Volunteers sign up looking to gain a gold star by devoting their time by the way of likes and comments propels the negative impacts. Volunteers sign up for a day or a week to do work without doing the necessary education or even understanding the community they are working in. While there is no denying that voluntourism is, in fact, a real epidemic that floods both my Instagram and Facebook feed, there is also no denying the impact that meaningful service can have.

Voluntourism begins with an incorrect volunteer mindset. And it is easy to think that any bit of time and energy is helpful. I fell into the trap too. Before starting college service, I never knew what “meaningful” service actually was. I always thought that anything I could offer was better than nothing. I have done service all my life and now as I learn more about Human Services I constantly think back to how I could have done a better job getting to the know the community and its needs.

From participating in multiple service projects throughout college, I have begun to realize that service can create sustainable impacts, but it must be approached holistically. To prevent a “voluntourist” outcome, people who serve must view it as such.

We are serving, we are not coming into an environment with our privilege and trying to change things, so they seem correct or normal to us. Listening to the community and their needs is what service is. Using an asset-based approach to their resources enables for a more maintainable change. Knowing the history of the area and why it is facing such struggle is also overlooked as an important detail.

Managing expectations are also another important part of service. Ensuring that you understand what work you will be doing is helpful to both you and your service partners. Knowing whether you will be participating in direct service, such as working with children or community members, or indirect service, like completing and filing paperwork, is integral to your experience.

The timeline is also important. If you know how long your project is, it can give you a realistic idea of how much can be accomplished.

Often volunteers enter a project hoping to assist in direct service and are then disappointed and discouraged when it does not pan out. During my recent service trip to Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, our entire group reflected on how was could improve our service every single day and how we could make the most of out our indirect service.

Serving the community is more so a part of being an active citizen rather than gaining personal publicity. Voluntourism does not have to be the main form of short-term service. Know the community, know your own strengths and privilege, and know when to listen rather than talk.