Application Steps: Volunteer International Program of Central America Volunteer Abroad, a NO AGE LIMIT shortcut to happiness.

Transcription

1 Volunteer International Program of Central America Volunteer Abroad, a NO AGE LIMIT shortcut to happiness. Application Form for VIP Central America Application Steps: Step 1: Once VIP Central America receives your , we will reply back with answers to your questions. A formal application will be attached o you can download a formal application form from our website. Step 2: Complete the application form and submit it with a non-refundable US$300 application fee (Check/ Western Union money transfer/ Bank transaction). With the application fee VIP Central America guarantees placement and accommodation. Step 3: After receiving your application and $300 application fee, we will notify you immediately and your application will be processed. Please allow us 1-2 weeks to process your application, match your interest, and come up with the details of the program, arrangements for room and food, and answer your questions. Application fee is valid for three years, during this time you can participate in other VIP programs as you wish. Step 4: Once you get the confirmation of the program(s), your host family (or other arrangements of room and food), and local contact addresses, you should start preparing for travel and obtain all necessary documents (passport, visa) and immunization requirements. Step 5: Once you have purchased your ticket, please e- mail us an itinerary of you travel to our office. support with emergency backup from the Central American headquarter if necessary. Also you will need to pay full program fee before your arrival or during your briefing at the host country before starting your program. Please complete (write or type), type or sign your name, and or mail this application to the VIP office. El Salvador: Headquarters Address: Col. Cumbres de Cuscatlan, Calle Quetzalcoatl, Block U #2, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, El Salvador. vipapply@gmail.com You can type or write on the boxes below the questions asked. This Application Form can be filled on Microsoft Word. Payments by checks and money transfers should be sent by mail attached to the application form. Checks should be sent to Luis Alberto Molina Carballo to the address above. In the case of payments by Western Union money transfer and bank transactions, information of the person paying should be provided in the Payment Information case below. The terms and conditions are attached to the application form at the end of the form. Step 6: You will be met at the local airport or near station. From that moment onward, the VIP In-Country Coordinator will give you 24-hour in-country

2 Personal Details Last name First Name Home Address Mailing Address Phone (Home) of applicant Phone (Mobile) Date of Birth Sex Nationality Passport Number Emergency Contact Address (must complete name, relationship, address, and telephone number) Please Select your first and second project of choice (Please write or type) First priority project

3 First priority program Second priority program Program start date (please write month and year) 1) First Saturday of 2) Second Saturday of Lengths of stay in weeks (Please write or type) Additional Information Please explain your motivation for participating in Volunteer International Program of Central America Please explain your educational background and relevant experience Explain a time in your life when you had to go beyond your comfort zone

4 Are you in good health for traveling and volunteer work? Do you have any special diet? Please explain if you have any medical conditions If you have any concerns or questions please mention here How did you know about VIP Central America By signing of typing my name here, I acknowledge that I thoroughly read all Volunteer International Program of Central America terms and conditions. For my placement. I hereby agree on all the terms and conditions given by Volunteer International Program of Central America, including the organization s responsibilities, my responsibilities, my liability waiver, and the termination of my volunteer program. I understand everything that I have read, and I will fully abide by all Volunteer International Program of Central America s terms and conditions. Signature (type or write) Date Payment Information I would like to pay my program deposit of USD 300 by using (Payment options listed in step 2, provide detailed information of the person paying) Official Use Only Name: Placement: Departure Date: Nationality: Name of Placement:

5 Terms & Conditions 1. Interpretation 1.1 In this document, the following words shall have the following meanings: you and your means the volunteer who has entered into this contract by signing or typing this form. Where the volunteer is under 18 years of age this form must be signed by both the volunteer and a parent or legal guardian who are together referred to as you in this contract. In the case, that the volunteer is under 18 years of age, the application form must be submitted by scan and sent to vipapply@gmail.com after signing it. we, us and our means Volunteer International Program of Central America, Colonia Cumbres de Cuscatlan, Calle Quetzalcoatl, Block U #2, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, El Salvador. placement, and program means the voluntary work at the school, institution, organization or conservation project where you will be volunteering overseas and which you are placed, and organization includes the Directors, Managers, employees, representatives and such other people within their control at the school, organization or conservation project offering your placement. A combination of two or more placements is considered to be one placement. 2. What These Conditions Cover 2.1 This contract applies to all bookings made by you with us for a placement, after you have signed or typed this form, except where we specifically change any part of it in writing and notify you, but we may only do this up to the date of final written confirmation of your booking. 2.2 Please read this document carefully as this contract you is provided for your protection as well as ours. We set out in this contract the basis on which we will arrange a placement for you and our mutual obligations. By signing or typing this document you agree to be bound by its terms. If you are uncertain as to your rights under this contract, or you would like an explanation of any part of it, please contact us. You can also obtain your own legal advice on them, should you wish to do so. 3. The Service We Provide 3.1 The service which we provide to you, and for which you have to pay, is an introduction and arrangement service where we match your requirements for a placement with the existing volunteer placements of which various organizations have notified us. Because this organizations are in charge of the placements, we do not have any control over which placements are actually available. However, we research before your arrival for any spot at those organizations and we will submit to you the requirements necessary. Moreover, we don t have a discriminatory policy, so any volunteer can participate in our programs. 3.2 We will also arrange for you to receive from the placement you choose any necessary training that you request from us and that we consider relevant and necessary for your placement. 3.3 In addition, whilst you are on placement we also provide access to a placement coordinator who can liase with the voluntary organization responsible for your placement and give you assistance. More details about his are set out below. 4. Placement and Location 4.1 It is a condition of your booking with us that you are prepared to be flexible in relation to the location and to your placement within the country of your choice. Whilst we will try to place you in the placement requested on your application form, where it is not available, we reserve the right to find a suitable alternative at no extra charge and to change the location of your placement in consultation with you. If you are not happy with the alternative placement(s) offered, you do not have to go ahead. However, remember that the application is totally non-refundable. We encourage to pay the program fee after your arrival to the destination or after you have chosen and confirmed the availability of the program that you desire before your arrival. 4.2 In certain circumstances it may be necessary to move you from one placement to another, for example where the organization responsible for the placement decides they no longer need you. If this happens we will arrange transportation from your old placement to your new placement and will inform you of this change as soon as possible. However, in rare circumstances it may not be possible to inform you of the new location of your placement until up to 24 hours before your departure from your old placement. 4.3 Very occasionally the situation set out in Condition 4.2 may arise before you depart from your country of abode. In such circumstances, in consultation with you, we will endeavor to find you an alternative in the same country. If we cannot offer you and alternative placement in the same country, you do not have to go ahead. However, remember condition 4.1.

6 5. Accommodation 5.1 Details of what accommodation (if any) is provided as part of each placement are set out in the brochure, on the website or are available from your in-country coordinator. 5.2 An accommodation is always provided as part of a placement. This is part of the service of VIP Central America and it is your responsibility to organize and pay for your own accommodation for the duration of your placement, but we will help you with this. The accommodation expense is part of the program fee. 5.3 Any accommodation provided as part of a placement is intended for the use of the volunteer only, any visitors you may have during your stay, including family, are not allowed to use it; Unless the accommodator gives permission to do so. 5.4 In placement accommodation, your sleeping arrangements may be private or shared, and in most cases you will be required to share a bathroom and toilet facilities. 5.5 Due to the countries that the placements are located in, it is important for you to realize that bathroom and toilet facilities and standards of hygiene will meet with local standards and will usually be below your standards. 6. Food 6.1 Details of what meals are provided as part of each placement are set out in the brochure, on the website or are available from the in-country coordinator when you book. The organization responsible for your placement should give you at least two meals a day throughout your placement, which is usually the case, which will be of a suitable quality or quantity by local standards. In some cases you may want to supplement the meals provided with food that you buy yourself, particularly if you prefer your own diet, and may want to take some extra finances to cover this. 6.2 As part of the placement we will inform the organization responsible for your placement of any special dietary requirements which you let us know about. 6.3 For short term two weeks travels, the accommodation and food may be provided at a VIP- Central America designated locations only, however, this is only done in extreme rarely occasions. We are not responsible for food and accommodation costs at any other location. If you choose to spend time away form the accommodation provided during a two week travel, such as overnight trip you organize yourself, you do so at your own cost, and we cannot give you a refund for accommodation costs during the time spent away. 7. Travel 7.1 You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own travel (including your air fare) to the airport closest to your placement, and for your return journey at the end of your placement. 8. Expenses 8.1 You are responsible for all your personal expenses during your placement, which includes the cost of transport from your accommodation to your placement on a daily basis. We can obtain details of likely costs from the In-Country Coordinator for you if you ask us to do so before you travel. 8.2 Some organizations responsible for placements may chose to offer you a small allowance or payment, however this is entirely at their discretion and is not something over which we have any control or say. As a volunteer, you agree that you will not request any payment from the organization responsible for your placement. In the event that you are given any payment, you are responsible for paying any local taxes and making sure that you comply with any relevant local laws and comply with the terms of your visa. If you breach the terms of your visa by doing paid work which is not permitted, your placement could be cut short and you could be ejected from the country or even risk a fine or imprisonment abroad. For this reason we would recommend strongly against accepting any such payments unless you are sure that your visa covers you, and you do so entirely at your own risk. 9. Collection from the Airport 9.1 The In-Country Coordinator will be there waiting for you at the airport. We will not charge you for doing this. 9.2 We cannot absolutely guarantee that they will arrive on time or in very rare occasions at all as we are not in control of those representatives and circumstances may occur that are beyond their control dude to the nature of the infrastructure of the country you are visiting, such as vehicles breaking down, problems with transport and roads, extreme weather and so on. 9.3 If the representative has not arrived to collect you from the airport within four hours of the time you were due to be collected it is your responsibility to arrange your own transport to your placement, but

7 if you send us copies of receipts and other travel documents, we will refund your reasonable travel costs incurred in traveling from the airport to your placements. 9.4 Some time before the start of your placement, we will ask for your flight details which you must give to the In-Country Coordinator of your placement. This has to be done no later than a week before your arrival at the airport closest to your placement, failing which we will not be responsible for requesting your airport collection. 10. Travel Insurance 10.1If you take out your own insurance cover for the period of your placement, you are responsible for ensuring that the amount and type of cover is sufficient for the nature and location of your placement. You must provide us with a copy of your certificate of insurance at least a week before your arrival in the country of your placement If you choose to arrange your own insurance cover, you must ensure your travel insurance covers at least light work; the cost of cancellation of the placement by you; the cost of assistance including repatriation in the event of accident or illness; legal liability and expenses; lost baggage; cancelled flights; medical expenses; kidnapping; liability arising due to personal injury to you or a third party; cancellation of your placement for any other reason including our liquidation or any other reason beyond our control. 11. Visas IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please Read This Section Carefully 11.1We will provide you with information to assist you in obtaining visas to allow you entry into the country of your placements. 11.2Many countries unfortunately do not have visas specifically for volunteers. Work permits are often very difficult or impossible to obtain, particularly for the following countries: El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Accordingly many of our volunteers choose to enter the country of their placement on a tourist visa. Technically you may not be permitted to work in that country on a tourist visa, but it may be the only way that you are allowed into the country. Many countries are tolerant of volunteers who are present on tourist visas, and at the date of printing of this contract (May 2007) none of our volunteers had encountered any problems. 11.3However, there is no guarantee that this will remain the position in any particular country, an you should be aware that there is a risk that you could have problems with local immigration authorities, particularly if you are offered and accept any form of payment for your volunteered activities. This could also affect your insurance cover. 11.4You are entirely responsible for ensuring that you have obtained a visa which you are happy is appropriate for you in the circumstances explained above, and for the costs of obtaining such a visa In the event that your placement has to be cancelled due to the immigration authorities not accepting your visa, you are not entitled to any refund of any payments you have made to us, as we have clearly explained the risks to you in our brochure, in this contract, at each stage make it clear that you are responsible for making an informed decision and offering you an alternative. 12. Payment and booking 12.1Upon receipt of your initial application form from the brochure and your deposit, we will start to process you application. This is non-refundable, so, if you withdraw from the scheme; as we will have already incurred costs in processing your application and looking for a placement, we regret that we cannot refund your deposit as we need to cover our costs incurred on your behalf. 12.2We will send you written confirmation of your application, and your proposed placement; a financial schedule which sets out the details of the deposit that you have paid us and the balance of the program fee for arranging your desired placement We will inform you of the provisional location of your placement at least 1 week after your application form is submitted. You must then pay the balance of the program fee at least 1 week before your arrival or during your briefing at your placement. 12.4We will provide you with the final details of your placement no less than 7 days before your arrival at your placement. We cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy of this information as the organization responsible for your placement may very occasionally make minor changes to these details prior to your arrival without our knowledge. 12.5If you wish to make alterations to your placement once it has been confirmed, we will do our utmost to make the change, provided we receive your request in writing, and there is sufficient time to do so. There is a charge of $100 to cover our administration costs and we will notify you in advance of any charges which will be made to us by third parties in respect of these changes, and if you agree to proceed with making the alterations, you agree to pay these. 12.6Where we pass on the organization responsible for your placement any part of the program fee in respect of their expenses in connection with your placement, or where we pass on to a training

8 organization the cost of any pre-placement training you have requested, we are passing that money on as your intermediary or agent, and do so on your behalf. You are not buying the placement or the training from us. 13. Pre departure cancellation 13.1 If you cancel your placement more than 3 months prior to the commencement date of your placement, we will keep your deposit (application fee) to cover the costs we have incurred on your behalf in arranging your placement, plus you must pay to us the costs of any pre-placement training you have received, but you will not owe us any further fees If you cancel less than three months but more than two months prior to the date of your departure, you will be entitled to a refund of one half of the cost of your placement. 13.3If you cancel less than two months but more than one month prior ti the date of departure, you will be entitled to a refund of 25% of the cost of your placement. 13.4If you cancel less than one month prior to the date of your departure, you will not be entitled to any refund The reason for reducing the scale of refunds set out above is because we need to maintain good working relationship with the organizations offering placements to ensure that there are future placements available for other volunteers. We will need to try find a suitable replacement volunteer to carry out your cancelled placement, and less time left until the placement is due to start, the more expense and difficulty we will have in locating a suitable alternative volunteer, or alternatively we may decide to make a financial or other contribution to the relevant organization to compensate them and ensure their future goodwill. We want to let you know that we have not receive any case of complain since we do the best to suit your accommodation and placement the way you requested it. 14. Our obligations to you 14.1 We will arrange a local contact for your placement. You are responsible for trying to sort out any problems that may arise during your placement, however, in the event that you experience any difficulties, this person will be available and may be able to assist you with problems which may arise during your placement, and may also be able to provide practical help should you need to return to your country of abode before completion of your placement as a result of illness or another related personal reason (although you are financially responsible for the costs of this, either under your insurance policy or otherwise). 14.2The local contact may be either the In-Country Coordinator working on our behalf or an employee of the organization responsible for your placement. 14.3It is important to remember that your local contact will be available at limited times only and will be able to provide limited support. The nature of your placement is that you are able to show a high level of independence and initiative in dealing with problems yourself as they arise In the case of serious difficulties, you may contact us directly in El Salvador or through our vipapply@gmail.com 14.5We will take all reasonable steps to arrange a safe placement with a consistent level of work throughout, but as we do not have direct control over your placement we cannot guarantee your level of work, and you are responsible for taking every day common sense steps as an independent traveler to protect your safety on a day to day basis We commit that a representative will supervise your placement no less than 1 time a week. This is to gather any kind of information useful for you to have a pleasant stay. Also, the In-Country Coordinator will send you s in a regular basis in order to get feedback from you. If you wish to extend your stay and request transportation to the airport you may do so. Remember that each week has an standard cost which you will need to incur if you want to do so. The In-Country Coordinator may arrange trips on weekends or special holidays without any other incurred costs. However, other expenses will have to be incurred by the volunteer. 15. Your obligations to us 15.1 You must comply with any reasonable request by your placement. This may involve being transferred to a site in the locality provided that this would not place you in any danger and that the travel to the appropriate site is reasonable, or that suitable accommodation is provided. (You are responsible for any reasonable travel costs incurred in doing this.) 15.2You will not enter into any direct negotiations or contractual arrangement for employment during your placement. 15.3You will take care of and be responsible for any materials provided for your use by your placement. You are responsible for any damage or loss caused to such materials that you have caused.

9 15.4 You are responsible for any damage to your accommodation caused by you or any guests at your accommodation with your permission. 15.5You may not use any of the facilities at your placement (for example, a school s swimming pool or sports facilities) without the consent of the placement. 15.6You will dress appropriately for interviews and work. You will behave appropriately in accordance with locally accepted behavior and custom during your placement. We do not accept responsibility for failure to secure work or dismissal from such work due to inappropriate dress or behavior. 16. Travel Documentation 16.1it is your responsibility to ensure that you have a full and valid passport that will remain valid for the duration of your placement. 17. Inoculations & Medical Advice 17.1It is your responsibility to ensure that you have taken appropriate medical advice from your doctor in respect of the country in which you will be doing your placement, and that you have received all the appropriate inoculations and injections in respect of the countries in which you will be placed and in addition, to bring with you any necessary medication or medical equipment (such as syringes, water sterilization tablets, mosquito netting). You should also take reasonable steps to keep yourself in good health by taking any such medication and not taking part in any high risk activities during your placement which could compromise your health. 18. Unusual Circumstances 18.1 Because we are providing an introduction and arrangement service we are not in direct control of what happens during your placement. Unusual circumstances may arise that we, or the organization responsible for your placement, could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These may cause disruption to or even the cancellation of your placement at any time. Such circumstances are likely to include war or threat of war, terrorist activity or threat of such activity, riots or civil strife, industrial action, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse, weather conditions, health risks and epidemics and all similar circumstances beyond our control. 18.2If such unusual circumstances are serious enough we will try to arrange another suitable placement for you at no extra charge, at another location where the unusual circumstances are not a problem. This may be in another country. You will be responsible for the travel and other related costs in moving to your new placement. Because there may be a number of volunteers who need to be moved in such circumstances, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to arrange another placement which you think is suitable or for the time periods that you require, but we will try to do so. Because such unusual circumstances are a risk of traveling and working abroad, however, we cannot give any refunds or be responsible for your costs, whether you chose to accept any alternative placement offered or to return to your country of abode. 19. End of Agreement 19.1We have the right to end this agreement if: The organization responsible for your placement or our In-Country Coordinator finds that you are not fulfilling your obligations; Your behavior in our reasonable opinion or the reasonable opinion of the organization responsible for your placement or in the reasonable opinion of our In-Country Coordinator is causing distress to anyone at your placement including students or your fellow workers; You have continually refused to carry out the reasonable requests of your placement; You are discovered to have lied in any correspondence with us or have acted in such a way that your actions are likely to bring us or the organization responsible for your placement into disrepute; You have found to be involved with illegal substances or are convicted of any criminal offence during the period of your placement with us or are discovered to have been convicted of any offence prior to starting your placement about which you have not notified us; in which circumstances you are expected to make you own travel arrangements back to your country of abode and we accept no responsibility for any financial loss suffered as a result of this termination. You will receive no refund of any payments you have made. 19.2PLEASE NOTE: if you terminate this agreement for personal reasons once you have started your placement but prior to completion of your placement, this is your choice, and you are responsible for the consequences of that decision. We will not be responsible for you once you have left your placement; we will not be responsible for any financial loss you suffer; and we will not give any refund

10 of any payments you have made. We, nor our overseas agents and subcontractors accept no responsibility for your welfare or safety once you have left the placement. 20. Security and Government Advice 20.1 It is your responsibility to clarify foreign office information in relation to the political and security situation and any relevant medical advice in respect of the country of your placement, and to take any steps that you feel are appropriate. 21. Complaints Procedure 21.1 If you have a problem whilst you are on your placement, we recommend that you should initially try and resolve it with the organization offering the placement, and with the In-Country Coordinator for your placement, as they are on the ground and will be able to deal with any problems most quickly and effectively If the problem is something which you wish to complain about upon your return to your home country, we recommend that you write the details down and submit them to our In-Country Coordinator at the time the problem occurs. This means that they can investigate and also that we can verify your complaint on your return. You may wish to keep a copy of this, your written complaint yourself Our formal complaints procedure is set out in the VIP Briefing Manual that will be given to you before you travel to your placement. In order that we can deal with any problems as quickly as possible, we would ask you to follow that procedure wherever possible. 22. Central American Law 22.1This contract is subject to the law of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. 23. Duration of Placement 23.1As this contract is signed before final flight details are made, your placement will start on the date of your arrival at your placement, and will end on the date agreed with us. Your placement does not include any independent travel before or after your placement starts or ends. 24. Data Protection 24.1In connection with your placement it will be necessary for us to transfer Personal Data about you, Including Sensitive Personal Data, such as medical information and details of any convictions. The Personal Data and Sensitive Personal Data about you will need to be transferred by us so we can provide details to the placement where you will be working or volunteering overseas which will be required for the purposes of the contract between us and in order to protect your interests, for example medical information about you which will enable treatment to be obtained should you become ill or suffer an accident. By signing or typing this document you are giving your explicit consent to such transfers of your Personal Data and Sensitive Personal Data. 25. Interpretation in a Dispute 25.1Nothing in this contract will limit our liability to you for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraudulent mis-statement, or where we are not allowed to limit liability by law. 25.2If any wording in this contract for any reason is held by a court to be unfair, illegal or unreasonable, it will not bind you, and the court shall remove that particular wording from the contract, and the rest of the contract will still continue bind both us and you.