Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Voluntourism in different contexts – challenges and way forward

Whether through volunteer programs, short-term “helping missions,” or project trips, voluntourism appears in many forms and is often promoted as a way to do good. Yet well-intentioned help can unintentionally reinforce harmful structures, strengthen existing power relations, and shift attention away from those directly affected by global border regimes and ongoing colonial continuities. While the volunteer sector continues to grow, many people still travel with the desire to “help” without always questioning the images, expectations, and inequalities that are produced along the way. So what does voluntourism actually do—and how can we engage without causing harm?

In this panel discussion, moderated by Carolin from glokal e.V., Dolly, Laila, and Malika will share their perspectives and experiences. Together, they will explore why voluntourism is problematic, what structural dynamics underpin it, and how it impacts local communities, political struggles, and individual lived realities. At the same time, the discussion will ask how solidarity can be reimagined: What forms of support are meaningful and responsible? How can exchange, engagement, and international cooperation be shaped without reproducing colonial patterns? And how can we strengthen one another, rather than bringing supposed “solutions” from the outside?

Following the discussion, there will be space for questions, reflections, and experiences from the audience. // We warmly invite you to listen, reflect, and join the conversation.