Volunteer Guidelines . . .
Introduction
Short-term workers are welcomed and valued at Rugarama Hospital.
In addition to bringing much needed skills, you can also be a great encouragement
to the hospital community. For you the visitor, the cross-cultural experience
of living and working in the heart of Africa can sometimes be difficult and
disturbing, yet ultimately enriching and beneficial. These guidelines have
been produced simply to help you avoid causing cultural offence, and to help
you settle in and enjoy your time as quickly and easily as possible.
Hospital
Mission
Rugarama Hospital is a Christian Mission Hospital whose ultimate aim
is to provide quality holistic health services whilst showing the love of
Jesus. We do not insist that all short-term workers be committed Christians.
However, we do insist that you be sympathetic with the hospital mission statement,
and be happy to work in a Christian mission community. Experience shows that
when people are not sympathetic they struggle, since the community tends to
assume that all expatriate visitors are missionaries!
Work
It is natural
when arriving, particularly as a voluntary worker, to feel less accountable
to the Hospital management than national, paid employees. However, it is unsettling
to other staff and to hospital routine if an expatriate worker does not fit
into existing days off per month, working hours and annual leave. Please only
take the statutory days off per month; meet with other staff in the chapel
at 8.00 a.m. prompt for morning prayers, have normal coffee and lunch breaks
and take leave and days off after consultation with your head of department.
If you are travelling, it is good to inform the Medical Superintendent where
you will be in case of emergency. Please do accept to work under authority
even though you are working on a voluntary basis.
Clothing
Women generally
should wear skirts at the knee or below. However, it is now acceptable for
women to wear loose fitting trousers or long shorts in leisure time. Men may
wear shorts for leisure but not for work.
Customs
In the West, greetings are
no longer very important; Africans still have time to greet people. It is
customary when one enters a room to greet everyone before getting on with
your business. Please, even when you feel only half awake on the way to the
chapel, continue to greet your colleagues! Handshakes in greeting are more
frequent than in the West also.
Relating to other Expatriates
Expatriate mission
partners usually find short-term workers a great encouragement. Please do
call at their homes for advice or just a chat. If they have young children
do be sensitive about going at certain times, particularly around childrenŐs
bed times.
Make the most of it
Your time at Rugarama will be an experience
you will never forget; make the most of it. Join in as much as you can, whether
it be the Christian Fellowship, teaching in Sunday School, football, you will
be welcome. Get to know people, visit their homes, join the medical outreaches
to neighbouring communities. We very much look forward to welcoming you to
Rugarama Hospital community.