COVID-19 Safety Measures

Your Safety Is Our Priority

Our top priority is the health, safety and well-being of people living in the communities we serve, as well as our volunteers, staff and partners. Although we have implemented new operational standards, including measures to prevent infection, these measures cannot guarantee that you will avoid contracting COVID-19. Attending an All Hands and Hearts program may increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.

If you are planning to volunteer, please review the following information on the threat of being exposed to COVID-19.

How We’re Keeping You Safe

Preventative Measures

If you are planning to volunteer, please review the following information on the threat of being exposed to COVID-19.

PRE-ARRIVAL EXPECTATIONS

Personal Decision:
Volunteers must make an informed decision as to whether traveling is appropriate and safe for their specific circumstances. Volunteers should research the COVID-19 context in the destination country and other countries they may travel to before arriving on the program or after.

Health Monitoring:
We ask that volunteers proactively monitor their health status before and during travel, and do not join the team on program if they are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 or Flu: fever; chills or night sweats; a new cough; shortness of breath; sore throat; muscle aches; nausea or diarrhea; loss of taste or smell; congestion or runny nose; fatigue or headaches.

Do not travel if you are sick, have symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or other illness, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or the flu in the past ten days.

Reasonable Precautions:
Volunteers should take precautions to prevent illness while traveling to program, including avoiding large crowds, wearing masks when needed and washing their hands frequently.

Testing:
We do not require pre-arrival testing, but it is your responsibility to monitor countries’ entry requirements on your travel itinerary.

Testing prior to departure is encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19. You can learn more about the types of COVID-19 tests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ON PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

On Arrival:
Our staff will guide volunteers through the arrival process, which may include asking them to follow certain precautions to minimize any residual risk to one another.

If, upon your arrival, a volunteer believes they may have COVID-19, the flu, or another illness, we ask that a team member is notified immediately. Our staff can then enact response protocols to support you through the process and minimize transmission to the staff, volunteers or community we work alongside.

Health Screening And Monitoring:
Due to the downgrading of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the reduction of severe cases worldwide, All Hands and Hearts will no longer require regular testing for COVID-19. However, our team may require volunteers to undergo testing and screening protocols based on local conditions.

We will continue to require volunteers to closely monitor their health status and notify a staff member immediately if symptoms arise so we can enact our response protocols.

Hygiene And Cleanliness:
Volunteers should maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and cleanliness for their health and the health of staff members, the community and other volunteers. We will provide washing facilities, base cleaning and exemplary food preparation standards and ask that volunteers join us in facilitating a healthy program.

Sanitation Measures:

Regular disinfection of shared areas and high touch points.
Promotion of good ventilation on base and worksites.
Safe food hygiene, laundry and disposal practices.

Personal Responsibility:
Volunteers should not engage in activities that would put them or others at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or other illnesses.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Local government regulations always precede All Hands and Hearts’ protocols.
All volunteers traveling to a program outside of their home nation must follow the entry requirements asked of visitors from abroad.
After being accepted to volunteer, additional information about COVID-19-related guidelines specific to your program will be provided.

FAQs

How do I apply to volunteer?
Visit our current list of active programs here, select a location and follow the link to proceed with your application! One of our team members will be in touch with more information. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Where can I learn more about the coronavirus disease to prepare myself better?
For more information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease and Controls (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

How will you keep the communities you work alongside safe?
We will adhere to local regulations and adapt our safety measures to the evolving situation in the specific location where we are working.

We take preventative measures to keep our team members, including volunteers, symptom-free and to identify symptoms quickly if they do develop. We will minimize interaction with the community when required and take appropriate testing and isolation measures as determined by local and program conditions.

When we hire community members we will carefully explain the risks to them, provide them with all necessary personal protective equipment, and train them about the safety measures appropriate to their role.

What if my country imposes travel restrictions? How can I get to the program?
All Hands and Hearts cannot make any special accommodations in response to the travel restrictions of individual countries. Prospective volunteers should review the local regulations that apply to them and comply with the advice.

Do I need to wear face coverings/masks? If so, what kind?
We ask that volunteers cover their mouth and nose when required. This can be any cloth covering that meets the following requirements:

Fully covers mouth and nose.
Fits tightly on the face, leaving no gaps.
No difficulty breathing while wearing
Can be tied or secured to prevent slipping.

All Hands and Hearts will provide a stock of disposable masks for volunteer use. Volunteers are also welcome to bring their own face covering. For more information, please refer to this guidance from the CDC.

Will I have to isolate if I have symptoms?
If a volunteer exhibits symptoms, our team will ask them to move to supported isolation. During this time, the team will provide food, accommodation, communication devices and access to mental health services for the duration of any required isolation. We will also ask that the volunteer complete a COVID-19 test as soon as it is safe.

If anything changes with respect to COVID-19 within a country, what is the plan for volunteers?
All Hands and Hearts will monitor the local situation and adjust protocols when warranted. The goal is to align our controls with the current threat level from the virus in that location.