Important notice for volunteers: Volunteering in orphanages

At Service Civil International Switzerland, we prioritize ethical volunteering practices. As part of our commitment, we decided to stop sending volunteers to orphanages. This decision is based on several important reasons:

  1. Child Protection: Orphanage volunteering can sometimes expose children to potential risks, including exploitation and inadequate care from untrained volunteers.
  2. Family Separation: The presence of volunteers can inadvertently encourage the separation of children from their families, as some orphanages may recruit children to attract international support.
  3. Quality of Care: Consistent care by trained professionals is essential for the well-being and development of children. The transient nature of volunteer work can disrupt this stability.
  4. Sustainable Development: We believe in supporting community-based solutions that strengthen local families and communities rather than institutional care. Orphanage volunteering, visiting, and overseas donations can also sustain the ‘orphanage industry’ with institutions being set up to meet the demand from well-meaning travellers and donors. There are increasing instances of children being trafficked to populate profit-making institutions.
  5. Lack of Specialization: We do not consider ourselves a specialized organization in orphanage volunteering. Therefore, we do not have the knowledge or resources to adequately prepare volunteers for such projects.

We strongly advocate against volunteering in orphanages and encourage people to look for other alternative ways to support children in need.

Our organization is actively engaged in the “Volunteering in Orphanages” international working group. Through this initiative, we aim to raise awareness, create spaces for debate, foster dialogue, and gather diverse perspectives on this critical issue. If you are interested in learning more about this working group or in joining, please send an email to orphanages@sci.ngo

We encourage all interested volunteers to join us in promoting responsible and impactful volunteering. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Resources on volunteering in orphanages:

Video:

How volunteering abroad in orphanages is harmful to children (2016)

Organisations:

Comhlámh:

The Better Care Network:

ReThink Orphanages:

ECPAT International and The Code

Child Safe Movement

Global Volunteering Standards

Save the Children – SAY NO TO ORPHANAGE VOLUNTEERING: Why volunteering in orphanages is not in the best interests of children

UNICEF – Volunteering in orphanages. By volunteering in orphanages, many well-intentioned tourists are supporting an industry that tears families apart and exploits children

Transforming Children’s Care

Reports:

child’si foundation (2023 – 2021) – two reports outlining how a move away from institutional care was progressed.

Just Care: Just Volunteering (2021) – This resource uses a Global Citizenship Education approach to delve into the issues.

Children First Report (2019) – This report developed by the End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group.

ECPAT report (2016) – This report, prepared by Tearfund Ireland and Comhlámh, provides a great overview of the work carried out in Ireland since 2016.

Voices:

Voice of Sinet Chan, Care Leaver from Cambodia.

Voice of Stephen Ucembe, Care Leaver from Kenya.

I Volunteered At An Orphanage, And Now I Campaign Against It – Testimony from Anna McKeon after volunteering in an orphanage.

Media coverage of the End Orphanage volunteering campaign (Comhlámh) – Article & Radio Interview

https://samouraimma.com/