Policies
At Dragonfly, we try hard to be flexible, compromising, understanding and attentive to each volunteer's personal situation. However, to maintain the integrity of our programs, the quality of volunteers' experiences, and above all to respect the interests of those we work to help, we are bound by the following policies.
1. Signing Up
You will be considered "signed up" for a project once we have received your deposit to reserve your place. We will inform you when your deposit has been received and confirm your placement details. Submitting an application does not constitute sign-up.
2. Fees
a) Total Fees
Once you have paid your deposit to sign up for a volunteering placement, we will confirm the total fee for that placement, which will be your balance due. If you sign up well in advance of your placement date, our fees may change before you pay your balance, but your total fee will not change from this confirmed amount. Balance payments are due 8 weeks before the start date of your placement.
b) Deposits
Deposits are required to begin work arranging placements and are non-refundable, but can be postponed or transferred.
c) Refunds
Balance payments are refundable with notice of 4 or more weeks from your arranged placement start date, minus transfer fees as they occur. With less than 4 weeks notice, each case will be assessed on reason and merit, and we will come to a fair arrangement based on the amount of the fee that is recoverable.
3. Safety and Security
We monitor our programs and strive to reduce risk as much as possible. However, risk cannot be completely eliminated and we do require volunteers to be responsible for their own travel and health insurance should accidents arise. However, we will not simply abandon you to your insurance. If you do meet with illness or accident, Dragonfly staff will do our utmost to ensure that you attain the necessary care and conditions that are required. We also provide travel security advice and are happy to answer any questions related to safety and security.
4. Culture and Behaviour
Dragonfly volunteers are expected to behave in a sensitive and appropriate manner and to respect local cultural practices, beliefs and traditions. Volunteers who do not follow these guidelines will be reviewed and may be asked to leave their placements early and without refund. Illegal behaviour will also not be tolerated and again volunteers will be required to leave their placements should they break any Thai laws.
5. Privacy
At times it is necessary for us to share the personal information you provide us during the application process with our partner organizations, to help arrange placements and visa support letters. However, we will not share your contact information without your prior consent, nor will we share your personal information with anyone not directly involved with arranging your volunteer placement.
6. Complaints
Any complaints about placements of Dragonfly services should be directed to Dragonfly staff, so that we may deal with your concerns directly without causing any inconvenience to our partner organizations. These will be dealt with in a timely manner on an individual basis
7. Visas
Volunteers in Thailand are required by law to hold appropriate visas for volunteer work. These visas can fall into different categories, but tourist visas and free visa-on-arrival entries are not appropriate. Dragonfly advises and aids all of our volunteers to obtain the proper visas, and volunteers who do not heed this advice will responsible for the consequences they meet.
