GLOSSARY OF TERMS

We use the following terms and terminology throughout Volunteer Compass' web site to describe the various components of the volunteer experience:

NGO
The initials NGO is an abbreviation for Non-Government Organization. However, there are many alternatives you will see in the volunteering world to mean the same thing: Independent sector, volunteer sector, grassroots organizations, civil society, transnational social movement organizations, private voluntary organizations and self-help organizations. These are just a few terms. In Volunteer Compass, unless stated for a reason, we use the term NGO.

Short-term Volunteering
We define short-term volunteering as any period from one week to one year.

Placement Organization
These are the NGO or receieving orgnizations based in the country we send volunteers to.

Project
There are a number of alternative descriptions to the use of our word Project. These include: program (programme), sustainable help, volunteer help, free effort, eco-help, the development and many others. No matter what word you would like to use, it generally all means the same - you giving your time and effort on behalf of someone or something for the common-good benefit.

Host Countries
There are lots of different and euphemistic names to call countries that are not as wealthy or well-off as 'ours'. Each country has differing problems and on differing scales. Terms usually applied include First World, Second World, Third World, developing countries, under developed, less developed, poor countries and many more including 'Global South' and just 'South'. We have projects in Europe as well as in other parts of the globe. The terms we use the most are: First World - Europe and most Western Countries and; Developing Countries for all others except where stated for a reason.

Volunteer
Volunteer is the person volunteering their time, money and effort on behalf of a project, organization or programme for the selfless benefit of the project.

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