section .
Alongside institutions , volunteers themselves equally contribute to spreading Eurocentric values and children ’ s social and cultural capital deprivation . Many positive reviews of the Agape programme reflect volunteers ’ self-centred intentions , rather than interest in Kenyan communities . Former participants share highlights such as meeting new people , comfortable volunteer houses or beautiful children in orphanages ( McQueen , 2014 ). Another reviewer recommends the programme as a “ CV booster ”, claiming participation in the programme helped them reach professional goals ( k20kat , 2016 ). Although these reviews could be considered outliers , others highlighting helping others do not fare any better . Reviews about volunteering motivations claim “[…] among the most important is the feeling of gratitude you ’ ll experience when you help someone in need ” ( Van Aucken , 2018 ). This quote embodies a core problem with international volunteering - ‘ helper ’ s high ’,
Ema Gazdik
108 as helping others releases endorphins and improves both physical and mental health of the helper ( Luks , 1988 , p . 39 ). Furthermore , Agape quotes studies about the improvement of participants ’ mental health among positive effects of volunteering ( Mikey , 2018 ). While an honourable cause , personal development should not be international volunteering ’ s underlying motive . Then again , as Butler and Tomazos argue , whether helping others unselfishly – altruistically – even exists as a motivating factor remains unclear . Reasons cited include underlying psychological rewards and desires to conform to societal norms , encouraging altruistic behaviour . Empathy , emotional responses to perceiving ( often negative ) emotions of others , could also serve as international volunteering ’ s motivating factor . However , empathy too can be taught by society or corrupted by media ( 2011 ). Furthermore , the concept of distance exposes the shortcomings of the altruistic , empathetic approach to motivating factors . If truly driven by selfless intentions ,