What challenge inspired this recipe?
Unfortunately, we’ve learned that you can not assume anything as a “common knowledge” or “common sense” for ESC participants when it comes to how to live in and take care of an accommodation. We therefore saw the need for an accommodation agreement that gives basic, as well as also more specific, rules (e.g. don’t stain the carpets with hair dye, any other coloring, coffee, etc. / don’t stand on the bathroom sink).
These house rules are explained to the volunteers at project start and they have to sign an accommodation agreement where they confirm that they know about these rules, and undertand and agree to them. This establishes a common ground for the organization and volunteers. It also establishes a first common ground between volunteers living together in the same accommodation. The agreement on the one hand informs and potentially prevents problems form arising, but can also be used as a reference in case the rules were broken and problems arise. The accommodation agreement also creates awareness that the accommodation provided is not owned by the volunteers but simply lend to them during their activity period and thus needs to be treated with respect and care.
Ingredients :
For this practice it would be good to collect information about the accommodation to put in the agreement.
Step by step guide
- Know the conditions of the accommodation (are there also external rules that need to be followed, e.g. from the local community, landlord, house management,… ?)
- Create an overview of all the rules and guidelines
- Setting up a written agreement with all the basic plus maybe accommodation specific house rules
- Explaining the agreement and the context/background of these rules to the participants
- Participants should sign the agreement before or at project start, so they know what to expect
- The text of the accommodation agreement is also hang up on a wall in each of the accommodations, as a reminder of it
Important to highlight!The accommodation agreement (if applicable/appropriate to the local context) could be included already in the volunteering agreement, so it is clear that volunteers can only participate in the volunteering activity if they are willing to agree to the accommodation guidelines and commit to follow the house rules during their project period. |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
Simply signing the agreement has not kept all participants from breaking the rules and damaging the accommodations. However, the agreement clearly sets the boundaries from the beginning and always gives a reference point in conflict management/resolution.
