As a volunteer (a mentor, a judge, a coach, a Leader, an Ambassador, or an educator), your first step is to review and comply with Technovation’s Code of Conduct.

• Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct could lead to formal warnings from Technovation. Depending on the severity or frequency of the infractions, volunteers may be prohibited from volunteering with the organization for the remainder of the season and future seasons.

Below are some recommendations to keep yourself and other participants safe while running Technovation programs.

Working with students

• Prioritize psychological safety alongside physical safety (more on that below): Mindful language, tone, and emotional regulation help create a supportive and safe environment. By meeting participants where they are, you can foster confidence, encourage self-expression, and serve as positive role models.
• Adopt a zero-tolerance policy around harassment or bullying. This includes volunteers’ treatment of each other, participants, parents/guardians, Technovation staff; and participants’ treatment of each other, volunteers, parents/guardians.
• Treat all young people as individuals, equally and with respect, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
• All in-person Technovation mentoring meetings must include multiple participants and at least one other adult, preferably a trusted adult designated by parents, the team, or your local Leader. When possible, maintain a ratio of no more than five participants for 1 mentor (1:5). If there is only 1 student on the team, the meeting must always include a trusted adult designated by the parents or guardians.
• Technovation-run mentoring should take place in public community spaces (schools, libraries, community centers). Personal residences are not permitted as meeting locations for Technovation activities, unless the participant's parent or guardian is present for the entire meeting and another adult or local partner is also present.
• All direct communication between Technovation mentors and participants outside of scheduled program meetings is strongly encouraged to take place through the Technovation platform chat. Partner organizations should enforce similar restrictions through their own communication protocols.
• Do not carry firearms or other weapons in the presence of program participants, other volunteers, or parents/guardians.
• Release children only to parents, guardians, or other adults authorized by the parents or guardians.
• Do not consume drugs or alcohol before or during Technovation team meetings or events.

Supporting Participant Well-being

Consider Student Mental Well-Being

“As mentors, we can sometimes put pressure on students without realizing it. Saying things like "You are the best student on the team" or "You are letting your team down" may seem harmless, but students can take those comments very seriously.

I think Mentors should be encouraged to praise effort, curiosity, teamwork, and learning rather than comparing students with each other.” - Vivek, Technovation mentor for 10+ years

Volunteer Well-being & Boundaries

Maintaining healthy boundaries protects both students and volunteers and prevents burnout:

• Set Clear Hours: Establish reasonable time windows for mentoring and avoid responding to non-urgent messages late at night.
• Avoid Private Messaging and Accepting Invites to Connect on Social Media: Always communicate in group chats on the platform. If not possible, copy a parent or additional adult on messages.
• Prioritize Self-Care: Taking care of your emotional health ensures sound safety judgment and a sustainable volunteer experience.

Something doesn't feel right. What do I do?

• Make sure both you and the students are safe.
• Listen calmly.
• Don't investigate the situation yourself.
• Don't promise the student that you will keep it secret.
• Write down what happened as factually as possible.
• Report it through the appropriate Technovation channel (see the matrix below for guidance on how to report)
• Follow any local legal reporting requirements.

Need to report an incident?

Use this framework to handle safety concerns or policy violations appropriately:

Tier	Examples	Recommended Action
Tier 1: Immediate Threat	Violence, child abuse, self-harm, or active danger.	Contact local emergency authorities immediately - https://disabilitywiki.org/crisis/ To report Child Abuse or Neglect - US / Outside of the US Report to [email protected] within 24 hours.
Tier 2: Serious Policy Violation	Harassment, bullying, persistent inappropriate behavior, or boundary crossing.	Report to [email protected] and your local leader if applicable. A member of the safety team will coordinate with a local Chapter or Club Leader.
Tier 3: Interpersonal / Conduct Issues	Minor disagreements, communication friction, or minor code-of-conduct concerns.	Discuss with the parent. If the parent is not responsive, contact your Chapter Leader. Escalate to [email protected] if unresolved.

Every report gets a response

Technovation acknowledges every safety report within 24 business hours, with next steps in 3–5 business days. Email the safety team: [email protected]