Brethren Volunteer Service

Covenant

a. The goal of the project placement process is to find the best match between a volunteer’s strengths and skills, and a projects needs and requirements. Not all projects listed in the project book are available at the time your orientation.
b. Most placement are determined during, not prior to, orientation. Exceptions to this general rule are considered by the director of BVS.
c.International assignments may be arranged prior to orientation. These placements may take longer to confirm and participation in orientation is the final stage in the placement process
Applicants interested in international assignments should be in phone contact with the BVS staff. (See FAQs, section “I want to serve outside the United States) International assignments are available for U.S. and Canadian citizens only.
d. During orientation, project files with background materials are available to assist with selecting placements. Volunteers have the responsibility of considering their skills, interests, and goals and identifying several project preferences.
e. The volunteers meet with BVS staff during orientation to discuss their project choices. The director of BVS, along with the orientation staff, will talk with volunteers to determine whether their qualifications match the needs of the project.
f. Volunteers serving outside the U.S. must be at least 21 years old and be a college graduate (Bachelor’s degree) or have equivalent life experience. Staff responsible for international placements will interview the volunteer. Almost all placements in Latin America require fluency in Spanish and experience in Latin America issues.
g. The volunteer’s project choices must initially be approved by the director of BVS. If, during orientation, it is determined that a volunteer lacks the necessary qualifications for service, the BVS staff reserves the right to cancel an assignment. This rarely happens.
h. Following the interviews, the director of BVS or staff representative for international placements contacts the project directors to recommend volunteers for service. Project directors give final approval for assignments. The volunteer’s application (without essay questions) may be shared with the project director. In some cases the whole application is shared with the project.
i. In most cases volunteers are expected to begin their assignment immediately following orientation. This expectation does not hold for participants in the older adult unit.
j. Some assignments, particularly international assignments, may require a waiting period between orientation and placement. Interim assignments may be arranged for persons waiting for these assignments. Patience is encouraged.
k. The BVS placement process requires flexibility, communication, and trust. Project assignments are made with the input and consent of the BVS staff, the project director, and the volunteer. The final choice is mutual.

4. Project fees

5. Transportation

a. The volunteer is responsible for transportation and food costs to orientation.
b. BVS pays travel, food, and lodging expenses from the orientation site to the assigned project. The general rule for BVS is to use the least expensive mode of transportation.
1. Food expense allowances:
$4.00 (breakfast)
5.00 (lunch)
6.00 (dinner)
15.00 Total per day
2. All lodging arrangements en route to project are made by the orientation staff. Overweight baggage costs will be paid by the volunteer.
c. Transportation home or to the point of departure (i.e., port city for those living outside the U.S.) at the end of the term of service is provided if the BVS term is completed. Food costs are included if transportation is by bus or train. These expenses are covered by the project. This includes costs for food while traveling.
d. If a volunteer withdraws from BVS before the end of the term of service, expenses for transportation home (or to the point of departure) are covered as follows:
1. For up to one half of the term served, no return transportation expenses are paid. Travel costs will be paid by the volunteer.
2. For six to nine months of service the project pays half of the cost (one and a half years of service for international placements), nine months or longer expenses are paid in full (one and a half years and longer for international placements). Volunteers assigned in Europe follow a separate policy below.
3. Volunteers returning home early from a European assignment are covered by the Brethren Service Europe office (BSE) as follows: Same as above for one half term of service (12 months), no transportation expenses are covered. The BSE office will pay the fare home on a pro-rated basis for every month served past the half-way or 12-month point.
e. If the volunteer leaves the project early without consultation or approval from the project and the BVS director, the volunteer will be responsible for their transportation costs home.
f. If the project director, BVS director, and volunteer mutually agree to change project assignment at any time during the term of service, transportation costs will be negotiated.

6. Subsistence allowance

7. Room and board

8. Work schedule

9. Supervision

a. BVS is responsible for the volunteer from the time of arrival at the orientation site until the time of the volunteer’s termination date. The director of BVS is ultimately responsible for volunteers while they are in the program.

b. BVS relinquishes direct supervision of the volunteer only after arrival at the project site. At this point the volunteer is under the supervision of the project director.

c. While serving in BVS you are a representative of the Church of the Brethren. You are part of a Christian program with a long tradition of volunteers beginning in the 1940s. As a representative of BVS, you are strongly discouraged from using tobacco and alcohol (the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference urges abstinence). You are encouraged to work responsibly in a spirit of compassion and caring with persons in your community. Working on project with others in a spirit of mutuality is expected from volunteers in BVS.

d. If either the volunteer or the project director have real concerns about the assignment, the Director of Brethren Volunteer Service should be contacted. If a volunteer is not doing an adequate job, the project director can require that a volunteer be removed from their specific project but does not have the authority to dismiss a volunteer from BVS. Two weeks notice must be given to the volunteer and the director of BVS. The director of Brethren Volunteer Service has the responsibility of deciding whether the volunteer will be transferred or terminated.

If a volunteer engages in conduct that endangers staff, volunteers or clients, is dishonest or fraudulent, violates the BVS prohibition against fraternizing with clients, or otherwise constitutes gross misconduct, he or she may be subject to immediate dismissal by a project director or the BVS Director. BVS reserves the right to determine when someone needs to leave BVS.

Examples of gross misconduct include:

possession, use or purchase, distribution or sale of illegal substances, or reporting to the project under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
knowingly damaging property of the project or another volunteer;
carrying a concealed weapon at the project site when performing volunteer duties;
intentionally failing to perform assigned duties;
fraternizing with clients or guests, such as forming relationships that go beyond a normal working relationship, including dating or sexual involvement;
engaging in sexual harassment of others;
violating a known policy or procedure;
falsifying the BVS application;
excessive absenteeism;
fighting;
dishonesty or theft; and
insubordination or intentionally failing to follow instructions from a supervisor.