What challenge inspired this recipe?
Regular monitoring if well-being of volunteers is crucial. As we all know, in the course of service various problems may occur and, if not dealt with, it may lead to a conflict, which in its turn potentially may end up with volunteer interrupting the project. But generally, volunteers are happy to share their stories, successes and failures, and such possibility is given to them through a Volunteer Monthly Diary.
Ingredients :
Volunteer Monthly Diary. See sample here:
Step by step guide
Volunteer Monthly Diary is a simple yet efficient tool, which we designed many years ago. This is a 1-2 A4 pages with few questions, volunteers have to reflect upon and answer monthly. It asks volunteers about their progress on the project and integration to local community, funny or strange situations volunteer has faced during month, any positive or negative experience volunteer wants to share, etc. So, it shows how well volunteer is doing on the project and in daily life. When reading such diary we can easily see first signs of potential problem and react on it to keep volunteers well- being on a good level. And equally we can see the progress volunteer achieved and can react on it supporting further development.
Actually, there are many things a smart reader can get from such diary. However this method works only if volunteers start to fill it in from the very beginning of the service and does it regularly, thoroughly and honestly. It is our task to assist and to insist on it.
Apart of the help for hosting and coordinating organisations, this diary is very helpful for volunteers’ self-reflection.
Important to highlight!Volunteer Monthly Diary is a great tool for monitoring of volunteer well-being, identifying possible problems or misunderstanding and sharing success. Probably it has to be elaborated and developed further. And it has to be used regularly. Without it the diary losses its sense. |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
Mainly, it is lack of time and human resources to follow thoroughly all volunteers. It is especially difficult in the case when 1-2 volunteers have serious issues and demand a lot of attention. Then where to find time for all others!
Also some volunteers do not fill it in regularly or do it formally which makes the whole thing less useful. This has to be followed and reminded.
