{"product_id":"hoping-to-help-the-promises-and-pitfalls-of-global-health-volunteering-hardback-9781501700095","title":"Hoping to Help; The Promises and Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering (Hardback) 9781501700095","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eHoping to Help\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Promises and Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJudith N. Lasker (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781501700095\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 19 February 2016\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e272 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.907 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany scholars have discussed the theory behind global aid and the various perils in its execution. Dr. Lasker, a professor at Lehigh University, delivers instead a straightforward, data-driven review of a small health-related fraction of the enterprise, aiming to answer a few basic questions: 'Do volunteers help or hurt?' she asks. 'In what ways?' It turns out these questions cannot be answered, at least not very precisely. Still, anyone contemplating a volunteer stint is likely to be interested in Dr. Lasker's results, which amount to a sort of de facto best-practices manual.\u003c\/p\u003e (The New York Times) \u003cp\u003eThis book is highly relevant to all healthcare professionals, particularly students considering an elective overseas, or dental professionals thinking about using a couple of weeks of annual leave to 'help others' abroad.... The publication is a triumph of social analysis and commentary, which rigorously appraises and summarises the existing body of evidence on the topic.... Overall it is a deeply compelling read that will give you plenty of food for thought, and perhaps change your plans, practice or even your life. I would wholeheartedly recommend it.\u003c\/p\u003e (British Dental Journal) \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHoping to Help\u003c\/i\u003e makes an important contribution to studies of NGOs, civil society, philanthropy, and global health that both students and the wider volunteering community will enjoy and find easy to read.... Lasker provides prudent recommendations and guidelines for organizations and volunteers while also touching on deeper issues. Reading \u003ci\u003eHoping to Help\u003c\/i\u003e led me to reflect on my past experience as a health volunteer and will encourage others to consider the ethics, opportunity costs, and colonialist relations of global health volunteering today.\u003c\/p\u003e (Contemporary Sociology) \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHoping to Help\u003c\/i\u003e, by sociologist Judith N. Lasker, is a timely contribution to a growing literature that examines the unintended consequences of well-intentioned efforts to help, improve, or fix other people's problems. One of the strengths of Lasker's book is its eminent readability, teachability, and accessibility to those involved in or interested in medical volunteering abroad.\u003c\/p\u003e (PoLAR)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverseas volunteering has exploded in numbers and interest in the last couple of decades.\u003c\/b\u003e Every year, hundreds of thousands of people travel from wealthier to poorer countries to participate in short-term volunteer programs focused on health services. Churches, universities, nonprofit service organizations, profit-making \"voluntourism\" companies, hospitals, and large corporations all sponsor brief missions. \u003ci\u003eHoping to Help\u003c\/i\u003e is the first book to offer a comprehensive assessment of global health volunteering, based on research into how it currently operates, its benefits and drawbacks, and how it might be organized to contribute most effectively. Given the enormous human and economic investment in these activities, it is essential to know more about them and to understand the advantages and disadvantages for host communities. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost people assume that poor communities benefit from the goodwill and skills of the volunteers. Volunteer trips are widely advertised as a means to \"give back\" and \"make a difference.\" In contrast, some claim that health volunteering is a new form of colonialism, designed to benefit the volunteers more than the host communities. Others focus on unethical practices and potential harm to the presumed \"beneficiaries.\" Judith N. Lasker evaluates these opposing positions and relies on extensive research—interviews with host country staff members, sponsor organization leaders, and volunteers, a national survey of sponsors, and participant observation—to identify best and worst practices. She adds to the debate a focus on the benefits to the sponsoring organizations, benefits that can contribute to practices that are inconsistent with what host country staff identify as most likely to be useful for them and even with what may enhance the experience for volunteers. Hoping to Help illuminates the activities and goals of sponsoring organizations and compares dominant practices to the preferences of host country staff and to nine principles for most effective volunteer trips.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"ILR Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52607746179352,"sku":"9781501700095","price":91.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/hoping-to-help-the-promises-and-pitfalls-of-global-health-volunteering-hardback-9781501700095","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}