Handbook
Volunteer Relationship
A volunteer is anyone who provides time and talent to City of Refuge Ministries through work on special projects, social media, administration, teaching, mentoring, tutoring, summer camp, Impact ONE or any other CORM project. We thank you, and all volunteers, for the personal
investment you make in our organization and its mission. We strive to provide support, supervision and recognition to our volunteers.
As a volunteer you have the right to:
1. Be assigned appropriate tasks according to ability, skill, interests, availability and training.
2. Receive training and supervision for tasks accepted.
3. Receive a job description for your assignment when appropriate.
4. Be treated as a fellow team member who contributes to CORM goals through your volunteer work.
5. Make suggestions about your assignment and the CORM volunteer program, and be acknowledged by staff.
6. Expect that CORM will be a good steward of your time.
7. Be trusted with confidential information if needed to help carry out assignments.
8. Be treated with a spirit of friendliness and cooperation.
9. A safe and inviting environment to work in that is free of harassment and discrimination.
CORM expects volunteers to:
1. Know your own duties and stay on task.
2. Cooperate with staff and your fellow volunteers. Maintain a team attitude.
3. Voice your opinions and contribute your suggestions to improve CORM’s work.
4. Be on time for scheduled meetings and work assignments.
5. Be flexible! Some things will not operate in that way you may be used to, so be willing to adjust if necessary.
6. Treat all children, volunteers, and staff with respect.
7. Be respectful of our Christian beliefs and do not try to proselytize personal beliefs if they do not line up with CORM’s Statement of Faith.
What to Expect
Your living situation at the CORM Children’s Village will be simple. You will board in our volunteer house. The volunteer house has a male and female dormitory, each with bunk-beds and a bathroom with shower facilities. There is not access to hot water, but you will be grateful for the cool water after a sweaty day with the kids! Occasionally, our water tap is turned off, so be aware that you will be asked to haul your own water for bathing from our well on those weeks.
Our cooking staff prepares meals for you on a daily basis. Breakfast and lunch will be served in the guest house, except for school days, where lunch will be served at the school. Dinner is served on the tables between the volunteer house and Omorefe house.
If you have special needs or food allergies please make us aware ahead of time and do whatever you can to make proper preparations for alternatives for yourself.
Your daily activities may include a variety of different things. Be prepared to get dirty, do physical activity, and have lots of contact with kids. If you are concerned about any of these things, please talk to us and we will try to work something out before hand. If you have a strict personal bubble or germ-a-phobic tendencies, this might not be a good fit for you.
Please come with an open mind and a willing spirit to take part in any area where you are asked to help. We want to accommodate your needs and desires; however, your flexibility will be essential to maximize your time here. You will be working with a vulnerable population and your involvement indicates your knowledge and consent to take responsibility for the associated risks.
The children are exceptionally affectionate and helpful. Your interactions with them will likely be the highlight of your trip. Please be sensitive to their needs, personalities and vulnerable backgrounds. This does not mean that you should be anxious about saying or doing the wrong thing, but come with the understanding that you are entering a different cultural and economic situation, which may be very foreign to you. You are a guest at the Children’s Village and are expected to be considerate and responsive.
If you have a specified goal or skill that you wish to share please come prepared with curriculum, supplies and a structured tasks of how to execute your plan. But also be flexible. Prepare to be surprised by the kids educational and maturity levels and take into account the cultural and language differences, which may make simple tasks challenging.