Apparently, people volunteering in foreign countries to help the locals has become a huge business, and the volunteers are doing more harm than good. Not their fault, aside from the emotional trauma of abandoning children..., but local people have realized they can make a profit off of these volunteers so they intentionally keep the standard of living low to encourage more volunteers and their donations.
Here's a whole bunch of YouTube videos about it including a TED talk.
Voluntourism
Voluntourism
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Voluntourism
Overall, this is just a dumb idea. If you want to help, fund people who know how to help and are good at it.
It's not me, it's someone else.
Voluntourism
Sounds like how US grain donations keep the farmers in these foreign countries from being able to make a living.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."