We have always taken a cautious approach to ‘Community Aid’ programmes. In particular, we realised MANY years ago that most so called ‘Orphanages’ were economic scams. This article in the NZ media presents the problem well. We offer community development opportunities, but these are designed to offer a viable short term input to a scheme and hopefully enthuse the student participants to continue supporting correct programmes in their future lives. Our founder spent time in Nepal – at end of exploratory adult tour he escorted overland through Tibet – late last year and personally visited a school project we will support and build a new travel programme around.
NZ students’ pricey trips to volunteer in poor areas could be doing major harm – including fuelling human trafficking, non-profits say.