This opinion piece from the Sydney Morning Herald is a bit more thoughtful and balanced than some of the other articles on "orphanage rackets", etc. She makes the point that the volunteers often benefit with character development and a feeling of fulfillment, but sometimes those being "helped" do not really benefit and are like pawns in a game with echoes of colonialism. Many of us have seen examples of this, and some posts on this forum seem to echo this strong desire to "help" without listening much.

More Australians are adding a dash of volunteer work to their overseas holidays in poor countries. Between the trekking and the rafting, they are building houses in remote villages and working in orphanages.
They want to give back; they are appalled by global inequality; they seek personal fulfilment through encounters with the destitute and disadvantaged. Whatever the motive, the impulse to help is commendable. But the impact on the locals is not always beneficial.
At this time of year, students are planning - or embarking on - gap-year adventures that may combine mountain climbing with manual labour; and middle-aged professionals and new retirees are pondering how to have fun but spread goodness.
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Before setting off, here is a question worth consideration: what consequences flow when an 18-year-old from Sydney's privileged suburbs goes to a village to build a house with a bunch of similar volunteers? Given their last encounter with bricks was with their Lego set, it is possible the youngsters won't build a sturdy house. More likely, the locals could teach them about unskilled manual labour.
Quite possibly, the young people are taking jobs from the locals. The youngsters benefit from the feel-good factor, their confidence and self-reliance grow. But manual labour is what is in abundance in the developing world. Who gains most here?

Read more: Australian Volunteers Overseas