Immersion SA facilitates volunteer experiences within TransCape NPO and also provides a full cultural immersion experience in Tshani village. We administer ever aspect of the volunteers programme and as such volunteers are ensured a complete experience that is structured from start to finish. We are not acting as agents and know our the projects intimately. In choosing Immersion SA, volunteers can be ensured that the money they spend goes directly into these projects and the local community and is not used to pay agent commissions and cover the high overheads of foreign placement agents not directly connected with the community.  Immersion SA is serious about its responsibility towards the community and as such expects participants to adhere to a code of conduct. Likewise, Immersion SA adheres to a strict code of good practices. We aim to ensure that both Immersion SA participants and the community benefit from their mutual engagement and that no harm is done to the local environment. One of the ways we have done this is by establishing a long-term relationship with respected community elders and Transcape NPO. We have used this relationship to establish a shared vision and determined program goals and we have entered into a written agreement with both these parties to formalise this.

This agreement includes such items as the following:

• Volunteers should not take the place of local members and should create employment.  

• All volunteers need to be screened before being allowed to work in the community  

• Immersion SA commits to ensure that all volunteers receive the appropriate training to ensure that they are appropriately orientated prior to their engaging with community.  

• In order to ensure that volunteers needs are met, they are given the opportunity to use these skills, knowledge and experience to make a real difference, volunteers are provided with a written Task Description outlining the expected project duration, resources, supervision, reporting structures and final measurable outcomes.

• We provide cost transparency to show how volunteer fees are spent. Immersion SA strives to ensure that 70% of all costs go directly towards TransCape, it's Tshani Community projects and local small business established to services volunteer needs and foster local economic development. This amount is audited and published on an annual basis.

• Volunteers must be effectively managed on the ground (assistance, guidance, supervision) by programme co-ordinators, so as to ensure community and volunteer gets value from placement.

• Volunteers placed in the community are required to abide by a written code of conduct.

• A performance management system is in place within Immersion SA that gives volunteers the opportunity to provide detailed feedback on their experience. This information is used to improve the program, to incentivise project staff, and to share volunteer experiences with prospective volunteers. Likewise, we frequently meet with community members, facilitated by Transcape NPO, to ensure that the community's      interests are addressed.

• We encourage all alumni volunteers to remain engaged with the community and other fellow volunteers and this is facilitated by Immersion SA with regular newsletters and other activities.