Perceptions of the Role of Short-Term Volunteerism in International Development: Views from Volunteers, Local Hosts, and Community Members

Table 3

Best practices and features of international partnership.

Themes	Local organization	Local community	Foreign volunteers
Best practices for international short-term volunteerism
Collaboration			“[Volunteers should work with] locals as interpreters, and should coordinate with local foundations.”
Communication	“Communication and planning is key.”		“Lack of coordination between different volunteer teams has led to unnecessary things being done and wasted resources, worried about hospital’s ability to be self-sustaining.”
	“There is a need for increased coordination. There is a redundancy of efforts, for example, the same medications distributed to the same batey; this is a wasted effort.”
Prior planning	“It is very important to have a schedule [prepared in advance].”
Evaluation of ethical issues	“[Medical interventions by untrained foreigners are] okay here. All things performed by 17 to 18 year olds are rechecked by MDs. It is a shadow work. There is no ethical problem. It is an exercise in sharing and experience-building.”		“It feels it’s a little weird [taking blood pressure measurements without formal medical training]. I assume that since it’s a different country, different rules apply here. I don’t think it’s inherently wrong, but it is stressful. But with the right training, it gets better.”
			“I was surprised I was allowed to perform medical procedures that I would not be allowed to perform in North America. I felt it was a privilege to have this responsibility.”
Minimization of harms	“There are always safeguards so that abuses don’t happen within the groups. Leaders are known by the community and there is an element of trust. There is supervision by local doctors.”		“There needs to be a fine balance between help and being a ‘provider’.”
Choice of effective volunteer duration	“Longer team [duration]s are generally better, but it depends on the type of work.”
	“It is better if the teams stay for longer periods of time.”
	“There is a problem with the short-term nature of the teams.”
More frequent visits	“For the bateyes, [having] many teams [visit] is important as they bring food, medicines etc.”
	“An increase in number of teams is desirable.”
Determination of duties
Volunteer decides	“The [organization] itself does not say which areas where help is most needed. We take the help as needed.”		“Volunteers decide the duties.”
	“Volunteers are free to decide what they feel they would like to do.”
Local host decides	“For medical-related work, [the local lead doctor] decides on the duties. For bateye programs, [the local program leader] decides.”	“[To decide on volunteer duties] members of the community had a meeting and found out the health care needs.”	“The local partner decides on the duties.”
	“The [local] administration decides on the duties of the volunteers.”	“The [local] health promoter decides on the volunteer duties.”	“The local partner is probably better placed to decide on duties.”
Both volunteer and local host decide	“The organization’s sub-director and medical director decide. We try to cater to volunteer’s wishes too; in terms of area, and what they are interested to work in.”		“The local partner decides on the duties, and the Americans just help.”
	“Volunteers decide what to do but, if volunteers ask what to do, I will direct them.”
Other			“God is in control. If God has called someone here to help, who am I to tell them otherwise?”
Other	“Hopefully [things will be] better in 20 years time. Better healthcare and education, so less need for international volunteers down the line.”	“Yes, I would like for teams to better cater to the community, though they always bring some form of help.”	“Flexibility of both partners is important.”
Features of international partnership
Long-term commitments	“More, more, more partnerships are always good as their benefits are more long-term.”
Local leadership			“We should work with the health promoters in the bateyes.”
Equal benefits	“Partnership has to be mutually beneficial.”
Shared vision	“It is crucial to have such a [shared] vision especially amongst collaborating NGOs.”		“Sharing the same goals and having a passion for the mission are important.”
Equal stake	“Our partnership is a mesh network. There is real input from each partner. You can’t really tease out what the specific effects [of each partner] to the overall success of the program. Everything is a piece of the puzzle.”		“We must see each other as equal partners.”
Camaraderie	“Good interaction [is a necessary component of partnership.”	“Communication and relationship must be good; need partners to work well together.”	“[Partners should be] loving and open, like a family.”
	“It is important to incorporate friendship in such connections; where there’s no legal take on the relationship.”		“We need to build a relationship [with the locals].”
Other	“Need measurable results.”		“Common faith strengthens partnerships.”
			“Faith is essential to building these relationships. Religion can’t be in competition with dominant beliefs of the Dominican Republic.”
Suggested volunteer skill set
Willingness to help/learn			“[Volunteers need] the willingness to learn and serve in whatever capacity they can.”
Cultural sensitivity	“There is a need for a teaching component on the history and the basics of the community. For example, the change in the constitution in 2010 changed status of how a Dominican citizen is defined.”	“[The volunteers] can come with the pastor to better understand what would be the most effective help.”	“Voodoo has been noted in the bateyes; spells are casts and some houses are not visited. It is hard [for some volunteers] to understand this.”
	“Learn some history of the Dominican Republic.”	“[The volunteers] need to know how the people live and what they read.”	“Cultural sensitivity is important depending on the type of volunteer team. It is essential for the medical team; sometimes for evangelical teams. It is not necessary for construction teams.”
	“[Volunteers] should learn about poor areas in the country before coming so that [they] know what type of help to bring.”	“Volunteers need to know about community needs.”
	“They also need to learn about the poor areas and know kind of help is needed. They need to know what is going to be helpful.”
Language proficiency	“There are interpreters generally [to assist the volunteers], though it could be a problem without them.”		“Volunteers should know the language.”
	“Volunteers must have intermediate to advanced level Spanish.”		“There is a language barrier; that can be worked on.”
	“The ability to speak Spanish is important.”
Technical skills	“It is better when volunteers are qualified physicians, as they need less local support.”
	“[Volunteers] also need more education, though the people from the bateyes may give more importance to such things as food, drugs and clothing.”
Anyone can help	“Any type of volunteer is helpful.”	“The community is open to any help that the volunteer can bring.”
	“[There is] no particular skill needed for international team.”
Other—skills	“General requirements for volunteers include: global health experience; intermediate or advanced level Spanish; high level of initiative, professionalism and cultural competency. Selection is made after two interviews, and review of their essay and resume.” [Note: this was for graduate or medical school volunteers of one organization.]		“One should be emotionally and spiritually ready, both before and after visiting a batey.”
			“[Volunteers] should be compliant and humble. They need to keep the bar high.”
			“[Volunteers should display] humility, and be looking to learn.”
			“Volunteers should be emotionally ready.”
			“Emotional, spiritual, physical training.”