The rules we are serious about
1. Do not go anywhere alone. Across all BTCV projects regardless of country women must move about with a male from the traveling team 18 or older to avoid potential cultural and security issues.
2. Do not go anywhere without telling and gaining approval from your team leader.
3. Do not give money to anyone. If you wish to give money speak to your team leader first this can cause serious unintended consequences for our partners.
4. Do not give your stuff away this has many unintended consequences after you depart.
5. Do not make any promises to our partners, the students, or community members.
6. Respectfully, remember that just because something is legal or socially acceptable where you come from it may not be legal or socially acceptable where you are traveling. Volunteers agree to comply with the local laws, customs, and social standards. Please be respectful of this as failure to do so can cause very serious problems far beyond our control during our trip and especially for our partners after we depart.
2. Do not go anywhere without telling and gaining approval from your team leader.
3. Do not give money to anyone. If you wish to give money speak to your team leader first this can cause serious unintended consequences for our partners.
4. Do not give your stuff away this has many unintended consequences after you depart.
5. Do not make any promises to our partners, the students, or community members.
6. Respectfully, remember that just because something is legal or socially acceptable where you come from it may not be legal or socially acceptable where you are traveling. Volunteers agree to comply with the local laws, customs, and social standards. Please be respectful of this as failure to do so can cause very serious problems far beyond our control during our trip and especially for our partners after we depart.
Advice to help you out
1. BTCV has more than 15 years of experience operating in underdeveloped countries. Please trust us and respect our experience and expertise.
2. Do not ask the community partner if it is okay to break one of the above rules they will often say “yes.” Keep in mind they desire to meet your desires and make you happy regardless of the unforeseen consequences.
3. This is the developing world things move slower and with less organization. The plan will change. Go with the flow.
4. Have a good attitude about the work even if it’s not what you had in mind it is what is needed and attitudes can be interpreted across language barriers.
5. Remember that building relationships with our partner community and with your teammates is a huge part of our total mission!
6. BTCV teams are very diverse. You may be surprised to find that not everyone on the team has the same perspectives, views, or values that you hold. We are here to volunteer, build relationships, and serve others. Please keep conversations positive and when in doubt focus conversations back on our mission.
7. Phones are great for taking and showing photos and connecting with home when needed. The use of phones can also be very insulting to our hosts and diluting to your full experience. Be mindful and immerse yourselves in real-time events, try to put your phones away, avoid social media, avoid email, unplug, and experience everything. Do not bring your phone out at meals or meetings. Try to only use your phone in your room or try to only use your phone for emergencies. We promise the internet, emails, and social media will still be there when you get home.
2. Do not ask the community partner if it is okay to break one of the above rules they will often say “yes.” Keep in mind they desire to meet your desires and make you happy regardless of the unforeseen consequences.
3. This is the developing world things move slower and with less organization. The plan will change. Go with the flow.
4. Have a good attitude about the work even if it’s not what you had in mind it is what is needed and attitudes can be interpreted across language barriers.
5. Remember that building relationships with our partner community and with your teammates is a huge part of our total mission!
6. BTCV teams are very diverse. You may be surprised to find that not everyone on the team has the same perspectives, views, or values that you hold. We are here to volunteer, build relationships, and serve others. Please keep conversations positive and when in doubt focus conversations back on our mission.
7. Phones are great for taking and showing photos and connecting with home when needed. The use of phones can also be very insulting to our hosts and diluting to your full experience. Be mindful and immerse yourselves in real-time events, try to put your phones away, avoid social media, avoid email, unplug, and experience everything. Do not bring your phone out at meals or meetings. Try to only use your phone in your room or try to only use your phone for emergencies. We promise the internet, emails, and social media will still be there when you get home.
