Volunteer Terms and Conditions

A Fellowship of Joyful Givers
  • It is understood that Comradeship Philippines helps to coordinate the project you volunteer for but it is not responsible for the actions of the volunteer. The organization does not arrange flights or make any travel arrangements to your program location. It is your own responsibility to arrange your own air fares and travel to the program location. The organization provides advice and pre departure information to you, it is your responsibility to obtain all necessary travel documents, such as visa, work permits etc. You are responsible for ensuring your travel documents are complete and up to date for your travel. Volunteering Solutions cannot accept the responsibility if entry is denied to a country due to incorrect visa or travel documents.
  • Comradeship Philippines is not a service provider, therefore, what you pay is a donation to our organization that helps sustain the network of projects we work with.
  • Comradeship Philippines is not responsible for loss of property, personal injury, illness, accident, delay or expense sustained by the volunteer while participating in the program.
  • The organization requires the volunteer to have adequate medical insurance for the duration of the program and must be provided with details of such insurance coverage at the time of confirming their placement.
  • Volunteers should be in sufficient physical and mental health to participate in the Program and do not have any physical or mental conditions which could affect their ability to participate in the Program.
  • Comradeship Philippines DOES NOT provides any insurance coverage for the participant or their property in connection with their participation in the Program. Volunteers acknowledge that they are responsible for their safety and own health care needs.
  • Daily transportation costs and meals are the volunteers’ responsibility.
  • Volunteers agree to follow the laws of the host country, the policies of the community in which they serve, and the rules of the host family, failure to do so will result in their expulsion without notice or refunds.
  • A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total amount you will donate to your program is required along with your confirmation email. We begin the confirmation process once the deposit has been received. The balance of the donation is due before you start with your program.
  • If you wish to make changes to your placement once it has been confirmed, Comradeship Philippines will use reasonable efforts to make the changes. Depending on the case, the organization reserves the right to apply any additional charges.
  • Volunteers agree that no part of the donation fee is refundable once the program has started. We have a non-disclosure contract with each project, so we are not able to provide personal information about the projects before the volunteer contract is signed.

ACCOMODATION

  • Accommodations have been carefully selected by members of our organization in order to guarantee not only the infrastructure but also the services offered
  • If volunteers are not pleased with the assigned accommodation, they may request to change it. We will make every effort to look for another accommodation of the same type and characteristics when there are valid reasons for such a request. Any and all accommodation change request must be made via email or in writing. According to the accommodation availability, the request will be processed within a minimum of 72 hours.
  • We will not pay for changes in accommodation made on the volunteer’s behalf.
  • Even if the pickup service is not requested, the volunteer must always inform the organization about the arrival time and date via e-mail or telephone at least 72 h in advance. If the requested information is not provided, we cannot guarantee that someone will be waiting at the accommodation for the volunteer upon arrival.
  • The accommodation will be charged from 10 AM on the first day requested.
  • If you decide to travel during your stay in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, the nights you spent outside the Accommodation which you have already booked, will not be reimbursed. So please make any travel arrangements before or after your volunteer placement.
  • You can arrive earlier or leave after you finish your volunteer program, as long as you have paid for these extra nights.
  • In order to make extensions, you will need to send an email to [email protected] stating the dates you want to extend your stay for and pay a new deposit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to assure a pleasant stay, Comradeship Philippines has established behavior rules applicable at the accommodation as well as volunteer, apprenticeships or any other program. In case of breaking the rules, the organization has the right to cancel the program with no refund possibilities.

Program Fees and Conditions

The donation fee for our programs is published on our web page, they are valid from 1st December 2019 to 1st December 2020, and replace any other previous version. The volunteer must also include the cost of other services that may be requested (accommodation, transfer service, travel expenses, etc).

Cancellation of Programs

Incase Comradeship Philippines has to cancel your program due to certain operational reasons, The organization will refund part of the remaining time period of the project fee calculated on a pro-rata basis excluding the application fee of US$250 and 7% (seven percent) bank charges.

If your program is cancelled by the organization due to any uncertain natural calamities (for example – earthquakes, floods, typhoons, tsunami etc.) your Program & Application fee will not be refunded under such circumstances.

Use of Photos and Feedback

By agreeing to the terms and conditions you agree that Comradeship Philippines can use your photos and written feedback while at the project to post on its website www.comradeship.org the organization might use such material for marketing/promotion in the form of brochure/emails/ or on its website. Comradeship Philippines also uses photos and material from our partners and affiliations abroad and is not responsible for any claims arising towards that material/photos/content. This includes photos and videos posted on our Facebook page and other social media network sites.

Personal Risks

  • The volunteer acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their agreement to travel to, temporarily live in and provide volunteer services in a developing country. Such travel and volunteer work can be often hazardous and involves a certain degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities and personal perils to the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted by and solely assumed by the volunteer. Therefore, Comradeship Philippines  including any and all of its volunteers, directors, shareholders, host families and host country partner organizations are not liable, to the maximum extent of the law, for any loss or harm the volunteer or associates may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused by:
  • Personal injury
  • Accommodation
  • Transportation
  • Safety
  • Hygiene
  • Civil Unrest
  • Dangers associated with wild or other animals
  • Religious Activities
  • High Altitude
  • Food
  • Water
  • Emotional injury
  • Death
  • Illness or disease
  • War or Act of Terrorism
  • Damage to or loss of property
  • Accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies and facilities
  • Adequacy of medical attention once provided
  • You accept and acknowledge and confirm that personal injury or illness, emotional trauma, property damage and death can occur by natural causes or activities of persons or animals, either as a result of negligence or because of other reasons.
  • By applying for our programs online your confirm that you have read and agree to our terms & you are waiving of any Liability that, amongst other things:
  • Forever releases us, our volunteers, our directors, our shareholders, our volunteers and any persons or groups associated to us of all liability;
  • Forever signifies that you are waiving any claims against us, our owners,our directors, our shareholders, our employees and any persons or groups associated with us, and expressly assume all risks associated with participating in any of our programs.

Code of Conduct

  • You agree that you will abide by the rules and regulations set out by our partner organizations in the home country. If we or our in-country partners find your behavior unsatisfactory due to drugs, alcohol, stress, abuse or a medical condition. Your program would be terminated under the following conditions:
  • If we find that you are engaged in any illegal activities or convicted of any criminal activities before or during the Project Period
  • If it is believed that any of your action or behavior is threatening or unacceptable to society or anyone involved with the project based on the judgment of the volunteer , host family and/or the in country coordinator.
  • Any information provided by you to Comradeship Philippines during the time of enrollment is incorrect.
  • You voluntarily decide to opt out of the program in between.
  • If you are found taking drugs or using such material while in the project.
  • If you are found to be engaged in sexual behavior while your stay in the host family.
  • If you do not observe the Code of Conduct in your host country.
  • In case the agreement is terminated due to any of the above reasons or reasons relating to the above, you will not be entitled to any refund from the organization.
  • Comradeship Philippines has the right to cancel any placement of an enrolled volunteer before start date

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

This Code of Conduct provides guidelines deemed to be appropriate and proper behaviour for volunteers when interacting with children and vulnerable adults. These guidelines are primarily designed to protect the individuals that volunteers work with, but are also intended to protect volunteers from false accusations of inappropriate behaviour or abuse.

  • No child or vulnerable adult is to be taken outside of the placement/project site, without making prior arrangements with the organization’s directors.
  • No child or vulnerable adult is to be taken to any volunteer’s homestay, guesthouse, hotel or accommodation.
  • Volunteers are not permitted to take any child or vulnerable adult to a cafe, restaurant or buy them food, unless permission has been given by the placement staff.
  • Volunteers are not permitted to share a bed or room with any children or vulnerable adults while participating in the program.
  • No presents are to be bought for placement participants without prior approval from the organization’s directors.
  • Photography and videography of children or vulnerable adults is only permitted with permission from the volunteers or directors and photos/videos should not be taken in a way intended to belittle or degrade any placement participant.
  • Volunteers should not act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children or vulnerable adults or perpetrate any form of emotional abuse.
  • Volunteers must display appropriate language, actions and relationships with children at all times.
  • Volunteers must take extreme care when interacting physically with placement participants. Under no circumstance should any physical contact be, or have the appearance of being sexual in any way.
  • Volunteers must not exert inappropriate physical force when dealing with children or vulnerable adults. This includes pushing, shoving, hitting, slapping or any other action that could cause fear, intimidation or distress.
  • Volunteers must not discriminate against, show differential treatment, or favour particular individual to the exclusion of others.
  • Volunteers are responsible for their actions and reactions to children and vulnerable adults at all times. Volunteers are always considered to be responsible for their actions regardless of how a child or vulnerable adult behaves towards them.
  • Where possible and practical, volunteers should implement the ‘two people’ rule, whereby two or more responsible adults supervise all activities with children and vulnerable adults.
  • Inappropriate conduct toward children and vulnerable adults including failure to follow the behaviour standards stated above is grounds for discipline, including dismissal from the organization’s program. Extreme breaches of policy may result in law enforcement notification and legal action.  For more information about Republic Act 7610 , AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, click the link below
  • RA. 7610