We are proud to announce that Ayana Journeys is partnering with Rethink Orphanages to raise awareness about the damaging effects of orphanage tourism, and to connect the travel sector to more responsible and meaningful alternatives.
Rethink Orphanages Network: better solutions for children is a cross-sector network that aims to prevent the unnecessary institutionalisation of children by shifting the way Australia engages with overseas aid and development.
For a long time we have brought to light the issue of orphanage tourism in our educational trips for students, and increasingly have begun engaging travellers outside of our own tours too. We regularly host educational workshops for other student groups travelling to Cambodia on the matter, and are excited to be launching Wisdom Wednesday speaker series on child protection in tourism. In addition, our team have been involved with various initiatives and campaigns that seek to educate about the harmful impacts of the orphanage tourism industry – such as being an active member of the Learning Service movement, contributing writer for Adventures Less Ordinary, and featured viewpoints in GoPro’s Beyond Cambodia and The Voluntourist documentaries.
We are honoured to be cited as a recommended resource on the Rethink Orphanages website. We would love to hear from you if you have been considering volunteering at or visiting a residential care centre, and are seeking advice about ways to be a responsible traveller.
More about Ayana Journeys and orphanage tourism on our blog:
