Client or Volunteer? Understanding Neoliberalism and Neocolonialism Within International Volunteer Health Work.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Sociology of Health
• International Development

Background:

• International volunteer health work is expanding globally.
• Research on the social organizations coordinating volunteer experiences in the Global South is limited.
• Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a significant role in this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the social organizations within Canadian NGOs involved in health work in Tanzania.
• To understand the underlying social dynamics and power structures in international volunteer health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic study employing multiple, concurrent data collection methods.
• Data collected through text analysis, participant observation, and in-depth interviews.
• Research conducted in both Tanzania and Canada.

Main Results:

• Neoliberalism and neocolonialism were identified as pervasive influences.
• Key social relations identified: "volunteer as client," "experience as commodity," and "free market evaluation."
• These dynamics resulted in volunteers being prioritized over the local community, creating an asymmetrical relationship.

Conclusions:

• International volunteer health work often embeds social inequities.
• The findings highlight the need for greater awareness and action regarding these social disparities.
• Further research is needed to address and mitigate these embedded inequities.