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A: Please be aware that if you or any of your travel companions contract COVID-19 during your volunteer vacation, you may be unable to participate in work projects or cultural activities to protect the health and safety of other participants. We strongly recommend considering trip cancellation insurance to cover any potential disruptions due to illness, which may provide compensation for missed activities or other related expenses.
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A: As soon as possible! Not only will this give you plenty of time to make sure your passports, visas, and such are in order, but the trips can fill up fast! Most volunteers have a better shot of getting the program of their choice when they book 6 months in advance.
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A: As soon as possible! Not only will this give you plenty of time to make sure your passports, visas, and such are in order, but the trips can fill up fast! Most volunteers have a better shot of getting the program of their choice when they book 6 months in advance.
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Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and measures we are taking to keep our Globe Aware community healthy and safe
Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and measures we are taking to keep our Globe Aware community healthy and safety
As you undoubtedly know, the coronavirus COVID-19 is current pandemic impacting the whole globe. At Globe Aware, the safety and security of our community and volunteers has always been our top priority. Since the outbreak began, we have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely including the travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department and information updates issued by the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. and the World Health Organization in Switzerland.
The State Dept has issued an alert recommending against any international travel. This spring, many borders are closed or closing. There is no known end date for these alerts, and the situation is rapidly changing. This situation is SERIOUS but it is also TEMPORARY. Authorities during this pandemic call for social distancing, enhanced precautions worldwide, and for travelers to avoid contact with sick people, monitor health for fever and cough,and be vigilant about hand washing. As of March 2020 there are far more confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States than in any of the countries where we operate, other than China, where have currently suspended our China program. This is clearly an evolving situation and we will continue to watch closely. If there is a need to make any changes to our programs or itineraries, we will certainly communicate with you immediately. The safety and health of your children is obviously our first concern.
The majority of cases are considered mild, those 70 and older and particularly those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are considered at higher risk. Very few children have been effected.
The State Department, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have issued regular updates to increase public awareness about lowering the potential risk of spreading the virus. The CDC, WHO, and U.S. Department of State have provided specific advice for international travel, enhanced entry screening procedures at airports nationwide, and detailed guidance to help minimize the spread of the virus in the general public.
Globe Aware, like the airlines, follows the lead of the CDC and State Department recommendations.
The World Health organization has declared this is a pandemic effecting the globe, so whether you are traveling or not, the CDC recommends that Americans:
- Avoid sick people
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands
- Wash your hands often
Globe Aware’s group insurance policy with Axis addresses the medical care of anyone who might become sick, and would attempt a medical evacuation if medically mandated. For those concerned about trip cancellation/trip interruption, additional coverage can be secured through a variety of sources, including, but not limited to: Nationwide Prime and HTH Gold. In these latter examples, they offer cancellation coverage such that in the case the CDC issues a travel warning to your destination country or region during your trip. Note that in order to be eligible to purchase trip interruption or quarantine coverage, you must also purchase trip cancellation coverage. A good source you can use to evaluate options is: www.squaremouth.com
In view of this we are for the time being making a temporary exception to our cancellation and rebooking policy so that you can be free to postpone your program at any time up until 19 days prior to the planned program start date, without incurring any cancellation fees. You will be issued a credit for future programs valid for 24 months, which can be used on any of our programs. This temporary exception to our standard cancellation policy is applicable for all volunteers who currently have registered and for all new reservations made through June 30, 2020. After this window, your supplies and food have already been purchased on location, accommodations will not reissue credit, therefore rebooking credit will entail deduction of $375 of the program fee.
The process to receive this temporary exception to our cancellation/rebooking policy is as follows:
Notify your intent to postpone by sending an email to office@globeaware.com notifying your original program date and intent to cancel. If you do not receive reply within 24 hours of a business day, call 214-824-4562 to ensure you have received email notification acknowledging receipt of your cancellation.
We hope you will choose to join us as planned. We will continue to update you on any changes in itineraries or circumstance that may be relevant. In the meantime, we hope that this temporary exception to our policy will help put your mind to ease.
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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 deposit of $500 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 30-19 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 18 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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You can apply them towards your airfare, however a 4% credit card processing fee will be removed from this. Please call us at 877-588-4562. You will need to furnish the receipt for your airfare. Funds raised above and beyond the program fee and airfare are applied directly to the program itself and are not returned to the volunteer.
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A: We accept volunteers from all over the world. In addition to US Charity status, Globe Aware Adventures in Service is also a Canadian Charitable Organization, with Business number: 80827 6414 RR0001. Your program contribution is tax-deductible in Canada to the full extent of the law. Click here on more information that may help guide you, though it is usually best to consult your tax advisor for further specifics.
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A: You're already giving a lot by participating, as your funds go toward direct contributions to the community. The communities are so grateful for that, and so you should feel under no obligation whatsoever to contribute more. But some ask how they can give more.
Globe Aware administers many donations to our needy communities, as we are regulated by the US Treasury Department. We have a direct, sponsored wire transfer account established because of our 501 c 3 nonprofit status. It still costs us a monthly fee to send money, but it is a flat fee, so additional donations do not cost the communities extra money. The sad reality is that it costs the sender money to send, and it often costs even more for the recipient to receive. This is a fact usually found out *after* you try and send money. So from the perspective of mitigating transaction costs, it is free to send via Globe Aware. It also allows your donation to be tax deductible.
CASH: If you are going on a program, you can also just give cash to those locals administering projects upon arrival (though it won't be tax deductible unless you go via Globe Aware). The other thing you can do is wait till you get there and see all the needy places, and give money directly to them or purchase what will help them become more self sufficient. Again, not tax deductible, but easy, and you can choose where it goes. We do not want to encourage begging, so we think the purchase of sewing equipment, for example, is better than giving cash to a hungry seamstress. Or employ him or her to make you a sweater.
Most international communities have difficulty receiving money (as you may say in your research, wiring money is extremely expensive – up to 20% cost of what you're wiring). In addition, any donations directly to the communities are generally not considered tax deductible. You have to give them to a US based nonprofit that partners with them in order for such funds to be tax deductible. You can mail a check, but it takes one month and a variable $100 fee for an international check to be cashed by the communities, so the communities generally do not prefer such donations. Again, its easiest and cheapest, and tax deductible, if you go via Globe Aware.
GOODS: Upon registration, you receive an orientation which lists some of the items the community needs. For example, kids often need shoes or learning supplies. Its good to check here so you can see if they are items that are truly needed.
GETTING DONATIONS TO THE COMMUNITIES: This is tricky. You'd think there would be lots of services willing to give free shipping for donations to needy communities. Surely the airlines? Shipping companies? Postal carriers? Nope, that would be an administrative nightmare for them. There are a few such possibilities, but generally they work like applying for a grant or scholarship. You fill out enormous paperwork, then wait months fro approval, then find a customs officer and rep willing to receive items for you, then fill out return reports, etc.
Shipping overland or sea is *expensive.* Almost always, the cost of shipping donated items exceeds the value of the underlying goods being shipped. If you spend, for example, $300 to ship a used computer worth $350, you'd be much, much better off just using the $300 to buy the computer in the destination country.
What we have found to be the least expensive way to get donated goods to the needy communities is for volunteers to carry them in their checked bags. The airlines generally allow each passenger to have 2 bags checked, and one carryon. We suggest volunteers use one of the bags for donated items. Of course you still have to follow airline regulations in what can be carried. It should go without saying that weapons and drugs (even medications such as aspirin) are no-no's. If you are not going on a program, we can ask volunteers in your area if they'd be willing to carry donations for you, but then they have to pack the bag themselves so they can answer customs questions appropriately.
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A: You will have ample time on weekends and in evenings, and on one day during the week to relax and explore.
Discounts/Groups/Custom Trips
Previous Globe Aware adventurers get a 10% discount. Customized trips can be created for any given group as long as the focus is in line with the general principles of Globe Aware.
