Code of Good Practice / Volunteer Charter

Are you…

• thinking about volunteering overseas in a developing country?
• unsure of what questions you should be asking or how your volunteering experience fits in with the ‘bigger picture’?

If you are, then Comhlámh’s Volunteer Charter can help to guide you.

The Volunteer Charter sets out seven principles that aim to encourage responsible, responsive international volunteering. Each principle contains a list of questions to help you make sure that you have thought about the issues raised, and that you know why they are important.

Why should volunteers support the Charter?
By agreeing to sign the Charter, you will be showing your support for the principles it sets out. As a volunteer, your attitude to your placement and to your host project and community will be crucial to the success of the work you will be involved with. Your support will help to ensure a spirit of partnership, solidarity and respect between you, your sending organisation, and the host project and community with which you volunteer.

You can download the volunteer charter here:

What about the responsibilities of sending organisations?

A Code of Good Practice for Sending Organisations has also been developed. This sets out the responsibilities of Irish-based organisations that arrange volunteer placements, including some of the steps they take to support the Volunteer Charter. Organisations that have signed up to the Code will be willing to provide copies of this Charter to volunteers, and to discuss the Code in exchange. Signing up to Comhlámh's Code of Practice shows that an organisation supports its messages, and has agreed to work to implement the principles, if they are not already in place. 

Implementing the Code is an ongoing process that requires time and effort.  If you feel that an organisation is not fulfilling its obligations under the Code, raise the issues with staff and get in touch with us at info@volunteeringoptions.org .  Your input, as a volunteer, is a very important part of monitoring the committment to the Code.

You can download the Code of Good Practice here, along with the list of organisations that have signed up to the Code.

What do host organisations have to say about the Code and Charter?

We have conducted research into the impact of international volunteering on host organisations in India and Tanzania.  This provides an overview of some of the main issues encountered by organisations that host international volunteers, and sets out some of their recommendations for improving placements.

You can download the research summary below as a PDF file.