BootsnAll Travel Community

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050131-115004-8640r.htm

Interesting article. It brings up many great points about volunteering overseas:

1. Sometimes times it is better to just send money

2. Volunteers doing manual labor CAN take jobs from local workers

3. The problem of religious volunteers

quote:

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While villagers are welcoming volunteers and their help, one of the growing concerns now is towards the Christian groups that are trying to angle for new converts.

Recently, three Christian volunteers were seen in an Islamic school in Bank Kamala, just across from the local Mosque, playing a "Jesus loves you" tape to the young children gathered there.

"This is deeply offensive and completely inappropriate," says Dionysius who was there on the day.

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Unfortunatley, with so many people going to volunteer it's going to be hard to form some master plan to see that everything is rebuilt and lives are restored. I think that its important for people to donate money, because that is the root of all of this, and see that the dead are all properly buried, ect. I don't see the point in building a playground, especially right now. I understand the volunteers concern that there will be a long term psychological impact on these children but meanwhile in other villages there a children who are still having to take handouts.
And I know there was another thread somewhere around here that was talking about taking orphans in to Christian orphanages, but playing 'Jesus loves you' outside of an Islamic school? That's lame and I find it offensive. The kids are looking for help, there not looking to be converted!

Is it just me, or is anyone else bothered by how much attention Phuket gets re: the Tsunami? Phuket was hit much less than Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and even Khao Lak. Of course Phuket is a well-known tourist destination, but why does that matter now? Shouldn't it matter who needs it the most, not what is the most televised or maybe the most glamorous? Why isn't a glut of helpers showing up in Khao Lak? Don't get me wrong, these people are sacrificing their own time and money to try to help others, so please don't attack me for bringing this up. It's just something I wondered about....has anyone else thought about it?