101 East - Cambodia's orphan tourism

With more than 600,000 orphans in Cambodia, we look at the booming business behind the country's orphanages.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 101east
• 101
• east
• cambodia
• orphan
• tourism
• orphans
• orphanages
• business
• holidaymakers
• volunteers
• aljazeera

[livll1]

I like AlJazeera ... versatile, entertainment educating, interesting.

[nadoop]

The orphanage industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. The religious and secular money makers flock to these countries to set up orphanages as a source of revenue to buy big mansions in their countries. Meanwhile, the industry gives young white saviors and guilty white liberals something to feel warm and fuzzy about - and of course allow them to pretend as if the policies of their governments have nothing to do with the rise in orphans around the world.

[choco12323]

This is really depressing, I'm sitting here in the UK thinking how can I help young children in places like Asia and Africa and bring light into their dark situations. If I send money there's no guarantee that it will get to those who need it most and if I try to volunteer I could disrupt their programs?

[trilobright]

I read "orphan tourism" and assumed it was something much, much darker.

[Rinsuki]

Volunteers leave after 3 month and that hurts them and if that keeps happening, they will just stop trusting that an adult figure will stay and take care of them. How sad though some volunteers are in it for the attention and praise. It is hard work to take care of children let alone orphans. When you do this type of work you do it for life. Jesus wouldn't stop being jesus after helping only a few people to get recognition.

[Rinsuki]

@whitehoesanono without one there isn't the other

[whitehoesanono]

@00Petulia00 fuck the darkness try to focus on the light

[00Petulia00]

@whitehoesanono While I agree that some of these people do desperately need help, people aren't careful about how they help them, and carelessness in instances like this can cause disasters. In this case it's created an industry where little children are taken from their parents, and forced to preform for unscreened foreigners in unregulated orphanages. It's not safe for the kids. There are havebeen more than a few pedophiles caught running orphanages with filled with kids and that's sick.

[whitehoesanono]

these people need all them help they can get they are poor and never had shit. finally they get help and certain organizations are against it .......... perhaps these certain organizations are trying to eliminate there competition. .

[wigalert]

This is exploitation. The air head volunteers are getting some feel-good moments for their egos. Next they will make a reality tv show. And be assured, the fat white couple are making fat cash money.

[theng722]

Really nice of you guy help people in my country.

[JesusGodHolySpirit3]

This is more sad to me to see then helpful. I was in an orphanage for 10 years and if I saw this happening in an orphanage I would be sad and traumatized because of course... I do not