Scott Rosefield

It’s no wonder the world of “voluntourism” has become a $3 billion a year industry. Volunteers get to travel internationally and out of pocket costs are nominal since volunteers are essentially trading the experience for their skills. And, of course, there is the good feeling side of helping make the world a better place.

There’s a fine line between feeling like you’re helping others and actually doing so.

‘Don’t do as we did,’ says Pippa Biddle, who highlights the colonial structure of industry where unqualified western tourists pay to volunteer abroad.