Denna uppsats uppmärksammar fenomenet volontärturism som anses vara mer utav en välgörande form av resa, där volontärer anmäler sig frivilligt att arbeta ideellt med olika projekt runt om i världen, en turismform som är ömsesidigt fördelaktig för båda parter. Volontärer reser själva eller med en organisation till olika länder för att erbjuda sin tid och hjälp i olika projekt, bland annat för att få erfarenhet och en upplevelse i retur. Syftet med denna studie är att begreppsliggöra vad volontärturism är och dess innebörd, samt undersöka hur en volontärturists vardag ser ut, innefattande deras arbetsuppgifter, förpliktelser och upplevelser i Kenya. Sedermera undersöker vi även volontärturisternas förväntningar kontra den faktiska upplevelsen på deras resa till värdnationen.  För att få svar på vårt syfte och frågeställningar har vi genomfört intervjuer med åtta volontärer, varav två skedde på plats i Nairobi, Kenya, samt sex intervjuer per mail. Vidare genomfördes intervjuer med två olika volontärorganisationer, nationella samt internationella. Organisationerna som intervjuades var ICYE och PeaceWorks. Det finns både ideella- och kommersiella organisationer som förmedlar volontärer till olika projekt runt om i världen. Vi har valt att rikta in oss på ideella organisationer, dessa två nämnda ovan.   De resultat som framkom av intervjuerna var bland annat huruvida volontärturism anses vara en turismform eller ej går att diskuteras. Vissa likheter i definitionerna av turist samt volontärturist framkom, dock såg inte volontärerna sig själva som turister. Vidare framkom det att det kulturella utbytet som sker vid volontärresor var något som lockade samt något volontärerna saknade vid hemkomsten.   På plats i värdnationen arbetade informanterna inom mikrofinans samt på barnhem där lek med barnen och vardagssysslor präglade dagarna. Projekten som erbjuds varierar men de mest vanliga är att arbeta på barnhem, utbildning, miljö- och naturfrågor och medicinsk hjälp. På fritiden valde majoriteten att upptäcka landet samt kringliggande länder, så som Zanzibar och Uganda. Genom intervjuerna fick vi även veta vem den typiska volontären var, innefattande målgrupp, kön samt ålder. Utifrån informationen vi mottog, analyserade vi resultatet för att senare dra slutsatser. / This paper draws attention to the phenomenon of volunteer tourism that is considered to be more of a beneficial form of travel, where volunteers sign up voluntarily to volunteer with various projects around the world, a form of tourism that is mutually beneficial to both parties. The projects vary but the most common is to work in orphanages, education, environmental and natural issues and medical assistance. The purpose of this study is to conceptualize what volunteer tourism is and its implications, and examine how a volunteer tourist everyday looks, including their duties, responsibilities and experiences in Kenya. Later on, we also investigate the volunteer tourists' expectations versus the actual experience on their journey to the host nation. To get answers to our purpose and research questions, we conducted interviews with eight volunteers, two of which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, and six interviews by email. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with two different volunteer organizations, national and international. The organizations interviewed were ICYE and PeaceWorks. There are both non-profit- and commercial organizations that supply volunteers for various projects around the world. We have chosen to target the non-profit organizations, those two mentioned above. The results that emerged from the interviews were that whether volunteer tourism is considered a form of tourism or not can be discussed. Some similarities in the definitions of tourism and volunteer tourism emerged, however, did not the volunteers see themselves as tourists. It was also found that the cultural exchange that takes place at the volunteer travel was something that attracted and some volunteers were missing when they returned back home. On location in the host nation informants worked in microfinance and in orphanages where playing with the kids and everyday tasks characterized the days. The projects that offered vary, but the most common is to work in orphanages, education, environmental and natural issues and medical assistance. During leisure, the majority chose to discover the country and the surrounding countries, such as Zanzibar and Uganda. Through the interviews we also found out who the typical volunteer was, including target group, gender and age. Based on the information we received, we analyzed the results and later draw conclusions.

While the study of volunteer tourism has been growing over the past decade, there is limited literature that takes a global approach, whereby one explores the perspective of a number of stakeholder groups in such experiences. The aim of this project was to fill this gap by looking at the volunteer tourism experience from four perspectives, namely the volunteer, the organization, the host family, and the community at large. The focus in this case was on the experiences and expectations of these groups. The research was qualitative; based primarily upon interviews. The research for this project took place in Ghana. It was found that the three local stakeholders (the organization members, the host family members and people from the broader community) generally viewed the experience similarly. Volunteers often expressed views that set them apart from the other groups. Main themes for the groups generally revolved around cultural differences, communication and progression through stages of the experience. The stages of the experience showed three main stages, those referring to the time before the volunteer, during the volunteer???s stay and the time after the volunteer???s departure. Cultural differences included discussions of culture shock, stereotypes, and mis-communications in cross-cultural dialogue. Communication was a major issue, and was to be found lacking between all groups. In regards to communication there was also a suggestion for continuing contact and relationships between the locals and volunteers beyond the volunteer???s time in the community.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Sport Management in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Volunteer tourism, as a form of leisure and/or recreation, is one of the fastest growing forms of tourism globally. It has also become a critical human resource for many organisations in the Western Cape, South Africa who rely on the support of volunteer tourists. A review of the current literature showed that most volunteer tourism research studies is volunteer-tourist-centred and focus on the motivations for participation and the benefits of participation to the volunteer tourist. Very few studies consider the effect of volunteer tourism on the host organisation and within the South African context only two volunteer tourist profile studies exist. Both studies excluded host organisation factors that indicated how host organisations benefited from hosting volunteer tourists. This research study focussed on creating a comprehensive profile of volunteer tourists at SANCCOB (a non-profit seabird rehabilitation centre) in Table View, Western Cape, South Africa. The profile included demographic factors, motivational factors and SANCCOB specific information. Data were collected through an anonymous, self-administered, online questionnaire and from the data, five conclusions were made. Firstly, the demographic factors of volunteer tourists that participated in SANCCOB’s international volunteer programme was similar to other South African based volunteer tourism studies. Secondly, to experience something different and new was the most important motivational factor for volunteer tourists. Thirdly, volunteer tourists derived considerable benefit from volunteering at SANCCOB. Fourthly, volunteer tourists continued to support SANCCOB through social and financial activities after completing the programme, indicating that SANCCOB (as a host organisation) benefited from hosting volunteer tourists and that as a result, a mutually beneficial relationship exists between this host organisation and the volunteer tourist. Lastly, this study provided SANCCOB with valuable information for volunteer management, as well as future marketing and fundraising campaigns.

abstract: Engagement as a concept and emerging theory has been explored, but key elements have not been clearly described, and as such, work has not been comprehensive in nature. Research was needed to explore the concept and theory of engagement in general, as well its application to the study of volunteer tourism. Additional research was also needed to incorporate youth perspectives of a volunteer tourism program, along with exploration of engagement impacts on program youth. The purpose of this case study was to explore participant engagement in a volunteer tourism youth education program and impacts on program youth as perceived by program participants (volunteer tourist teachers, adult residents, and program youth). Confined within the Engagement Theoretical Framework, data were retrieved from nonprofit documents and websites, researcher observations, individual interviews, and focus groups (two focus groups used participant generated photo elicitation method). Findings suggest participant engagement in a volunteer tourism program is related to the themes of connection, communication, and hope. The primary reason participant engagement in this program is due to the Mpingo (tree), the symbolic bridge between community members and volunteer tourist teachers. This culturally relevant symbol has linkages to the study of signs (or symbols) called semiotics. Through volunteers traveling to this area to teach, this culturally relevant symbol helps to connect, aids in the communication between, and gives hope to, participants. Significant contributions of this study to literature include: volunteer tourist and community member engagement plays an important role in the planning, and the sustaining, of volunteer tourism community development programs today; program youth perspectives about program impacts may result in prospective youth leadership and future adult civic engagement; program skill matched volunteers are likely to be repeat volunteers which leads to group cohesion and program sustainability; and the major theme of hope appears to be a significant motive for program participation in a community development project. In terms of deep meaning ascribed to culturally relevant symbols, this unique finding contributes to engagement research by understanding there are multiple dimensions involved in a diverse group of participants engaged in a specific community program. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Community Resources and Development 2018