How can we ensure that international volunteering is effective and enriches both communities and volunteers?
Thursday 17th February 2022 at 15:30
International volunteering is marketed as an accessible way to learn about and contribute to the world. It is such a popular activity for young people that it is almost becoming a rite of passage. However the practice has come under increased criticism for perpetuating neo-colonial ideas and “white saviorism,” as well as being rife with corrupt practices that cause harm to both the community and the students themselves. This workshop offers a new concept “learning service” as a way to think through and resolve some of these ethical tensions, by putting learning at the heart of the service we offer.
Click here to register for this event, hosted on Microsoft Teams.
You will receive your invitation link by e-mail before the event begins.
Join us!
Recruitment for volunteering positions in school in Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa will open on Monday 7th February 2022. Student placements are fully funded and will take place during the summer vacation period of 2022.
Warwick in Africa Community events, including voluntary opportunities for students and staff are advertised year round.
Please follow us on social media, or join our mailing list by e-mailing warwickinafrica@warwick.ac.uk.
About the speaker
Claire Bennett is the co-founder of Learning Service and a co-author of the book Learning Service: The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad, hailed by Noam Chomsky to be "an essential contribution...a manifesto for doing good well." She is a consultant, educator and researcher working mainly in the international development and study abroad sectors. She lives in Kathmandu, Nepal.
In 2018, Claire Bennett co-authored the book, Learning Services: The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad
Learning Service offers a powerful new approach that invites volunteers to learn from host communities before trying to ‘help’ them. It’s also a thoughtful critique of the sinister side of volunteer travel; a guide for turning good intentions into effective results; and essential advice on how to make the most of your experience.