Terms & conditions for all volunteers
1. All volunteers are required to cover personal and accommodation costs while working for the foundation.
2. All volunteers are responsible for their own accident, health insurance and care of personal property, entertainment props, camera & film equipment and any other property belonging to them.
3. All photography or film footage shot by volunteers during any foundation field operations, must not be published in any way without permission from the foundation Director or his representatives.
4. Full-time volunteers, who are not Thai citizens, must apply through the foundation for long term visa and work permits, as required by Thailand laws.
5. Full-time volunteers, who are not Thai citizens, must pay all costs for administration and processing of work permits and visa’s.
6. Volunteer entertainers must provide copies of their public liability insurance when the act includes fire, mechanical devices, high unicycles, stilts or any other stage prop that may cause third party injury or damage.
7. No volunteer can receive any salary from the Gift of Happiness Foundation.
8. Volunteers are requested to share transport and fuel costs when assisting with projects in Thailand.
9. Volunteers are requested (not required) to help raise funding for the foundation where possible.
10. All full-time fund raising volunteers are require to have a work permit issued through the foundation.
1. All volunteers are required to cover personal and accommodation costs while working for the foundation.
2. All volunteers are responsible for their own accident, health insurance and care of personal property, entertainment props, camera & film equipment and any other property belonging to them.
3. All photography or film footage shot by volunteers during any foundation field operations, must not be published in any way without permission from the foundation Director or his representatives.
4. Full-time volunteers, who are not Thai citizens, must apply through the foundation for long term visa and work permits, as required by Thailand laws.
5. Full-time volunteers, who are not Thai citizens, must pay all costs for administration and processing of work permits and visa’s.
6. Volunteer entertainers must provide copies of their public liability insurance when the act includes fire, mechanical devices, high unicycles, stilts or any other stage prop that may cause third party injury or damage.
7. No volunteer can receive any salary from the Gift of Happiness Foundation.
8. Volunteers are requested to share transport and fuel costs when assisting with projects in Thailand.
9. Volunteers are requested (not required) to help raise funding for the foundation where possible.
10. All full-time fund raising volunteers are require to have a work permit issued through the foundation.
Guidelines...
Social media and respect for the people we serve
Gift of Happiness Foundation values the privilege of being able to help people who are often living in desperate situations. We do not want to compromise that privilege because someone in our group posts something that maybe inappropriate on any social media page, press releases or websites. It is therefore very important for all volunteers to be aware of this and treat the people we serve with great respect at all times.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to managing volunteers and training
All volunteers, no matter what kind of nonprofit organisation, should really go through a training period where they learn the ropes. For some nonprofits, that might mean just a couple of hours of instruction, while other nonprofit organisations might require a full week of training or more. Gift of Happiness Foundation is a small nonprofit organisation and cannot commit to any training apart from than that of reasonable on-the-job experience. During this short on-the-job training period which is usually hours before each field trip or store-room based project, volunteers will be taught their role in our nonprofit organisation.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to managing volunteers and rewards
There will be times when Gift of Happiness Foundation will notice the extraordinary accomplishments of a volunteer. Just because they are working for no pay doesn't mean that their accomplishments shouldn't be recognised. We have set up a reward system for volunteers who perform exceptionally well, and we will reward positive behavior appropriately.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to volunteers and workplace conditions
Even though volunteers are not employees, and are not subject to the same laws as paid staff members at commercial profit making organisations, they are still entitled to safe and healthy workplace conditions. That means that if Gift of Happiness Foundation provide an unsafe working environment for a volunteer, we can still be liable for damages as though the volunteer were an employee. That being the case, we require all volunteers to sign a waiver accepting full responsibility for any accidents, contracted diseases or injury caused by themselves or anyone else while they are engaged in any of the foundations operations. Gift of Happiness Foundation does not carry any insurance (Other than the Directors public liability and car insurance for vehicles used by the foundation) to cover volunteers in case of third party injury, personal accidents, sickness, death or injury while said volunteer is engaged in any of the foundations activities.
Dangerous talk and pictures may cost lives
Gift of Happiness Foundation often visits some very sensitive locations and deals with many people who have been displaced by civil war or escaped from people traffickers or other abusers. Some of those people may not have the right papers to be in some of the places we visit. One wrong photo or published comment can lead to terrible consequences for such individuals. “It is a fact that some people have been shot because a foreign visitor produced text or pictures showing them in the wrong place at the wrong time!”
Managing Volunteers and Letting Volunteers Go
As uncomfortable a prospect as this might be, there will be times when volunteers must be let go. Volunteers who fail to live up to their responsibilities or whose behavior reflects poorly on our organisation are not helping - they're hurting. - Designated volunteer staff members who oversee volunteer participation should be comfortable with reporting negative behavior directly to the Director at Gift of Happiness Foundation. They should always be on the look-out for volunteers who shirk their duties or who behave irresponsibly. Gift of Happiness projects are done for the sole benefit of the people we serve. We insist that volunteers should not consider our projects to be part of a fact finding mission to be used for other organisations or to gain personal merit. If we see that any volunteers are trying to gain any of those personal benefits while working with us, we will have to let those volunteers go without warning. Also, those people will not be considered to be part of any further projects with Gift of Happiness Foundation. - We will handle any dismissal as professionally as any company would the firing of an employee but without the usual three warnings required by employment law. We simply explain that the situation isn't working out, and we will wish you all the best.
Social media and respect for the people we serve
Gift of Happiness Foundation values the privilege of being able to help people who are often living in desperate situations. We do not want to compromise that privilege because someone in our group posts something that maybe inappropriate on any social media page, press releases or websites. It is therefore very important for all volunteers to be aware of this and treat the people we serve with great respect at all times.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to managing volunteers and training
All volunteers, no matter what kind of nonprofit organisation, should really go through a training period where they learn the ropes. For some nonprofits, that might mean just a couple of hours of instruction, while other nonprofit organisations might require a full week of training or more. Gift of Happiness Foundation is a small nonprofit organisation and cannot commit to any training apart from than that of reasonable on-the-job experience. During this short on-the-job training period which is usually hours before each field trip or store-room based project, volunteers will be taught their role in our nonprofit organisation.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to managing volunteers and rewards
There will be times when Gift of Happiness Foundation will notice the extraordinary accomplishments of a volunteer. Just because they are working for no pay doesn't mean that their accomplishments shouldn't be recognised. We have set up a reward system for volunteers who perform exceptionally well, and we will reward positive behavior appropriately.
Gift of Happiness Foundations commitment to volunteers and workplace conditions
Even though volunteers are not employees, and are not subject to the same laws as paid staff members at commercial profit making organisations, they are still entitled to safe and healthy workplace conditions. That means that if Gift of Happiness Foundation provide an unsafe working environment for a volunteer, we can still be liable for damages as though the volunteer were an employee. That being the case, we require all volunteers to sign a waiver accepting full responsibility for any accidents, contracted diseases or injury caused by themselves or anyone else while they are engaged in any of the foundations operations. Gift of Happiness Foundation does not carry any insurance (Other than the Directors public liability and car insurance for vehicles used by the foundation) to cover volunteers in case of third party injury, personal accidents, sickness, death or injury while said volunteer is engaged in any of the foundations activities.
Dangerous talk and pictures may cost lives
Gift of Happiness Foundation often visits some very sensitive locations and deals with many people who have been displaced by civil war or escaped from people traffickers or other abusers. Some of those people may not have the right papers to be in some of the places we visit. One wrong photo or published comment can lead to terrible consequences for such individuals. “It is a fact that some people have been shot because a foreign visitor produced text or pictures showing them in the wrong place at the wrong time!”
Managing Volunteers and Letting Volunteers Go
As uncomfortable a prospect as this might be, there will be times when volunteers must be let go. Volunteers who fail to live up to their responsibilities or whose behavior reflects poorly on our organisation are not helping - they're hurting. - Designated volunteer staff members who oversee volunteer participation should be comfortable with reporting negative behavior directly to the Director at Gift of Happiness Foundation. They should always be on the look-out for volunteers who shirk their duties or who behave irresponsibly. Gift of Happiness projects are done for the sole benefit of the people we serve. We insist that volunteers should not consider our projects to be part of a fact finding mission to be used for other organisations or to gain personal merit. If we see that any volunteers are trying to gain any of those personal benefits while working with us, we will have to let those volunteers go without warning. Also, those people will not be considered to be part of any further projects with Gift of Happiness Foundation. - We will handle any dismissal as professionally as any company would the firing of an employee but without the usual three warnings required by employment law. We simply explain that the situation isn't working out, and we will wish you all the best.
Required information
1. Volunteers without direct contact to vulnerable people are only required to give full name, address and contact details. – Examples are - Administration, fund raising, mechanical maintenance, sorting of donations etc.
2. Volunteers applying for field work with us must provide their up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.
3. Volunteers applying for field work with us must provide an up-to-date and verifiable copy of homeland or Thai Criminal Record Bureau Certificate. – Examples are Thailand Special Branch clearance certificate. Other countries – Your standard CRB. A criminal record self-declaration statement. Note: Gift of Happiness Foundation can provide details of how to apply for the Thai Special Branch clearance certificate to applicants possessing a long term visa. Holders of short term visas must provide a standard CRB from the country of origin. Or criminal record self-declaration.
4. All volunteers, who are not Thai citizens and applying for field work with Gift of Happiness Foundation must provide copies of passport, current visa period and verifiable homeland and Thailand addresses.
5. All Thai citizen volunteers must provide copies of Thailand ID cards.
1. Volunteers without direct contact to vulnerable people are only required to give full name, address and contact details. – Examples are - Administration, fund raising, mechanical maintenance, sorting of donations etc.
2. Volunteers applying for field work with us must provide their up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.
3. Volunteers applying for field work with us must provide an up-to-date and verifiable copy of homeland or Thai Criminal Record Bureau Certificate. – Examples are Thailand Special Branch clearance certificate. Other countries – Your standard CRB. A criminal record self-declaration statement. Note: Gift of Happiness Foundation can provide details of how to apply for the Thai Special Branch clearance certificate to applicants possessing a long term visa. Holders of short term visas must provide a standard CRB from the country of origin. Or criminal record self-declaration.
4. All volunteers, who are not Thai citizens and applying for field work with Gift of Happiness Foundation must provide copies of passport, current visa period and verifiable homeland and Thailand addresses.
5. All Thai citizen volunteers must provide copies of Thailand ID cards.
Gift of Happiness Foundation's ten rules that must be kept by all field work volunteers...
Please also see: Guidelines & Terms above.
* RULE 1. Do not give any money directly to anyone at any of the places we visit. -- There may be times when you might want to give money directly to the teachers, children or guardians when you accompany us on some of our projects -- You are welcome to talk to the Director about making donations via the Gift of Happiness Foundation and we will make sure your money is used in the best way possible.
* RULE 2. All pictures taken by volunteers attending any of Gift of Happiness Foundation projects should be made available to the Founder/Director or his personal assistant. Volunteers cannot copy-write their pictures without the consent of the Director. We respectfully ask for anyone wishing to post comments or pictures on social media or other publications, to check with the Founder/Director first.
* RULE 3. On field trips, no volunteer is allowed to wander around in places where there may be people who should not be seen or photographed. Volunteers must stay with the group and be ready to help at all times when on tour with Gift of Happiness Foundation. Remember, Dangerous talk and pictures may cost lives. (See Guidelines)
* RULE 4. Volunteers taking pictures, gathering detailed information for other organisations or handing-out name cards for personal or other benefit is absolutely not permitted while you are part of any Gift of Happiness Foundation project. Breaking this rule will result in you being asked to leave the project immediately and you will never be asked to return as a volunteer at our organisation. We must protect the children from contact with people who are not entirely there to help them.
* RULE 5. Volunteers who bring digital cameras or phone devices that can save and send pictures must also bring a memory stick or other device that can easily be copied on current lap-top’s or desk top PC’s. We will collect copies of all pictures at the end of each day of each project.
* RULE 6. No volunteers to be alone with any children at any time during our field trips.
* RULE 7. No volunteers to give any medicines, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or toy/real weapons to any of the venerable people we visit.
* RULE 8. Volunteers suffering from contagious sickness like common cold, flue or other diseases that can easily be passed onto the people we serve. Must refrain from close contact with everyone that we visit. (That's the kind of gift we don't want to give!)
* RULE 9. Volunteers must respect the religious, political views and traditions of the people that we serve. Wear appropriate decent clothing and do not espouse your own religious or political opinions when in contact with those people.
* RULE 10. No volunteer seen to be under the influence of alcohol or other mood changing substances is allowed to be in contact with the people we serve.
Note: Anyone who has previously broken any of these rules need not apply to join us on future projects.
Please also see: Guidelines & Terms above.
* RULE 1. Do not give any money directly to anyone at any of the places we visit. -- There may be times when you might want to give money directly to the teachers, children or guardians when you accompany us on some of our projects -- You are welcome to talk to the Director about making donations via the Gift of Happiness Foundation and we will make sure your money is used in the best way possible.
* RULE 2. All pictures taken by volunteers attending any of Gift of Happiness Foundation projects should be made available to the Founder/Director or his personal assistant. Volunteers cannot copy-write their pictures without the consent of the Director. We respectfully ask for anyone wishing to post comments or pictures on social media or other publications, to check with the Founder/Director first.
* RULE 3. On field trips, no volunteer is allowed to wander around in places where there may be people who should not be seen or photographed. Volunteers must stay with the group and be ready to help at all times when on tour with Gift of Happiness Foundation. Remember, Dangerous talk and pictures may cost lives. (See Guidelines)
* RULE 4. Volunteers taking pictures, gathering detailed information for other organisations or handing-out name cards for personal or other benefit is absolutely not permitted while you are part of any Gift of Happiness Foundation project. Breaking this rule will result in you being asked to leave the project immediately and you will never be asked to return as a volunteer at our organisation. We must protect the children from contact with people who are not entirely there to help them.
* RULE 5. Volunteers who bring digital cameras or phone devices that can save and send pictures must also bring a memory stick or other device that can easily be copied on current lap-top’s or desk top PC’s. We will collect copies of all pictures at the end of each day of each project.
* RULE 6. No volunteers to be alone with any children at any time during our field trips.
* RULE 7. No volunteers to give any medicines, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or toy/real weapons to any of the venerable people we visit.
* RULE 8. Volunteers suffering from contagious sickness like common cold, flue or other diseases that can easily be passed onto the people we serve. Must refrain from close contact with everyone that we visit. (That's the kind of gift we don't want to give!)
* RULE 9. Volunteers must respect the religious, political views and traditions of the people that we serve. Wear appropriate decent clothing and do not espouse your own religious or political opinions when in contact with those people.
* RULE 10. No volunteer seen to be under the influence of alcohol or other mood changing substances is allowed to be in contact with the people we serve.
Note: Anyone who has previously broken any of these rules need not apply to join us on future projects.
