Children Are Not Tourist Attractions: Travel Responsibly in Cambodia (or elsewhere)

The best time to visit Cambodia is now. The dry season between November and February paints Cambodia in vibrant hues, making it a prime time to visit. Lush landscapes and the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat await exploration.

While we hope to attract many visitors to support the local economy, we also want to ensure everyone visiting this wonderful country does so without unintentionally harming the most vulnerable children.

Voluntourism: Good Intentions, Unethical Practices

Many travelers come to Cambodia with a genuine desire to help. This sometimes leads them to volunteer with child-related organizations through unregulated programs, unknowingly promoting "voluntourism." These programs often invite tourists (for a fee or directly through NGOs) to volunteer with organizations that may not require qualifications or experience in social work or childcare and don't conduct proper background checks before placing volunteers with children.

To address this concern and prevent well-meaning tourists from unknowingly contributing to child exploitation, The Child Safe Movement launched the awareness campaign "Children Are Not Tourist Attractions."

Think Before Volunteering with Children

This powerful campaign presented by The Child Safe Movement with UNICEF's support in 2011, highlights the dangers of child exploitation. Their message is clear:

think before volunteering with children.

Travelers with good intentions might not know how to help effectively. To help them, The Child Safe Movement offers 7 specific recommendations, 2 of which I found particularly enlightening:

Top 2 Recommendations

• Tip 1: Think! Children Are Not Tourist Attractions - Let's Treat Them with Respect.

Children have the same rights wherever they live and should never be treated as entertainment. Think: Would you visit an orphanage or slum at home? Take photos of strangers' children? Disrupt education by visiting schools? Imagine a busload of foreigners visiting your local school. Would you find that acceptable? If not, don't do it while traveling.

Travel ChildSafe advice: Put children first and treat them as you would your own, wherever you go.

• Tip 2: Think! Volunteering with Children Feels Good, But Look for Better Ways to Help.

Working with children is a job for local experts, not short-term travelers. Children deserve more than good intentions. They need experienced and skilled caretakers and teachers familiar with the local culture and language.

Travel ChildSafe advice: Ensure your volunteering is a positive experience with the best possible impact. Don't work directly with children; instead, share your professional skills with local staff. Explore other ways to put your talents to use.

Travel Mindfully

Be mindful of your actions while traveling, whether in Cambodia or elsewhere. This not only protects children but also promotes responsible tourism, creating a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Become a Travel ChildSafe advocate by visiting and sharing this page: https://thinkchildsafe.org/7-tips-for-travelers/#what-they-are

Take Action!

If you still want to volunteer in Cambodia, become a skilled-based volunteer by sharing your professional skills with the local staff of selected ethical grassroots organizations. We at ?PDG can help you find opportunities.

#Cambodia? #TravelResponsible? #ChildSafeMovement?? #Professionals doinggood #Skilledbasedvolunteering