COVID-19 has affected each and every one of us in different ways. The current situation brings a lot of uncertainty, and it’s easy to feel scared or overwhelmed. For all of us working on Volunteer Development, taking care of our volunteers and make sure they feel supported and equipped is always a priority.
We’ve gathered a series of initiatives partners across the network have created to help and work with their volunteers:
- Communication
- AFS Colombia and AFS Belgium Flanders are some examples of partners that have been constantly sharing updates on their Workplace group. This helps volunteers keep inform and get answers quickly.
- AFS Belgium French and AFS Brazil are sharing all their updates online through Google Docs and Google Sites. This is easy to access and helps them manage the information in one place.
- Outreach
- Volunteers from AFS India have really come together and are finding ways to thank medical workers for their efforts to fight this virus.
- Support
- AFS USA teams are making lovely handwritten notes to thank their host families. AFS USA has also created a section on “My AFS” where volunteers can find resources to do virtual meetings and webinars.
You might or might not be ready to think about future plans right now, and that’s completely ok. The safety of our participants and everyone that is a part of AFS is the number one priority. We will be updating and sharing more initiatives with you. If you need anything, do not hesitate to contact Marika Strass or Manuela Ramírez.