Volunteer & Missionary Information

Support

 

To support you in roll at CORM we hold a weekly volunteer meeting. If you desire to meet with a director outside of these weekly meetings please let us know and we will be happy to meet with you. It is our desire to ensure that your time serving with CORM is fruitful. 

Volunteer Housing

 

Laundry: CORM has one washing machine available for use.  There is a minimal charge per load of laundry.  You are responsible to bring or purchase your own laundry detergent.  Be aware that soaps purchased in Ghana must be for machine use.  If you would like to wash your clothes by hand, we will provide metal tubs and water.  You are still responsible for laundry detergent.  Soap will be made available for purchase for hand-washing at the CORM Children’s Village.

 

Chores: All volunteers are responsible for the upkeep of their boarding facilities.  If you make a mess, clean it up! 

 

Weekend Travel: Ghana is an interesting country to explore and meet new people.  If you want to take full advantage of traveling on the weekend, we require that you complete the CORM Volunteer Travel sheet for each trip you make away from the CORM Children’s Village (even if it is only for 1 day!).  This helps us plan for meals and makes us aware of where you will be in case of any emergency.

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Child Interaction

 

Our children are affectionately energetic, loving, and boisterous.  Many of these policies are listed in our document, “Child Protection Policies”, which you have signed with your completed application.  Here are several other policies regarding volunteer interactions with our children.

           

1. While volunteers may seek to develop individual relationships with our children, we ask that you never seek interactions that may be counseling in nature.  The children are receiving that support from our staff.  Your goal should be friend and encourager!

 

2. Our little children are irresistible and your first response will be to pick them up and love on them.  We ask that volunteers never pick up our children as this creates behavioral problems with them that our staff later have to deal with.  They may, however, sit on your lap, hold your hand, etc.  This does not inhibit your ability to build relationship with them!

 

3. You are not responsible for disciplining our children.  If you see a behavior problem and no other staff or adults are around to handle the situation, feel free to help problem solve with the children, but please take them to report the issue to the house parents, staff members, or family members.

 

4. At the CORM Children’s Village, we have a girl’s house (Freedom Center) and a boy’s house (Redeemed House).  Volunteers/staff/children of the opposite gender are not allowed in the houses. 

 

Inappropriate Interactions

 

Be an example for our children of appropriate interactions with members of the opposite sex (either our children or staff).  Romantic relationships with the dependents of CORM, regardless of their age, are absolutely prohibited.  This will result in the dismissal of the volunteer.

 

If there is a romantic relationship pursued with one of our staff members, it is the volunteer’s responsibility to inform the CORM Leadership Team.  This is not encouraged and should not be the focus of anyone’s experience here, but we want volunteers to be open with leadership in these regards.

 

Resolving Problems

 

We hope that you will have a very enjoyable experience volunteering with us. However if your role as a volunteer does not meet your expectations or the commitments we have made to you, we want you to feel comfortable about letting us know. Please feel free to speak to a member of our directors team concerning your issue and they will be able to sort it out with you before it becomes a problem. .

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Use of CORM Vehicles

 

Volunteers may not drive CORM vehicles. CORM staff are not allowed to provide transportation to our volunteers unless otherwise directed by the Leadership Team.

 

Confidentiality

 

All matters related to the children of CORM are confidential. Every volunteer of CORM has a responsibility to help maintain confidentiality. This includes a commitment to personally avoid disclosure of confidential information.

 

All volunteers must maintain confidentiality in all matters related to the children and families of CORM as described in a Statement of Confidentiality. All volunteers must sign the Statement.

 

Any volunteer who has a question about his or her responsibilities as outlined in the Statement of Confidentiality should consult a member of the Leadership Team.

 

A volunteer must inform a member of the Leadership Team immediately if he or she has any reason to believe that confidential information has been or has the potential to be inappropriately disclosed in any manner.

 

Alcohol, Drugs and Controlled Substances

 

This policy is designed to help ensure the CORM Children’s Village is kept drug and alcohol-free.

 

Any employee or volunteer who:

1) reports to work under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and/or controlled substances

2) consumes, possesses, manufactures, distributes, dispenses, sells or purchases alcohol, drugs, and/or controlled substances at any CORM facility or vehicle,

3) consumes, possesses, manufactures, distributes, dispenses, sells or purchases alcohol, drugs, and/or controlled substances while having the responsibility for care of children or

4) is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and/or controlled substances while being responsible for the care of children will be suspended immediately and will be subject to further disciplinary action, including possible termination.