Contents
Contents
Welcome
We are so excited to have you join A Child’s Hope Foundation in elevating how the world cares for orphaned children. We know your time volunteering will be full of unique opportunities and we hope you make the effort to develop meaningful connections and lasting friendships through this experience. The contents of this guidebook are based upon previous volunteer experiences, so we hope you find the information helpful!
Please read this information carefully so you can effectively prepare for your trip experience.
Our Mission
Here at A Child’s Hope Foundation (ACHF), we are dedicated to programs that offer long-term success for orphanages and orphanage-style homes around the world. Through trusting relationships and clear reporting processes, we help connect donors to programs that are already working so we can amplify the care that orphaned and vulnerable children receive.
Healing Children from abuse and neglect:
Because most kids in orphanages have previously been abused and/ or neglected, we work to ensure that the children at our partner orphanages have access to therapists, tutors, mentors, and trained caregivers who help them learn, heal, and transform into successful adults.
Magnifying donor impact:
Donors sometimes worry that funds they give may not be helping kids in need. We provide additional certainty that funds are used appropriately through our orphanage certification program, which requires regular reports and audits to demonstrate results and progress at each orphanage.
Strengthening orphanage directors:
We help overwhelmed and under-resourced orphanage directors become successful leaders by working with them on assessments and roadmaps to identify urgent needs and connect them to additional resources.
Expectations for Volunteers
You are about to have a unique experience in a developing country. Please remember, you are a guest in Mexico and in the homes we serve. Your attitude should reflect that understanding. Do not forget that the kids, caregivers, directors, and even people in the community will be observing your language, actions, and behaviors.
Everything you do should reflect the highest standards of kindness, courtesy, respect, dignity, and morality. Our volunteers should be exemplary models of appropriate behavior and friendship with the children we serve. You are setting a foundation for all who will follow you, both for future volunteers and partners with the orphanages we support. If anything in your behavior detracts from this fundamental role, you will be asked to evaluate your personal motivations for serving and to realign those priorities.
You are expected to observe all rules, policies, and guidelines outlined in this guidebook. Please refer to the sections “Orphanage Policies” and “Important Guidelines” for more specific information.
Preparing for Your Trip
As you get ready to head down to Mexico, it is important to prepare yourself for the experience ahead of you. The different sections below highlight in depth what you can do to make sure you are all set.
Documentation
Obtain necessary ID to return to the US from Mexico. Acceptable documentation for land travel includes a passport (for anyone older than 18) or a certified birth certificate (acceptable for anyone 17 and younger). If volunteers who are younger than 18 have a valid passport, that is the best form of citizenship. If minors are traveling without their parents, it is also required to have a letter from the parents giving limited power of attorney and guardianship of the minor for a specified period of time to an adult who will be traveling with the minor. The requirements to enter the United States are detailed on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
All volunteers 18 and older are required to send photo documentation of their passports. You can do this by taking a photo of your passport data page and emailing it to [email protected]. This policy has been put into place for the safety of our volunteers and the orphanages that we work with. Having each individual’s passport helps us keep track of who is visiting the orphanage and helps in case of an emergency. For questions about this policy, please contact the Service Trip Team at [email protected].
Medical Information
| Vaccination or Disease | Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases |
|---|---|
| Routine | Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, etc. |
| Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) | Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with standard tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors. |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission and who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment, such as for an accident, and for all adults requesting protection from HBV infection. |
| Typhoid | Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Mexico and Central America, especially if visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives where exposure might occur through food or water. |
| Rabies | Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, hiking, or work. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals and may not report bites. |
Though general health and sanitation in Baja is typically a bit better than in other parts of Mexico, traveling to this part of the world may expose you to disease and illness. Viruses, bacteria, or parasites can contaminate food or water. A brief outline of recommendations follows regarding vaccinations to consider. This is NOT a complete medical guide for travelers to this region of the world.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR for specific information related to your individual needs and your medical history.
The chart below shows immunizations recommended for travelers to Mexico by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel). The CDC website contains helpful suggestions relating to Travelers’ Diarrhea, precautions all travelers should take, things to do to stay healthy, how to avoid getting sick, what to take with you, what to do after you return home, and much more.
In the case of a medical emergency, volunteers may be transported to a recommended hospital depending on the nature of the emergency. If there are any pressing medical or dental issues, volunteers must get them taken care of before departure. It is strongly recommended that volunteers are current on their immunizations (see recommended immunizations in previous section).
A first aid kit is maintained by A Child’s Hope Foundation and can be accessed by the Trip Host but you must bring your own personal first-aid needs, e.g. personal medications, Band-Aids, sun screen, Pepto Bismol, or any other over-the-counter medications for minor ailments you may experience.
Emergency Numbers in Mexico
| Emergency | 911 |
| Police | 060 |
| Fire | 068 |
| Ambulance | 065 |
| U.S. Department of State | (202) 501-4444 |
| U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana | Paseo de las Culturas S/N Otay Mesa, 22425 Tijuana, B.C. Mexico (664) 977-2000 |
Insurance
It is your responsibility to provide your own health insurance. Speak with your current health insurance provider to see what coverage you may need.
Travel insurance may be another thing to consider. With any trip, there is always the chance of cancellation. This could be due to orphanage needs, civil unrest in the destination country, or lack of volunteers on trip. In the case of last minute cancellations, volunteers can purchase travel insurance to cover costs spent in preparing for the trip. If volunteers choose to buy travelers insurance, you may purchase through this link https://www.insuremytrip.com/.
If you are driving your own vehicle in Mexico, Mexican auto insurance is highly recommended. Make sure you have all of your vehicle registration paperwork, including proof of Mexican auto insurance. Please purchase Mexican auto insurance ahead of time. Online you will find dozens of providers, including www.mexadventure.com and https://www.bajabound.com/?r=ach. We have partnered with Baja Bound, so when you use this link they will donate a portion of their income to A Child’s Hope Foundation.
Orientation
Orientation will be held for every volunteer prior to their term of service in our Orem office. During orientation, you will learn about schedules, lodging and other accommodations, cultural context, the team you will be working with, expectations, and guidelines. You will also learn about A Child’s Hope Foundation’s mission and strategy and how you are a critical part of that mission. Orientation is required for all volunteers. You will be notified of when your specific orientation will be held. We are excited to meet you and answer any questions you may have!
Waivers and Payments
Each individual in your group needs to complete the following forms here: ACHF Service Trip Waiver! This link includes the Volunteer Guidebook Review Form and the Participation Permission & Medical Release Form(s). Parents may fill this out for their children.
Please pay your trip fees in a timely manner. The cost of the trip is $430, $445, $465, or $480 per person, depending on the time of year and location, which covers food, lodging and project materials for the duration of the trip. A $100 (nonrefundable) per person deposit is due upon registration and the rest of the payment is due three months prior to the volunteer service trip. Payments can be made online here: Make a Payment!
Transportation
If you are driving yourself, you will need to get car insurance for your personal vehicle while in Mexico. Make sure to check that your car insurance allows other passengers to be insured. Many times, if the Orphanage Director allows it, volunteers will drive kids from the orphanage to different activities. Before driving any children, please make sure that your car insurance covers other passengers.
Your trip will begin at Palm Ridge Park in San Diego, CA. It is your responsibility to find your own transportation to San Diego either by car or by air travel. If transportation is needed from San Diego to Mexico, please indicate that on your registration. An additional $125 is charged for passage in the van from San Diego to Mexico and back to San Diego. If you are interested in renting a vehicle of your own, contact our Volunteer Experience Coordinator who can give you recommendations for companies that will allow you to take their vehicles into Mexico.
Volunteers may be asked to drive the rental van, and if so, the person driving does not have to pay the $125 fee.
What to Pack
We hope the following checklist will be helpful as you prepare for your trip! Remember this is just a general guide and you must determine the specific items that you need to take.
- Name tags on and inside luggage
- Spending money (in smaller bills)
- Passport or birth certificate (and recommended photo ID)
- Money belt, neck pouch, or other secure place to keep your money and passport
- Snacks
- Working Gloves
- Ear plugs
- Sunglasses
- Bug Repellent
- Hand Sanitizer
- Band-Aids
- Water Bottle
- Flashlight
- Bedding (Pillow, blankets, sleeping bag if lower temperatures)
- Glasses/contacts (and solution)
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Razor/Shave Cream
- Lip Balm
- Kleenex
- Personal prescription medications
- Aspirin/Tylenol/ Ibuprofen
- Pepto Bismol
- Towel & Washcloth
- Moleskin for blisters
- Wet/Clorox wipes
- Shoes for work & beach
- Swimsuit & towel for beach
- Socks
- Underwear
- Shorts/pants
- Shortsleeve shirts
- Jacket
- Construction Clothes
- Pajamas
You can also bring things to do with the kids! Interactive games to play, skill-building activities, and other activities help accomplish our vision for the kids: that they are loved and nurtured so they can become self-reliant, happy, and loving people themselves. The kids will see themselves as capable of handling life’s challenges and experience the joy of improving their skills and understanding.
EXAMPLES:
Littlest kids/special needs: bubbles, books to read
with them, coloring books, chalk, dress-up.
Young kids: jump rope, books to read, bracelet making kits, car/airplane building kits, other crafts, kites, frisbees, minute-to-win-it games, human knot, and other similar games.
Teens: first aid kit (basic first aid training), sewing, drawing, coding, yoga, sports equipment you could bring and teach the rules of the game (like baseball, volleyball, badminton), robotics, etc.
You have skills and hobbies that you can share with the kids, and we ask that you do! If you need some extra ideas, you can visit our Trip Playbooks page on the website.
Please come prepared to spend meaningful time with the children.
Spending Money
Some food and spending money will be needed. The amount will depend on your own incidentals, needs/wants (such as the purchase of souvenirs at the market), food while at the airports or traveling, and emergency purchases. You can take some small food items with you (granola bars, fruit snacks, etc.). An average of $50-100 per person is normally sufficient. Bring small US bills—there is no need for pesos in Baja. American dollars are accepted most everywhere in Baja California.
Trip Guidelines & Policies
Personal Safety
We follow a rule of 2—when at the orphanage, you cannot be alone with a beneficiary of the orphanage, especially children, and when you leave the orphanage, make sure someone else is with you. You are not allowed into orphanage living areas and children or other beneficiaries are not allowed into your living space. Make sure your Trip Host always knows where you are, whether you are leaving the orphanage or leaving the group while off-site. If you have questions about exceptions to this rule, please consult with the Trip Host.
Photographs
For the safety of the children, please do not post images of the children on social media with their names, location, or the name of the orphanage included in the post. Do not post photos where kids’ faces are discernable. You can blur faces or post photos where a child is turned away from the camera. As a rule of thumb, keep content general. Feel free to contact your Trip Host or volunteer supervisor about questions regarding information you want to post.
Be aware that during your activities in Mexico, many individuals, including representatives from A Child’s Hope Foundation, will be taking pictures. By participating in this activity, you may be included in some of these pictures. As part of your consent for this trip, you grant A Child’s Hope Foundation the right to use such pictures for their purposes, including publicity, web-pages, marketing materials, or to solicit additional funding for A Child’s Hope Foundation, without any compensation to you. Please be courteous and ask permission before taking photos of others.
Dress & Grooming Standards
We ask all participants to observe the following dress and grooming standards:
It is important we dress modestly to promote a welcoming and wholesome atmosphere and align with orphanage policy. Examples of inappropriate dress at the orphanage include spaghetti strap tank tops, very short shorts, shorts or tops that expose undergarments, and exposed chest/midriffs.
Please do not draw attention to yourself with extreme choices regarding grooming, hygiene, clothing, hair styles, or jewelry. If you have questions regarding dress and grooming, please reach out to your Trip Host.
Children's Home Policies
We are hosted by a children’s home and we respect the policies the home has in place for us. Here are the following policies you and your fellow volunteers need to abide by:
- You are allowed to take photos of the kids to keep for your personal memories but do not post pictures of the kids on social media where their face is recognizable. DO NOT let the kids use your phone.
- DO NOT enter any children’s rooms outside of a tour. The children are also not allowed in volunteer dorms or rooms.
- NO one-on-one time with any child. Only play with the children in open areas and where another volunteer is present. Stay in groups of 2 or more at all times.
- NO yoga pants, sheer clothing, short shorts, spaghetti-strap tanks or crop tops. Shirts should always stay on while working. Please wear modest swimwear if you are going swimming.
- Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. – 7 a.m. Close all exterior doors when leaving and turn off all lights when not in use.
- Do your best to reduce any unnecessary waste and keep things tidy. Keep all food in the volunteer kitchen or sealed with your belongings.
- NO romantic relationships are allowed with beneficiaries of the orphanage.
- NO explicit music
- Rancho La Hermosa asks that the kids listen to Christian music only
- DO NOT give the kids money or individual gifts. If you want to donate, talk to your Trip Host and they can help facilitate that with the Orphanage Director.
- DO NOT pick up children or put them on your lap or shoulders.
- Volunteers can hold babies at Rancho de Los Niños
- DO NOT ask the kids probing questions about their backgrounds or why they are at the home (they are working with psychologists who are trained in dealing with past trauma).
- DO NOT bring plastic water bottles. Please bring hydro-flask type non-disposable bottles instead. Safe drinking water will be available. All other water sources are for washing only.
- DO NOT flush toilet paper. All trash goes in the wastebasket. If you forget, use a stick to fish it out.
- DO NOT make promises to the kids that you will return.
Service Trip Guidelines
You are about to have a unique experience in a developing country. Please remember that you are a guest in Mexico and in the homes we serve. Your attitude should reflect that understanding. Do not forget that the kids, caregivers, directors, & even people in the community will be observing your language, actions & behaviors. Here are some guidelines for you to follow:
- Safe drinking water will be pointed out to you. All other water sources are for washing only.
- Timeliness is expected of all volunteers. Please stick to your trip’s itinerary. Sometimes things happen that are outside of our control so schedule adjustments may become necessary. Your Trip Host is in charge of the schedule and it is your responsibility to ensure that they know where you are at all times.
- When at any public locations please behave appropriately. At the border, answer any and all questions directly, honestly, and without side comments. If you do not understand a question, or are unsure how to answer, ask to speak to your Trip Host. It is illegal to bring firearms, ammunition, or other weapons into Mexico. Please make sure you do not have spent shells in your vehicle.
- Do not be surprised if the children come up and hold your hand. However, make sure to let them lead out in physical contact. Some have experienced physical and other forms of abuse, so be considerate and respect their boundaries.
- DO NOT make any promises regarding assistance to be provided to any individual, group, or institution. Even implying that help may be available can be taken as a promise. Then, if A Child’s Hope Foundation does not complete the work you suggested, problems arise. If you see a need that you feel should be addressed, please discuss the matter with the Trip Host or Volunteer Experience Coordinator first. If you would like to exchange gifts of any kind with ACHF beneficiaries, staff, or community members, please discuss with ACHF staff beforehand.
- This is not a match-making activity. Pairing off or public displays of affection are not appropriate. All romantic relationships with ACHF beneficiaries are prohibited during ACHF service. We acknowledge that friendships occur, and that is encouraged. *Beneficiaries include anyone who receives benefits from the home (children, caregivers, family members of leadership, etc.).
- Please remember that this is a humanitarian endeavor, not an opportunity to proselytize religious beliefs.
- A 10 pm curfew exists at all orphanages we partner with. Unless arranged with the Trip Host, we expect all volunteers to be in their own living quarters by 10 pm. This helps provide a safe, quiet home-like environment.
Appropriate Behavior
One of the pinnacle focuses of our volunteer program is to set an excellent example of what it means to be a productive, moral, motivated, and good person. We are role models for the kids we have come to love, and we want to work with volunteers who share the priority to be exceptional.
If someone’s behavior is inconsistent with these guidelines, staff will take appropriate action. Depending on the nature of the problem, individuals may be sent home prior to the end of the service project, at their own expense.
Activities for which participants may be sent home early if engaged in during volunteer service:
- Drinking alcohol on site, drinking anywhere with children or caregivers, drinking while wearing ACHF branded gear, or being onsite while showing signs of alcohol consumption (smell, altered mental status).
- Substance use.
- Lewd, obscene, or immoral actions
- Stealing or shoplifting
- Possessing firearms or other harmful weapons (souvenirs of this nature may need to be given to a staff member to secure until the return trip home)
- Doing anything harmful to themselves or others
- Deliberately damaging property of others
- Leaving the group and going anywhere alone or one on one with an orphanage beneficiary
- Refusing to participate in the work assignment when capable of working. This includes repeated tardiness and/or absence at commitments that are part of your volunteer role such as classes or trainings.
- Refusing to follow dress standards
- Engaging in romantic relationships with beneficiaries of the orphanage
- Other actions that, in staff opinion, warrant such measures
Anyone being sent home from a trip will be responsible for his or her additional transportation costs. Fees already paid will not be refunded.
Child Protection Plan
For further information on A Child’s Hope standard and policy regarding protecting kids and volunteers from any type of abuse, please see the information below.
introduction
Every child is potentially at risk of abuse and exploitation. Some kids may be particularly vulnerable, due to their socio-economic status, gender, disability, ethnicity, or living situation. That is why it is crucial that every person connected with the children we serve here at A Child’s Hope Foundation understands child abuse, as well as his or her own roles and responsibilities in protecting children.
As a volunteer of A Child’s Hope Foundation, we highly recommend reading the following information and take upon yourself the responsibility to protect the children you are serving.
types of abuse
The most common types of abuse are:
- Physical Abuse – When an adult or another child is physically hurting someone
- Sexual Abuse – When an adult or another child’s behavior includes unwanted sexual advances or conduct
- Emotional Abuse – When an adult or another child’s behavior classifies as cruel or could be considered bullying
- Neglect – When an authority figure is failing to meet the children’s basic needs
Child-to-Child Abuse
Allegations or concerns regarding the abuse of a child by another child need to be responded to with sensitivity; nevertheless, they do have to be dealt with. All work with young people who have committed abuse needs to ensure the protection of all individuals affected, while also supporting the young person in the process of challenging and changing his/her behavior. Any such approach requires:
- The recognition that a child who has abused another child is significantly different from adults who have committed similar offenses, because the child is not fully aware of why he or she has committed abuse and what the consequences are, and
- Understanding that the best interest of the child is the primary consideration in all decisions made, for both the victim and the abuser.
historical allegations of abuse
It is often the case that an individual does not report abuse until many years after the event. We are prepared to handle historical allegations of abuse transparently and responsibly according to our defined crisis management procedures.
We will:
- Listen to allegations of historical abuse, take them seriously, and act responsibly towards them.
- Seek to promote the welfare of those adults who allege historical abuse.
- Take all possible steps to protect the child from the person alleged to have been an abuser.
Our Plan for Communication
Prevention
To prevent child abuse, we need to create and maintain an environment that reflects the commitment we have to each child’s wellbeing and to maintaining their right to grow up happily and safely. Child abuse is less likely to occur within a context that fosters child participation at all levels. That is why it is essential that we listen carefully to children, take their views seriously, encourage them to participate in discussions on child protection issues, and offer them the opportunity to build relationships of trust with therapists and caregivers. In addition, we strive to maintain a high standard of accountability among our staff and volunteers.
PROTECTION OF THE CHILD’S PRIVACY
The protection of a child’s privacy refers to private data of the child as well as pictures, text, video, etc. about children which are produced for publicity purposes. We take the children’s right to privacy very seriously, and only use images or stories of the children publicly according to the following policies:
- Any information about a child’s history, medical condition and family background is kept private. We omit surnames and may also change first names to avoid sharing sensitive information of any kind about the children.
- We have agreements with the individual orphanages about their preferences regarding photography and video, and always adhere to those policies.
- We do not actively ask children to do or say anything that might make them feel displayed as ‘objects of pity’ (e.g. to speak about their past or ask for donations).
- We train our volunteers on these policies and give them ways to share their experiences without disclosing private information or inappropriate photos or video.
Following these guidelines ensures the respect of the children’s privacy while at the same time preventing, and raising awareness for, violations of that privacy. Based on these guidelines, co-workers who are directly involved with children have the right and obligation to protect the children from any attempted violations of their privacy—be they intentional or not.
reporting abuse
We take all concerns raised seriously, and take appropriate action. The following outlines our policies for reporting existing or potential cases of abuse:
Abuse instances observed must be reported to the Trip Host and/or Kent White at [email protected]. Trip hosts must report all instances of abuse to the appropriate contact within ACHF, who will then report them to the regional leadership team. The regional team then ensures that the abuse is reported to the proper government authorities and the orphanage leadership so that appropriate action can be taken.
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance when dealing with cases of abuse; information is to be handled with sensitivity. The child or any other person who gives information regarding child abuse must be made aware that if he or she reports the case, information about the alleged abuse will be shared only with those authorized to have access to this information, i.e. the orphanage leadership and other persons involved.
Response to Abuse
All forms of child abuse are taken seriously, without exception, and are responded to according to the gravity of the offense. We ensure that there is always a response, regardless of whether the abuse committed is considered large or small. By responding, we can ensure that a transparent and fair procedure is followed, no one is falsely condemned, and the rights of everyone involved are protected.
If the offense is on the part of an ACHF volunteer or trip leader, we will follow these procedures:
- In all cases of suspected or proven child abuse or neglect, we will ensure that the affected persons receive the necessary counseling and support.
- The response to child-to-child abuse focuses on what is best for the development and protection of all children involved in such a case.
- If the abuse is committed by an adult, we will pursue the matter to the full extent of the law.
- There is clear leadership, with one ACHF staff member being responsible for handling information and internal and external communication regarding child abuse incidents
- Decisions and actions are taken quickly.
- Written records of all reported abuse cases and their conclusions are privately kept by ACHF to prevent future incidents.
We are grateful for all of our volunteers who have the desire to serve the kids we work with and for their willingness to do everything possible to protect the children.
Aunt & Uncle Program
At A Child’s Hope Foundation, we want to support a deeper connection and lasting relationships between volunteers and the children. We do this through our Aunt and Uncle program which gives you the opportunity to provide support on a monthly basis to the kids, giving them life-changing gifts like therapy, tutoring, caregiver support, and support in family reunification. In return we provide several fun and helpful benefits, including, but not limited to:
- Regular updates about the children and the orphanage
- Early access to upcoming trip dates
- Aunt & Uncle apparel and other branded accessories
- Fun events like an appreciation dinner once a year
You can learn more and register at https://achildshopefoundation.org/auntanduncle/
Additional Resources
If you are looking for more information regarding service trips, you can visit our Service Trip FAQ page as well as our Volunteer Resource page.
Aside from Service Trips, there are many different ways you can support A Child’s Hope Foundation. We offer local volunteer opportunities at our HQ in Utah County as well as encourage all those able to to consider learning about and donating to our programs. We also host local events and campaigns on our social media quite frequently. Learn more about our Thrive Program and the different ways we elevate the way the world cares for orphaned and vulnerable children.