Shamsaha Self-Paced E-Learning Course
Terms of Use


Last updated: June 12, 2023


By purchasing any Shamsaha training, you confirm that you are 21 years of age, a woman, and mentally and emotionally fit to attend women’s crisis advocacy training.

When attending any Shamsaha training, including participating in a course discussion board or Community, you are agreeing to be bound by these Terms of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws.

All trainees must complete the self-paced training material before joining the live sessions on Zoom. All trainees must use their webcam at all times while attending the live sessions.

Shamsaha reserves the right to remove any trainees from the course if the aforementioned policies and conditions are violated. The course fee will not be refunded.

In order to become a certified volunteer women's advocate, you have to be a woman, 21 years of age, and complete Shamsaha's Women's Advocacy Certification. 

If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this platform are protected by applicable copyright and trademark law.

  1. Payment

Payment for classes may be done on-line through Thinkific. Order confirmation will be received within 24 hours.

  1. Refunds

Refunds can only be granted for cancellation requests received no more than 1 business day after purchase and as long as the course has not already been completed. Please contact [email protected] to submit your requests for refunds/cancellations. You must include the email used to complete the purchase.

  1. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach these terms and conditions.

Upon termination, your right to use the service will cease immediately.

  1. Content 

  1. Availability Period

Self-paced courses are available online from the course’s launch date or the date of purchase. The course content remains available even if the course is marked as completed. You must complete all self-paced modules for the live Zoom sessions to become available to you.

  1. Your Right to Post Content

Our service allows you to post content. You are responsible for the content that you post on any of Shamsaha’s platforms, including its legality, reliability, and appropriateness.

By posting content, you grant us the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such content on and through our platforms. You retain any and all of your rights to any content you submit, post, or display on or through our platforms and you are responsible for protecting those rights. You agree that this license includes the right for us to make your content available to other users of the platforms, who may also use your content subject to these Terms.

You represent and warrant that: (i) the Content is yours (you own it) or you have the right to use it and grant us the rights and license as provided in these Terms, and (ii) the posting of your Content on or through the Service does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights of any person.

  1. Content Restrictions

Shamsaha is not responsible for the content of the users. You expressly understand and agree that you are solely responsible for the content and for all activity that occurs under your account, whether done so by you or any third person using your account.

You may not transmit any content that is unlawful, offensive, upsetting, intended to disgust, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Examples of such objectionable content include but are not limited to, the following:

Shamsaha reserves the right, but not the obligation, to, in its sole discretion, determine whether or not any content is appropriate and complies with these terms, refuse or remove this content. Shamsaha further reserves the right to make formatting and edits and change the manner of any content. Shamsaha can also limit or revoke the use of the platform if you post such objectionable content. As we cannot control all content posted by users and/or third parties on the platform, you agree to useit at your own risk. You understand that by using it, you may be exposed to content that you may find offensive, indecent, incorrect or objectionable, and you agree that under no circumstances will Shamsaha be liable in any way for any content, including any errors or omissions in any content, or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of your use of any content.


  1. Intellectual Property

The training materials provided or developed by Shamsaha in connection with the training services are subject to intellectual property rights. The training materials are provided for individual use by participants in the form in which they are provided. Most materials may not be copied, modified, distributed to non-participants or used to provide training to others without the prior written consent of Shamsaha. 

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. It is our policy to respond to any claim that content posted on the training platform infringes a copyright or other intellectual property infringement of any person. Where others’ work was used, appropriate credit was given to the owners.

If you are a copyright owner, or authorized on behalf of one, and you believe that the copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement that is taking place through the platform, you must submit your notice in writing to the attention of our copyright agent via email at [email protected] and include in your notice a detailed description of the alleged infringement.

You may be held accountable for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees) for misrepresenting that any content is infringing your copyright.

The platform and its original content (excluding content provided by you or other users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of the company and its licensors.

This platform is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the country and foreign countries.

Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of Shamsaha.

  1. Confidentiality Agreement

I am an advocate in training of Shamsaha and as per this role, I understand that any information (written, verbal or other) obtained during my training or the performance of my duties at Shamsaha must remain confidential. This includes all information about members, clients, families, employees, and other associate organizations, as well as any other information otherwise marked or known to be confidential.

I understand that any unauthorized release or carelessness in the handling of this confidential information is considered a breach of the duty to maintain confidentiality. I further understand that any breach of the duty to maintain confidentiality could be grounds for immediate dismissal and/or possible liability in any legal action arising from such breach.

Following the completion of your training and becoming a volunteer crisis advocate:

I further understand that I, as a Shamsaha advocate, volunteer or staff, am permitted to provide advocacy services to a survivor of abuse (upon the completion of my training) of whom I have personal knowledge,  or with whom I am personally acquainted, but that I will never speak of it again to her or anyone known to her, outside of the advocacy setting. I further guarantee to maintain full objectivity when providing advocacy with her and if I cannot I will voluntarily and immediately recuse myself from her case.

As a Shamsaha advocate, volunteer or staff, however, I will immediately recuse myself from a case if it becomes clear that I have personal knowledge of or am personally acquainted with the perpetrator of abuse. I understand that I am not permitted to provide advocacy services for women who have, or who have claimed to have experience abuse perpetrated by anyone who is known to me. If the perpetrator of abuse is known to me, but only in a very peripheral way, I will defer to my on-call partner and/or supervisor and allow them to make the final decision about my continued involvement in the case.

I will adhere, fully, to their decision and I understand that their decision is fair and binding.

  1. Client Recusal Policy

All advocates, staff, and volunteers understand and agree to the following. In the event that the Shamsaha representative has a personal and/or familiar relationship with a Shamsaha client, if the representative, as well as the client, feel there are no problems with proceeding, then the representative shall be permitted to continue in their role as a Shamsaha advocate, volunteer or staff in working with that client.

However, in the event that the Shamsaha representative has a personal/familiar relationship with the perpetrator of violence against the relevant client, the Shamsaha advocate, volunteer, or staff will immediately recuse themselves, and refer the client to either another advocate, the manager on duty, or the caseworker.

  1. Social Media Policy

This policy is subject to change and modification as the need arises, given the relatively new phenomenon of social media presence and growth. The social media platform is growing and expanding every day. As we can not anticipate all of the potential problems and challenges that arise, we commit to continuously monitoring the situation and growing our response mechanisms as needed. 

  1. Ownership

All internet posts representing Shamsaha will be posted by Shamsaha Middle East. At no time is Shamsaha to be represented online by a private/personally owned account.

Shamsaha Middle East and any Shamsaha-associated groups will be administered and maintained by duly appointed Public Relations/Social Media Assistant(s).

  1. Protecting Shamsaha Content

All content shared via official Shamsaha accounts is owned solely by Shamsaha and shall not be owned by any one individual. 

  1. Protecting the Privacy of Our Advocates

Protecting the privacy of our advocate volunteers is of utmost importance to Shamsaha, primarily for personal safety. As such, no volunteer shall identify themselves as a women’s advocate in any form of social media when related to any client/potential client posts about abuse/violence.

 

It is the responsibility of Shamsaha PR/Social media assistants to follow and respond within 24 hours to any incident where an outside person tags a Shamsaha-affiliated individual’s personal account on the internet in any social media medium. Although Shamsaha cannot control and ensure compliance with these policies by other outside organizations, all efforts shall be made to remove personal tags via email, phone and social requests and follow up if/when related to any client/potential client posts about abuse/violence.

  1. Protecting the privacy of our clients

Client confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of Shamsaha. As such, client information shall never under any circumstances be shared in any form of social media. This includes names, ages, forms of abuse, circumstances, nationality, etc.

 

  1. Non-political clause

Shamsaha shall avoid making political statements. As such, no volunteer or employee of Shamsaha shall infer our organization’s support of any single political ideal or organization. No Shamsaha member or affiliate shall represent Shamsaha at any political function.

 

  1. Following Bahraini Law

All social media content shall be in accordance with Bahraini law at all times, and US law when applicable.

  1. Photo Release

I hereby authorize Shamsaha to publish photographs taken of me during my time in training or at events as a volunteer, staff, or community member and my name and likeness, for use in Shamsaha's print, online and video-based marketing materials, as well as other Shamsaha publications.

I hereby release and hold harmless Shamsaha from any reasonable expectation of privacy or confidentiality associated with the images specified above.

I further acknowledge that my participation is voluntary and that I will not receive financial compensation of any type associated with the taking or publication of these photographs or participation in company marketing materials or other Shamsaha publications. I acknowledge and agree that the publication of said photos confers no rights of ownership or royalties whatsoever.

I hereby release Shamsaha, its volunteers, its employees, its contractors and any third parties involved in the creation or publication of marketing materials, from liability for any claims by me or any third party in connection with my participation.

 

  1. Volunteer Availability Policy


 

  1. Suicide & Homicide Policy

Shamsaha recognizes that victims of sexual abuse and domestic abuse can experience depression and post-traumatic stress, which may lead to victims having suicidal or homicidal thoughts. We further acknowledge the role that Shamsaha plays in providing an environment that is sensitive to those at risk for suicide or homicide. Consequently, Shamsaha recognizes the moral and ethical responsibilities to provide appropriate referrals to callers and clients who may be at risk for suicide or homicide.

 

While Shamsaha may recognize clients at risk of suicide or homicide, it is not within our mandate to provide the necessary in-depth clinical assessment and psychotherapy necessary for these particular clients. The role of Shamsaha in dealing with clients at risk for suicide is to identify and refer them for treatment, and if they are at serious risk for homicide Shamsaha shall notify the appropriate authorities.

Therefore, at any time if a Shamsaha client expresses any suicidal or homicidal thoughts or tendencies or verbally expresses any intention or desire to commit suicide or homicide of any kind, all Shamsaha staff and volunteers shall:

 Make the following statement to the client without exception:

  1. “It sounds like you are experiencing very intense emotions at the moment which might lead to you to harm yourself/someone else. It is my duty to inform you that as a crisis advocate, I am not qualified to help you through this situation. Please go immediately to see a doctor at a government hospital or clinic.

  2. In cases where a suicidal or homicidal plan has already been partially carried out i.e. pills taken or victim poisoned etc. All Shamsaha staff or volunteers shall try to obtain a physical address for the client and subsequently contact emergency services. If the client is not willing to provide an address, provide her with the emergency service number and strongly suggest she contact them, and then still contact the appropriate authorities.

  3. In either case – notify the MOD and include this in your report.

Comments a survivor might make to raise concerns:

  1. Self-Care Policy

Shamsaha holds each of our volunteers in high regard. We believe that the more supported a volunteer feels in their work, the more supportive they can be to clients. To achieve this we provide a support manager on duty for every shift a volunteer takes as well as post-shift debriefing and monthly team meetings.

 While Shamsaha endeavors to maintain a supportive environment for our volunteers it does however, remain the volunteer’s personal responsibility to ensure that they are also taking care of their own physical, emotional, and mental health throughout the period of their volunteer service. Should a volunteer at any time feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or traumatized by their commitment to Shamsaha, it is up to the advocate to notify the Shamsaha case coordinator of their need for extra support.

 

Should a volunteer feel that their self-care needs exceed the support Shamsaha can offer, it is up to the advocate to seek outside assistance, take a break from their advocacy commitment or resign completely according to their own best interests. 

  1. Release of Liability

This agreement releases Shamsaha from all liability relating to injuries that may occur during paid, or voluntary work, or visits to the Shamsaha office in Harbour Gate, BFH, Manama Bahrain, or at any other location in which Shamsaha is conducting activities.

By signing this agreement, I agree to hold Shamsaha entirely free from any liability, including financial responsibility for injuries sustained, regardless of how the injuries occurred.

I also acknowledge that there are risks involved with the activities of Shamsaha in Bahrain and the Middle East. These include but are not limited to physical, emotional, psychological, and financial harm.

I swear that I am participating voluntarily and that all risks have been made clear to me.

Additionally, I do not have any conditions that will increase my likelihood of experiencing injuries or illnesses while engaging in activities associated with Shamsaha.

By signing below I forfeit all rights to bring a suit against Shamsaha in Bahrain, in the USA, or in any other country/location for any reason.

I will make every effort to obey standard safety procedures. I will ask for any necessary help or clarification when needed. 

  1. Code of Conduct Agreement

  1. Ethics

Shamsaha always conducts our own services honestly and honorably. Our advice, strategic assistance and the methods imparted through our training, take proper account of ethical considerations, together with the protection and enhancement of the moral position of our clients and communities.

  1. Duty of care

Our actions and services will always conform to relevant law, and we believe that all organizations with which we collaborate should avoid causing any adverse effect on the dignity of people in the organizations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large.

  1. Conflict of interest

Due to the sensitive nature of our services, we will not services to anyone with whom we do not feel we can maintain objectivity, fairness, and confidentiality.

  1. Fees

Shamsaha volunteer will never charge for their services to clients whom they serve. Any attempt to charge a fee for these services will result in immediate termination as a volunteer.

  1. Intellectual property and moral rights

Shamsaha retains the moral rights in, and ownership of, all intellectual property that we create unless agreed otherwise in advance with our clients. In return, we respect the moral and intellectual copyright vested in our clients' intellectual property.

  1. Quality assurance

Shamsaha maintains the quality of what we do through constant ongoing review with our clients, of all aims, activities, outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness of every activity. We encourage regular review meetings and provide regular progress reports.

  1. Professional conduct

Shamsaha conducts all of our activities professionally and with dignity and integrity. We take great care to be completely objective in our advocacy services so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of our clients.

  1. Equality and discrimination

Shamsaha always strives to be fair and objective in our services and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions, or recommendations by issues of gender, race, creed, color, age, personal disability, employment, immigration status, or sexual orientation. 

  1.  Advocate Disciplinary & Consequences

Violation Type A

Gross Violation of Shamsaha Policies, resulting in immediate dismissal of a volunteer from Shamsaha’s roster:

Violation Type B

Violation of standard Shamsaha organization policies, resulting in one written or verbal warning by management before dismissal:

Violation Type C

Violation of Shamsaha protocols and ideals, resulting in up to three written or verbal warnings before dismissal:

  1. Changes to Terms of Use

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these terms at any time. If a revision is material we will make reasonable efforts to provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.

By continuing to access or use our platform after those revisions become effective, You agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, in whole or in part, please stop using the website and the training platform.

  1. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, You can contact us:

By email: [email protected]