“Like most people, I was under the impression that any volunteering is good volunteering, and that volunteering in an orphanage abroad is an obviously good thing to do. But it is not!!! The evidence says otherwise. More than 80% of children in orphanages worldwide have at least one living parent, and many more have extended family who could care for them with the right support. Through institutionalisation, children become vulnerable – their social, psychological and emotional needs go unmet, and they face a real risk of exploitation.”
Comhlámh recently participated in several student volunteer fairs, where we were delighted to be joined by Karthik Mahalingam, a graduate of UCDVO’s “Be the Change” and “Seeding Change” courses. His reflections on how the End Orphanage Volunteering Campaign challenged his ideas about volunteering in orphanages are captured in this amazing blog: https://healing-stories-by-karthik.blogspot.com/2026/09/two-wonderful-afternoons-with-comhlamh.html
Highly recommended reading!