HFH Kyrgyzstan Gift Giving Policy
We do not expect any gifts because the labour volunteers donating to us on site is already a
big gift in itself for which we are always grateful. Still many people make gifts to families,
translators they work with or even staff. It is nice to get a gift and to give a gift, but sometimes there could be some situations when people feel uncomfortable and even confusion. To avoid such situations we offer the following.

1. If Global Village members are inspired to give something, we encourage the kinds of gifts that can be given to the entire community, so that all can enjoy them. Ideas for such gifts include: books for the library, sports equipment for the high schools, or playground equipment. These send a clear message that all the families are valued.

2. If you want to make a gift to Habitat affiliate in providing more houses to people in need, please consider to make a donation in cash in the first place. This will be powerful contribution to the entire community allowing the affiliate get necessary construction materials and tools. Also as the affiliate buy them regularly we have special discounts in market places, so it will be cheaper for an affiliate rather then if you buy those yourself.

3. During construction, working with one family for certain time you may decide to present them window frames or a bath tub to show your special attitude to them. That is great! Yet you should be aware that these things will be considered as you made the donation to the affiliate not to the family. The cost of the frames or tub will be included in the cost of the house that the family will repay then. This is because of Habitat principle: „Payments from one house should be enough to build another house”. In this way we can help more people.

4. If teams want to make small individual presents to families they are encouraged to bring little toys, books/color-books, crayons, toothbrushes for children etc. For parents, translators you may think of small soveniours from your place, caps or books. We request team members to give these gifts only when they visit the families, so that we don’t give way to envy and quarelling between partner families when they compare their gifts.

5.Teams are asked to leave all gifts of tools, work clothes with the affiliate staff at the onstruction site.

6. Team members are asked to consult the affiliate staff if they would like to leave behind some personal items (eg. clothing, books, towels etc.) - usually they are collected on the last day at the hotel and taken to the contruction site for the homeowners to pick up according to their needs.

7. In case of a team member being approached and asked for something by a homeowner or a volunteer we advise to consult the affiliate staff before making a decision.