Roadmap to Corporate Volunteering 2009 - UNDP Trinidad and ...

Partnering
A successful partnership with a carefully chosen non-for-profit organization is a crucially important
prerequisite for operating a sustainable volunteer programme and for ensuring that the volunteer
project creates value for its beneficiaries in fenceline communities and other public spaces.
Managing expectations on both sides of the partnership with regards to the level of organizational
commitment, to the outputs produced and outcomes generated as well as to the resources allocated
will determine if volunteer projects become reasons for celebration or a trigger for corporate hang-over.
If larger financial investments are being made into projects and project partners, companies will
want to develop a clear understanding of the capacity of NGOs to implement complex development
operations. Only if partners in civil society possess the ability to organizationally cope with the
demands of project implementation and financial and human resource management can co-operation
with the Private Sector turn into a mutually beneficial endeavour.
Project Development
Now that the key planning elements are known – volunteer skills available, employee interests known,
community needs mapped and non-profit partners identified – concrete projects can be developed.
Based on the ranking of community needs detected, the company together with its partner NGO can
decide on the exact configuration of volunteer engagement, e.g. team-based onsite volunteering,
mentoring, online volunteering as well as determine the location of the project, expected benefits,
timescale, costs, supervision and project management as well as major risks.
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Cherise Outridge
Accountant, BG
I really believe in the saying “treat others as you
would like to be treated, have respect and love for
your fellow man”. I look at others who are so less
fortunate than myself and I wish I could just help
all of them, however, my consolation is that if I can
help but at least one I have made a difference in
someone’s life.
I never look for thanks because just seeing the joy
on the person’s face, knowing that I have helped
even one person for a moment greatly uplifts
my heart. Working at BG makes me feel proud
because I have been priviledged to see what goes
on behind the scenes and how many people we
really reach out to and help.
I do volunteer work on my own to read to children
stricken with cancer and to help the homeless, and
this year it was really heartwarming to be directly
involved with the volunteer work at BG when we
have had our Positive Energy weeks, and I look
forward to continuing to help as much as I can.