Alternatives to orphanage volunteerism?
Alternatives to orphanage volunteerism?
Recently someone on CPN posted an ad asking for a recommendation for a reputable orphanage to volunteer at. My immediate reaction was to cringe - even if you manage to identify and avoid all of the establishments that purposefully exploit children's poverty to make a buck, you're still left with a situation in which children (most of whom, it's well-documented, aren't actually orphans) potentially bond with a caregiver who showers them with attention and affection for a temporary period of time and then abruptly disappears from their lives. I know the case hasn't completely closed on this issue, but the arguments against it are very compelling, in my opinion.
Anyway.
The original request got me thinking. I could pelt the OP with reasons why his desire to volunteer at an orphanage is misguided, but it sounds like his motivation comes from a good place, and it'd be nice if I could suggest some alternatives. Only...?
So I thought I'd bring it to K440.
I can see two categories, here:
A) Alternative full-time intensive opportunities for unskilled-ish, short-term backpacker-types who swoop in for a few days/weeks/months and want to leave with a sense of accomplishment.
B) Alternatives for unskilled-ish, long-term expats who may work full-time, but have a few hours available every weekend for the indefinite future. (I think the OP fits into this category).
Thoughts? Ideas? Resources?
Thanks.
Anyway.
The original request got me thinking. I could pelt the OP with reasons why his desire to volunteer at an orphanage is misguided, but it sounds like his motivation comes from a good place, and it'd be nice if I could suggest some alternatives. Only...?
So I thought I'd bring it to K440.
I can see two categories, here:
A) Alternative full-time intensive opportunities for unskilled-ish, short-term backpacker-types who swoop in for a few days/weeks/months and want to leave with a sense of accomplishment.
B) Alternatives for unskilled-ish, long-term expats who may work full-time, but have a few hours available every weekend for the indefinite future. (I think the OP fits into this category).
Thoughts? Ideas? Resources?
Thanks.
- 0zirC
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That's a fine lookin high horse you got there!
There are a few things I would like to point out in your opening judgemental statement which are wrong/misguided and so on and so forth but... I don't want to bore myself.
There are a few things I would like to point out in your opening judgemental statement which are wrong/misguided and so on and so forth but... I don't want to bore myself.
"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."
—Charles Swindoll
—Charles Swindoll
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Foreign men should not be allowed to volunteer at orphanages in Cambodia.
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- 0zirC
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Try saying that to Scott Neeson and Matt Dillon.gavinmac wrote:Foreign men should not be allowed to volunteer at orphanages in Cambodia.
"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."
—Charles Swindoll
—Charles Swindoll
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Hey, speaking of Scott Neeson, has anyone been to the restaurant Black Bambu? I guess it's a CCF training restaurant, I actually didn't know that when I went there.0zirC wrote:
Try saying that to Scott Neeson and Matt Dillon.
I walked in and saw a photo on one wall of Scott Neeson with some CCF kids. Then on another wall, another bigger photo of Scott Nesson with some kids.
Then another really huge photo on one wall of just Scott Neeson, or maybe there were some kids in the background in the photo, but I'm not sure there were.
Then I saw and heard Scott Neeson himself holding court at one of the tables behind me.
Maybe they should have just named the place "Scott Neeson's Scott Neeson Restaurant," it has a nice ring to it.
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Your horse is even more humongous.0zirC wrote:That's a fine lookin high horse you got there!
There are a few things I would like to point out in your opening judgemental statement which are wrong/misguided and so on and so forth but... I don't want to bore myself.
I don't see what is arrogant or judgmental about OP's question. We all know that orphanage volunteers are doing more harm than good. And the OP didn't want to shoot the guy down and was actually seeking suggestions for a positive response.
You need to sweep on your own doorstep sometime, kid.
- 0zirC
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We all don't know anything about the effects of orphanage volunteers except for the testimonials of the people they have an effect on.Joon wrote:Your horse is even more humongous.0zirC wrote:That's a fine lookin high horse you got there!
There are a few things I would like to point out in your opening judgemental statement which are wrong/misguided and so on and so forth but... I don't want to bore myself.
I don't see what is arrogant or judgmental about OP's question. We all know that orphanage volunteers are doing more harm than good. And the OP didn't want to shoot the guy down and was actually seeking suggestions for a positive response.
You need to sweep on your own doorstep sometime, kid.
I have swept and mopped and have gotten no further in cleaning the shit I've made, hence why I don't cross the line in judging people who want to give something back for some sort of moral cause...be that a guilty conscience or a good heart.
It's not entirely accurate that volunteers have a detrimental effect on orphans. Everyone across the whole world have interactions with people for one second, one year, one month or whatever (Networking or some such rubbish).
I'm not spouting about feeling sorry for someone who wants to do something or even turn my nose up at people who want to pledge money for a druggie or a student. If they feel they want to put for their own cause for their own code of ethics well then who the fuck am I to judge?
What I take issue with are those who walk around all peacock-like with no evidence of their actual worth.
I would sign off with a remark to you but I suppose this whole reply is what it is.
"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."
—Charles Swindoll
—Charles Swindoll
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I agree with OzirC on this one. Whenever someone starts an argument with "We all know that . . ." it often means that person's argument is suspect.
Many orphanages need people to care for the children, teach them English, etc. If they had to pay them, they would have less money to feed and house kids. So they accept volunteers. Some of them may have a positive impact, I don't know.
I think most of us respect CCF, they have a whole page on their website recruiting volunteers and they list a dozen "openings" for volunteers. https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/volunteer.html I would trust that they know better about whether volunteers do more harm than good.
Many orphanages need people to care for the children, teach them English, etc. If they had to pay them, they would have less money to feed and house kids. So they accept volunteers. Some of them may have a positive impact, I don't know.
I think most of us respect CCF, they have a whole page on their website recruiting volunteers and they list a dozen "openings" for volunteers. https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/volunteer.html I would trust that they know better about whether volunteers do more harm than good.
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- TheRaven
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So you like CCF but you are against its director.gavinmac wrote:I agree with OzirC on this one. Whenever someone starts an argument with "We all know that . . ." it often means that person's argument is suspect.
Many orphanages need people to care for the children, teach them English, etc. If they had to pay them, they would have less money to feed and house kids. So they accept volunteers. Some of them may have a positive impact, I don't know.
I think most of us respect CCF, they have a whole page on their website recruiting volunteers and they list a dozen "openings" for volunteers. https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/volunteer.html I would trust that they know better about whether volunteers do more harm than good.
SQUAWK!!!!
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What makes you think I'm against the director? I was just poking fun at the decor of his restaurant.TheRaven wrote: So you like CCF but you are against its director.
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So Ozirc won't cross the line and judge people who want to volunteer at the local kid farm, but is happy to show utter disdain for someone trying to discuss a good path to do measurably good things here... The OP didn't arrive flashing peacock feathers, he made an opening statement based on his opinion and followed it with a discussion topic.
So what's a way forward? Ozirc, I understand you probably have a lot of good advice to share, I remember seeing a link to an org you support/work with in you sig (can't see it on tapatalk). So how about sharing something that you've learnt along the way.
Unfortunately few orphanages are like CCF. Most don't want to know if you've got form or even think to ask questions to determine if you are or aren't a suitable candidates for mentoring and caring for children, regardless of whether the kids are orphans or not. Any kind of organisation that let's people walk in off the street and interact with children and infants, sans appointment, application or criminal record check, etc, are putting kids directly in harm's way. I don't see how that particular point is debatable.
So what's a way forward? Ozirc, I understand you probably have a lot of good advice to share, I remember seeing a link to an org you support/work with in you sig (can't see it on tapatalk). So how about sharing something that you've learnt along the way.
Unfortunately few orphanages are like CCF. Most don't want to know if you've got form or even think to ask questions to determine if you are or aren't a suitable candidates for mentoring and caring for children, regardless of whether the kids are orphans or not. Any kind of organisation that let's people walk in off the street and interact with children and infants, sans appointment, application or criminal record check, etc, are putting kids directly in harm's way. I don't see how that particular point is debatable.