Introduction: A "Tsunami" of Volunteers Part I. The Sponsoring Organizations 1. Who Sponsors International Medical Missions? 2. The Activities and Goals of Sponsoring Organizations Part II. The Volunteers 3. Becoming a Volunteer 4. What Leads to Volunteering, What Volunteering Leads To Part III. The Host Communities 5. The Best and the Worst: Host Perspectives on Volunteer Programs 6. Benefits to Host Communities 7. "First, Do No Harm": The Unintended Negatives for Host Communities Part IV. Principles for Maximizing the Benefits of Volunteer Health Trips 8. Mutuality and Continuity: Two Pillars of Effective Programs 9. Community-Focused Research 10. Programmatic Focus Conclusion: Lessons Learned; Responding to the Debate Appendix A: Methods of Study Appendix B: Recommendations for Having the Best Possible Global Health Volunteer Trip Notes References Index
Judith N. Lasker is N.E.H. Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Lehigh University. She is coauthor of When Pregnancy Fails, In Search of Parenthood, and Equal Time, Equal Value.
"Many scholars have discussed the theory behind global aid and the various perils in its execution. Dr. Lasker, a professor at Lehigh University, delivers instead a straightforward, data-driven review of a small health-related fraction of the enterprise, aiming to answer a few basic questions: 'Do volunteers help or hurt?' she asks. 'In what ways?' It turns out these questions cannot be answered, at least not very precisely. Still, anyone contemplating a volunteer stint is likely to be interested in Dr. Lasker's results, which amount to a sort of de facto best-practices manual."-Abigail Zuger, M.D., The New York Times (April 25, 2016) "This book is highly relevant to all healthcare professionals, particularly students considering an elective overseas, or dental professionals thinking about using a couple of weeks of annual leave to 'help others' abroad... The publication is a triumph of social analysis and commentary, which rigorously appraises and summarises the existing body of evidence on the topic... overall it is a deeply compelling read that will give you plenty of food for thought, and perhaps change your plans, practice or even your life. I would wholeheartedly recommend it."-A. E. Jones, British Dental Journal (August 12, 2016) "The space where international health volunteering and good intentions collide can get very messy. Hoping to Help cleans up the mess. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in volunteering abroad in any capacity, health service or otherwise."-Brandon Blache-Cohen, Executive Director, Amizade Global Service-Learning "Hoping to Help makes a clear and new contribution. The issues Judith N. Lasker examines are increasingly pressing for universities across the United States, as the trend toward internationalization is accompanied by unexpected perverse incentives and adverse impacts such as those Lasker raises. This high-quality book will appeal beyond the global health community to study abroad, service learning, and civic engagement programs, as well as church organizations and civic groups."-Eric Hartman, Kansas State University "Hoping to Help has many important implications for potential international volunteers as well as universities, nongovernmental organizations, and religious organizations in particular."-Benjamin Lough, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "Hoping to Help is an important read for anyone interested in global health or participating in a global health experience. Judith N. Lasker does an excellent job of framing the issues tied to global volunteering into a larger historical context that adds a deeper understanding as to how we have evolved to the situation we have today. She looks at the issue from many stakeholder perspectives, including, most important, that of the host community."-Tricia Todd, MPH, University of Minnesota
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