lol @ you thinking you can speak for these people? you do not know ANYTHING about how they feel. no i have not done this volunteering thing but i think you are the worst one in this situation. why are you so arrogant as to think you can speak on the behalf of people who are in a completely different situation to you? an unimaginable situation?
no you do not know that if you were a builder in africa you would be insulted. i think if anything it's insulting that you feel you have the right to speak on their behalf. but you carry on, feeling superior yourself, above these "silly middle class teenagers" who are at least helping people in some way. how about you start concentrating on your own life rather than what others do around you. if you want to help other people, then do, however there's no need to get all poncy about how other people choose to help others too.
no, they do not think ethnic groups cannot survive without their help. help being the operative word. i can survive without my parents cooking me dinner, and often do, but it is a major help when they cook instead of me. then i can get on with other things that can be done. it's the same principle (though obviously in a very different situation). it's one less thing they have to take care of, there are other things (possibly more important things) that they can do. no one is saying that they are changing the lives of these people, that they are simply giving them a bit of help. if they didn't want it then they wouldn't accept it, simple as. no one is forcing them to let these kids help them. they also bring in a bit of money too, for the area. these people have to eat, buy stuff... middle class kids are stonking rich compared to the people they are staying with... although it is insulting to give them money/old clothes (so they are advised not to)... it certainly helps if they buy some of their goods, go shopping at the local market. it is also a nice experience for the children of the village... you become a bit of a museum exhibit for most of them and they like to play with you etc.
as for your comment "Volunteering efforts should be spent in better training workers in said countries to earn a living teaching or building"... newsflash, this does go on! however i hardly think middle class teens are suitable for teaching these things! if they want to help actively and see the people they are helping/experience their culture then helping on building projects is pretty much the only way they can! it's better than nothing. they are not dong it at a detriment to the teaching efforts that are going on out there. it's also hard to actually get people who ARE knowledgable/qualified to teach these things to go out there and help.
this post makes you come across as a major dick... just saying... ESPECIALLY the last paragragh. get off your high horse!