Whether you’re here for a day, a year, or more, your participation matters. Every moment of effort, every conversation, helps build a more connected, collaborative world.

Acquaint is for anyone, anywhere who believes human connection can make the world better. As an Acquaint volunteer, you’ll take part in a series of 1-on-1 conversations with people from all over the globe. These conversations are structured, intentional, and designed to encourage meaningful discussions built on curiosity and kindness.

Why Acquaint?

Because solving the world’s biggest problems starts with building our capacity to communicate, meaningfully connect, and collaborate.

How does it work?

Virtual, audio-only, non-transactional conversations with fellow volunteers from 110+ countries.

What’s in it for you?

Becoming an Acquainter is a chance to learn, strengthen your communication skills (one of the most valuable tools in any career), and practice the kind of connection that improves every relationship for the rest of your life, all while giving your conversation partners the opportunity to do the same.

Important Requirements

• Conversational English (B1 level, many volunteers are practicing English)
• Internet connection that can hold an audio connection.
• Respect for diverse backgrounds, perspectives, accents, personalities, etc.

Volunteering Steps: A Brief Overview

1. Step One: Account Creation and Onboarding

   Let’s get you set up on Acquaint’s platform:

   1. Create and log in to your account by navigating in your web browser to acquaint.org/sign_up_today if you haven’t done so already.
   2. Once logged in, fill out your profile.
   3. If you haven’t done so already, either watch this recorded onboarding video or sign up for a live onboarding via one of the following links:
      1. Live onboarding 1 (For Africa, Europe, Asia timezones)
      2. Live onboarding 2 (For Americas, Oceania, and East Asia timezones)
   4. Then, complete the quiz after you finish reading this handbook.

2. Step Two: Connect for 1-on-1 Acquaint Sessions

   Congratulations, you’re ready to start connecting with fellow Acquainters! Here’s what’s next:

   1. Ensure you are logged in to acquaint.org/home.
   2. Enter your availability to volunteer on the calendar.
   3. We’ll send you an email once we match you to a session partner, plus a reminder 24 hours before your session.
   4. Connect at your scheduled time by returning to the home page and clicking “join session.” This button appears 10 minutes before the start time.

3. Step Three: Reflect, Appreciate, and Share Acquaint (Optional)

   Every Acquaint conversation plants a seed – here are some ways you can help it grow!

   Here are a few ways to keep the impact going, even after your session ends:

   • Write a note of appreciation to your session partner. It takes just a minute, and it can mean the world. (We’ll show you how later in this handbook!)
   • Join a group get-together on Zoom. These take place a few times per year. You’ll connect with other volunteers, reflect on what you’ve learned, and share stories in breakout rooms.
   • Spread the word. Know a school, company, NGO, media outlet, or government institution that should hear about Acquaint? Send them a letter or email! You can start with these templates and make them your own.
   • Make a donation. Acquaint is powered by volunteers, supported by community, and fueled by generosity. Every little bit helps. Donate to Acquaint.

   Whether you write a note or a letter, show up to a call, or simply share what this meant to you, you’re part of something bigger.

   

How to Schedule Your Volunteer Sessions

Volunteering is based on your schedule. All 1-on-1 conversations take place on acquaint.org (not a 3rd party app like Zoom). This section will cover details about how this process works.

Entering Availability

Once you’ve read this handbook and completed the quiz, you’re ready to enter your availability, your first step toward connecting with other volunteers. This is similar to offering times you are available to meet – you won’t get paired for every slot you enter, but the more options you give us, the easier it is to match you.

“Welcome sessions” first!

Your first two sessions will be welcome sessions. Whenever possible, we’ll pair you with a more experienced volunteer who can help introduce you to the platform — though depending on how many people are joining at the same time, you may instead be paired with another new volunteer. Either way, you’ll have a set of slides and icebreakers to go through together, including a review of Acquaint’s guidelines and suggestions for getting the most out of your sessions. If your partner is an experienced volunteer, we encourage you to ask them about their time volunteering with Acquaint. To help us schedule your welcome sessions quickly, please enter at least 3 time slots per week.

After you complete your two welcome sessions, scheduling becomes easier. We recommend entering at least 3 time slots per week to be paired for at least 1 session. Most people get matched for about half the times they enter.

A few things to know:

• We won’t pair you with less than 24 hours’ notice.
• Can’t make a session? It’s okay, but we ask that you cancel through the website as soon as you can. Please note that frequent cancellations may result in fewer scheduled sessions.
• Try your best to attend your welcome sessions. If you miss one, it may take a while to reschedule. We prioritize getting new volunteers matched for their first session, so welcome session slots can fill up fast!
• Make sure your “max sessions per week” is set to at least 1 in your profile: acquaint.org/my_profile. You can adjust this number at any time.
• All time slots are shown in your local time.

Entering your availability is like opening the door to connection, one click at a time. Check out the following video to see how it works:

Joining Your Session

Once you’ve been scheduled, it’s time to show up, and open the door to a real conversation.

Here’s how it works:

1. Find a quiet place you won’t be distracted – Please ensure you can give your session partner your complete attention – loud background noise can make the session difficult.
2. Log in at acquaint.org/home.
3. Click “Join Session.” This button appears about 10 minutes before your scheduled time. You may need to refresh the page to see it if you arrived early. It will ask you to complete a device test to ensure your audio and connection speed is working.
4. Click either the “I’m ready” or “Connect audio” button when they appear.
5. Begin your conversation with your session partner. Try to have the most meaningful and interesting conversation you can. You’ll be matched as either a guide or a traveler (see details below).
6. Please reserve at least 60 minutes for each session. They tend to last 45–60 minutes but can be longer.

Guide vs. Traveler

At the start of each session, you’ll be randomly assigned one of two roles: guide or traveler. These roles are just simple ways to help spark the conversation, especially if you’re not sure where to start.

These roles offer simple guidance. You do not need to follow a script. You can always follow the conversation wherever it naturally flows. No matter your role, both of you share the same goal: to listen, share, and ask questions together.

Coverage/Backup Volunteers

Acquaint always tries to ensure everyone gets a session partner, but sometimes there’s an odd number of volunteers who show up. That’s where backup volunteers come in.

If you opt in to be part of our coverage/backup volunteer pool, we may assign you to fill in when someone else has to cancel. You’ll receive an email or calendar invite if you’re scheduled for a session as a backup. This helps ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to connect. If you’re available and open to helping out occasionally, signing up for backup is one of the most valuable ways to support your fellow Acquainters.

How to opt in:

• Go to your profile settings
• Check the box that says “Willing to do pre-scheduled coverage”

When you’re opted in:

• You’ll always get advance notice (at least 24 hours)
• You can still cancel if you’re not available, but try to let us know as early as you can

Notes About Tech

• If you’re in the session but there are tech issues, don’t give up too fast. Stay and try to troubleshoot for at least the first 20 minutes, especially if your partner is still trying too. Leaving early can mean they have no one to talk to.
• But… It’s okay to cancel if your internet is not working well. It’s better to cancel ahead of time than risk giving your partner a frustrating experience. You can try another time when your internet is working better.
• We’re here to help. A member of the Acquaint team is usually available to offer tech support during the first 30 minutes of your session.

Acquaint is built to include people from all over the world, and that means different devices, different connections, different challenges. What matters most is patience, effort, and care. Thank you for showing up with all three.

Write an Appreciation Note

At the end of your session, you’ll have the chance to write a short appreciation note to your partner. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it matters.

An appreciation note is just a few words about what stood out to you: something your partner said, a moment that made you reflect, or even just how it felt to connect. You don’t have to be poetic or profound. Just be yourself!

Not everyone writes appreciation notes, and that’s okay. But if you’re up for it, we encourage you to give it a try. Even a small message can have a big impact. You never know what your words might mean to someone else.

Time Commitment and Scheduling More Sessions

There’s no required time commitment to volunteer with Acquaint — you set the pace.

That said, we recommend aiming for at least 10 hours total. Not only does that earn you a certificate, it also gives you a fuller, more rewarding Acquaint experience. Many volunteers go well beyond that, and there’s no maximum if you want to keep going.

As long as you keep entering availability, we’ll keep pairing you for sessions. On average, you’ll be matched for about half the time slots you enter. So, if you offer 4 options in a week, we’ll aim to schedule you for 2 sessions. During weeks you are unable to volunteer, you can just skip setting your availability.

Tips and Guidelines on Acquaint Conversations

At the heart of Acquaint are the 1-on-1 conversations you’ll have with fellow volunteers around the world. The goal? Create a connection that feels meaningful, not necessarily because of what you talk about, but because of how you show up.

What makes a conversation impactful will look different for everyone. That’s why we focus more on mindset than specific topics.

In the sections that follow, you’ll find a snapshot of the Acquaint mindset and a few important guidelines to help you get the most out of your sessions, and help your partners do the same.

The Acquaint Mindset

As a volunteer, you’re now part of a global movement to practice and promote human connection. We call the people in this movement Acquainters—people who lean into curiosity, humility, and care in every interaction.

This is the mindset that unites us. Every Acquaint conversation has two goals. First: connect with someone you might never cross paths with otherwise, and learn from them – their culture, their perspective, their personality. Second: make the best effort you can to connect with the other person.

That means focusing on the quality of how we connect, and noticing the small (sometimes big) ways it changes us.

We often ask:

“If you could improve your relationships with friends, family, coworkers, even just a little… for the rest of your life… how valuable would that be to you?”

That’s what this is really about.

There are plenty of skills you can explore to get better at connecting like asking thoughtful questions or practicing active listening (Acquaint offers free mini-courses on these!). This mindset is to simply show up and do our best to connect.

To get the most out of it, here are a few qualities that make a real difference:

1. Humility: Be willing to notice your assumptions, and believe you can learn something from everyone. Be willing to give and receive kind, respectful feedback that helps us all improve.
2. Curiosity: Ask questions to understand and to learn.
3. Appreciation: Try to enjoy every conversation, no matter who it’s with. Practicing gratitude is a great way to foster joy and deepen connection. It makes conversations more fun and more meaningful.
4. Effort & Attention: Great conversations don’t happen by accident. Do your best to be present and engaged. That alone can direct the conversation in a positive way.
5. Listening: Try to share the time evenly with your partner. And when they’re speaking, pause your thoughts and really hear them. Consider what you’ve heard before thinking about your reply.

“Through Acquaint, I have learnt about the world in ways that go beyond textbooks or media. This understanding has not only broadened my perspective but has also helped me approach people with more empathy and openness. I have realised that I can talk to anyone, from anywhere in the world, and create a profound connection.”

If you’re trying to have more meaningful conversations, or stronger relationships in general, practicing these things will help. And that’s exactly what you’re doing here at Acquaint.

The Anyone, Anywhere Commitment

At Acquaint, we believe in the simple but powerful idea that anyone, anywhere can learn to connect across differences. Every session is a small act of that belief in practice — an opportunity to strengthen understanding, even when the conversation feels unfamiliar or challenging.

As volunteers, we approach each partner with openness rather than expectation. We don’t need to agree, or even naturally “click,” to have a meaningful exchange. What matters most is the effort to stay curious, kind, and present — to see each conversation as a chance to learn something new about connection itself.

Acquaint was built to be non-transactional. The purpose isn’t to select who we talk to or to seek a particular outcome, but to practice the art of connecting for its own sake. When we set aside preference or comfort, we make space for genuine understanding to emerge.

Boundaries are part of that practice. Respecting others also means respecting ourselves. We can listen openly while still recognizing when a line has been crossed. If something ever feels unsafe or inappropriate, it’s always right to step away and let the Acquaint team know. But when a conversation simply feels different, quiet, or difficult — that’s often where growth happens.

The Anyone, Anywhere Commitment reminds us that connection is a skill worth practicing — one that grows stronger through effort, reflection, and care. Every time you show up, you help build a world where everyone, everywhere, belongs a little more.

Community Guidelines

To help everyone have a safe and meaningful experience, here are a few things to keep in mind during your Acquaint sessions:

• Hard conversations can be meaningful and challenging.

  If you want to bring up something sensitive, like violent conflict, geopolitics, or deeply held values, check in with your session partner first. Some topics may be uncomfortable or even unsafe, depending on where your partner lives. Respect goes a long way.

• Sharing contact info is STRICTLY prohibited.

  We ask all volunteers to keep the focus on the conversation itself, not future connections, transactions, or networking. Not every connection continues, and that’s okay. The power is in the moment.

• No video, on purpose.

  Acquaint is audio-only. Many volunteers don’t have access to video-friendly internet, or they simply feel more at ease without being on camera. That’s part of what makes Acquaint accessible to people around the world.

• Safety matters.

  If you ever feel unsafe — due to hate, harassment, or anything else — leave the session and email us right away at support@acquaint.org. Also report things like pressure to share contact info, or someone pushing political, religious, or moral beliefs onto you.

• It is normal to feel a little uncomfortable.

  Different accents, personalities, and communication styles can take getting used to. Internet issues may pop up. It’s okay. Be patient with your partner and yourself. Use one of our optional icebreakers if you need a spark to get the conversation going. And remember: just slowing down and staying present can make all the difference.

Volunteering to Practice Communicating in English

Acquaint volunteers come from all over the world, and some join as a way to practice speaking English in real conversations.

While conversational English is required to participate, it’s totally normal for people to still be learning. Some volunteers speak English as a first language, while others are practicing it one conversation at a time.

That’s part of what makes Acquaint special, and it’s why patience, curiosity, and kindness matter so much. Accents, pauses, or language differences aren’t obstacles — they’re invitations to slow down and listen with care.

For Volunteers Under 18 and Parents/Guardians

If you are the parent or guardian of a volunteer under 18, thank you for supporting their interest in Acquaint. If you yourself are under 18, this section is also important for you.

Here’s what you should know:

• Volunteers must be 15 or older to create their own account or connect for sessions unsupervised.
• Volunteers under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult during sessions and cannot create an account using their name or email address.
• Sessions are audio-only and scheduled in advance.
• No personal contact information is shared.
• Volunteers are connected across all age groups.
• Volunteers must have conversational English skills.
• Volunteers are never required to continue if they feel uncomfortable.
• Volunteers must report any instances of abuse or violations of the community guidelines

Because sessions connect people from many different backgrounds and life experiences, your child may encounter viewpoints that differ from their own, and at times, perspectives they find challenging or even offensive. Some partners may also share difficult or personal stories related to conflict, discrimination, or hardship.

These moments are part of what makes this experience meaningful. They invite reflection, empathy, and maturity, and we’re here to support your child in navigating them.

“What have I learned? I’ve learned not to be cynical and to have hope. I have also learned that having an Acquaint conversation is an opportunity I can have everywhere. As I walk through my life, I try to take the opportunity to approach those who are different from me and ask about their experience.”

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out: support@acquaint.org

What’s Next…

Ready to get started?

Take the onboarding quiz You can always come back to this handbook if you need help with any of the answers.

Once you finish the quiz, you’ll be asked to set your availability. To get matched for your welcome sessions, please enter at least 2–3 time slots that work for you.

After that, keep an eye on your inbox. We’ll send you a scheduling email once you’ve been paired. It usually takes a few days, so thanks for your patience!

You’re Ready to Begin

You have finished reading the handbook. Now your experience with Acquaint is ready to begin. We thank you for embracing the simple (and sometimes brave) act of showing up for another human being. Every time you enter a session, you’re helping build a world that listens a little more, understands a little better, and cares a little deeper. That’s the quiet revolution we’re part of. One conversation at a time.

And if life gets busy and you’re unable to volunteer right now, you can still make a difference. Any donation, small or large, helps spark more of these powerful conversations around the world. Donate today.

We’re so glad you’re here. We’re excited to see your impact as an Acquainter!