your volunteer experience abroad. Be prepared to see a completely different side of a country, one that may open your eyes and shock you.

Each destination has its pros and cons as do different volunteer programs. The children, however, will be amazing wherever you choose to go.

Top 5 benefits of volunteering in an orphanage

It’s hard to name drawbacks when you think of volunteer work. It’s almost always associated with feelings of positivity and ‘doing good’.

Childcare volunteer programs abroad are a unique opportunity for volunteers to get out of their usual environment, gain new experiences and connect with the local community.

A volunteer with orphans program will allow you to get to know the other side of your travel destination. Although this will be a challenging time, let’s take a look at some of the benefits volunteering abroad has in store for you:

Valuable Learning Opportunities

Volunteering at an orphanage program abroad will open up a new world. You will learn more about the country and culture and get to interact with the local community on a deeper level. This will help you to understand the people and their situation. Your volunteer work may also benefit your future work opportunities because your time abroad also counts as international work experience.

Meet new people

You will meet other volunteers and travelers who share your values and interests. You’ll connect with like-minded volunteers and locals. This will be a wonderful opportunity for meaningful relationships and cultural interchange.

New Experiences

Volunteering is a brilliant way to expand your perspective on life. Issues that seemed like huge problems before, may seem trivial after your volunteer experience in a program with children. New life experiences make you stronger and will empower you in the future.

Health Improvements

Volunteering always goes hand in hand with some traveling. Traveling and volunteering are two ingredients that practically guarantee happiness. Traveling has proven beneficial because it forces different parts of the brain to be used. On top of that, making a difference, however small, will give you a sense a purpose which is a major happiness influencer.

Travel

This is your chance to discover some of the most interesting places in the world while you volunteer and help a meaningful cause. What are you waiting for? Africa, Asia and Latin America are waiting for your support. Get out your luggage and start packing for your adventure abroad!

Volunteering for orphanage community programs abroad can have a great impact when done right. Support a trustworthy organization that offers a well thought out program. Only apply if you are well prepared for your volunteer program. Either through your studies, past experiences or research you have done. This is for your safety and that of the children.