Hospitality in volunteer engagement: navigating complexities in residential care facilities for children

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the multifaceted realm of volunteer engagement in orphanages and residential care facilities for children, as places of hospitality towards volunteers, in low- and middle-income countries. While the positive outcomes of such engagements, including assistance, economic contributions and personal growth, are acknowledged, the study critically examines the potential ethical challenges inherent in these settings. Drawing from a theoretical framework developed by Duursma and colleagues on motives for volunteering, the research focuses on 25 volunteer applications submitted to a residential care facility in Bali, Indonesia. The qualitative analysis, guided by thematic analysis, explores motives, exchanges, individual behaviour, place and space considerations, time-based dimensions and outcomes and impacts. Ethical considerations, including data anonymisation, were rigorously implemented to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of potential volunteers and child-related data. The findings reveal diverse motives among potential volunteers, encompassing moral imperatives, leisure needs, personal interests and a genuine desire to care for others. The emphasis on non-monetary exchanges and a commitment to the community echoes Duursma and colleagues’ framework, aligning with concepts of voluntary exchange, individual behaviour and place/space considerations. The study underscores the transcendence of empathy and compassion in motivating volunteers to engage with orphanages and residential care facilities for children, reflecting a dedication to making a lasting impact, and fostering substantive connections within the community. The discussion integrates the empirical findings with the theoretical framework, providing a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding hospitality volunteering in orphanages and residential care facilities. The study acknowledges ethical concerns and calls for continued scrutiny, ethical considerations and collaboration to ensure that volunteerism remains a force for positive change and authentic care.