criticism of volunteerism
There are critics of everything; movies, food, politics, etc. They allow us to see both sides of an issue, truly challenge our stance, and bring to our attention points we may have missed, or chosen to overlook. The critics of volunteering bring to light very interesting disputes about something that seems so harmless, so trivial. They question motives and the consequences, truly making one wonder if they should even volunteer. Adam Davis and Ivan Illich are very prominent critics. They state that we have selfish intents when we serve and question whether we are actually doing any good.
Are we really doing any good when we go to another country or area to volunteer and perform acts of service? According to Illich, “You will not help anybody by your good intentions.” That statement seems a little harsh, but one should consider a few things before labeling him an extremist. Are you traveling to this area in order to change the people there? Whether you realize it or not, wherever you go, you bring your cultural veil with you. That veil hinders you from not only learning about their society, but also believing that the only right way is your own. One reason why I serve is to learn about different societies than my own, but I cannot say I am not biased when I do come to know their lifestyles, assuming that the American way is the only prosperous way.
One also has to question whether the people want help. If they don’t want help, are you, in Illich’s words, solely “creating disorder?” For example, this year, a big movement stirred called Kony 2012. It aimed at bringing awareness about Joseph Kony and his army’s killings of innocent civilians of Africa. An American non-profit organization called Invisible Children created this video that spread worldwide, gaining millions of views. Top Ugandans officials claim the video as false though. According to an article by CNN World, the video misrepresented the situation because Kony’s army is no longer active. What started out as an innocent attempt to change social injustice, to help the people of a poverty-stricken country, turned into a big fiasco, creating more chaos for the native people. The organization took it upon themselves to try to initiate change without going to Africa first, observing the situation, and discovering what the people living there want to see happen. Sometimes, it is best to talk to the one who is being served, to assess what they want and need, not just assume.
Are you really fixing a problem when you go? Sometimes, this aspect cannot be helped nor should it stop you from performing that act of service, but it makes one really think if they are leaving an impact. Are you merely putting a band-aid on the problem? It is like the parable about the fisherman. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Giving people bottled water is different than putting in water filters, though they both handle the circumstance of unclean water.
Criticism of volunteering not only confronts the “what’s” of volunteering, but also the “whys”. Why are you going? Why do you want to help? Is it because you see them suffering or because you have suffered too? Adam Davis’s underlying tone is that all acts of service are selfish. We do them with parallel motives of helping others while helping ourselves. We help others because it makes us feel good about ourselves by alleviating the guilt that we are not living more humbly. We feel a responsibility to serve. “By serving others, we serve God”, Davis states. Humans are selfish people, and it is a fact of life that we have selfish intents. Before serving though, we need to assess the motive behind doing it and consider whether it is more selfish, or do we really have a desire to see things done different.
Both Illich and Davis bring to attention the importance of truly questioning serving. Illich says that good intentions are irrelevant if the consequences leave others worst off, especially if they had not wanted the service to begin with. Davis addresses the motives behind service, questioning whether service is done for selfish purposes. Don’t allow the critics to stop one from volunteering though. Volunteering and service are needed and their opinions only allow for us to reflect on volunteering better.
Are we really doing any good when we go to another country or area to volunteer and perform acts of service? According to Illich, “You will not help anybody by your good intentions.” That statement seems a little harsh, but one should consider a few things before labeling him an extremist. Are you traveling to this area in order to change the people there? Whether you realize it or not, wherever you go, you bring your cultural veil with you. That veil hinders you from not only learning about their society, but also believing that the only right way is your own. One reason why I serve is to learn about different societies than my own, but I cannot say I am not biased when I do come to know their lifestyles, assuming that the American way is the only prosperous way.
One also has to question whether the people want help. If they don’t want help, are you, in Illich’s words, solely “creating disorder?” For example, this year, a big movement stirred called Kony 2012. It aimed at bringing awareness about Joseph Kony and his army’s killings of innocent civilians of Africa. An American non-profit organization called Invisible Children created this video that spread worldwide, gaining millions of views. Top Ugandans officials claim the video as false though. According to an article by CNN World, the video misrepresented the situation because Kony’s army is no longer active. What started out as an innocent attempt to change social injustice, to help the people of a poverty-stricken country, turned into a big fiasco, creating more chaos for the native people. The organization took it upon themselves to try to initiate change without going to Africa first, observing the situation, and discovering what the people living there want to see happen. Sometimes, it is best to talk to the one who is being served, to assess what they want and need, not just assume.
Are you really fixing a problem when you go? Sometimes, this aspect cannot be helped nor should it stop you from performing that act of service, but it makes one really think if they are leaving an impact. Are you merely putting a band-aid on the problem? It is like the parable about the fisherman. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Giving people bottled water is different than putting in water filters, though they both handle the circumstance of unclean water.
Criticism of volunteering not only confronts the “what’s” of volunteering, but also the “whys”. Why are you going? Why do you want to help? Is it because you see them suffering or because you have suffered too? Adam Davis’s underlying tone is that all acts of service are selfish. We do them with parallel motives of helping others while helping ourselves. We help others because it makes us feel good about ourselves by alleviating the guilt that we are not living more humbly. We feel a responsibility to serve. “By serving others, we serve God”, Davis states. Humans are selfish people, and it is a fact of life that we have selfish intents. Before serving though, we need to assess the motive behind doing it and consider whether it is more selfish, or do we really have a desire to see things done different.
Both Illich and Davis bring to attention the importance of truly questioning serving. Illich says that good intentions are irrelevant if the consequences leave others worst off, especially if they had not wanted the service to begin with. Davis addresses the motives behind service, questioning whether service is done for selfish purposes. Don’t allow the critics to stop one from volunteering though. Volunteering and service are needed and their opinions only allow for us to reflect on volunteering better.