2. Build relationships based on collaborative proj
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The impact volunteer tourism trips have on the volunteers and host communities will depend largely on the partnership between the organization and tour operator. Miscommunication, misunderstandings and any problems that exist could potentially undermine the efforts of everyone involved, and so it is important to think of how best to manage the communication and responsibilities of the organizers.
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Project Monitoring and Assessment |
- Are there communication channels in place for any project updates or changes?
- Are there monitoring structures in place to evaluate volunteer impact and the capacity to make any necessary adjustments?
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- Are there clear expectations of how long the tour operator will provide volunteer support and how that aligns with the expected duration of the project needs?
- Are there built-in protections in the volunteer project's design against unpredictable fluctuations in the number of volunteer participants? (How might a decline in tourism affect the outcome of the project?)
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- Is it clear who is responsible for providing volunteers with any necessary pre-trip information regarding the issues the volunteer project addresses, the volunteer project itself, the partner organization, and the host community?
- Is the partner organization provided with information about volunteers?
- Is it clear who is responsible for any follow up information or activities with volunteers?
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Memorandum of Understanding |
- Have you developed a clear understanding of responsibilities and expectations for both organizations?
- Do you have in place structures for continual assessment and re-evaluation of partnership relations, project goals, volunteer experiences and community impact?
- Do you have documentation of all agreements?
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