Let's GoTeach/The Annual GoTeach Process/Step 4:The Volunteers

Volunteers are the DPDHL Group employees in each country who actively participate in the activities, as planned by the local teams.

Role of volunteers

Volunteers are those DHL employees who sacrifice their time to participate in GoTeach. Volunteers take time to engage with the young people either during working hours or during their free time.

Volunteers choose how they wish to participate in GoTeach by:

• Sharing their own career journey with young people
• Sharing what a typical work day would be like for the volunteer
• Hosting a skills training session
• Hosting young people during site visits / tours at DHL
• Engaging with young people as a mentor, either following a structured mentoring curriculum or as part of an internship
• Engaging with young people as part of an internship / job shadowing or initial work experience
• Participating in activities that enable team building with the young people

Recruitment and resensitization of volunteers

How to recruit and resensitize volunteers as part of GoTeach

• Asking DHL employees to join GoTeach

Once a GoTeach plan has been finalized, share it with the country manager and SMT, showcasing how it enables us to connect people and improve lives. Also request time to share the plan (what is GoTeach? How employees can volunteer? What the plan is for the year?) with each department to create an understanding of what help is needed, when and how.

• Team

After consulting with the SMT, create a volunteering engagement initiative across the departments, whereby teams participate in GoTeach and volunteering activities with the opportunity to be crowned the “Most Engaged Team”. Team members gain recognition and can receive a DHL branded item as a reward.

• Develop an experience and make it unique

Create a volunteer experience that is enjoyable and meaningful, highlighting that each individual has unique experiences and expertise they can share with young people. Clearly outline the volunteers’ responsibilities. Keep it consistent, interesting and recognize their work, reminding them of the positive outcome from their help. Allow the young people to share their experiences with the volunteers and to thank the them.

• Define roles and responsibilities clearly

Clearly communicate your expectations of the volunteers, specifying job description, tools or items to support their volunteering activity

• Lifetime volunteers

Create a relationship with new and old volunteers that will make them want to come back. When managing volunteers, treat them with respect, provide feedback and empower them to have a rewarding experience.

• No is not never

Start recruiting volunteers as early as possible. If a volunteer says no when asked – don’t take it as a rejection. Offer to provide them with the plan of activities and opportunities to get involved. They may not be able to get involved every time but keep communicating!

• People-driven

Recruit people who want to be part of a team and who are interested in working with young people.

• Position title

Individuals look at the title of the position as if it were an employment opportunity. Provide as much detail as possible so the volunteer knows what they are signing up for, how much time it will take for them to deliver and how much preparatory work and feedback will be required of them. This might be an empowering opportunity that the volunteer can add to their CV.

• Volunteer recognition at town halls

Recognition of volunteer participation in GoTeach activities in front of their colleagues and by the Country Manager could motivate others to get more involved.

• Communicating successes and showcasing volunteer impact

Within the specific Business Units, create posters showcasing the volunteers' experiences along with a comment and photograph. The idea is to ensure that volunteers share their GoTeach experiences in their own BUs (previously done in Asia).

Chapter lead	Leigh Swartz