Skip to content

Operational Policies

Diversity & Inclusion Policy

Quest Africa runs structured outdoor education and life skills programmes that bring together young people, facilitators, partners and staff from a wide range of backgrounds. This policy sets out our commitment to building an environment where every person who participates in, works for, or partners with Quest Africa is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Diversity and inclusion are not side issues for an organisation built on personal growth. The Quest experience asks young people to step outside their comfort zones, work alongside people unlike themselves, and grow through that exposure. We hold ourselves to the same standard.

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All Quest Africa employees, contractors and volunteers.
  • All facilitators, instructors and field staff.
  • All participants enrolled in Quest programmes.
  • Parents, guardians and family members engaging with Quest.
  • External partners, suppliers and contractors representing Quest.

Our Commitment

Quest Africa is committed to:

  1. Recruiting, selecting and admitting participants and staff based on merit, potential and fit, without regard to race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or socio-economic background.
  2. Assessing all applicants, including those with disabilities, against Quest Africa’s Essential Eligibility Criteria, which set out the practical and safety-related demands of each programme.
  3. Creating programme environments where people from different backgrounds can take part fully and safely.
  4. Ensuring our facilities, activities and communications are accessible to people with disabilities wherever reasonably possible.
  5. Listening to feedback from staff, facilitators and participants about their experience, and acting on patterns that suggest exclusion or unfair treatment.

Unacceptable Behaviour

The following will not be tolerated by anyone connected to Quest Africa, including staff, facilitators, participants or partners:

  1. Discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other personal characteristic.
  2. Derogatory jokes, language, or imagery that demean a person or group.
  3. Exclusion of a participant or colleague from activities, decisions, or social spaces because of who they are.
  4. Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern about discrimination or unfair treatment in good faith.

Reporting Concerns

Anyone, whether a staff member, facilitator, participant, or parent, who experiences or witnesses behaviour that goes against this policy should report it as soon as possible. Reports can be made to a programme lead, a member of the leadership team, or directly to Ali Conn (CEO) at aliconn@quest-africa.com.

All reports will be treated seriously, handled with discretion and investigated promptly and fairly. No one will be penalised for raising a concern in good faith, even if the concern turns out to be unfounded.

Responsibilities

Leadership
Leadership is responsible for setting the tone, allocating resources where needed and ensuring this policy is reviewed and applied consistently across all programmes and locations.

Facilitators and Staff
Facilitators and staff are responsible for modelling respectful behaviour, intervening when they witness exclusion or discrimination, and creating group environments where every participant can take part fully.


Participants
Participants are expected to treat one another with respect, especially when working alongside people whose backgrounds, beliefs, or experiences differ from their own. This is part of what the Quest experience is designed to build.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if needed, to ensure it continues to reflect Quest Africa’s values, legal obligations and the realities of the communities we operate in.