1. Purpose
This policy sets out how ALT-TEXT ASBL (“ALT-TEXT”, “we”) works with volunteers. It serves as the mandatory information note required under Article 5 of the Belgian Law of 3 July 2005 on the rights of volunteers. We provide this document to every volunteer before they begin their activities. It explains who we are, the terms on which volunteering takes place, and the rights and responsibilities of both sides.
We value volunteers as genuine contributors to our mission, not as unpaid substitutes for paid work. Volunteering with ALT-TEXT is freely chosen, unpaid, and carries no obligation.
2. About ALT-TEXT
ALT-TEXT is a non-profit association (association sans but lucratif / vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) registered in Belgium, based in Brussels. Our mission is to help people, especially those most exposed to digital harm, understand the technologies shaping their lives and take real control over them, through AI literacy and digital autonomy education, public education, training in privacy-respecting tools, and advocacy.
- Legal seat: Avenue de la Porte de Hal 25, Brussels 1060
- Enterprise number (BCE/KBO): 1034052266
3. Definition of Volunteering
A volunteer carries out unpaid activities for ALT-TEXT, freely and without obligation, for the benefit of others or of society, outside any employment or self-employment relationship with us. Volunteering does not create an employment contract and is not a route to payment for professional services.
Where someone carries out skilled professional work for ALT-TEXT on a paid basis (such as training, facilitation, or curriculum development under a fee agreement), that is a freelance or employment relationship governed by a separate contract, not by this policy.
4. Financial Position and Reimbursement
ALT-TEXT is a newly established organisation and currently operates without core funding. Volunteers must note the following financial conditions before starting:
- We do not pay volunteers, and we do not currently operate any volunteer expense-reimbursement scheme.
- Where, in future, specific project funding allows, we may reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket costs (such as travel or materials) agreed in writing in advance, on the basis of real costs and receipts.
- We do not use the Belgian fixed volunteer allowance (forfaitaire vrijwilligersvergoeding / indemnité forfaitaire) to pay volunteers for substantive work. If we ever offer fixed-rate reimbursement, it will remain strictly within the legal annual and daily limits and only for genuine volunteering.
- We are transparent about this so that no one volunteers in the expectation of payment or reimbursement that we cannot currently provide.
5. Insurance and Liability
Under the Belgian Law of 3 July 2005, ALT-TEXT is civilly liable for damage a volunteer causes to the organisation or to third parties in the course of their volunteering. The volunteer can only be held personally liable in cases of fraud, serious fault, or repeated minor fault.
ALT-TEXT maintains a specific volunteer insurance policy covering civil liability. Volunteers are covered by this policy only during the execution of agreed tasks for the organisation.
Current Status Note: ALT-TEXT is currently finalising its volunteer liability insurance coverage. No volunteer will be engaged in public-facing, physical, or higher-risk activities until this coverage is active and the policy details are appended to this document.
6. Professional Secrecy and Confidentiality
Volunteers for ALT-TEXT are not bound by legal professional secrecy (secret professionnel / beroepsgeheim) as defined in Article 458 of the Belgian Penal Code.
However, volunteers are bound by a strict duty of discretion and confidentiality regarding any non-public information, internal strategic data, or personal data they encounter during their activities. This duty continues after the volunteering relationship ends.
7. Rights of Volunteers
Volunteers with ALT-TEXT can expect:
- Clear information about the organisation and the specific task before starting.
- A named contact person for support and questions.
- A safe, respectful environment free from discrimination and harassment.
- Reasonable accessibility adjustments so that volunteering is open to people of different abilities and circumstances.
- The freedom to decline tasks, to raise concerns, and to stop volunteering at any time.
- Confidentiality regarding their personal data, handled strictly in line with our privacy policy and the GDPR.
8. Responsibilities of Volunteers
Volunteers agree to:
- Act in line with ALT-TEXT’s mission, values, and policies, including our safeguarding policy and code of conduct.
- Carry out agreed tasks reliably, or notify their contact person in good time if they cannot.
- Respect the privacy of community members and handle data in compliance with our GDPR guidelines.
- Treat everyone they encounter through ALT-TEXT with respect.
- Refrain from presenting themselves as speaking on behalf of ALT-TEXT without explicit prior authorisation.
9. Safeguarding
Volunteers involved in activities with children or vulnerable adults are subject to our safeguarding policy. This includes completing any required criminal-record checks (Extrait de casier judiciaire Modèle 596.2 / Uittreksel uit het strafregister Model 596.2). Volunteers must read and accept the safeguarding policy before taking part in these activities.
10. Ending the Relationship
Volunteering can be ended at any time by either side, without formality and without penalty. We welcome feedback when someone moves on, to help us improve our volunteer programme.
11. Contact
Questions about volunteering, or about this policy, can be sent to hello@alt-text.eu.