Volunteer Program Handbook
Our mission is to provide love and care to children deprived of parental care and to change the lives of the volunteers who love and care for them.
Foundations
1.0 Founding
Founded in 1999 by Dr. Rex Head and his wife, Melodie, OSSO began as their family’s response to the needs of children without parents.
Before establishing OSSO in Ecuador, they visited orphanages in several countries and felt inspired to create a program that could offer consistent, loving support to vulnerable children.
The Heads, who have adopted three of their children, have continued to expand their efforts through OSSO, helping children in Ecuador, Thailand, China, Uganda, Vietnam, Peru, and Mexico.
Today, OSSO supports orphanages year-round, made possible by the dedication of thousands of volunteers and the generosity of countless donors.
1.1 Vision, Mission, Values
Vision: We believe in a world where every child can feel loved.
Mission: OSSO's mission is to provide love and care to children deprived of parental care and to change the lives of the volunteers who love and care for them.
Values
Love: We believe the greatest treasure in this world is to love and be loved and that every child deserves love.
Safety: We believe the safety of the children we serve and the volunteers who serve them is paramount in all our efforts.
Faith: We believe that providing love and care for orphaned children is part of the Lord’s work and that He assists OSSO and others in this work.
Worth: We believe children are the world's most valuable assets and their future should be our top priority.
Responsibility: We believe that caring for children is a sacred right, privilege, and responsibility that rests first with families. When families cannot or will not care for them, it becomes the responsibility of good people and organizations everywhere to do so.
1.2 Organizational Structure
OSSO is governed by a Board of Directors. The board's decisions are aligned with OSSO's Vision, Mission, and Values.
The OSSO USA staff oversees the implementation of the board's decisions in the OSSO program.
The full-time OSSO staff provides the support structure for the DOVEs and the Volunteers as you provide love and care to the children.
1.3 OSSO In-Country Staff
Operations Coordinator: An operations coordinator is a local, permanent contracted individual who works closely with local orphanages and identifies their needs, supports and directs the DOVEs, and plans and executes weekly volunteer outings.
Director of Volunteer Experience (DOVE): Oversees and supports the volunteers, manages day-to-day activities, ensures shift service is aligned with OSSO's mission.