Faceless NGOs

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 02:00 | Sarah Palmer

Something I've noticed while researching international volunteer opportunities is the surprising number of groups who give little to no information about their in-country partners. Faceless NGOs - Volunteer Global

I see all too often something like, "Our group works with an organization/NGO in your host community to acheive our common goal of sustainable development/education/child care/etc." With NO mention of who that NGO or small group is, whether they have a site you can visit, whether it's run by locals, or what.

My first reaction when seeing this is to dig around, find the local partner, and extend an offer to that group (or those groups) to join Volunteer Global. Of course we see this more often with larger placement groups, but it's further frustrating seeing it with small organizations working in one or two communities.

At the very least, could they say the name of the NGO? I can see the concern here, as the umbrella groups have a business to run...however, I feel it's insulting to the local organization to be completely faceless on its "partner" organization's website, handbook, etc.

Thoughts? Other opinions?