CouchSurfing - Ambassadors

What are CouchSurfing Ambassadors?

Ambassadors are CouchSurfing members who have applied for a special role within our community.

The role of the Ambassadors is to be of service to CouchSurfing members and to be of service to the global community. In their travels and when they are hosting, surfing, and meeting other members, they promote the values that embody 'the CouchSurfing spirit'. Each person has a differing view of what that spirit is, but it is certainly an open willingness to accept differences in culture, language and values. It is also to learn from them and impact other members with that same wanderlust and respect for the variety and diversity that are present throughout our world.

Ambassadors sometimes represent CouchSurfing in the geographic area of the world in which they live. Some of our Ambassadors are Nomads that wander the globe, spreading CouchSurfing's message to the reaches of the planet. There are also Ambassadors that represent entire nations or are global in nature. These are the senior statesmen of our Ambassador corps, and you can count on them for support and leadership. They are amazing, seasoned travelers, hosts, surfers, and amazing people that truly understand the mission of CouchSurfing.

Ambassadors are also volunteers who participate in discussions the help determine the vision and course of the organization.
Ambassadors perform many tasks essential for maintaining the website and the community, including responsibilities in other departments and or events.

What Ambassadors are NOT:

Emergency Responders - Call your local first responders if there is an emergency or threatening situation.
Police - We are not the local police. We cannot help you in times of danger and trauma. Use your local public officials.
The Safety Team - The safety team is responsible for looking into abuses and conflicts that include special situations. Use the CUQs for Safety issues. Safety is ultimately every members own responsibility. Know your situations and surf/host smart.
Third Party Warning - If you ask an Ambassador to report an issue, the safety team will NOT speak with them. They will only deal with the first person reporter. Do NOT ask an Ambassador to do this.

How can I become an Ambassador?

Your participation is fundamental to making this project grow, thrive, and continue to impact the world in positive ways! You can apply to become an Ambassador when you meet the requirements of the position. This process is managed by the Ambassador Support Team. This is a committee of seasoned Ambassadors that administers the process and makes selections from among the applicants. Just because a person meets the very basic requirements of the position, please know that not all candidates are accepted based on the meeting the core requirements alone. You should be willing and able to demonstrate your spirit (whatever that means to you) and also gain the recommendation of others that are experienced in the community through their vouches for you.

There is a common question about how many Ambassadors can there be in a City, etc. The answer is how ever many it takes! There is no real limit. Ambassadors love company and if you would like to help, all are welcome. An example might be Vienna, Austria. They have in the area of 7000 members there. How many Ambassadors can they use? A LOT! So, don't worry about that. Make a difference in members lives today!

When you have all these things together and are ready, the Ambassador application will be available right below this question. All Ambassadors must agree to the Ambassador Code of Conduct and meet the requirements explained at this page:

Apply to become an Ambassador

Applications for all types of Ambassadors is closed at this time. We will reopen applications for Ambassadorship as soon as we can.

How do Ambassadors differ from volunteers?

Not at all, actually! All Ambassadors are volunteers, but not all volunteers are Ambassadors. Any member with specific skills or desire to help is not required to become an Ambassador. They may instead apply to be a volunteer for one of our Expert Teams such as the Tech Team or Members Communication Team. A small number of volunteer teams are only open to Ambassadors.

You may wish to become an Ambassador if you want to help promote your 'CouchSurfing spirit' in your local community. You should become a volunteer if you have a specific skill that you can contribute to CouchSurfing but don't want the added responsibility of Ambassadorship. Becoming an Ambassador is not easy, and it takes a little while to get the right prerequisites. There are core requirements, education, mentoring and peer reviews along the way. It takes about a month from selection to fully train an Ambassador.

What are the different types of Ambassadorship?

Please see the types of Ambassadorship page for a complete explanation.

How are new Ambassadors selected?

New Ambassador applications from members are reviewed by the Ambassador Support Team, and specifically by the intake and selection team therein. The team makes sure that the applicants meet the requirements listed on the Levels of Ambassadorship page and that the applicants are prepared for their new roles. Ambassadors are selected based on objective as well as subjective requirements. There is also a process of peer review by fellow Ambassadors and an internship period that new Ambassadors participate in.

Here is the process:

1. Applications are accepted. A member completes the application.

2. The application is reviewed by the intake and selection team of the AMT. The objective requirements are checked and the subjective comments are considered.

3. If the applicant meets the objective part and the subjective part is in tune with the vision, mission and strategy of the team, the applicant is assigned a mentor from within the Ambassadors Mentor Team.

4. The mentor asks the peer group of the applicant about the nature of their service to the community. This peer review is a act of respect for our existing Ambassadors and an opportunity for them to have a voice in creating the team that best reflects the needs of the community that they serve. It is only fair that the people that you will be working closely with know you and understand your motivations.

5. The mentor then acts as a guide and coach for 30 days. This is an internship. In this 30 days, the applicant will complete an educational process, some open book tests, and also be able to 'try on' the position. This ensures that the new Ambassador is well trained and happy and comfortable in their role. This also makes sure that we do not send new Ambassadors out into the world with a big heart and an empty head!

6. Once the training is complete, the 30 day internship is fulfilled. The mentor recommends them and they are awarded an appointment as a certified CS Ambassador! The mentor will also follow them for an additional 30 days to answer questions, and complete the teaching cycle.

Are Ambassadors periodically reviewed?

All Ambassadors will have reviews to ensure that they are committed and responsible team members. The review process is carried out under the guidance of the Ambassador Support Team.

What are the expectations for an Ambassador?

All Ambassadors must agree to the Ambassador Code of Conduct. This includes maintaining positive references.

What is the Ambassador Support Team and who are they?

The Ambassador Support Team consists of many Ambassadors from all types and one member of the Leadership Team (The Ambassador Support Coordinator). This team is responsible for reviewing new Ambassador applications, reviews of sitting Ambassadors, communications and training. For more information about the team and policies for fairness and accountability, visit the Ambassador Support Team public group.

The Ambassador Support Team is composed of many members. They are from all types of Ambassadors. Each person on the team plays a role in serving the greater Ambassador community. They sometimes have a great deal of work to complete in order to keep our programs running smoothly. They are all volunteers.

The team is composed of the following people at this time: Martine, Cintia, Riana, Daniel, Eli, Alain, Emmanuel, and Chris. The Ambassador Support Coordinator is gadget.

How do Ambassadors relate to the Leadership Team?

The Leadership Team is responsible for making decisions that set strategic direction of the organization and for oversight all of the volunteer teams. The Leadership Team relies on all the Ambassadors to be their voice and ear to the community. Ambassadors also participate in discussions the help determine the vision and course of the organization. In particular, Global Ambassadors perform this role because they are leaders of volunteer teams. The Leadership Team member that is specifically tasked with handling the Ambassador program is the Ambassador Support Coordinator.