Should we take a three-hour orphanage volunteering slot that requires no screening?

The booking form asks Ruth to choose “games with children” or “help with lessons”, then moves straight to payment. Her friend Owen says, “It's only one morning. We don't need to make a career out of it.”

They are planning a visit to Nepal and want to contribute something beyond their own holiday. Neither has relevant childcare training. The unnamed excursion in this example offers three hours at a residential children's home; they have not seen a safeguarding policy or been asked for references.

Ruth had pictured a useful morning. Now she wonders why the children would benefit from two passing tourists being given access so quickly. Owen thinks withdrawing would be selfish after they have both said they want to help.

How should they reconsider the offer without accusing an unidentified organisation of offences they have not established? Ruth still wants to support children. She is less sure that personally meeting them should be part of the purchase.