Voluntourism under spotlight
Pippa Biddle is coming over from the USA, to present the first session
Inspirational speakers announced for Tourism Concern one day event
This Saturday 25th October Tourism Concern is holding a one day conference on ‘voluntourism’. Anyone interested in volunteering, or the issues around voluntourism should attend, says Tourism Concern.
The desire to travel and experience new cultures around the globe is commendable, as is the desire to volunteer, however it is debatable whether many volunteering opportunities bring real benefits to host communities and many exploit the good intentions of well-meaning volunteers.
The conference is for anyone interested in these issues and will attempt to explore the motivations of wanting to volunteer overseas, alternatives to volunteering overseas, for instance volunteering at home and travelling ethically overseas.
There are inspirational speakers, including Pippa Biddle who is coming over from the USA, to present the first session. The event will be opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Croydon.
The event will also be filmed for a documentary being made on voluntourism
Speakers include local councilor Shamul Hameed; US Campaigner for socially-responsible tourism Pippa Biddle; founder of PEPY Cambodia Daniela Papi-Thornton; chair of Volunteer Action for Peace Peter Nigel Watt; International Development Manager for Student Hubs Ruth Taylor; founder and Managing Director of Crees Manu Quinn Meyer; responsible tourism marketing expert Victoria Smith; founder of Sumak Travel Felipe Zalamea; international children’s charity worker Christine Joliffe,; Voyages Solidaires founder Chloe Sanguinetti and Karen Chillman of the Volunteer Centre Initiative.
Details of the event are HERE
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