Overseas Volunteering Must Move Beyond Personal Fulfilment and Good Intentions / The Straits Times

Overseas volunteering is under growing scrutiny for ethical blind spots, from short-term “voluntourism” to projects that prioritise the visitor over community needs. This commentary argues that volunteering should still matter – more so if it is designed around long-term, locally led partnerships, skills-based contributions and reciprocity. The opinion piece highlights an SIF Healthcare project in Tamil Nadu that demonstrated how sustained professional exchanges can transform into stronger local confidence and measurable improvements in maternal and newborn care. 

The Straits Times