Selecting an Ethical Volunteer Position
When assessing a potential volunteer or short term missions opportunity, it is important to carefully consider the impact that you will have in such a placement. Below we have highlighted some helpful steps that you can take to help ensure that you are volunteering in an ethical manner.
Ensure that you inform yourself about the organisation you wish to volunteer with. You can do this by reading their Vision & Mission Statement; viewing their website, Social Media & Communications, and checking through (and ensuring they have) a Child Protection Policy & Procedures. It is also important that an organisation has a screening process, as this will show that they are taking steps to protect the community they are serving.
Assess the organisation
Identify any high risk areas
Avoid volunteering in orphanages or other residential care institutions, and participating in any kinds of ‘raids’ in an effort to ‘rescue’ people from trafficking. This is always better left to relevant in-country authorities. Only specialised personal deployed by disaster relief organisations should volunteer in conflict zones. Doctors who are volunteering should take care to work alongside local healthcare providers.
Assess the itinerary
Ensure that you possess the skills that will be required of you for the trip; that the trip will empower the local community it serves, and that the proposed outcome is realistic.
Make a DECISION
Consider all the information that you have collected to decide if this volunteer opportunity is ethical.
Some Questions you can Ask potential placements:
Does the organisation have a clear vision & mission statement?
Does the organisation’s website, social media and other communications materials portray local communities and children in a positive and affirming way?
Does the organisation have a child protection policy?
Use the assessment below to help you assess potential placements.
Explore Opportunities
The following are some examples of alternative volunteer opportunities in Myanmar. Kinnected has no official ties to these organisations and as such would urge you to personally ensure that any organisation you help is working in an ethical manner before supporting them.
HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO VOLUNTEER WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO:
1. THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT
2. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
3. ACT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS CHILDREN AND PROMOTES FAMILIES
COMMUNITY
Support the ‘PASS IT ON PROJECT’
The Third Story creates and produces children’s story books which you can buy to be distributed to local communities around Myanmar. The books they produce focus around peace, tolerance and diversity, and the project helps discourage orphanage tourism and unsolicited visits to local schools.
Buy Jewellery to support Trafficked women
Eden Ministry creates and sells beautiful jewellery in Yangon. All profits go directly towards supporting women.
TEACH ENGLISH.
Some churches, such as Every Nation Yangon, also run free English teaching programs and welcome help from English speakers.
ASSIST A LOCAL CHARITY
Yangon Education Centre for The Blind is currently needing English speakers to help record ‘talking books’ for their students to use.
GET INVOLVED WHERE YOU LIVE
By shopping locally or in markets in your neighbourhood, you can help provide an income for families.
ENVIRONMENT
CLEAN THE STREETS
Trash Hero regularly gets together to help clean up trash from areas in Yangon and Mandalay. Contact them directly or check out their Facebook page for upcoming events!
Stores in Yangon tend to overuse plastic. Try and set an example wherever you go and bring along your own shopping bags and water bottle.
Support an Upcycling Business
Shin Thant Plastics uses trash to make wonderful products! Visit their store to see what treasures you can find.
CHURCHES
INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES IN YANGON:
If you are planning a short term missions trip please explore our manual for churches and Christian organisations.