Volunteer Charter

Our commitment to you:-

1. We will have a pre-departure briefing session to include
   1. The Tanzania’s history and geography
   2. Tanzania’s cultures
   3. Babati and the environment
   4. Site risks – health and safety and well being
   5. Kit requirements
   6. The work we will be doing and how we will be doing it
2. We will encourage you to ask yourself
   1. Why do you want to volunteer?
   2. What do you think the relationship is between volunteer and the community?
   3. What do you think the perception of westerns is and where do they get their perceptions from?
   4. What makes people who live in different countries different from you?
   5. How will you feel when you leave?
3. On arrival we will have an orientation tour of Babati
4. We will hold regular tool box chats about health and safety and how to avoid accidents
5. We will introduce you to the school teachers, students and the wider community
6. We will help you develop an understanding of what life is like on less than $1 a day
7. We will help you learn Swahili so that you can greet people and shop in the local market
8. We will hold regular debriefing sessions to encourage open communication and feedback
9. If you wish and it is logistically possible we will provide a full airport to project and back again transport service
10. We will provide you with an understanding of the cultural differences so that you do not upset anyone or cause offence
11. We will provide you with an outline job description on the understanding that it is subject to change

Our aim is that you, the volunteer, together with the Livingstone Tanzania Trust in collaboration with the host community all come together to achieve the targets we have set. Everyone has a role and a responsibility

Your commitment to us

1. I agree to think about: -
   1. What poverty means to me and to people in developing countries
   2. How poverty impacts on the day to day life;
   3. What the world is doing to tackle poverty;
   4. What the term poor implies;
   5. What it means to have volunteers from a foreign country come and visit and help for a short time and then leave
   6. The causes of the cultural differences that exist between both countries and how that might manifest itself.
2. I understand that while I am volunteering I am an ambassador for myself, my family, my culture, my country and for the Livingstone Tanzania Trust and that my actions will live in the memory long after I have left and will impact on how future visitors and the Livingstone Tanzania Trust will be treated.
3. I agree to respect the community, the Livingstone Tanzania Trust staff and other volunteers and always behave in a generous and patient fashion. I acknowledge that respect can also mean turning up on time for work, working hard and contributing equally.
4. I agree to respect myself by working at a pace that is comfortable to me and will not be detrimental to my mental or physical health.
5. I promise to openly and tactfully share all aspects of my trip, including what makes me nervous, what makes me happy, what I don’t understand, what I might not approve of, if I am tired, sick, bored, liberated, enthused.
6. I promise to be patient, open minded, adaptable, energetic and enthusiastic.
7. I will accept instruction gracefully and act in a professional manner at all times.
8. I will work in accordance with health and safety guidelines
9. I will research what medication I need and I will take it as and when I need to and remind others to take theirs.
10. I acknowledge that I am fit and healthy and ought to have no problems doing manual work.
11. I will not put myself or others at risk of harm and I will consider the impact of my actions and words on others
12. I will consider forging a long term relationship with the community through the Livingstone Tanzania Trust because I understand that the needs of the community are bigger than can be addressed in a short visit. I will consider helping further by fundraising and telling people about the work being done.
13. When I shop I will consider buying more ethically or responsibly traded good and services.
14. I understand that the developing countries are likely to be affected first by global warming and will take steps to reduce and or combat my Carbon footprint.