Leaving 'volunturism' behind

' Volunturism ' has resurfaced in the public debate this summer following several cases that have gone viral on social media. The term refers to tourist trips that incorporate a short volunteer experience, a practice that Lafede contrasts with a model of responsible international volunteering , based on preparation, links with local organizations and a relationship that goes beyond a one-off experience.

The federation warns that turning a solidarity stay into content on the networks or into another product within an organized trip can trivialize a practice that, when developed through specialized entities, can be a tool for transformation and global justice. The problem, according to this approach, appears when volunteering becomes a consumer experience without preparation or a real link with the organization working on the ground.

The scale of the international volunteering phenomenon is significant. According to the United Nations Volunteers' State of the World's Volunteering 2026 Report, approximately one-third of the world's working-age population, some 2.1 billion people, engage in some form of volunteering activity each month.

In Spain, the organizations integrated into the State Coordinator of ONGD totaled 17,825 volunteers , according to the 2025 Sector Report. Of these, 555 participated in international projects and 71% were women, mainly in initiatives developed in Bolivia and Colombia.

Among the entities federated in Lafede , nearly 700 people participated in volunteering experiences last year. COCAT sent 555 people to international projects and hosted 183 in Catalonia, while other organizations such as the International Civil Service, SED Catalunya, SETEM Catalunya, Bosco Global or Camins – Fundació Social Escola Pia also promoted experiences in several countries.

Beyond a personal experience

Lafede argues that international volunteering should be understood as a form of citizen participation linked to global justice and not as an isolated individual experience. For this reason, he suggests that these initiatives should be accompanied by specialized entities and should be built on horizontal relationships and a track record with local organizations.

In this model, the local counterpart plays a central role, as it is the one who knows first-hand the needs of the population and the territory. Volunteering, therefore, is part of a broader process that is not limited to the volunteer's stay.

In the words of Riana Wulandari , a United Nations Volunteer working with UNICEF in Indonesia, "volunteering has never been about doing everything. It's about being present in the places where it matters, and contributing to something with lasting value."

A 2018 study on volunteerism and development in the Asia-Pacific region by Yea, Sin and Griffiths warns that international volunteerism can "have a propensity to replicate colonial relations" when it is built on unequal power relations. The authors point out that in such cases, the benefits may accrue more to the volunteers than to the host communities.

The study also emphasizes building bonds , and points out that the value of these experiences lies not so much in resolving macrostructural inequalities, but in generating relationships of trust and lasting bonds between people and organizations that can lead to future collaborations.

A process before, during and after

The criteria that Lafede defends are included in his Decalogue for Responsible International Volunteering , which presents volunteering as a complete process consisting of preparation, stay and return, and not just as a one-off trip.

Prior training also occupies a prominent place in this approach. The Decalogue establishes that this must incorporate ecological, decolonial and feminist perspectives before participating in an international experience.

Another principle is that the initiative responds to a real demand from local organizations. Lafede also defends that the relationships between the participating people and organizations must be horizontal, without reproducing the dynamics of welfare or salvationism.

The way in which the experience is communicated is also a relevant aspect . The Decalogue states that communication, also on social networks, must protect the dignity and right to the image of people, especially in the case of children.

This perspective implies explaining volunteering from a perspective of rights and capabilities, and not presenting people or communities as objects of compassion. Lafede claims, in this sense, the role of specialized entities as benchmarks of good practices in the field of international volunteering.

Commitment is also local

Commitment to transforming global inequalities does not necessarily require going abroad . Lafede also advocates local volunteering as a form of participation and educational and transformative experience that can be developed from the closest environment.

This option allows you to collaborate with community and neighborhood entities that need volunteers to support their projects. Lafede also invites you to explore these opportunities for participation through federated organizations and other initiatives present in the territory.

Local volunteering also avoids the need to travel long distances . According to a study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the UAB, air transport accounts for 95.9% of the emissions generated by tourism in the city of Barcelona.

The need for social involvement is also present in the immediate context . According to data collected by Idescat, 24.8% of the population of Catalonia was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025. For people who want to find a space for participation , Lafede refers to its directory of federated organizations, as well as the map of local volunteering points in Catalonia and the Volunteering in a Click platform, which collect opportunities to collaborate with entities throughout the territory.