Our ethical policy in relation to in country volunteering
We are firm believers in ensuring that all of our placements are ethical two way experiences and we work with the following core principles in mind
- Volunteering must form part of an overall local led strategy
- Volunteering should not be for commercial gain (we are a not for profit)
- Volunteering must solve an identified problem
- We should not be an alternative to local employment
- Volunteers must have a rewarding experience and transfer their skills and knowledge
- Volunteers should be part of the community in which they work — this is not a holiday
- Volunteering should lead to positive investment in the future of the communities in which we work
- Volunteering should empower the next generation
- Volunteering should lead to a better employment prospects for the communities in which we work
Responsible travel policy for volunteering
- Volunteers should be part of the community in which they work and they should not impact adversely on the community
- We run a paper-free office
- We are actively involved in a number of water projects that conform to the standards of the UN water is life programme
- We never force western views on our partners, we always take economic needs coupled with the environmental need into account
- We only send volunteers when they are needed and not for simple financial gain
- Running projects that actively improve the environment and include providing education to local communities about the preservation and sustainable use of resources
- Any building projects use local sourced renewable materials where possible
- We actively support full recycling
- All farming projects that we are involved in are organic
- Training and briefing all staff on company environmental policy and how to adopt best practise
- Ensuring suppliers and Project Partners are fully aware of our environmental policy and that they adhere to it
- Ensure that all of our new projects are researched fully, taking all local environmental considerations into account.
Social responsibility with regards to volunteering
This is at the core of everything we do we operate on a totally not for profit basis we make NO money ourselves
- Volunteering must form part of an overall local led strategy
- Volunteering should empower the next generation
- All staff and suppliers receive full training with regards to our organisations social responsibility programme
- We provide all volunteers with a full induction on arrival this focuses on the importance of respect and cultural diversity
- We always ensure that our new projects are researched fully taking local needs fully into account - the projects MUST benefit the community economically and developmentally.
- Cultural considerations are always taken into account
Economic responsibility in regards to volunteering
- Our programmes should never be an alternative to local employment, in fact they should improve the chances of local employment
- Volunteering should lead to positive investment in the future of the communities in which we work
- Going local. Buying foods locally, supporting local businesses and employing a local workforce for all skilled in-country labour. Visiting and working with locally run social projects
- We only use SMALL local operators for accom, ensuring the community benefits
- We only work with local NGO partners, who employ a minimum of 90% local staff
- Training and briefing all UK and overseas staff on company ethical policy
- Ensuring suppliers and Project Partners are fully aware of our ethical policy and that they adhere to it where possible
- We always ensure that our projects are financially supported year round and are not reliant on volunteers