We aim to:

Provide students and graduates with the opportunity to gain practical experience in teaching English, sports and social work.

Ensure that volunteers are trained to work sensitively and to make a positive impact in the communities in which they serve.

Ensure that volunteers are trained to an appropriate level to ensure that the year prepared for work in the different projects.

Ensure that placements remain affordable.

Encourage volunteers to assist in the development of the organisation

Abide by their Marketing Guidelines to ensure that we promote ethically and responsibly.

 

RESPONSIBLE MARKETING GUIDELINES:

We will not use stereo typical images that show the people that we work with as victims, to evoke pity to encourage people to volunteer. We will not use evocative images to “sell” our placements but simply use photos of the activities and projects that volunteers participate in.

 

We will not use cliches and grand statements as it gives volunteers unrealistic expectations and sets them up to be disillusioned.

We rely on free marketing methods such as social networking to keep costs low for volunteers.

We are not a tour operator; therefore we will not sell volunteering placements as though they are holidays.

 

RESPONSIBLE USE OF MONEY:

We limit money spent on advertising By staying with local families

Providing locally sourced food for volunteers

We do employ people from Sri Lanka to support volunteers, because, although affordability is important to us, we believe it is essential to provide top-quality support to all our volunteers

 

RESPONSIBLE VOLUNTEERING:

We have created guidelines for all volunteers to ensure that we have a sustainable and positive effect on the projects and communities which we work in.

We record their progress on shared documents (one for each project).

 

Donations :

Volunteers are strictly forbidden to give any gifts to anyone. This includes things as apparently simple as a sweet or a pen. It is important with children, and others whom we work with, do not learn to expect gifts or hand-outs from volunteers. Children are encouraged to view volunteers as role models that they can respect, learn from, and have fun with

 

Photography:

Volunteers are limited to taking photos at their placements. Taking photos can distract people from teaching or running activities. Volunteers are encouraged on weekends not to pay children for photos as this encourages a begging culture. It is explained to volunteers that it is not advisable to show off their wealth to others and an expensive camera is a clear way to show the economic discrepancy between people from the west and the locals.

 

Resources: We have learnt from experience that monetary donations directly to the projects’ management teams may not necessarily improve the lives of the beneficiaries. We therefore donate items that are essential for the sustainability and positive effect of projects.

 

Projects:All projects have been chosen by us based on their need for international volunteers. We work with both non-government and government institutions.

 

Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults:

In addition to the Sri Lankan Child Protection Guidelines, we have put together rules to ensure that our volunteers never cause distress to any beneficiary that we work with ,Volunteers are limited in the amount of time that they spend with one person to ensure that an emotional bond is not formed, as all volunteers will eventually leave potentially causing unfair distress, especially to the children. Therefore volunteers only visit one project a maximum of twice per week, for under 2 hours at a time

 

• Volunteers are forbidden to be alone with a child or vulnerable adult

• Volunteers are trained how to manage a class without strict discipline

• Volunteers are educated in appropriate touching and how to discourage children from engaging with them in an overly tactile manner

• Volunteers are instructed in how to deal with a situation if they suspect that someone’s human rights are being violated

 

Working with Staff at Projects:

We wish to inspire with our actions but resist from imposing our ideals on others. Volunteers are instructed never to criticize staff at projects and to remember that many of the staff in projects work very long hours are not well paid and will often not have had appropriate training.

 

Responsible Travelling:

Clothing:Sri Lanka is a modest country especially in more rural areas. All volunteers are required to dress smartly whilst working at the Projects, especially whilst teaching. In keeping with the local culture, everyone should have their shoulders and knees covered at all times .Failure to do so is considered disrespectful and can attract unwanted attention.

 

Drugs:We have a zero- tolerance drugs policy i.e. towards the use or/and possession of any illegal drugs. Sri Lanka also has very strict laws regarding all drug-related activities.

 

Health & Safety:Volunteers are given guidelines to ensure they stay safe in Sri Lanka e.g. volunteers should always stay in pairs, they should pre-arrange their transport plans especially at night and that they keep their address in Singhala on them at all times. The guidelines also include advice such as where it is safe to withdraw money from local ATM machines.

 

Smoking:It is illegal to smoke in public in Sri Lanka Volunteers are given advice on where it is possible to smoke.

 

Transport:Volunteers are encouraged to use public transport in pairs during the day throughout the course of their placement. Volunteers are also given the details of local Rickshaw ( Tuk Tuk ) drivers that our team know personally and who will offer our volunteers the local price if they require transport after dark..