Campaigns to End Violence against Women and Girls - Virtual ...

(FAQs) that they can use during public outreach activities. Orientation sessions
can also help foster a sense of solidarity among volunteers and motivate them
around the cause.
� Articulate and communicate campaign goals and key messages clearly –
this may need to be done several times over the course of the campaign to
ensure accuracy and to keep everyone on track.
� Regularly hold feedback meetings – this not only provides an opportunity to
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check on progress, but is also a space for volunteers to ask questions, air
grievances or make suggestions. By serving as a regular occasion to ‘listen and
be heard’, such meetings can go a long way towards limiting frustrations,
potential conflicts and misunderstandings that can arise among volunteers and
between volunteers and campaign staff.
� Sign up more volunteers than the campaign can handle. While it may be
tempting to have more help for campaign activities, and the enthusiasm of
volunteers can be a morale boost for campaigners, it is important to remember
that the greater the number of volunteers, the greater the resources and time
needed to manage them. Poor volunteer management can be one of the easiest
ways to alienate well-meaning activists, and potentially turn them against the
cause.
� Expect too much. Different volunteers may have different skills and time
commitments to bring to the campaign. Skills and time should be matched
appropriately to tasks – if necessary, rosters may need to be drawn up to ensure
continuity for specific tasks or activities requiring a longer time commitment. In
addition, volunteers should not be expected to take on roles that should be
performed by staff – e.g managing campaign finances, liaising with donors and
board/committee members, etc.
� Forget to say thank you. Because they are providing their time and energy ‘for
free’, expressing regular appreciation to volunteers can help keep them motivated
and feeling like their efforts are making a difference to the success of the
campaign.
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Campaigns December 2011