poverty alleviation through sustainable tourism development: an idea or reality? by hannah won
DESCRIPTION
A debate has arisen over the actual effects the tourism industry has within developing countries, and to what extent it helps the poor. The concept of tourism as a means of poverty alleviation has been around for nearly a decade, but there is a continuing debate over its effectiveness. Is tourism actually helping to give families and communities a better life or are here leakages that we do not see? Hear from various credible sources including the people on the ground and decide for yourself.TRANSCRIPT
THE ORPHANAGE INDUSTRY
STATISTICS • 40% of population
is under age 18 • 1 out of 20 die
before age 5 • 28% suffer from
malnutrition
VULNERABILITIES • Poverty • Abandonment • Abuse & Neglect • Child Labor
CHILDREN IN CAMBODIA
§ Steady decrease in number of orphans since 1980s
§ 154 orphanages in 2005
§ 269 orphanages in 2010
§ Estimated 12,000 children in orphanages
§ 74% of children in orphanages have parents
§ Most orphans are cared for by families and communities
ORPHANAGES IN CAMBODIA
TOURISM AND ORPHANAGES
§ Concentrated growth of orphanages in tourist areas
§ Tourist donations creating
high demand for orphanages
§ Sophisticated scams and
rampant corruption
§ Lack of child protection and
violation of child rights
UNITED NATIONS GUIDELINES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE CARE OF CHILDREN 2009
RGC POLICY ON ALTERNATIVE CARE FOR CHILDREN 2006 & 2010
STOCKHOLM DECLARATION ON CHILDREN & RESIDENTIAL CARE 2003
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 1985
Children have the right to grow up in a family.
Families should be supported to care for their own children.
Removal of a child from a family should be the last resort and only temporary.
Poverty should never be the only reason to remove a child from the family.
LEGISLATION
EFFECTS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE
60 years of research across all continents
Negatively affects
cognitive, socio-emotional,
and physical development
Difficulty entering
adult society
Higher risk of abuse
INSTITUTIONALIZATION
• Poverty • Homelessness • Discrimination • Substance Abuse • Gang Activity • Criminality • Prostitution • Isolation • Depression • Psychotic Disorders • Suicidal Behaviors
Youths who have grown up in orphanages are at significantly higher risk of suffering from:
COSTS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE
Short Term Costs
§ Land and buildings
§ Round the clock caregivers
§ Cooks, guards, drivers
§ Administration
§ Fundraising
Long Term Costs
§ Specialized services for institutionalized youths • Counseling
• Rehabilitation
• Life Skills
§ Incarceration
§ Unemployment
VOLUNTEERING IN ORPHANAGES
“This was the best experience of my life. When given the opportunity to be involved
in such an outstanding project, we owe it to ourselves to participate.”
“I realized that as I stood in an orphanage surrounded by parentless kids somewhere in the depths of Africa, I’d never felt more joy or
happiness in my life.”
“It was so sad to say goodbye to all the kids I’d built up a bond with over the few weeks that I was there
but I’d definitely like to go back.”
HELP SPREAD THE MESSAGE
www.orphanages.no/index.html
www.thinkchildsafe.org/thinkbeforevisiting
www.replace-campaign.org/index.html
www.hopeandhomes.org
www.wearelumos.org
RESOURCES
UNICEF
Save the Children
Royal
Government of Cambodia
Ministry of Social Affairs
Friends
International
The Bucharest Early
Intervention Project