WIN! Go Overseas heard you
“Your campaign absolutely moved us to do something about orphanage trafficking.” – Go Overseas
We’re starting this year strong! Go Overseas, a company helping thousands of volunteers around the world travel abroad, has just implemented a new system on their site[1] to flag the harms of volunteering in orphanages and the risks of orphanage trafficking.
Tens of thousands of us in the Freedom United community have been calling on volunteer tour operators to take a stand against orphanage trafficking by no longer offering volunteer placements in orphanages. We’re proud of Go Overseas for taking this important step and playing their role in disrupting the traffickers’ business model, joining Global Vision International[2] and African Impact.[3]
Now when a potential volunteer is browsing through opportunities tagged under “childcare” and “orphan care” on their site, they’ll see a warning linked to a detailed blog post I wrote on the harms of orphanage volunteering and the associated trafficking risks.
VISIT SITE APPLY NOW
Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both
volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers
should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer
project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations
offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can
read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here.
This was a direct result of sustained action from the Freedom United community. Thousands of petition signatures and direct emails have led to now THREE major organizations placing volunteers committing to helping tackle orphanage trafficking.
So, let’s keep up the good work – it’s having an impact!
Write to volunteer tour operators!
Orphanage trafficking is still a significant problem. A recent report[4]exposed how institution-related child trafficking around the world persists with an estimated 5.4 million children living in orphanages and institutions globally in conditions that leave them vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.
According to evidence collected from 84 organizations in 45 countries, the conditions presented to tourists visiting orphanages are not what they seem. Children are purposefully held in neglectful conditions and taught how to behave as orphans in front of tourists in order to elicit donations and turn a profit for unscrupulous orphanage directors.
The ‘voluntourism’ market – the practice of combining voluntary work with tourism – provides a monetary incentive for ensuring there is a constant supply of children in the orphanage generating donations from well-intentioned tourists. Children are effectively being commodified in orphanages.
That’s why volunteer tour operators are so important in busting the business model of orphanage trafficking. By no longer offering these placements, they can remove the financial incentive that is exploited by traffickers.
Send a message today and let’s see more volunteer tour operators take a stand in 2022!
In solidarity,
Miriam
P.S. Donate to support campaigns like this that address the systems perpetuating trafficking and help prevent trafficking from happening in the first place.
Donate
 Miriam KarmaliAdvocacy, Freedom United |
