Young volunteers from China help Cambodian schools build facilities in Siem Reap, through WoW Education, a Beijing-based organization. (Photo provided to China Daily)
Zheng Kaifeng, former consultant and social media manager of Lonely Planet China, believes travel abroad as a volunteer is rewarding for the most part.
However, like any other expedition, "voluntourism" trips also come with potential safety hazards.
Jiang Jiazhen, a 21-year-old university student in Chongqing, enjoyed working as a volunteer teacher in Bali, Indonesia, last year.
But on a cycling trip to explore the island with friends, Jiang fell off her mountain bike. "One of my teeth was broken－my face was bleeding. I was afraid that my face was disfigured.
"I felt helpless, but the worst part was, I couldn't tell my family that was thousand miles away."
With the help of some locals, Jiang received medical treatment and recovered.
She says others on her team had accidents like being scratched by a monkey or stung by jellyfish, due to negligence.
Zheng says the core value of volunteer tourism is meeting people from diverse backgrounds. It's a chance to look beyond yourself and see new directions for your life, he adds.
However, with its rising popularity, such travel sometimes falls into gray areas. Some students simply use "voluntourism" trips to build their resumes en route to prestigious colleges.
Commercial agencies are also profiting from this trend. Some charge students several thousand yuan for sending them on whirlwind trips.
"We see more people embarking on volunteer travel trips for utilitarian purposes," Zheng says.
He advises young people to look for authentic opportunities and appreciate the spirit of the experience.
"If your volunteer trip looks more like a package vacation, you will end up gaining little in the end," he observes.
