Volunteer code of conduct
What we ask of every person who volunteers with Navantara — and what volunteers can expect from us in return.
Why this matters
Volunteers are often the only Navantara person a student or teacher meets. To the school and the community, a volunteer is the organisation. This code exists so that experience is consistent, safe, and worth a child's time.
What we ask of you
- Turn up when you said you would, and tell us early when you cannot. A cancelled session is a lost week for a class that has few of them.
- Complete the safeguarding briefing before your first placement, and follow our Child Safety & Safeguarding Policy policy without exception.
- Treat students, teachers, and school staff with respect regardless of caste, religion, gender, disability, language, or background.
- Teach at the level in front of you. Do not shame a student for what they do not yet know.
- Keep what you learn about a student's family, health, or circumstances confidential.
- Represent your own skills and qualifications accurately.
- Follow the host school's rules while on their premises.
What we will not accept
- Any form of physical, verbal, sexual, or emotional abuse of a child or adult.
- Private contact with a student outside approved program channels.
- Using your placement to promote a business, political party, or religious belief.
- Sharing photographs of students on personal social media.
- Attending a session intoxicated.
What you can expect from us
- A clear briefing on the program, the students, and what your session is meant to achieve.
- Training and materials appropriate to the role, and a named person to contact when something goes wrong.
- A placement matched to your availability, and honest communication when plans change.
- Recognition of your contribution, and a reference on request after a sustained placement.
- A route to raise concerns without fear of being dropped from the program — see our Whistleblower Protection Policy policy.
Ending a placement
You may step away at any time; we ask only that you tell us so the class is not left waiting. We may end a placement where this code is breached, where a safeguarding concern arises, or where the placement is not working for the students.
Write to donate@navantara.org or call +91 915 420 3796. Postal queries may be sent to Navantara AI Learning Foundation, Bollileni Bion, Kothaguda, Opposite Botanical Garden, Serilingampally, Kondapur, K.V. Rangareddy - 500084, Telangana.