Volunteer Application II

Welcome to Part II of  the Application.

Rules and Regulations
We are honored by every volunteer who chooses to volunteer with us.
In order to continue to provide a safe environment for the kids that we serve, for our volunteers,  and also continue to enjoy the trust and support of the people in the local communities in which we operate, we expect that all volunteers abide by some very very simple rules and regulations. While the list below might not be exhaustive, all volunteers will be expected to cease from doing or engaging in any action if the local team at their orphanage advises them to stop. These include:

Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Leaving the orphanage premises without permission or supervision.
Visiting or hanging out with strangers outside the orphanage premises.
Going to nightclubs / bars
Doing drugs
Profanity
Making love in public
Giving money to orphans without permission from the local director
Dressing in a manner that is not modest. The dressing code will be available to all volunteers prior to and when they arrive the country.

In addition, Shaping Destiny is a Christian organization just like all the orphanages that we work with. This doesn't mean that we try to proselytize the volunteers. All that is expected from the volunteers is that they feel comfortable in a Christian environment that will usually include worshiping and singing songs to Christ. Non-Christian volunteers will be expected to be tolerant of Christian principles and respect them, not necessarily adopt them.

If you have read and agree to abide by all of the above and also to abide by any further instructions given to you by the country team at the orphanage, then sign below

Fundraising: Honor rule system
Shaping Destiny is committed to helping volunteers with resources and ideas that they need to raise the funds needed to cover the costs of volunteering in Africa. Shaping Destiny exists to help serve and provide hope to the orphans and communities that we serve. One way of doing that is through our volunteer program. The funds that you raise to participate in the volunteer program help to keep the orphanage and program running. Because the orphanage depends on these funds in a lot of ways, we operate by an honor system in which every volunteer submits that if he/she is unable to participate in any volunteer experience, no matter the reason, they will donate whatever money that they have raised to help support the kids of Shaping Destiny. Within a period of 2 years, if such a volunteer still decides to volunteer with Shaping Destiny, they will receive a scholarship up to the amount that they donated. The Scholarship will be applied to their living expenses, application fee, and the orphans support donation. Check our resources page and also contact us for ideas that may help you with your fundraising.

Also, as part of the fundraising effort, volunteers can display the Shaping Destiny banner and raise funds to cover their volunteer experience with Shaping Destiny only, not transferable to another person or organization. In addition, volunteers can accept tax-deductible gifts from generous donors to cover their volunteer experience. However, the donors must write their checks or money orders directly to Shaping Destiny (but may be collected and sent in by the volunteer to count towards their volunteer costs, including ticket) if they would like to receive a tax letter and use that to file for taxes at the end of the year.

If you understand and agree to abide by the honor system, sign your name below and continue with the application.

Your Promise not to sue.
I, the undersigned, understand that there is a level of risk involved in participating in the activities that Shaping Destiny is permitting me to participate in. I understand that Shaping Destiny is a nonprofit organization whose reason for existing is to take care of poor orphans and widows around the world, and not to make profit. I understand that Shaping Destiny, its board, and its officers may make mistakes, and promise to forgive them for all and any mistakes that they may make. I promise not to sue Shaping Destiny or any of its officers or orphans or to provide information to or support anyone who wants to sue Shaping Destiny even if I thought that Shaping Destiny deliberately screwed up or that it was not a mistake.

I agree to take full responsibility for any injury or death that may occur in my process of volunteering for Shaping Destiny. I promise that neither myself, my heirs, or my administrators or any one that represents or acts on my behalf will ever sue Shaping Destiny.

I also promise that if myself or anyone acting on my behalf were to sue Shaping Destiny, I or those acting on my behalf will be responsible for compensating Shaping Destiny financially for any loss caused by the suit.