What should a good volunteer do before, during and after their overseas project?

Volunteers Agree To:

1. Inform themselves about all the relevant issues relations to their Volunteering Opportunity

By informing themselves fully volunteers will ensure that they are well prepared for volunteering. Volunteers should familiarise themselves with their host country, its peoples and cultures, as much as possible before they go. Suggestions are to find books and other resources on it, monitor the news on that country, and meet people who have lived there or come from there if possible. Sending organisations should facilitate this process by providing volunteers with possible sources for their research, some basic facts and putting them in contact with exvolunteers who have been there or, better still, have worked on that placement.

2. Familiarise themselves thoroughly with their role description before departure.

Written role descriptions help to dispel uncertainties volunteers have about what they will be expected to do on their placement. By familiarising themselves with their role description this can prompt volunteers to ask further questions about it and about the reasons why such a job is necessary.
Once again, contact with ex-volunteers who have worked on that placement will help volunteers prepare so that they can utilise their time overseas well. Volunteers should be aware that needs can change rapidly in a developing country, and so should be prepared to deviate from their role description, and be flexible to the needs of the local people in their chosen country.

3. Respect local customs and adopt the role of guests, there to learn.

A major motivation for volunteering, expressed by volunteers, is to ‘give something back’, to ‘help out’ people less fortunate than themselves. This motivation, however, can sometimes lead to volunteers being overzealous as they work to maximise their impact. Often they can come with a
sense that they know best, showing little respect for local customs and knowledge. However, it is often the volunteer who learns more from the hosts, than the hosts from them. Volunteer should be aware of their role as learner rather than just ‘giver’.

4. Act always in a professional manner and be flexible and adaptable while in their placement.

Turning up late, leave early, or behaving in a manner more appropriate for a holiday than in providing a service to the local community should not be acceptable in . Furthermore, while volunteers may receive role descriptions, as often as not volunteers are expected to be flexible andadaptable in what they do while on placement, and in their attitudes to the local community and
their colleagues. 

5. Take due care with their personal safety and physical and mental health.

Health and safety issues are vital for volunteers. While the sending organisation can provide volunteers with guidance, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to abide by that advice and to use their common sense. Volunteers should find out about the local health and security situation as part
of their general research on their host country. Some sending organisations may provide health insurance for volunteers but most will not. It is the responsibility of volunteers to check this out and take appropriate steps.

6. Channel the experiences and knowledge gained while overseas into their home society.

As pointed out in principle 3 above, volunteers on overseas placements are in the privileged position of being able to learn about their host country and the experience of working in a developing country. This principle aims to encourage volunteers, on their return, to use the knowledge they gain to raise awareness in their home country on issues affecting the developing world. This can include being available for other volunteers. It can also include giving talks in their local areas, becoming part of support and/or campaign networks, and/or receiving training and participating in development education. Engagement with local media through writing articles or
giving interviews is a further option.

7. Accept and sign a Code of Conduct embodying these principles.

Many sending organisations give volunteers a Code of Conduct to sign before going on their placement in an attempt to ensure that they are aware of what the organisation expects of them in terms of appropriate behaviour. This principle aims to encourage sending organisations to include the principles of the Charter within their Codes of Conduct and so encourage volunteers to follow them.

This information has been adapted from the Volunteer Charter produced by Comhladh. See the original atwww.comhladh.org