AIDS orphan tourism: A threat to young children in residential care

Abstract


The dominant global perception that sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an “AIDS orphan crisis”, coupled with growing trends in international voluntourism, has fostered a potentially high-risk situation for already vulnerable young children in the region. This article reviews the current discourse on what is being called a crisis of care for children, as well as literature on out-of-home/family care and its adverse impacts on child development. We also describe an emerging “AIDS orphan tourism”, and show how short-term attachments formed between children in group residential care and volunteers may worsen known impacts of institutional care. This article advocates against the exploitation of especially vulnerable young children in sub-Saharan Africa for commercial gain by tour operators in the current growth of “AIDS orphan tourism”. We instead propose that young people who wish to volunteer their time and talents to assist children less fortunate than themselves be properly informed about children's development and attachments to others, as well of the vulnerabilities and rights of young children, especially those outside of family care.



Linda M. Richter Amy Norman | source: Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 397 |
Categories: Health


Other articles

Rethinking institutional care using family-based alternative child care system for orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria

The need for alternative child care in Nigeria and other developing societies around the world is crucial given the increasing…

Read more

Public policies and the orphans of AIDS in Africa

International help to care for Africa's orphans is essential not only for their immediate welfare but also to protect the…

Read more

Measuring Symptoms of Psychopathology in Zambian Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Scale Validation and Psychometric Evaluation

There is a paucity of validated mental health measures for assessing psychological well-being among HIV-affected youth.…

Read more

Orphans of the AIDS Epidemic: An Examination of Clinical Level Problems of Children

Objective: The percentage of children with clinical levels of internalizing and externalizing problems before and after…

Read more