Students read Biddle’s 2014 article “The Problem With Little White Girls, Boys and Voluntourism” which critiques and exposes the inefficacy of unskilled voluntourism, a common, yet often damaging, practice. Prior to her visit, Biddle asked each student to research a specific “voluntourism” organization and create a brief  “sales-pitch" presentation, complete with a pros and cons list. Students discovered that while hile some of the organizations stayed true to their mission statement, many had darker underbellies including the usage of patronizing terminology, unsustainable practices, financial corruption, and intentional misbranding. Biddle’s discussion with the class focused primarily on how everyday people can continue to engage in service learning without accidentally perpetuating a cycle of harm by engaging in such organizations.

Students asked Biddle questions ranging from: the inspiration for her work, the contents of her book “Ours to Explore” (scheduled for publication in 2020), and her opinions on the aid industry and how we can mitigate its deficits.

Story provided by Sammi Pohly'19