Children's Museum Jordan

Amman, Jordan
www.cmj.jo

Welcome to the Children’s Museum Volunteers Program!

 

As a volunteer with The Children’s Museum Jordan, you join a dedicated group of creative, inspiring and energetic individuals who take great pride and pleasure in helping the Children’s Museum fulfill its mission.

We hope that this manual serves as your first introduction to the Volunteer’s Program, allowing you to become more familiar with the Children’s Museum’s policies and procedures. We strongly encourage you to read this handbook in its entirety and to keep it as a reference.

All our new volunteers start their journey with us by participating in a general orientation session that outlines the nature and purpose of the Children’s Museum Jordan, including an introduction to its mission, vision and values as well as its rules and regulations. You’ll also get more of a feel for what you’ll be doing within the Museum, and more specific details of the program, activity or task that you are assigned to help with.

 

 

 

Your introductory training and orientation will last about 2 hours. Depending on what task you’ve been assigned, further technical training or on-the-job training by a staff member may add to that time.

You will also be assigned a direct supervisor. He/she will be your first point of contact should you have concerns, need clarification, support or to report a complaint.

• Your Training


• Beginning Your Shift


• To begin your first shift as a volunteer with us, you will need to report to the Volunteers


• Coordinator who will ask you to sign in and take a copy of your fingerprint. You will then mostly receive verbal instructions from either the Coordinator or an educational supervisor as to what tasks you will participate in and contribute to during that shift. After receiving your set of instructions, please report to the education supervisors in the area of the Museum in which you are to perform your assignment.

Arrival and Scheduling

• Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of your shift.


• Please provide 2 days notice if you are unable to cover your weekend shift.


• Please remember your shift schedule and exact time your shifts start.


• Please remember to sign in and out using the fingerprint machine.


• Please regularly check your Facebook, Twitter and/or e-mail for any volunteer updates.

Ending Your Shift

When your shift comes to an end, please inform your immediate supervisor and then proceed to return any supplies or materials to their proper places. Please remember to sign out by swiping your finger over the fingerprint machine located at the Staff Entrance.

If you have to leave early In case of an emergency that may require you to immediately leave the Museum before the formal end of your shift, please advise your supervisor accordingly and don’t forget to sign out using the fingerprint machine.

Your Shifts

Dress Code

You are expected to dress professionally and comfortably. Please receive your white t-shirt from the Volunteers Coordinator which should be worn with blue jeans and a white head cover (if required).

Dependability

We recognize that you, our volunteers, are one of our most valuable assets and your efforts to assist with the Children’s Museum’s daily operations and special events are of the utmost importance. Volunteers must therefore commit themselves to being on time and show initiative once they have been oriented to their tasks and responsibilities.

Absences

If you need to take a leave of absence and are therefore unable to meet your scheduled commitment, please call the Volunteers Coordinator. If you are anticipating an extended time away from your volunteering duties, please notify both your supervisor and the Volunteers

What We Expect From You:

Safety Policy

The Children’s Museum is committed to providing its volunteers with a safe workplace and as such, will resolve any problems which may affect their health or safety should they arise during their work at the Museum.

As a volunteer within the Museum, you are expected to use good judgment and common sense during your time at the Children’s Museum and to follow stated regulations.

Use of Facilities

We ask our volunteers to exercise care when using Museum property and equipment. If you find that any equipment is damaged or malfunctioning, please inform your supervisor immediately.

Use of Mobile Phones

Although occasional personal calls are to be expected during your shift, we ask you to confine the use of your mobile phone to emergency calls as much as possible.

Breaks

It is forbidden to consume food or drink and to chew gum within the Exhibit Hall and connected facilities.

All breaks should be taken in the restaurant area. Please arrange a suitable time to take your breaks with your supervisor. Breaks are an ideal time for snacks and to make phone calls.

Smoking

You are asked to strictly adhere to the Museum’s non-smoking policy and refrain from smoking in any area of the Museum at all times.

Drugs and Illegal Substances

The Museum prohibits any of its volunteers from entering the Museum whilst under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other illegal substance. The Museum reserves the right to remove anyone who appears to be under the influence of prohibited substances and maintain Museum security.

Complaints

If at any time during your volunteering service you feel that you have been mistreated, misunderstood or have a complaint about your shift schedules, please contact the Volunteers Coordinator within 3 working days of an incident taking place.

Policies You Should remember

We ask that all volunteers act with integrity and in accordance with generally accepted standards of ethical conduct and morality while they are within the Museum. The following ethical guidelines are just some of the things we’d like you to remember during your service at the Children’s Museum.

Please be aware that further instructions and guidelines may be given to you by the Education & Programming Department which you should abide by.

Courtesy to Staff & Visitors

You must conduct yourself morally, ethically and respectfully with your fellow employees or visitors.

Kindness to Children

All volunteers must treat children kindly, patiently, compassionately and appropriately. You should not show any overt affection (e.g. hugs) and should limit physical contact. If a child is in distress or upset, you are asked to locate the child’s parents or caretaker and alert your supervisor immediately.

Harassment

It is illegal to harass others on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, color, nationality, religion, citizenship, disability or any other personal characteristics. Harassment includes making derogatory remarks about such characteristics, making inappropriate jokes or ethnic slurs as well as any other verbal, physical, and visual behavior.

Sexual harassment is also prohibited and taken very seriously within the Children’s Museum. This includes: unwelcomed propositions, repeated requests for social dates, dirty jokes, sexually provocative pictures or cartoons and other verbal, physical or visual harassments of any sexual nature.

Any volunteer who has been subjected to sexual harassment or any other form of annoyance is requested to immediately inform their supervisor and/or the Volunteers Coordinator.

Volunteers acting in any way contrary to the above ethical principles and guidelines may be subject to immediate disciplinary action, including the possibility of immediate termination.

Our Ethics Policy

The Children’s Museum is proud of its group of dedicated, energetic, spirited, imaginative and creative volunteers, and recognizes that without your help, we would not be able to deliver on our mission of providing learning experiences that impact the lives of children and their families.

We hope that you enjoy your time of service with us and thank you again for the valuable contribution of your time and creative energy.

*The information within this handbook is accurate as of its printing, February 2010.

The Children’s Museum retains the right to amend the information in this Handbook at any time and without prior notice.

Thank you!