RESPONSIBLE VOLUNTEERING
The practice of volunteering abroad is growing by leaps and bound. Unfortunately unethical individuals and businesses may try to take advantage of this rapid growth to make a quick buck at the expense of the volunteer or the local population. We should strive to operate our programs within guidelines that are appropriate, recognized, respected and upheld in the real world.
More and more organizations around the world are offering volunteer packages to their clients. However, it is important that volunteer programs are well thought out and impact positively on economic, social and environmental issues in the community. Most importantly if you are going to offer volunteer travel it should be done in a transparent and responsible manner that recognizes the needs of both the community and the volunteer. Responsible operators should guard against exploiting the communities they serve and set realistic goals and expectations for the volunteers they place.
Responsible volunteering should be about creating better conditions for local people, native ecosystems and for the volunteer as well.
As a responsible volunteer operator we pledge our commitment to uphold a minimum Code of Good Practice, which includes but is not limited to:
- Volunteers must not be taking the place of local employees.
- Volunteers must respect local customs and cultures.
- When overseas placement organizations are used to source volunteers, these organizations should be charging fair prices in a transparent way.
- Volunteers must be screened for personal references and criminal records.
- Volunteers’ skills, interests, and hobbies must be matched to the program needs.
- The community or program must have final right of acceptance or rejection of applicants. Automatic acceptance should not be the norm.
- Volunteers must be provided with a task description outlining project duration, resources, supervision, and final objectives.
- Volunteers with special skills must be willing to teach at least the basics of these skills to the local community or project.
- Volunteers must be oriented effectively prior to arrival at the project, with further orientation upon arrival.
- Volunteers must be self-funding so as not to burden the host project or community.
- Volunteer programs must be financially transparent by giving volunteers access to information on the breakdown of their fee and what amounts go into the project.
- Volunteers must be effectively managed on the ground (assistance, guidance, supervision) by program coordinators, so as to ensure that the both the project and volunteer receive the maximum benefit from the placement.
- Volunteers must abide by a written code of conduct.
- Volunteers should be encouraged to have medical and traveler’s insurance.
- Volunteer projects must have a Responsible Tourism Strategy that addresses economic, social and environ mental policy.
- Volunteer programs must have a structure/system for monitoring feedback and de-briefings with the volunteer.
- Volunteers should be advised what form of post volunteering support the program can offer with regards to continued communications, fundraising, awareness issues.
- Volunteer programs must have a reporting process back to the sending organization, where applicable.
- Volunteer programs must have a reporting process back to the community or project that allows for local participation.
Adapted from the Code of Good Practice for Responsible Volunteering in South Africa: Paul Miedema www.calabashtours.co.za, Marnie Heim-Stafford www.voluntours.co.za