Despite the good intentions that have motivated international volunteering for much of its existence, it is important to consider its other, less positive aspects. Historically, the context of international volunteering has been defined by invasions, conquests, and colonialism. In the past, host populations have suffered from the negative effects of volunteering, which include the arrival of overzealous missionaries. In many cases, host communities had very little say about the types of activities that volunteers should or should not get involved with. Today’s volunteers will therefore rarely be entering into a situation that is not in some ways defined or affected by the past actions of people from developed countries.
“When you arrive in another country, you will not be the first foreigner to set foot in that land. Soldiers who invaded and conquered or missionaries who persuaded and converted will have preceded you…You may follow in the footsteps of tourists who have come simply to wallow in the local fleshpots or you might arrive in the shadow of previous volunteers who enthusiastically implemented a project that raised expectations but failed unequivocally.”
Collins, DeZerega, Heckscher, How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, (2002: 19)
An international volunteer’s relationship with the host community will be, to some extent, affected by the history of volunteering and also by the historical relationship between developed and developing countries. Some of the big issues informed by this history that need to be considered by any volunteer are power relations, racism, and gender discrimination. While overseas, volunteers are likely to encounter these issues, all of which can have complex effects on the host communities. In this section, we will explore these issues further and look at why it is important for volunteers to consider them.