A debate has arisen over the actual effects the tourism industry has within developing countries, and to what extent it helps the poor. The concept of tourism as a means of poverty alleviation has been around for nearly a decade, but there is a continuing debate over its effectiveness. Is tourism actually helping to give families and communities a better life or are here leakages that we do not see? Hear from various credible sources including the people on the ground and decide for yourself.

1. THE ORPHANAGE
INDUSTRY

2. CHILDREN IN CAMBODIA
STATISTICS
• 40% of population
is under age 18
• 1 out of 20 die
before age 5
• 28% suffer from
malnutrition
VULNERABILITIES
• Poverty
• Abandonment
• Abuse & Neglect
• Child Labor

3. ORPHANAGES IN CAMBODIA
§
Steady decrease in number
of orphans since 1980s
§
154 orphanages in 2005
§
269 orphanages in 2010
§
Estimated 12,000 children
in orphanages
§
74% of children in
orphanages have parents
§
Most orphans are cared for
by families and communities

4. TOURISM AND ORPHANAGES
§
Concentrated growth of
orphanages in tourist areas
§
Tourist donations creating
high demand for
orphanages
§
Sophisticated scams and
rampant corruption
§
Lack of child protection and
violation of child rights

5. LEGISLATION
UNIT ED NAT IONS GUIDELINES FOR T HE ALT ERNAT IVE CARE OF CHILDREN 2 0 0 9
RGC POLICY ON ALT ERNAT IVE CARE FOR CHILDREN 2 0 0 6 & 2 010
S TOC KH OLM DEC LA RAT ION ON C H ILDREN & RES IDEN T IA L CA RE 2 0 0 3
UNIT ED NAT IONS CONVENT ION ON T HE RIGHT S OF T HE CHILD 1 9 8 5
Children have the right to grow up in a family.
Families should be supported to care for their own children.
Removal of a child from a family should be
the last resort and only temporary.
Poverty should never be the only reason
to remove a child from the family.

6. EFFECTS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE
60 years of research
across all continents
Negatively affects
cognitive,
socio-emotional,
and physical
development
Difficulty entering
adult society
Higher risk of abuse

7. INSTITUTIONALIZATION
Youths who have grown up in orphanages are at
significantly higher risk of suffering from:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pover ty
Homelessness
Discrimination
Substance Abuse
Gang Activity
Criminality
Prostitution
Isolation
Depression
Psychotic Disorders
Suicidal Behaviors

8. COSTS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE
Short Term Costs
§ Land and buildings
§ Round the clock
caregivers
§ Cooks, guards, drivers
Long Term Costs
§ Specialized services for
institutionalized youths
• Counseling
• Rehabilitation
• Life Skills
§ Administration
§ Incarceration
§ Fundraising
§ Unemployment

9. VOLUNTEERING IN ORPHANAGES
“This was the best experience of my life.
When given the opportunity to be involved
in such an outstanding project,
we owe it to ourselves to participate.”
“It was so sad to say goodbye to
all the kids I’d built up a bond with
over the few weeks that I was there
but I’d definitely like to go back.”
“I realized that as I stood in an orphanage
surrounded by parentless kids somewhere in
the depths of Africa, I’d never felt more joy or
happiness in my life.”

10. HELP SPREAD THE MESSAGE
RESOURCES
UNICEF
Save the
Children
www.orphanages.no/index.html
www.thinkchildsafe.org/thinkbeforevisiting
www.replace-campaign.org/index.html
www.hopeandhomes.org
www.wearelumos.org
Royal
Government
of Cambodia
Ministry of
Social Affairs
Friends
International
The Bucharest
Early
Intervention
Project