Volunteer Programmes , Empathy , and Harm
Ema Gadzik explores how Kenyan volunteering programme Agape Volunteers induces empathy in potential volunteers and how Agape Volunteers and similar programmes ultimately exemplify Eurocentric capitalist systems of superiority and self-centeredness .
The focus of this essay is the Kenya childcare volunteering programme offered by Agape Volunteers . I will initially address how the programme induces empathy in its users . I will then concentrate on the ideas of social and cultural capital and outline Africa ’ s role in European past development in this context . I will demonstrate international volunteering in vulnerable communities creates a power inequality , imposing European values on indigenous cultures . Lastly , I will assert that Agape ’ s support of orphanages and volunteers ’ self-centred motives harm Kenyan institutionalised children by robbing them of their social and cultural capital . I will ultimately argue this harm happens at the expense of volunteers capitalising volunteering opportunities as employability boosts and
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psychological rewards from ‘ helping ’ others . I will conclude the Agape programme prioritises the volunteers ’ needs over the Kenyan children ’ s and exemplifies the Eurocentric capitalist system . I will begin with a brief overview of the programme ’ s key features .
As described on the organisation ’ s website , Agape volunteers work with children in orphanages , referred to as care homes . Agape describes institutionalisation as a temporary solution but admits many of these children have living parents or relatives . The volunteering programme ’ s tasks include teaching institutionalised children , running afternoon activities , cleaning or cooking . More importantly , volunteers are encouraged to “[ help ] to foster a sense of family and
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