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A: Most of our programs house volunteers 2 to 3 to a room, however some, such as our Costa Rica program have up to 6 per cabin; please call 1-877-588-4562 if you need more information about your specific program. Volunteers are usually divided by gender (or members traveling together), though the coordinator can work with you on room arrangements upon arrival. If available, you can pay an additional single supplement, though this is difficult to arrange in advance. Occasionally, due to group make-up, a volunteer may, by necessity be placed in a single room, in which case no supplement is required.
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A: Yes, you will always have free and easy access to clean and potable water.
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A: Globe Aware endeavors to provide accommodations that let volunteers live as a local citizen of their host country, to give volunteers a feel for the local culture. Living conditions, however, can vary greatly.
Accommodations are often rustic, in a safe and rural setting. Amenities can be expected to be relatively Spartan. They maybe in a dormitory, community center, private home, cottage, apartments or hotel. Volunteers will sometimes be places in private home stay
Meals are prepared by a local cook, and volunteers are welcome to participate and learn about cooking the local cuisine. You'll find ample fruits, vegetables and meats indigenous to the region. Volunteers may also choose to go to the market to shop as a local, and help with carrying back provisions.
Toilets
Toilets can range from everything to modern Western flushing toilets to squatter toilets.
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A: In order to reserve a spot on a Globe Aware adventure, you will need to send a 50% deposit with your completed application. Your entire balance is due 70 days prior to the start date of the adventure of your choice. We accept most major credit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard), money order and personal check.
Refund/Cancellation/Transfer Policy
Take care in choosing your program location and dates. If your plans change, you can cancel. You will get a 100% refund, less a non refundable $500 of the deposit, if you cancel at least 70 days prior to the program's start date. After 70 days, it costs us to replace you because we have sent advances from your contributions to the community. You may elect to apply 100% of the deposit to another program if you transfer to another program within twelve months of the original program start date (no handling penalty or fee will be assessed), if we have not yet sent funds for field costs. If you would like to transfer a second time, there is an additional $150 change fee in addition to any difference in the minimum contribution fee. Other than this, the deposit is never refundable, unless Globe Aware has to cancel a program. In the rare and unlikely event that Globe Aware has to cancel a program, you will receive a 100% refund, including your deposit.
If you cancel 31 to 69 days prior to the program start date, you will receive a 60% refund of the balance of the minimum contribution fee. If you reschedule you receive no refund however, you will have one year from the original program date to apply the funds to another program. Again the deposit is not refundable.
If you cancel less than 30-7 days from the program start date, you will receive a 25% refund of the balance of the minimum contribution fee. Again the deposit is not refundable.
If you cancel less than 7 days from the program start date, you will receive no refund of the minimum contribution fee. By this time the money has been implemented into specific project for the program. Again the deposit is not refundable.
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A: The minimum contribution fee for your program covers the cost of your meals, accommodation, on-site travel (but not airfare), emergency medical evacuation, medical insurance, donations to the various community projects, your orientation package, volunteer coordination, program development, country manager expenses, community team recruitment, logistical support and project consultants.
For more information on this medical insurance coverage, click here.
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A: The majority of your additional expenses will be whatever transportation costs you incur in getting to the specified meeting point (which will be described to you in your orientation packet). To be clear, Globe Aware does not pay for your airfare. We can, however, help you with suggestions for your booking, should you require assistance. You may also have costs for your passport, visas, airport taxes, any side trips you decide to take, any expanded medical and travel insurance, excess baggage charges (if you bring more than your airline allows), alcoholic beverages, and personal items (such as film, email/phone charges, etc), and any souvenir purchases.
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A: Globe Aware is a public charity, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service; it is not a private foundation. Not only is your entire minimum contribution fee tax-deductible (to U.S. tax payers), but all other expenses related to your Globe Aware volunteer work are also tax-deductible (such as your airfare, trip cancellation insurance, and other such expenses). These expenses are tax deductible because as a volunteer you are doing the work of Globe Aware.
If you are unsure of your own personal limits on deductions related to your income, it is best to seek counsel from a professional tax advisor. The IRS allows deductions where "there is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation." This means that if you plan significant deviations before or after the Globe Aware program, you may need to seek professional counsel on portions that may not be deductible.
Electronic receipts are fine as your documentation as your charitable contribution (as of January 2003). For more information, please see: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1771.pdf
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A: The minimum contribution fee for your program covers not only the cost of your meals, accommodation, on-site travel (but not airfare), donations to the various community projects, your orientation package, volunteer coordination, program development, country manager expenses, community team recruitment, logistical support, medical emergency evacuation, medical insurance are included and project consultants. Your entire contribution is used to support Globe Aware sponsored programs and development. By spreading the costs across a number of our programs, Globe Aware is able to assist in projects that would otherwise not be able to exist. No funds are collected from any religious or political organization. Less than 12% of your program fee goes toward overhead and administration.
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- Category: faqs
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A: The minimum contribution fee for your program covers the cost of your meals, accommodation, on-site travel (but not airfare), emergency medical evacuation, medical insurance, donations to the various community projects, your orientation package, volunteer coordination, program development, country manager expenses, community team recruitment, logistical support and project consultants.
- Details
- Category: faqs
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A: The majority of your additional expenses will be whatever transportation costs you incur in getting to the specified meeting point (which will be described to you in your orientation packet). To be clear, Globe Aware does not pay for your airfare. We can, however, help you with suggestions for your booking, should you require assistance. You may also have costs for your passport, visas, airport taxes, any side trips you decide to take, any expanded medical and travel insurance, excess baggage charges (if you bring more than your airline allows), alcoholic beverages, and personal items (such as film, email/phone charges, etc), and any souvenir purchases.
