As a former voluntourist herself, Rebecca Klaassen knows first-hand the dubious impacts of one of the fastest growing travel trends in the world- international volunteer trips, commonly referred to as voluntourism. In this talk, Rebecca takes a critical look at her own experiences and the voluntourism industry in general, and shares the 5 questions she wishes she had asked herself before embarking on a voluntourism trip. In doing so, she proposes a better way forward for young people looking to make an impact.

After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in International Development and Globalization, Rebecca has since focused her career on helping youth become more civically engaged, connected to social issues, and equipped to take action. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx