What if people are no better-off after our volunteering efforts, or actually harmed by our contributions? This stand and deliver presentation outlines the autoethnographic study of my year-long work in Africa. Themes include challenges and questions faced by students who volunteer abroad, detrimental effects of short-term humanitarian aid, prerequisites to sustainable change and how student exposure to various careers, cultures and environments can broaden perspective and solidly long-term purpose. This systematic analysis of personal experience questions the stereotypical images of humanitarian aid, short-term university service learning trips, and the concept of cultural competency.