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Statement of Understanding

The following information has been prepared to outline some key areas of understanding for potential volunteers. This is only a summary and does not provide full information for proper preparation.

  1. I understand that volunteering at a Children’s Home is nota tourist vacation. I understand that I will need to prepare myself mentally, physically and spiritually to face potentially primitive, frustrating and disquieting circumstances while travelling and living in a developing country. I will make every effort to be sensitive to the cultural differences I will face.
  1. I understand that I must be prepared to be flexible, and I will prepare to enter the Children’s Home with a servant heart, ready to help wherever I am needed. I understand that part of my volunteering is to minister to the children’s carers as well as to the children themselves.
  1. I understand that once I have decided to volunteer, I am responsible for reading and understanding the information given to me by Hope and Kindness. I understand that if I have any questions or concerns about the material, it is my responsibility to contact the Hope and Kindness trustees before my departure date.
  1. I understand that I am responsible for my own insurance, health and belongings. I understand that Hope and Kindness is not responsible for the cost of my medical care, or any loss, or damage that I incur during, or as a result of my travel, or time in a foreign country. I also understand that I am responsible for all my own arrangements including passport/entry visa and vaccinations. I undertake this trip entirely at my own risk.
  1. I understand that the leadership to which I have been assigned will need my support and positive attitude throughout the time that I am living and volunteering at the Children’s Home. I will offer my best efforts in this regard, including abiding by the attitude of a servant which requires forthright conduct and loving consideration for others.
  1. I understand that Hope and Kindness reserves the right to accept or decline my application and that the decision of the trustees in this matter is final. In the event of your application being unsuccessful Hope and Kindness is not obliged to give an explanation, (although, under normal circumstances we will give you feedback on the reasons why your application has been unsuccessful).
  1. I understand that Hope and Kindness is a Christian organisation and expects all volunteers to respect the principles and practical expressions of the Christian Faith which are central to the running and management of the Children’s Home and School and the children’s care and guidance.
  1. I understand that I will be living and working in a Children’s Home which has its own rules, and legal requirements as set by the Kenyan Government which I MUST abide by at all times. The rules are stringent because you are working with vulnerable people, so your behaviour and attitude whilst at Hope and Kindness should mirror that which would be expected of you in a Children’s Home in the UK. Failure to do so could lead to serious consequences for you, and for us as a Children’s home. It is paramount that you do NOT treat this time as a holiday, and that it is a place of work and safety that is regulated heavily by the Kenyan Government.
  1. I understand the requirement for an Enhanced CRB check, and will complete the associated form(s) and provide payment for this promptly when requested. Should you have a current Enhanced CRB Certificate then this may be considered as acceptable. Please enclose a photocopy of the current Enhanced CRB Certificate with your application.
  1. I understand that under no circumstances should any alcohol be brought onto, or consumed on the Hope and Kindness compound. Should you partake in drinking alcohol off site then you must return to the Children’s home coherent and behave in a manner that is acceptable to the Hope and Kindness Management Team. Failure to do so may mean you will not be allowed on to the premises until the Management Team consider it acceptable for you to enter. If this situation occurs then you will have to find, and fund at your own expense, a place to stay until you are allowed to return to the Home.
  1. I understand that only prescribed drugs are allowedon site. If you are found to be in possession of any other drug/s,or use any recreational drugs during the visit to Hope and Kindness, you will be asked to leave immediately. You will then have to find, and fund at your own expense, a place to stay until you are allowed to return to the Home.
  1. In order to comply with the Kenyan Law regarding homosexuality, and in line with the Christian principles of Hope and Kindness, bedroom accommodation must be single sex except for married heterosexual couples.
  1. I understand that Hope and Kindness is a non-smoking site. Under no circumstances are you allowed to smoke on the compound. If you need to smoke then you must leave the site.
  1. I understand that I must not divulge personal information about people, or children,that I meet who are associated with Hope and kindness or the surrounding community. This includes any on line Blogs or other form of communications over the internet etc must NOT contain personal information about the children, or adults you meet through Hope and Kindness. Some children may be staying with us as a result of having been abused, and they have been entrusted into our care by the local authorities whilst a court case is being prepared. You must be sensitive to this. Revealing some information could be detrimental to a court case and impair justice as a consequence.
  1. As it is aChildren’sHome we have a responsibility to ensure the children have a good night’s sleep, we therefore have a curfew of 10 pm. This means that you will need to be in your room by this time, and noise kept to a minimum. We ask you to respect the needs of the children, staff and other volunteers who have work the following day.
  2. Any sexual advances towards children or teenagers will not be tolerated. Inappropriate and unwanted sexual advances towards the staff, other adults or other volunteers will not be tolerated.If you are found to have made any sexual advances to a child you will be asked to leave immediately.

These rules are required in order to ensure safety, protection, legal compliance, respect and welfare of Hope and Kindness children, staff and volunteers in our care.

Your declaration of acceptance of the above:

I confirm that the information submitted above is correct and I acknowledge that I have read and accepted all of the above. By signing this Statement of Understanding I agreeto adhere to all of these rules, andI accept the consequences of failing to do so.

Name:______

Signature:______

Date:_____/_____/_____

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H&Kvappform/V2/VHA/01/08/11