1 CHRISTEL HOUSE SOUTH AFRICA NPC Registration Number 2001/012349/08 | NPO 017-044 www.sa.christelhouse.org info@sa.christelhouse.org Swallowcliffe Drive, Ottery, 7800 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa P.O. Box 767, Howard Place, 7450 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa +27 (0)21 704 9400 VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Christel House South Africa and your willingness to make a difference in the lives of our students. We are a non-profit school with a single mission: to break the cycle of poverty. We offer no-fee scholarships to students from some of Cape Town’s poorest neighbourhoods and support them for 19 years (Grade RR to Grade 12 and five years post matric) through character-based and career focused education. Our beneficiaries include 840 students from Grade RR to 12, 250+ post-matric students and more than 10,000 parents and other members of the communities we serve. We welcome volunteers from South Africa and abroad throughout the year to join the Christel House family. As the well-known African proverb goes: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. As a volunteer, you will have a chance to work alongside our passionate staff and play an active role in delivering the valuable programs and interventions we do. No doubt, whether your interests lie in education, social work or marketing, it will be an enriching learning experience and a chance for you to make a difference in the lives of our students. Once your volunteering request has been provisionally approved based on the info provided below, we require proof of a clear criminal record before we can give you final approval to start volunteering with us. For South Africans, we will do the criminal check on your behalf at a fee of R150, payable upfront into a bank account that we will provide to you. For all international volunteers, we require you to attain a valid criminal record certificate from your relevant police authority. PERSONAL INFORMATION Name Surname ID /Passport # Country/Citizenship Address : Contact number : Email Emergency contact number BACKGROUND INFORMATION Language spoken ? What experience do you have working with youth? Present occupation? What are your hobbies and interests? Have you done voluntary work before? If so, please give details To apply to become a volunteer at Christel House, please complete the below form and send it along with your updated CV/resumé to Keri Francis at kfra ncis@sa.christelhouse.org 2 CHRISTEL HOUSE SOUTH AFRICA NPC Registration Number 2001/012349/08 | NPO 017-044 www.sa.christelhouse.org info@sa.christelhouse.org Swallowcliffe Drive, Ottery, 7800 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa P.O. Box 767, Howard Place, 7450 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa +27 (0)21 704 9400 We want to know more about you, please briefly tell us why you would like to volunteer for Christel House and what would you like to achieve at the end of your volunteer period: Conduct and expectations when volunteering with children We are grateful for the help we receive from our volunteers. We are, however, also aware that children across the world are at risk of experiencing abuse, sometimes wittingly and oftentimes, unwittingly. The following is a guideline of suggestions and expectations that we expect all volunteers to adhere to both protect volunteers and our students: a. When in doubt, don’t do it. If you are uncertain whether an action (physical or verbal) could mean harm to a student or be interpreted as wrong/unethical by any student or staff member, rather refrain from taking the action b. Respect the student’s personal physical space (whilst a loving gesture like putting a child on your lap may be totally innocent, it is discouraged in the strongest sense) c. Respect the student’s privacy, both physically as well as emotionally d. Ask the student’s permission before offering a hug and if granted, we request it being from the side, please e. Refrain from discussing overly personal or sensitive information with or in the company of the student f. Be aware of the difference in the standard of living between you and our students which you may be blind to and which may open thoughts, expectations and often feelings of withdrawal or resentment in a child g. Refrain from using any inappropriate or foul language in the company of the student h. Ensure the safety of our students at all times. If you observe any situation that might be potentially dangerous or a physical altercation between students, always report it to a teacher or staff member immediately i. Do not share children’s photographs on any social media platforms EDUCATION BACKGROUND Education/Professional Qualifications/Experience: AREAS OF INTEREST ( Please indicate with an X ) Teaching/Assistance Junior School Teaching/Assistance High School Sports Social Services (counseling & nursing) Maintenance & IT Fundraising & Marketing Others (Specify): VOLUNTEERING TIMEFRAME Date requested to start volunteering (e.g. 1 Aug): Date requested to end volunteering (e.g. 1 Sep): Half day (8am-1pm) or Full day (8am-4.30pm): HEALTH INFORMATION Do you have any Mental/Physical problems/illness that may affect your tasks/duties as a volunteer? If YES, please specify: Yes, what illness? No 3 CHRISTEL HOUSE SOUTH AFRICA NPC Registration Number 2001/012349/08 | NPO 017-044 www.sa.christelhouse.org info@sa.christelhouse.org Swallowcliffe Drive, Ottery, 7800 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa P.O. Box 767, Howard Place, 7450 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa +27 (0)21 704 9400 j. Do not contact children or families individually via Facebook or any other social media including mobile phones k. Do not use your own digital camera/video for work purposes. This includes mobile phone cameras l. Do not attempt to establish any relationships with children at our school on social media during the course of your volunteering experience. If you would like to stay in touch with any of our students, do so through our teachers (e.g. by sending an email to the teacher to share with the students, etc.) m. Absolutely no smoking or consumption of alcohol in front of kids and on the school premises. n. Volunteers are not allowed to strike, spank, shake or slap a child under any circumstances o. Do not make any individual gifts to the children. Instead, if you’d like to offer gifts to the children, choose an item that all the children in a class/the school can use (e.g. library books, soccer balls, puzzles, etc.) and do so in consultation with one of our teachers We thank you for honouring and respecting these guidelines developed with our children’s needs and safety in mind. DECLARATIONS: I understand that I will be responsible for arranging and paying for my own transport, health insurance, medical aid care, housing and living expenses. _____________ ( please initial) I understand that my acceptance as a volunteer will depend on whether I have a clean criminal history. As a South African resident, I hereby give consent to Christel House to do a criminal check on my behalf. As an international volunteer, I understand that I will be required to submit an official police clearance and/or criminal background check at my own expense prior to beginning my volunteer assignment. ______________ ( please initial) I have read and understood the information contained in this application form. I acknowledge I am applying to volunteer with Christel House South Africa without any expectation of payment or reimbursement of expenses. __________________ (please initial) ____________________ ____________________ Signature Date ____________________ ____________________ Witness name Witness signature We are more than a school. We transform lives. www.sa.christelhouse.org | 021 704 9406