What role do European volunteers play in Africa?

Sending young Europeans to volunteer in Africa is a booming business for organisations that promise the volunteers they are making a difference in the communities. However, some volunteers pay up to thousands of euros for the experience.

Research by Daniel Guttentag, a tourism expert, reveals that volunteer tourism has a negative impact. Since many volunteer projects involve unskilled labour, unemployed locals could easily take these jobs.

Many European-funded non-governmental organisations market their programs by pointing out the poor conditions in the local regions. 

Using poverty as bait

"Help us stop the cycle of child poverty in Africa," "Feed one meal to the hungry school child," "Support a village with clean water" — such phrases are commonly used to raise financial support or appeal to volunteers.  

According to Guttentag, this approach not only emphasises the stereotype of Africa as a continent in need but also rationalises poverty. 

 "I find it problematic when volunteers come with the understanding that they are changing or even saving anything or anyone in Africa. That is not what volunteering is about", says Johanna Habersetzer, a German volunteer in Kenya. 

The so-called white-saviour mentality is known to cause more harm than good in international development work.

Habersetzer started her volunteer journey at Kenya's Mount Elgon National Park in March. Her tasks vary from selling tickets to visitors, planting trees, or drawing maps for the park. 

She told DW that she left Europe after finishing school to get a different perspective and cultural exchange. 

The best way to volunteer

The right way to volunteer depends on the project and the region. According to Guttentag's research, greater awareness of the possible negative consequences of volunteer tourism is the first step.

Several organisations distance themselves from volunteer tourism. For example, In Germany, some organisations make it compulsory for volunteers to send an application, if successful, be interviewed, and even participate in preparatory seminars and training before being allowed to volunteer. 

Weltwärts is one such organisation. The German NGO, which promotes mutual learning and stronger international partnerships, teaches its volunteers about post-colonial power structures, racism, and sustainable development. It also sensitises participants about common stereotypes during a 25-day seminar. 

Contribution by volunteers

"Our volunteers make a contribution that cannot be compared with the work done by development experts. Volunteering is not about development aid in the narrow sense", Weltwärts told DW in a written statement.

Volunteer Habersetzer was prepared similarly by her organisation Kulturweit, a program run by the German UNESCO Commission. During the seminars, she discarded prejudices and learned about her role as a volunteer: She stressed that coming to volunteer with the right mindset is critical.

While discussing the controversy surrounding volunteer work with her peers, she was shocked by some revelations. "It was an eye-opener. The Kenyans are not dependent on my help as a volunteer," she said. 

Listening to the locals' expectations

Neglecting the desires of locals is another negative impact of volunteering. Locals who have worked with German volunteers have different expectations of them.

As a Nigerian social worker, Ololade Ogunnunbi's main wish is for European volunteers to "understand the locals and how to relate with them." Apart from the cultural exchange, Arafat Lesheve from Tanzania wants volunteers to share soft and IT skills.

Taking in the expectations of the locals and knowing her place as a volunteer is what Habersetzer is planning to do during her stay. 

"I will learn about the culture in Kenya, and when I am back in Germany, I might be able to reduce the stereotypes of my German friends."

Mona Westholt is a DW journalist

Disclaimer: This article first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and is published by special syndication arrangement