Code of Conduct.
The following Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines in which volunteers are expected to adhere to for the duration of their Head, Heart and Hand Holiday and in relation to any correspondence or communication thereafter. The Code of Conduct reflects the behaviour expected and is designed to uphold the Head, Heart & Hand values of integrity, presence, connection and responsible service.
CODE OF CONDUCT PHILOSOPHY
Head Heart & Hand Holidays prides itself on meeting sustainable community needs of Cambodia and providing a holistic volunteering experience for volunteers. The organisation strives to be a leading “grass-roots service provider” in responsible tourism and to provide a safe, healthy, responsible and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. This Code of Conduct is designed to ensure that all parties involved are treated in a manner that reflects the mission and culture of the organisation.
COMPLIANCE
All volunteers are expected to:
Adhere to the following code of conduct.
Strive to uphold the Head, Heart & Hand values of “presence, connection and responsible service.”
Understand that the Head, Heart & Hand journey includes a very important personal development aspect.
Maintain a high degree of honesty, integrity, compassion, respect and authenticity in dealing with community members, management, our Head, Heart & Hand team and fellow volunteers.
Take reasonable steps to ensure their own health, safety and welfare as well as that of other volunteers and community members.
Comply with all reasonable, lawful instructions and decisions related to the work.
Maintain the confidentiality of the organisation’s operations in relation to service activities, confidential documentation and work practices during and after their holiday.
Be responsible for their own actions and safety at all times.
Must arrange travel insurance that covers volunteering and emergency evacuation.
Child Safety. Visibility and Physical Contact
Always work in an area where others can see you.
Help to protect the local children by not picking them up and carrying them around; as this risks teaching them that it is safe to be picked up and hugged by any stranger.
Child safety. Photographing children
Please gain permission from HH&HH Director / Project manager and/or Management of a venue before interacting with local children and taking photos or videos. If approval is given, management reserves the right to ask, at any time, to check the photos and may request you to delete any photos considered inappropriate.
Child safety. Confidentiality
To ensure the safety of the Cambodian children please do not give out any contact details of Cambodian staff or students or Cambodian school locations to any person who is not a Head, Heart and Hand volunteer or directly involved with Head, Heart and Hand Holidays.
Child safety. Family Friendly Holidays
Volunteers travelling with children are responsible for the safety of their children at all times.
Showing respect for Cambodian CulturE
Please respect Cambodian culture and wear modest clothing. Keep shoulders and midriffs covered.
Shoulders and knees must be covered for ceremonies and to enter Pagodas
Please remove your hat in the presence of a monk.
Avoid sitting with the bare soles of your feet pointing at people or religious objects.
Please remove your shoes before entering any home or temple.
Please always ask before taking a photo.
It is respectful to learn a few words of the local language.
If discussing your home country, talk about the realities of it, pointing out the negatives as well as positives.
Please don’t touch adults or elderly people on the head (the head is considered sacred.)
As a general rule it is best if men don’t touch Cambodian women.
Women should never touch monks.
“Pitty” doesn’t empower anyone - look for strengths and virtues.
Gifts/ sponsorships and donations
Head, Heart & Hand Holidays pride itself on providing responsible volunteering opportunities designed to inspire selfless service and personal responsibility in both the volunteer and recipient.
Any gift, donation, tip or “sponsorship” to any venue or person must be approved by HH&HH Director Emma Hawkins/ Project Manager Vuthy Kuy (and Management/ principal.)
Please do not give individual gifts to children or staff.
In the case of any approved sponsorship please adhere to the criteria addressed in sponsorship documentation.
Do not give money, food or treats to street children or begging children as it encourages more of the behaviour.
Be aware of the Milk scam situation and do not offer to buy milk powder or give money to women and children begging with babies.
Think twice before buying souvenirs from children especially if it’s late in the evening.
Understand that the giving of “toys” is often unnecessary and can hinder a child’s imagination and/or set them up to expect “stuff” from Westerners and/or to not be happy with what they have.
SINGLE USE PLASTICS
Please be mindful of your use of single use plastic bags, bottles and straws.
Please use a tote bag/ back pack where possible to avoid plastic bags.
Please use a refillable water bottle where possible (Plastic Free Cambodia has water stations available in most cafes.)
Use of computers, telephones, internet, email, social media
To maximise the Head, Heart and Hand experience it is recommended that volunteers do not have use of technology
(inclusive of computers, telephones, internet, email and social media) for the duration of the Head, heart & Hand Holiday.
If this is not possible in impeding circumstances, we ask that phones DO NOT be used at any time in public as per the organisation’s values of presence and connection.
In accentuating or any emergency circumstance communication will be conducted accordingly.
Your presence and authentic connection is what is valued most.
USE OF Alcohol
To maximise the Head, Heart and Hand experience it is recommended that alcohol be used responsibly.
For the safety of all we request that alcohol not be consumed during volunteer hours.
Head, Heart and Hand Holidays encourages a fun, connected, relaxed and safe holiday for all concerned.
Personal development aspect. (Daily “Tribe”)
Please be aware that Head, Heart & Hand Holidays offers daily personal development (“tribe”) for all volunteers as a way of ensuring our values of presence, real connection and responsible service are aligned in integrity.
Please familiarise yourself with the intention behind the personal development aspect of a Head, Heart & Hand Holiday (available on our website.)
We request that volunteers get clear about their personal intention for their Head, Heart & Hand Holiday before they join us so we can best support their goals.
Please respect the sanctity and sacredness of daily “tribe” with an open heart.
GROUP CO-ORDINATORS
A group Co-ordinator is defined as a Head, Heart & Hand volunteer who has chosen to take on responsibility for inviting 13 other volunteers to join a Head, Heart and Hand Holiday. They must be in alignment with our Head, Heart & Hand philosophies and strictly adhere to our code of conduct .
To ensure integrity of our Head, Heart & Hand philosophy and code of conduct, Group Co-ordinators will be subject to assessment criteria by Director and management.
For Group Co-ordinators wishing to return on annual or bi-annual holidays assessment criteria will again be reviewed prior to each request. This includes a review to ensure our code of conduct and philosophies have and will continue to be adhered to.
Group Co-ordinators must agree to filling 14 volunteer placements in total unless a prior arrangements is made with management.
Fundraising\Marketing\Networking
Head Heart & Hand Holidays welcomes and encourages volunteers to establish their own fundraising\marketing\networking in support of Head, Heart and Hand projects whilst adhering to the following guidelines:
Ensure that the philosophy, values and mission of Head, Heart & Hand Holidays is adhered to in any prior correspondence or future involvement relating to fundraising\marketing\networking of Head Heart and Hand Holidays.
That all fundraising efforts are guided and approved by Head Heart and Holiday Director Emma Hawkins.
That where possible our 3 minute Head, Heart & Hand video be screened at Fundraisers.
Ensure that Head, Heart & Hand Holidays is suitably acknowledged in any advertising/social media/ public address to ensure the longevity and integrity of our mission.
Each volunteer within a group of 14 is responsible for fundraising AUD $250 towards the Wash House project.
Nb/ as of 2020 Wash House funding will be included in the package price.
In the case of volunteers joining a group (prior to 2020) where the Wash House has been sponsored we ask that volunteers raise funds to the same value which will contribute to ongoing toiletry supplies and hygiene education.
That any ongoing involvement of sponsorship in Cambodia involving any projects or persons is accessed via and acknowledged by Director Emma Hawkins (and Project Manager Vuthy Kuy).
In the instance of any public speaking or any representation of Head Heart and Hand Holidays that it is approved by Director Emma Hawkins.
To ensure our code of conduct is adhered to it is preferable to have fundraising directly attributed to Head, Heart & Hand Holidays. However in the case of any social enterprise/ business concept with funding contributing to any Head, Heart and Hand projects or any persons in Cambodia connected through Head, Heart & Hand Holidays it must first be approved by Director Emma Hawkins (and Project Manager Vuthy Kuy) to ensure it meets our code of conduct and upholds our long-term mission and values including personal responsibility and responsible service.
In the case of any approved social enterprise/ business concept with funding contributing to any Head, Heart and Hand projects or any persons in Cambodia connected through Head, Heart & Hand Holidays we request that Head, Heart & Hand Holidays is suitably acknowledged in any advertising/social media/ public address to ensure respect and the longevity and integrity of our mission.
Emma Hawkins
Director Head, Heart & Hand Holidays
Vuthy Kuy
Project Manager Head, Heart & Hand Holidays