There are a few reasons why EGP is different: |
- All the money volunteers raise goes directly towards the project. Volunteers pay for their own flights, accommodation, insurance, vaccinations and other required medication, and anything else they might need. Keeping projects costs and personal costs separate ensures transparency in fundraising – people will not feel they are paying for students to go on holiday.
- Volunteers receive year round support from their team mates and the committee. As EGP is also a student society, it allows for a friendly and personal atmosphere. Alongside the structured training sessions, there is plenty of opportunity for support and advice from the committee and past volunteers. We have a dedicated pair of Fundraising Officers to help you with your fundraising efforts.
- EGP ensures all volunteers are fully prepared. The training programme is tailored to each project’s needs.
- We only select projects that are proposed and supported by the host community. By selecting projects that have been conceived by the host community, EGP ensures community support and ownership which is vital for the long-term success of the projects.
- EGP is run by a committee whose members have all previously volunteered on an EGP project.
- We only select projects that are proposed and supported by the host community. It is not for us to decide what is best for a community, but rather the people who live in it, and this drastically reduces the risk of projects being unused or abandoned when volunteers leave.
- We only select projects with a clear sustainability plan. There is a huge amount of effort involved in fundraising and project implementation, and we wouldn't like to see that go to waste on a project that has no means of being maintained in the long-term.
- We aim to maintain our volunteers' environmental awareness. This aspect is highlighted multiple times in our training sessions, from encouraging small actions such as minimising waste to reducing carbon footprints.
- We respect the privacy of people living in the communities where projects are carried out. Our Social Media Policy encourages volunteers to gain consent before sharing photos of both adults and children.
- All the money volunteers raise goes directly towards the project. It wouldn't be fair to raise money for personal costs such as flights, accommodation and spending money. When an EGP project receives a donation, all of the money will be allocated correctly towards the implementation of the project.
