scholarly journals Experiences of Voluntourism in Guangzhou, Mainland China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kirk James McDowall

<p>Volunteer tourism is a relatively new field that usually involves a young person volunteering in a foreign country to improve the social conditions of a local community. In the past decade, there has been an academic focus on this topic that suggests there are potential benefits for the participants involved. However, critical analyses from a post-development perspective have recently highlighted the number of risks involved with these projects. The findings from these studies also emphasis the underlying goals of voluntourism, which can include creating a connection and understanding between the people involved in these projects, in addition to the projects being viewed as significant by the participants. This thesis will test if the experiences of voluntourists in a selected voluntourism project in Guangzhou, Mainland China relate to this goal. The results revealed that the project was considered significant by the participants involved as a result of recognising the importance of place to all participants, the identity of the foreign volunteer and how they relate to place and the members of that place. The recommendations from the academic literature can also lead to a long term connection and greater understanding between the people involved, by making comparisons with the process of integration. Through these findings, it can argued the experiences from the voluntourism project in Mainland China relates to the underlying goals of voluntourism, and a new body of knowledge is emerging in this field, which emphasises ways to improve the implementation of these projects.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kirk James McDowall

<p>Volunteer tourism is a relatively new field that usually involves a young person volunteering in a foreign country to improve the social conditions of a local community. In the past decade, there has been an academic focus on this topic that suggests there are potential benefits for the participants involved. However, critical analyses from a post-development perspective have recently highlighted the number of risks involved with these projects. The findings from these studies also emphasis the underlying goals of voluntourism, which can include creating a connection and understanding between the people involved in these projects, in addition to the projects being viewed as significant by the participants. This thesis will test if the experiences of voluntourists in a selected voluntourism project in Guangzhou, Mainland China relate to this goal. The results revealed that the project was considered significant by the participants involved as a result of recognising the importance of place to all participants, the identity of the foreign volunteer and how they relate to place and the members of that place. The recommendations from the academic literature can also lead to a long term connection and greater understanding between the people involved, by making comparisons with the process of integration. Through these findings, it can argued the experiences from the voluntourism project in Mainland China relates to the underlying goals of voluntourism, and a new body of knowledge is emerging in this field, which emphasises ways to improve the implementation of these projects.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-43
Author(s):  
Emma Callon

This article analyzes several characteristics of two of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programs (TFWPs): The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). First, I consider the social and economic contexts in which these programs have emerged. Second, I discuss how these programs maintain racial and gendered hierarchies. Third, I problematize the relationship TFWPs have with citizenship status, as well as critique TFWPs as a long-term solution to Canadian labour shortages. Last, I discuss the potential benefits of these TFWPs and suggest alternatives and potential improvements to the programs. Using a Marxist framework, this analysis situates Canada’s TFWPs within the broader political economy and argues that global capitalism and the state interact to serve the people and economies of the Global North at the expense of migrant workers from the Global South. Cet article examine deux programmes des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (PTET) du Canada: le Programme des travailleurs agricoles saisonniers (PTAS) et le Programme concernant les aides familiaux résidants (PAFR). Cet essai examine plusieurs aspects des PTET. Premièrement, je tiens compte du contexte social et économique dans lequel ces programmes sont apparus. Deuxièmement, j’explique comment ces programmes maintiennent une hiérarchie basée sur la race et le sexe. Troisièmement, je pose le problème des relations entre les PTET et le statut de citoyen, et je formule également une critique du PTET comme solution à long terme à la pénurie de main-d’œuvre canadienne. Enfin, je discute des avantages potentiels de ces PTET et propose des solutions de rechange et des façons d’améliorer les programmes. À l’aide d’un cadre d’analyse marxiste, les PTET du Canada sont évalués globalement dans le contexte de l’économie politique et il est proposé que le capitalisme mondial et l’État interagissent au service des citoyens et des économies de l’hémisphère nord, au détriment des travailleurs migrants en provenance de l’hémisphère sud.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dade Prat Untarti

ABSTRAK: Permasalahan pokok dalam penelitian ini adalah: (1) Apa latar belakang terbentuknya Desa Talaga Besar Kecamatan Talaga Raya Kabupaten Buton Tengah? (2) Bagaimana berkembangan Desa Talaga Besar Kecamatan Talaga Raya Kabupaten Buton Tengah Tahun 1977-2017? Metode sejarah tersebut adalah: (a) Pemilihan topik (b) Heuristik (Pengumpulan Data) (c) Verifikasi (Kritik Sejarah) (d) Interpretasi (e) Historiografi (kritik sejarah). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa: (1) Desa Talaga Besar awalnya hanya dijadikan tempat untuk berkebun atau bercocok tanam, misalnya menanam jagung dan ubi kayu sebagai makanan pokok masyarakat setempat dan pada umumnya masyarakat Buton. Karena seiring berjalannya waktu dan peradaban serta jumlah penduduk semakin bertambah banyak. Pemerintah daerah berinisiatif memekarkan desa Talaga Besar menjadi desa definitif. Faktor-faktor yang mendukung terbentuknya Desa Talaga Besar ini ialah: (a) Adanya peranan pemimpin yang selalu memberikan motivasi kepada warga untuk aktif dalam setiap kegiatan yang sifatnya membangun. (b) Faktor pendukung diantaranya faktor geografis (wilayah), faktor demografi (penduduk), dan faktor ekonomi. (2) Perkembangan Desa Talaga Besar dalam bidang ekonomi, sebagian besar masyarakat Talaga Besar menggantungkan hidupnya di bidang pertanian dan perdagangan yang telah dilakukan dan dikembangkan secara turun temurun. Di bidang sosial, hubungan sosial kemasyarakatan antara warga Desa Talaga Besar cukup harmonis. Di bidang pendidikan, perkembangan pendidikan di Desa Talaga Besar pada khususnya dan Kecamatan Talaga Raya pada umumnya mengalami perkembangan pendidikan yang boleh dikatakan sudah cukup baik dan infrastruktur lebih baik bila dibandingkan dengan keadaan sebelumnya. Kata Kunci: Sejarah, Desa, Talaga BesarABSTRACT: The main problems in this study are: (1) What is the background of the formation of Talaga Besar Village, Talaga Raya District, Buton Tengah Regency? (2) How did the development of Talaga Besar Village, Talaga Raya District, Buton Tengah Regecy Year 1977-2017? The historical methods are: (a) Selection of topics (b) Heuristics (Data Collection) (c) Verification (Historical Criticism) (d) Interpretation (e) Historiography (historical criticism). The results of this study indicate that: (1) Talaga Besar Village was originally only used as a place for gardening or farming, for example planting corn and cassava as a staple food for the local community and in general the Buton people. Because over time and civilization as well as the population increases. The regional government took the initiative to split the village of Talaga Besar into a definitive village. The factors that support the formation of the Talaga Besar Village are: (a) There is a role of leaders who always motivate citizens to be active in any constructive activity. (b) Supporting factors include geographical factors (region), demographic factors (population), and economic factors. (2) The development of Talaga Besar Village in the economic field, most of the Talaga Besar people depend their lives on agriculture and trade which have been carried out and developed for generations. In the social field, social relations between the people of Talaga Besar Village are quite harmonious. In the field of education, the development of education in the village of Talaga Besar in particular and the Talaga Raya sub-district in general experienced a development of education which was arguably quite good and the infrastructure was better when compared to the previous situation. Keywords: History, Village, Great Talaga


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-168
Author(s):  
Trisna Malinda

This study exposes about society changes when the formation and development of Trans Village program from isolation to acculturation. Its purpose is to identify how the community change from isolated to acculturated and changes then forms a social identity in Trans Village. The Theory used in this field is Henri Taifel’s social identity theory that stated the individual concept forms by their experience in the group by acknowledging and applied the social values, participate, and develops their sense of care and pride of their group. This research uses descriptive qualitative research. Data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. This study also uses data analysis techniques by reducing data, displaying data and drawing conclusions. The number of informants used is 9 people filtered through purposive sampling. The results of this study indicate that the process from isolation to community acculturation occurred at the time of the formation and development of the Trans Village in Kurau Village. At first, the transmigrant communities are isolated from the local community so there are no interactions. Then by the time being, Trans Village leads to the transformation of social identity. Social identity is formed starting from the awareness, relationships, collaboration and harmonization among the people. People who were initially isolated have now become acculturated in Kampung Trans. This condition can be seen from the merging of the community, namely the local community and transmigrants in Trans Village which caused mixing between cultures so that new cultures are formed while still preserving old cultures. People live mingled by promoting the values ​​and rules that exist in Kampung Trans.


Author(s):  
Ben Yuk Fai Fong ◽  
Vincent T. Law

Aging is a function of time and is a natural and integral part of the life cycle. Aging process differs among individuals and brings all kinds of changes, affecting not just the physical body and its functions, but also to the social, psychological and financial situations to individuals. Aging in place (AIP) is a common preference among older people for remaining in their local community and maintaining their social networks throughout the aging process. Issues about appropriateness of aging in place, long-term care, and residential homes are discussed. Some models and recommendations are discussed, completed with thoughts on future studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Paul ◽  
Katarzyna Cieslik ◽  
Neeraj Sah ◽  
Puja Shakya ◽  
Binod Prasad Parajuli ◽  
...  

We introduce a case-study agnostic framework for the application of citizen science in a sustainable development context. This framework is tested against an activity in two secondary schools in western Nepal. While the purpose of this activity is to generate locally relevant knowledge on the physical processes behind natural hazards, we concentrate here on its implementation, i.e., to obtain a better understanding of the dynamic of the activity and to learn how it should be implemented. We determined the social capital of secondary schools as a gateway to the local community: they provide a unique setting to bring different stakeholders together. We find that co-designing a teaching programme is an effective means of both complementing local curricula and ensuring continued buy-in of local stakeholders (i.e., teachers). Student engagement depends on the local relevance of teaching materials, with more holistic or global concepts, such as climate change of lesser importance. Our activity focused on rainfall, including student-led data collection. These rainfall data provide a very good fit to co-located rain gauge data, with an average difference on weekly readings of 11.8%, reducing to 8.3% when averaged over all student readings. The autonomous development of student-organized science clubs suggested that our original framework underestimated students' capacity to apply knowledge elsewhere creatively. These clubs may be used to obtain participant feedback to improve and tailor future activities. Quantitative assessment of long-term sustainability remains challenging, due in part to high levels of student turnover. We suggest that integrating scientists wherever possible within a school or local community has a direct and positive result on participant retention.


Author(s):  
Kevin Wiranata ◽  
Lina Purnama

An age where technology develop rapidly, the lifestyle of people began to shift to that of instantaneous gratification. Even though technology provides convenience and accessibility, at the same time it changes the mindset and behavior of the people into that of anti-social. The lack of interaction added up with high working demand in this 21st century may increase an individual’s stress levels. The existence of physical spaces to support social activity is undeniably minimal. Gadgets may create virtual spaces for people to communicate but they fail to make rapport between one individual and the other. Since the past decades, culture had been one of the activities which brought people and communities together. Culture defines activities which are done in routine thus becomes habits and eventually becomes the community’s character. The occurring social activities gave birth to spaces either physical or non-physical which may support the social needs of the people. Up to this day, people tend to have third activities which they done to get rid of working exhaustion. Pinangsia Cultural Place is a place for people to socially interact with each other with the means of cultured daily activities. The method of design applied is pattern language. The main programs of Pinangsia Cultural Place include food court, karaoke, workshop, and common space for people to hangout, procuring event, physical exercises, etc. Not only does this tends to the needs of local community, Pinangsia Cultural Place is convivially open for outsiders who seek joy and rest.  AbstrakMasa dimana kemajuan teknologi berkembang dengan pesat, gaya hidup masyarakat berubah ke arah serba instan. Walau teknologi memberikan kemudahan, namun di saat yang bersamaan mengubah pola pikir dan sikap masyarakat menjadi cenderung anti-sosial. Kurangnya interaksi ditambah dengan tuntutan kerja yang semakin tinggi di abad 21 dapat meningkatkan stress pada individu. Keberadaan wadah fisik untuk menunjang aktivitas sosial pun juga kurang. Gadget menciptakan sebuah ruang virtual untuk berkomunikasi namun tidak dapat mendekatkan pribadi secara langsung. Sejak zaman dahulu, budaya menjadi salah satu kegiatan yang membawa masyarakat atau komunitas dalam kebersamaan. Budaya adalah aktivitas yang dilakukan terus menerus secara rutin hingga menjadi sebuah kebiasaan kemudian menjadi karakter dari lingkungan tersebut. Aktivitas yang terjadi melahirkan ruang baik secara fisik maupun non-fisik yang dapat menunjang kebutuhan sosial masyarakat di dalamnya. Hingga saat ini, masyarakat di tengah pekerjaan masing-masing memiliki aktivitas selingan yang mereka lakukan untuk mencari hiburan di tengah kepenatan. Tempat Budaya Pinangsia adalah wadah untuk masyarakat saling berinteraksi sosial dengan berdasarkan pada aktivitas sehari-hari yang melibatkan seni dan budaya. Metode perancangan yang digunakan adalah bahasa pola. Program utama Tempat Budaya Pinangsia meliputi tempat makan dan bermain, tempat karaoke, workshop, dan common space untuk hangout, pengadaan acara, latihan fisik, dll. Tidak hanya terbatas untuk warga lokal, Tempat Budaya Pinangsia juga terbuka untuk pengunjung dari luar kawasan yang mencari kesenangan dan istirahat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-36

Abstract The Niger Delta since inception of oil exploration in 1956 has been witnessing series of environmental insecurities which culminated into long term sufferings of the people living in the region. The activities of oil companies paid less attention to the well-being of the region and consequently metamorphosed into youth’s militancy –in terms of kidnapping and armed struggles. The effects of militancy led to the proclamation of amnesty programme designed to ameliorate the crisis situation and pardon those who were involved in militancy by the President Yar’Adua led administration in 2009. However, the question of insincerity from the government, multinational oil companies, agencies and militants remains a burden undermining the amnesty implementation programme and its successes in post-amnesty Niger Delta. This seminar, therefore, examined the social impact of amnesty programme and its challenges on Niger Delta. Internet explorations, magazines, newspaper cut-outs, books and journals were the instruments of data collection. Suggestions for proper implementation of amnesty programme and developmental actualisation in the Niger Delta Region were proffered. Keywords: Niger Delta, Crisis, Amnesty Programme, Nigeria


Author(s):  
Natalia Padilla-Zea ◽  
Stefania Aceto ◽  
Daniel Burgos

Social Seducement is an Erasmus+ project aimed to improve the social inclusiveness of adults in risks of social exclusion by training them in the social economy. To do it, the gamified learning tool Social PlaNet was developed, trying to offer an efficient and attractive training plan on social economy entrepreneurship. This particular kind of economy brings several benefits to this target group, since it develops the action to benefit the local community and is usually run in groups. Moreover, the fact of training in entrepreneurship also provides long-term unemployed people to own their possibilities of work and, that way, to feel included in society again. In this chapter, an overview of the project and its outcomes are presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-213
Author(s):  
Ziman Ziman Ziman

   This study discusses the philosophical and spiritual values contained in the baumo tradition of the people of Batin XXIV district, Batanghari Regency. The baumo tradition that has been going on for generations in the modern era is starting to be displaced by modern agricultural culture. Not only its existence has begun to be eroded by modern culture, but also the values contained therein have begun to be forgotten by the local community. Even though the baumo traditional values contain local wisdom values, environmental conservation values, spiritual values, and wisdom values that are very relevant in today's modern life. The method that I use in this research is a qualitative research method, to explore and understand the social and cultural phenomena that exist in society. The data collection method that the writer uses is through direct observation into the field, interviews with Umo farmers, community leaders, and traditional leaders, and documentation by examining documents related to the object of research, including Jambi Malay cultural texts. The results of this study indicate that: First, epistemologically, the community's knowledge in carrying out the baumo tradition is based on Jambi's traditional law and Malay culture, namely the syara' jointed tradition and the syara' with the Kitabullah jointed. Apart from that, the baumo tradition is also based on empirical knowledge or people's experiences in terms of natural phenomena. Axiologically, the baumo tradition contains environmental and ethical values in living life. Meanwhile, the baumo tradition also contains spiritual values in the form of belief in the soul of rice, basokat after harvesting umo as a form of belief in religion, and ethics in treating rice as a form of belief in the existence of God.   Penelitian ini membahas tentang nilai filosofis dan nilai spiritual yang terkandung dalam tradisi baumo masyarakat Kecamatan Batin XXIV Kabupaten Batanghari. Tradisi baumo yang telah berlangsung secara turun temurun itu di era modern saat ini mulai tergeser eksistensinya oleh budaya pertanian modern. Tidak hanya eksistensinya saja yang mulai tergerus budaya modern, tetapi juga nilai-nilai yang terkandung di dalamnya pun mulai dilupakan masyarakat setempat. Padahal pada nilai-nilai tradisi baumo tersebut terkandung nilai kearifan lokal, nilai konservasi lingkungan, nilai spiritual dan nilai kearifan yang sangat relevan dalam kehidupan modern saat ini. Metode yang penulis gunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian kualitatif, dengan tujuan untuk menggali dan memahami fenomena sosial dan budaya yang ada di masyarakat. Adapun metode pengumpulan data yang penulis gunakan adalah melalui observasi langsung ke lapangan, wawancara kepada para petani umo, tokoh masyarakat dan tokoh adat, serta dokumentasi dengan meneliti dokumen-dokumen yang berkaitan dengan objek penelitian, termasuk naskah-naskah budaya melayu Jambi. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa: Pertama, secara epistemologis pengetahuan masyarakat dalam melakukan tradisi baumo didasarkan pada hukum adat dan budaya melayu Jambi, yaitu adat yang bersendi syara‟, dan syara‟ yang bersendi kitabullah. Selain itu, tradisi baumo juga didasarkan pada pengetahuan empiris atau pengalaman masyarakat dalam hal gejala-gejala alam. Secara aksiologis, dalam tradisi baumo terkandung nilai etika lingkungan dan etika dalam menjalani hidup. Sementara itu, tradisi baumo juga mengandung nilai-nilai spiritual berupa keyakinan pada adanya jiwa padi, basokat saat usai memanen umo sebagai wujud keyakinan pada agama, serta adab dalam memperlakukan padi sebagai bentuk keyakinan pada adanya Tuhan.


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