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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The following Terms and Conditions explain the service with which you are provided by Volungo Abroad and what we in turn expect from you as a selected Volungo Abroad volunteer or excursion participant (“volunteer”). All references to ‘we,’ ‘us,’ and ‘our’ refer to Volungo Abroad and its affiliated partners. All references to ‘you’ are to the volunteer or excursion participant. “Placement” also refers to the volunteer or excursion participant. Project participants are required to read through the requirements/skills needed for each project carefully. Contact us if you have any queries before accepting the Terms and Conditions. Accepting these Terms and Conditions is your declaration that you have read and understood them and that you agree with them. The terms and conditions are accepted by filling in our Volunteer Program Registration Form (VPRF) or by having settled a partial or full payment of the invoice or by having booked our services in writing (valid without signature).

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TERMS

These Terms and Conditions begin on the date hereof and expire when replaced by new Terms and Conditions or Amendments to their individual sections. Volungo Abroad reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions when necessary.

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FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES

The function of Volungo Abroad and its allied partners is to act in the capacity of a placement agency through a managed selection process by matching the volunteer to a suitable and vetted partner project overseas to run a development aid project or project excursion. The services we provide to the volunteer are as follows:

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  • Project application and placement process through Volungo Abroad and/or its partners.

  • The provision of information relating to these placements.

  • Joint collaboration with volunteer in project planning (lesson/workshop plans etc.).

  • Organization and/or execution of stays abroad without international or national flights (e.g., airport collection, hosting, etc., where applicable and stated).

  • Organized and pre-vetted accommodation in a local homestay, B&B, hotel, lodge, hostel, or Volungo Abroad Headquarters (HQ) (availability depending on choice of project and location).

  • Procurement of travel, accident, and health insurance as an intermediary agent (optional and not included in project/excursion cost).

  • Assistance with cost calculation and project planning (incl. project stays, travel and transport, and language course bookings).

  • Pre-departure information and visa advice.

  • Advice from staff who have personal knowledge of the countries, cultures, and accommodation.

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Project application and placement process: Volungo Abroad and its affiliated partners reserve the right to select potential volunteers at their own discretion, choosing what are in Volungo Abroad’s or its partners’ opinion the best candidates. We are not obliged to offer a place to any candidate. By signing these Terms and Conditions, we make no guarantee that we will find you a placement.

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The provision of information relating to these placements: Volungo Abroad and its affiliated partners will provide information regarding the placement, including project history, project address, and contact name and number. For more information about your use of this website and the information you submit, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

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Joint collaboration with volunteer in project planning (lesson/workshop plans, etc.): Volungo Abroad and its affiliated partners will work with the volunteer in the project planning process with ideas and lesson/workshop plans.

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Airport, bus/train station, or meeting point reception: A member of the Volungo Abroad crew, your host family, or project representative will pick you up from the airport, bus/train station, or meeting point where applicable and if you inform us of your flight schedule in advance (at least 4 weeks). If unforeseen circumstances such as traffic problems, car breakdowns, or other issues prevent them from reaching the airport, bus/train station, or meeting point to pick you up, we will provide you with the address and directions to your accommodation or a new meeting point in case of an emergency. Volungo Abroad and partners will do their best to provide the necessary transport information to get to the meeting/collection point, accommodation, or project. Airport pickup is available only during office hours, 8 am – 6 pm. Airport pickup before or after office hours will be charged at 30€ extra plus costs of transportation (taxi or public transport). Sometimes airport collection may not be feasible outside of office hours, e.g., when the distance between airport and project site is too far (>100 miles) or outside public transport hours. Note: We usually do not recommend traveling or driving long distances at night. If you wish to be picked up outside office hours, please let us know before you book your flight so we can try to arrange everything for you. If your agreed pickup time needs to be rescheduled due to any circumstances Volungo Abroad cannot be held responsible for (e.g., you missed your flight or bus or your chosen transport vehicle is delayed), an extra fee of 30€ applies for arranging a new pickup (plus pickup costs depending on the available pickup options for your chosen program. Typically, you can choose between a private pickup shuttle (more expensive) and public pickup (cheaper)).

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Accommodation: Volungo Abroad and its partner accommodations are in local homestays, B&Bs, hotels, cabins, lodges, hostels, or at the Volungo Abroad HQ. The accommodation may sometimes be basic and vary depending on the location within the country. The standard of most bathroom and toilet facilities is often basic and may not fully comply with what you are used to. However, be assured that we carefully monitor our accommodations and continuously work to improve standards. This adheres to our philosophy.

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We aim to favor hosts who do not typically receive tourist dollars or whose accommodation is situated off the main routes and can therefore be very basic. In these cases, we want to house you there to improve the host's standards, which, in the long run, will ultimately enhance your accommodation options.

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In some cases, luxury accommodation (hotels and higher-standard lodges, hostels, or higher-standard private accommodation) may be available, depending on the country, city, and program. We understand that senior volunteers (e.g., doctors) in particular often prefer higher-standard accommodations. Please let us know at least 4 weeks in advance if you prefer to reserve higher-standard accommodation. However, we will do our best to find the right place for you even at short notice.

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Volungo Abroad and its partners can offer you accommodation from the first to the last day of the program or Volungo Abroad project excursion. We provide the necessary information about your accommodation either in your personal pre-arrival pack, upon arrival, or while traveling or volunteering with Volungo Abroad.

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If you opt for a placement with one of our partner programs and stay at a project site for the duration of the program or tour you agreed upon, individual accommodation policies and fees may apply. Please refer to the individual project or program. Accommodation is subject to change in case of an emergency. Please note that emergency situations demand your full collaboration and are subject to directives from your local team (project leader, volunteer coordinator, tour guide, etc.), officials (government officials, police, firefighters, ambulance or rescue service, etc.), and/or Volungo Abroad Management.

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Relocation in terms of emergency: There may be relocation costs involved that might be beyond the scope of everyone involved, including you and us. This is why we strongly advise you to review travel and health insurances carefully and choose appropriate insurance coverage for your stay abroad.

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Relocation in terms of program or project postponement: Additional costs may arise from relocation due to program or project postponements resulting from internal or external administrative costs or costs such as higher prices for included or external services (e.g., accommodation costs of hostels, hotels, etc., tours, transport, or project costs). Such costs may apply if relocation is possible at all.

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If there is an epidemic or pandemic outbreak, flooding, accident, political instability, a travel warning, or any other similar circumstance that Volungo Abroad is not accountable for, sometimes entailing hospital costs, unexpected treatments, or any other necessary expenses (e.g., external accommodation outside of the program you have chosen or that has been agreed upon or prearranged with you), Volungo Abroad cannot be held liable to cover any costs arising from such situations. This also includes program postponements or cancellations. In case you want to postpone your original program or particular components of it, there is no refund for the postponement if it is not feasible or if its dates would be changed again. Otherwise, our cancellation policies and charges apply. It is your responsibility to ensure the right insurance package that might cover these costs or to assume these risks at your own expense. There may also be additional costs for rebooking, transport, or accommodation costs depending on the capacities of individual accommodations or travel seasons that Volungo Abroad cannot be held liable for.

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Travel, accident, and health insurances: It is your responsibility to arrange your travel, accident, and health insurances before you travel and/or volunteer with us. Volungo Abroad and its partners can assist you with finding travel, accident, and health insurances from the first to the last day of the program or project excursion, for an additional cost. All Volungo Abroad volunteers must have third-party liability insurance and international health insurance that covers return transport in case of death. Volungo Abroad and its partners cannot be held responsible for any personal damage or loss you may suffer unless such damages are deliberately or negligently caused by Volungo Abroad or its staff. You can find more information about insurances here. It may be possible to extend the duration of cover for travel, accident, and healthcare for your placement. Please contact your insurance company for details of benefits.

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Visas: Volungo Abroad and its partners do not arrange visas. You are entirely responsible for arranging your visa and extending your visa (including all associated costs) and ensuring that it remains valid for the duration of your placement or Volungo Abroad project excursion. If your visa is not valid, we reserve the right to release you from the project. There will be no refund of the program fee/price already paid due to missing or incorrect visa requirements or failure to comply with visa regulations.

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Note from staff with personal knowledge of the countries, cultures, and accommodation: Volungo Abroad will endeavor to provide as much information about your destination as possible, and this information will be based on personal experience and knowledge of the programs, projects, countries, cultures, and accommodations. Any information given by us about laws, flights, visas, healthcare, vaccinations, climate, clothing, equipment, conditions, and other matters is given in good faith but without responsibility on our part. Volungo Abroad cannot be held liable for the validity or effectiveness of this information.

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PROGRAM FEE

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For a successful placement in the Volungo Abroad program, Volungo Abroad project excursions, or one of its partner programs, volunteers agree to pay a program fee to the Volungo Abroad program, which is due prior to their arrival. This program fee comprises any bookings made at the time of submitting the Volungo Abroad Volunteer Placement Registration Form, plus any bookings made via Volungo Abroad thereafter. The program fee enables us to sustain our mission, programs, and projects we support. It allows us to remain loyal to our program and project partners, conduct research, and identify, evaluate, and promote other projects for future support. Without this program fee, we would not be able to operate our service. Your program fee covers the project’s administrative costs, such as:

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  • use of office space (rent, maintenance work, electricity, water, gas etc.)
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  • office equipment and supplies (computers, printer, cartridges, paper, promotional material etc.).

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accommodation for permanent staff and volunteer coordinators
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  • internet, telephone bills and ongoing software license costs
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  • international banking costs (transfer fees etc.).

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traveling costs to project site (bus tickets, out-of-pocket expenses etc.).


  • costs for organizing social and fundraising events to raise awareness for Volungo Abroad and its projects.

  • workshops and introduction seminars for both the volunteers and project partners.

  • marketing costs in order to help grassroot organisations find volunteers from overseas

  • staff

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Your program fee also helps projects in remote communities that often lack the means, knowledge, or necessary mediums (e.g., computers or internet) to make their cause heard. Our objective is to support projects that need our help most. Your program fee enables us to support them as well as the local economy, i.e., the businesses we work with (e.g., private homestay providers, hostels, transportation businesses, small shop owners, local tourist companies, or language schools). There will be no additional program or placement fee involved. Your program fee helps us stay loyal to our partners, operate professionally, provide you with a strong and safe support network, and ensures we deliver the best service we can for our volunteers—i.e., for you.

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To help you estimate your expenses and plan your budget before you leave, we can provide an estimated cost for your stay abroad. The expenses represent average costs based on our own experience in the destination countries. We reserve the right to change our programs, projects, tours, and any associated costs in case of an emergency. Prices are as set out on https://www.volungoabroad.org, via email, or in our booking form. Price increases after booking are uncommon since we set prices annually for the following year. However, certain circumstances may necessitate price increases, which are legally acceptable when introduced more than 20 days before departure. For example, a rise in flight prices (due to increased fuel costs or flight taxes) may require an increase up to 8% of the total by law. The uncertain course of the pandemic, which began in early 2020, may also require an increase if internal costs and expenses for accommodation, lodging, and transport on-site rise as a result. Here, too, price increases must be accepted up to 20 days before departure.

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Depending on the program you register for, you will also receive an invoice listing your individual bookings.

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Additional Program Fee Information

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Volungo Abroad project excursions and tours:
In case you apply for the Volungo Abroad project excursions your program fee also covers the organization costs for the detailed tour plan or the tour block you applied for. Depending on the tour, your cost calculation for the respective tour is covered as well. Please note that this only applies to special Volungo Abroad excursions and where it is announced. Our standard tours have fixed prices.

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On-site volunteering at our project sites:

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If you apply for a placement to the Volungo Abroad HQ or at one of our partners’ project sites in the host country, your total program fee, i.e. the prices for the projects you have eregistered for and to which you commit yourself on a long-term basis (amongst other bookimngs you might have chosen to include), includes the running costs of our projects and your placement costs. Depending on the project it also covers food and accommodation for your stay. The program fee is to be made by the volunteer in advance. The organization of your long-term commitment is dependent on different conditions that need to be planned months ahead with our host families, NGOs and other third parties on whose execution of the planning we ourselves depend upon. It is therefore inevitable that the entire program fee needs to be paid upfront before arrival.

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Volungo Abroad Language Courses:
Note: Normally, group classes take place as scheduled. If the required number of language students is not met on the specified days of your language classes due to flight delays, last-minute rescheduling, illness or individual language proficiency levels of each student, or any other reasons beyond our control, you will be transferred to private, one-on-one tuition. Since private tuition offers faster learning as one language teacher focuses solely on your individual language level and needs, the 20 hours of group classes per week will be compensated with approximately 12-14 hours of private tuition.

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​Project combinations and changing program and/or project start dates, arrival dates and departure dates:

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Program and program start date:

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Your program start date is the date from which the main bookings of your stay abroad start (beginning with your first booking item). Your program start date is usually the first or third Sunday in the month if not specified otherwise.

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Project and project start date:

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Your project start is usually somewhere in between your program start date and your program end date. As most programs start with a language course your project start date usually takes place after your language course. However, some projects also allow a language course running parallel to your project period.

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Example Booking (Individual Booking):

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Your program might look like this: After you arrive you start with a two-week language course. Then, you might want to do a two-day hiking tour on your first free weekend to Machu Picchu. During the week, you can go and visit some museums and do a mountain biking or rafting tour on your second free weekend. After your two-week language course you then travel into the Amazon jungle where you start your time volunteering at your project site (project start date). 

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At the end of your volunteering period you might want to do a five-day survival tour in the Amazon rainforest before your project stay ends (project end date) and you travel back to Cusco where you can do another language course in order to boost your language skills to the next level (This is what many of our volunteers do since it is now the chance to strengthen and solidify the language skills you have already acquired through your first course, and through your practice during your stay at your chosen project). When you have finished your courses, volunteering period, tours and activities, your programs ends (program end date).

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Combining projects:

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In case you want to combine two or more Volungo Abroad projects in one and the same country and there is no additional charge, because our administrative efforts at the logistical and organizational level are fairly minor.

 

If you prefer to combine projects in between two or more countries, however, please understand that we will charge an additional fee of 150€, because we have to arrange and meticulously plan everything with our project partners, tour agencies and operators, public transport companies, language schools, hostels or hotels, homestay accommodations, airport or bus pick service providers etc. 

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Changing one date during your program period usually entails multiple phone calls and emails in order to re-arrange your entire program.

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Changing program or project dates:

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Arrivals before program start: Your arrival and departure dates can be different from your program start and program end dates. You can always arrive earlier than the program start date and plan your departure later than your program end date. If you wish to arrive earlier you can do so and we are happy to arrange this for you (if possible), but as this involves more work at our end we charge fees that cover the planning at our end.

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I) If you want to change your program or project date after you have filled our Volunteer Placement Registration Form (VPRF) within the same country we will ask for a service fee of 150€.

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II) If you want to change your program or project dates across borders after you have filled our Volunteer Placement Registration Form (VPRF) we will ask for a service fee of 150€.

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III) If you want to change your pickup arrival date prior to your program start without changing the official program or project start date (if not stated otherwise, normally the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month), because you found a cheaper flight connection that is fine and we will arrange this for you for a low fee of 50€. 

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NB: This is only possible up to max. 3 days before the official arrival date (out of goodwill). In case your arrival date dates back more than 3 days before the officially listed arrival date, it will be regarded as an individual booking (surplus 150€). 

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If you want to leave any day later than your program end date we can arrange this, too. There will be no fee for that. You can simply book an airport (or bus station) drop-off.

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Changing programs or projects:

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Changing programs, projects or project sites is, generally speaking, not feasible as the application process is tailor-made to a program’s or project’s start dates as well as its needs and requirements. It is entirely up to the project’s or Volungo Abroad’s management to decide if relocating a volunteer into another project would be feasible by weighing up the candidate’s suitability as well as the projects’ or Volungo Abroad’s requirements or capacities.

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NB: It is your own responsibility to adhere to the schedule of your program. Please bear this in mind, too, when you embark on personal adventures in between two or more project periods, or want to go hiking, rafting, climbing or mountain biking. South America can be an enormous stimulus for adventure sports and exciting tours, but we cannot risk that any (especially high risk) adventures delay the start of your project work as the NGOs and all partner programs have a tight work and time schedule of duties they depend on and therefore need to be able to rely on your contribution that has been planned to be a vital part for achieving their goals. We understand that you want to travel, explore and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but please understand that we also need to comply with our responsibilities as an organization within the realm of development aid work, especially in responsibility to our project partners .

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Our project partners need to be able to rely on us as much as they need to be able to rely on you when you work with them. We have carefully selected the tour agencies and operators we work with. Their prices might be a bit higher than those you might find with other local companies, but, believe us, finding the right, and above all, reliable, trustworthy and safe network or infrastructure of local partners is a process that takes a lot of time and strenuous endeavor. We invested many years to make sure you will have a safe stay abroad and can rely on the service we offer you in your chosen country; in our eyes, the best value for money you will receive. We need to be able to rely on quality and safety rather than working with low budget tour agencies or operators, because we want to make sure you can start your project on time and without becoming sick or being injured (of course, this can happen as it can happen everywhere and anytime, but we try everything we can to minimize this risk). In case you need to change your program/ dates because you have put your schedule at risk due to booking something with a service provider that has not been vetted by us, the changing fees mentioned above will apply and there will be no refund on those changing fees.

You can find moore information under Volungo Abroad – Info Program, Projects, Arrivals and Departures.

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Please understand that there is no guarantee that the program, program start or end date or its constituating project, accommodation, transport, tour or language course start and end dates can be changed at all as this potentially outside of our sphere of influence. There will be no refund on change fees or on any other parts of the program if you book your tours, accommodation or transport yourself with a third party provider and something happens (e.g. an accident) that hinders you from contiuing of your program. This also includes eating or self-cooking. Volungo Abroad cannot be hold liable for such circumstances outside of our purview. We strongly advice to sign up for an appropriate travel and health insurance that covers you against accidents or in case you get sick.

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Please help us make your own booking as simple as possible so we can concentrate on working with our projects in development aid. It is in your own interest to arrange your international flight and arrival in such a way that we can adhere to our schedule. 

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All regular arrival dates and times are as follows: 

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Pickup every 1st and 3r Sunday of every month. 12 o’clock midday. 

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Everything else will entail the fees stated above. 

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PAYMENT OF PROGRAM FEE

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The following paragraphs describe the composition of our program fee. We apologise, since the Covid-19 pandemic we do not offer split payments on a regular basis anymore. Spilt payments are only granted in individual cases and need to be agreed on in writing via email before the invoice is issued. The composition of the program fee and its following conditions, however, remain valid even in the absence of split payment.

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A deposit/down payment of 35% of the program fee or excursion cost is to be paid upon successful application. By handing in the Volungo Abroad Volunteer Placement Registration Form (VPRF) or any other written consent, reservation or booking via Email, Fax etc. the contract between Volungo Abroad and the applicant is concluded (legal validity without signature). The applicant agrees to make the down payment at the latest within 10 days (date of entry into the Volungo Abroad account) after the invoice or written consent for the registration/contract/bookings has been issued. If your payment is delayed, dunning costs and interest for late payment will apply as well as potentially occurring costs for legal representation. If full payment is made within 10 days upon the date of the invoice 1,5% on the the entire program fee can be deducted for prompt payment unless the program start date commences within 8 weeks upon the date of the invoice. In case you have been admitted to a project or excursion within eight weeks before your arrival the entire program fee is due at once. In this case, there is no deduction for prompt payment. The down payment incl. all booking items is strictly non-refundable if volunteers cancel or pull out of their placement (please see cancellation charges). In case of split payment, the remaining balance of your program fee will be due in full eight weeks before program start (date of entry in our account). You will usually receive your volunteering information four weeks before your departure. In the case of admission to the program or project at short notice, e.g. due to a suddenly available position at a project site or a place on a Volungo Abroad project excursion, the delivery of your volunteering information can vary and will be individually arranged with you.

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If we fail to give you a placement due to programs being full, your application being rejected by our partners or any other circumstances for which we are not responsible, Volungo Abroad or its partners will endeavor to find a comparable or, in our opinion acceptable, alternative placement for the volunteer. Administrative fees (project change fees, combination fees or price differences, e.g. due to changes from high to low season, or vice versa, or accommmodation bookings depending on capacities etc.) might apply. Other placements: Tours, activities, events, workshops, language courses and other courses included in the program (e.g. permaculture courses) are exempt from refunds but can be changed into a voucher of the same value of the item that has been booked for an alternative booking item of the same kind if available. The change and voucher will remain valid for 12 months. 

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CANCELLATION REASONS

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Development aid work requires an extraordinary and eminent amount of organisational, logistical and operational work with every project or NGO involved. The ongoing stability and continued existence of NGOs, NPOs or social enterprises (not supported by the government) can almost only be assured through the volunteers’ contributions in form of their payments of the program fee and project participation that includes a coverage for every volunteers’s stay (food and/or accommodation) at a price that needs to exceed the local NGOs’ or organisations’ mere expenditure in order to cover all administrative costs. As donations are barely sufficient, organisations can often only then cross-finance their local project costs by passing on their own costs with a surcharge for the intermediate organisations representing them in the western world that then need to add another surcharge for their own expenses which are higher in the western hemisphere than in developing countries (Office cost, rent, electricity, heating, marketing costs, costs for personell and taxes). Only by being able to not only rely on the mere participation of a volunteer but also by his or her financial support the NGOs are able to plan ahead and reach their milestones and project goals. As an organisation, Volungo Abroad has to not onlye cover continuous re-appearing costs such for personnel, marketing, long-term contracts, licenses etc. We are also committed to investing in searching and finding new projects and partners in order to help more causes in South America. These expenses, too, need to be covered by the program fee. This is why we are obliged to adhere to our cancellation charges and need to be able to rely on your commitment taking effect at the time you register or book with us. Volungo Abroad makes payment to its overseas partners well in advance in order to make arrangements for food and accommodation, travel, volunteer coordination, training, workshops and running project costs. In order to continuously and successfully guarantee the projects’ sustainability we need to commit to our partner projects. Therefore we ask for the same commitment to be made by our volunteers and excursion participants. This is why, in the name of all NGOs we work with, we can only consider refunds for cancellations that are covered for the same reasons and under the general circumstances insurance companies take their coverages into account. Such reasons are, for instance:

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  • Serious accidental injury, unexpected serious illness or death

  • Pregnancy and complications during the pregnancy

  • Operations-related dismissal and reemployment after unemployment (temporary work)

  • Change of workplace, to the extent that the probationary period falls in the insured holiday period

  • Significant damage to the insured person’s property due to fire, Acts of God or punishable third-party actions

  • University-related: date of a repeat examination during the holiday period

  • Notification of a date for an organ donation

  • Receipt of a court summons

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In the event of cancellation by the volunteer for any of such reasons we require documentary proof in order to initiate refunds outlined under the following cancellation charges.

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CANCELLATION CHARGES

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In the event of cancellation by the volunteer the remaining program fee for the project and your placement that will be refundable is dependent on the date of receipt of written notice in line with the following notice of cancellation:

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  • More than 16 weeks before program start: 100% refund of the remaining program fee

  • 16-12 weeks before program start: 75% refund of the remaining program fee 

  • 12-08 weeks before program start: 50% refund of the remaining program fee 

  • Less than 8 weeks before program start: no refund of the program fee 

  • If a volunteer or intern cancels his or her placement after joining a program or prior to the agreed end date, no refund will be made.

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All refunds will be made between 60 and 90 days after the official program end date. Advace or payments/ downpayments are strictly non-refundable. Cancellations apply to the entire program as such, which is marked to begin with the program start date. This describes the entire booking with all its constituents, i.e. bookings of project periods, language courses, tours, activities etc. As all this needs to be meticulously planned in its entirety (see explanations above). Cancellations therefore do not apply to any individual bookings starting after the the program start date.

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Program postponement: 

If you want to postpone your program for personal reasons or due to any other reasons than outlined in the paragraph “Limitations and Risks” we will need to see if this is possible at all. We will need to check if places for any other dates are available in your chosen project(s), accommodation(s), language school(s), for your transportation(s) as well as any other services that might apply and are bound to the dates of the original planning we made for you.

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We also need to make sure that a postponement of your original program start date would not interfere with Volungo Abroad’s and our projects’ goals and/or requirements. Please understand that it is important to us that our milestones can be reached and the goals we set out in development aid can be achieved. If our internal meetings can come to the conclusion that there will be availabilities in each of the services that are involved for your stay and that your postponement does interrupt with the planning of Volungo Abroad or the volunteer task at project site or endanger the progress of the project then we are happy to organise your new stay for you. As this entails an entire new planning from scratch there will be changing fees involved. You can find moore information under Volungo Abroad – Info Program, Projects, Arrivals and Departures.

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NB: Leagally binding and applicable by law since Covid-19: If postponement is feasible and we can organise a new program start date for you our original refund table for program cancellations does not apply anymore. It only applies for the original program start date that was entered in the Volunteer Placecement Registration Form (VPRF). There will be no refund options for postponement cases. In case you are planning not to participate in your old or new program or if this is not doable from Volungo Abroad’s perspective (may it consist of the same, similar or alternated project, project combinations or individual booking items as part of the new program), or in case you drop out of your new program after having postponed your original program start date, there will be no refund.

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTEERS

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  • To be aged at least 18 on the date that the placement begins.

  • Te meet the language requirements necessary to successfully work and communicate at the project site. (You will get to know about your language requirements during the interview. Every project has different requirements. If in doubt, please ask us).

  • To respect the local culture, customs, and rules.

  • To arrange, finance and manage your own travel, which includes incoming and return airfares and local transportation. It is your responsibility to carry all necessary documents while you travel overseas.

  • To be aware of the health risks of living and working in South America or in any other host country you apply for. Volunteers are requested to take medical advice and take necessary safety precautions, inoculations and immunizations with respect to the countries in which they will be placed.

  • To bring with you any necessary medications or medical equipment.

  • To avoid drinking tap water and eating foods purchased from roadside vendors or in inexpensive restaurants. Water sources are polluted in most developing countries so drinking tap or unboiled water and eating foods from roadside vendors or similar sources might result in illness and parasites. Volungo Abroad and partners will not be responsible for any damages to your health caused by you choosing to take such risks.

  • It is the volunteer’s responsibility to take travel advice and learn about travel warnings from his/her government agencies. We will not be responsible for any liability resulting from his/her failure to take appropriate travel advice.

  • You take all responsibility to carry out duties for completing the project and attending the project as planned and agreed with Volungo Abroad, our partners and your placement contact.

  • The volunteer must abide by the project’s code of conduct/rules and fulfil the duties assigned to the best of his/her abilities, behaving responsibly at all times and co-operating with other staff/volunteers at the project. The volunteer must inform their project contact of any absence from duties.

  • The volunteer is required to provide Volungo Abroad and its partners with a current and authenticated copy of his/her criminal record report/ criminal background check (CBC) and a health certificate at least 6 weeks before departure, as many of our projects involve working with children. We can advise on this process.

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TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

Volungo Abroad and its partners reserve the right to end the volunteer agreement with the immediate cancellation of your program with no refund if:

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  • The project where the placement is taking place believes you are not fulfilling your responsibilities and duties or you fail to uphold the responsibilities that you signed up to.

  • If your language skills do not meet our project’s requirements to ensure a successful volunteer placement at the work level. (You will get to know about your language requirements during the interview. Every project has different requirements. If in doubt, please ask us). 

  • It is determined that you were or are involved in illegal activities (including violation of drug laws/drug abuse, etc.) before or during the period of volunteering or have been convicted of criminal activities. Illegal activities also encompass activities that may not necessarily be considered illegal in the host country of the volunteering, but may be deemed illegal according to law and jurisdiction where the organization is based, and thus, by law, has a responsibility to represent and demonstrate accountability towards that jurisdiction.

  • You violate any conditions outlined under “Responsibilities of Volunteers”.

  • If you have given false information about your medical or mental health condition, lifestyle choices or personal habits within your application.

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DATA PROTECTION

Volungo Abroad and its partners only hold and use a volunteer’s or traveller’s personal information for the purposes of providing the volunteer with an excursion or project. We reserve the right to transfer the personal details of a volunteer to third parties for the following purposes only:

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  • Disclosure of information to the volunteer’s or traveller’s parent/guardian or next of kin, as notified by the volunteer/traveller to Volungo Abroad and its partners in advance, in writing, in the case of an emergency or in any circumstances where we reasonably believe that the volunteer’s or traveller’s vital interests are threatened.

  • Transfer of contact details to fellow volunteers/travellers and project partners.

  • Transfer of personal details to hosts overseas.

  • The volunteer/traveller should notify Volungo Abroad and its partners in writing if he/she does not want their details passed to any third parties for any of the above purposes.

  • If the volunteer/traveller does not explicitly disagree in advance, personal data in the Volungo Abroad database allowing the volunteer to be kept involved with Volungo Abroad and its partner networks and global volunteer/travel networks will be maintained.

  • Volungo Abroad and its partners remain solely and fully responsible at all times for ensuring that appropriate security measures, technical, organizational and otherwise, are in place to ensure that the volunteer’s/traveller’s personal data, including sensitive personal data, is protected. Where personal data is transferred outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), we will only transfer such personal data if protections similar to those required by European data protection legislation are in place.

  • Volungo Abroad and its partners will retain the volunteer’s/traveller’s personal data for the duration of the volunteer or excursion project and thereafter as long as may be necessary to deal with any claims or issues arising in relation to the volunteer or excursion project (including invoicing); to enforce any terms or contract between Volungo Abroad, its partners and the volunteers/travellers; to perform permitted marketing activities; and to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and orders by any competent authority.

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The volunteer/traveller is entitled to view a copy of all the volunteer’s/traveller’s information held by Volungo Abroad and its partners by contacting Volungo Abroad or its partners. For more information on your data please also refer to our Privacy Policy.

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APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany, and so the volunteer/traveller submits to the jurisdiction of the German courts, although Volungo Abroad and its partners shall have the right to institute or enforce proceedings in any other court jurisdiction. For legal matters of arbitration, Volungo Abroad points to the European Court of Arbitration.

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LIMITATIONS AND RISKS

Like other international volunteer/travel programs, Volungo Abroad’s and its partner projects may involve risks, foreseen and unforeseen, and participants should be prepared to accept those risks. Whilst we aim to safeguard your health and safety with appropriate advice on what is likely to affect you, we cannot be responsible for damage, illness or injury sustained during or resulting from participation in an Volungo Abroad project, program, excursion or any of its partners’ placements. Please make sure you understand and accept the following:

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  • Overseas volunteer experience with Volungo Abroad and its partners involves an element of personal risk and potential hazard.

  • The realities of developing countries include poverty; potential risks from wildlife, flora and fauna (poisonous or otherwise); political instability or criminal activity; poor medical, communication and transportation facilities; beggars; and cultural differences; you may experience cultural shock associated with these limitations that may affect your stay.

  • Conditions may be basic and of a similar standard to those experienced daily by the local community, and at times may be unfamiliar, uncomfortable and unhygienic.

  • Risks exist in many areas of travel: by train, plane, automobile, raft, canoe, boat, bicycle, horseback, or by other means of conveyance; or on foot, roads, or trails; or in hotels.

  • If you choose to take part in one of our programs/projects or excursions, we cannot allow for every eventuality. You will be choosing to travel to places which can be unpredictable.

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The volunteer/traveller accepts that there are risks involved in working/travelling abroad and accepts such risks knowingly. The volunteer/traveller understands that Volungo Abroad is not liable, nor able to mitigate such circumstances. The limitations outlined in these Terms and Conditions are not adequate reasons for complaints and requests for refunds. 

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For all bookings taking place under the conditions of the current (or future) pandemic, epidemic or other unforeseeable restrictions on traveling etc.: By accepting these terms and conditions you knowingly acknowledge that you are aware of these risks when traveling. In case you want to cancel your trip under these new circumstances, you herby accept our terms and conditions, cancelation and refund policies. As for the refund policy during the current Covid-19 situation, there will be no refund if you have booked or are booking during the Covid-19 pandemic. You will, however, be able to postpone your program for up to 12 months of your originally noted arrival date. In individual circumstances, we can agree to postpone your program start date for another 6 months in case 12 months are not sufficient due to severe circumstances. These circumstances must be examined individually.

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You understand the following: COVID-19 international border entry and travel regulations are updated regularly and due to the ever-changing nature of the regulations, we strongly advise that you check with your airline before you travel. Volungo Abroad will assist you where we can but it is your won responsibility to also do your own due diligence and research the latest travel, border crossing and entry regulations. If you cannot travael because you don’t comply with the latest travel regulations Volungo Abroad cannot be held liable. You can find out more about international travel regulations here:

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English Info Websites:

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1) SafetyWIng

 

Peru

https://borderless.safetywing.com/peru

Ecuador

https://borderless.safetywing.com/ecuador

Colombia

https://borderless.safetywing.com/Colombia

 

2) Worldnomad

 

https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/worldwide/worldwide-travel-alerts?utm_source=worldnomads&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nomadsnews-113-may&utm_content=button

 

3) Iata Travel Centre

 

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

 

4) CheckMyTrip

 

 App when you are on the go… 

https://www.checkmytrip.com/cmtweb/#/home

 

It is mandatory that you have a foreign third party liability and health insurance if you book with us. Other insurances at your own decision but should strongly be considered. We highly recommend signing up for a travel insurance package also including travel cancellations and coverage for Covid-19, derivatives et al. Volungo Abroad cannot be hold liable if you do not have your own adequate insurance package for your booking and stay abroad with us.

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WAIVER OF LIABILITY

By complying with or signing these Terms and Conditions you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. You agree that Volungo Abroad and its partner projects, programs, tours or excursions have limitations and involve some risk (foreseen and unforeseen). You are ready to accept those risks and you hereby release and discharge Volungo Abroad and its partners and all of its agents, employees, or representatives, including persons, parties, organisations or agencies collaborating with them, from all action suits, claims, or liability for damages of any nature resulting from, arising out of, or related to these Terms and Conditions and/or your participation in a volunteer program, project, tour or excursion (including, without limitation, claims for personal injury, property damage, deviation, delay, or curtailment).

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ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND VARIATION

These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire understanding and agreement between the parties in relation to the subject matter of these Terms and Conditions. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be deemed to grant rights or benefits to any other person other than the parties (or their permitted successor or assignees), or entitle any third party to enforce any terms or conditions of these Terms and Conditions. The parties do not intend that any term or condition herein should be enforceable by a third party. In providing the volunteer/traveller with the stated services, Volungo Abroad and its partners are acting as an independent contractor. Save as explicitly set out in these Terms and Conditions, nothing shall be deemed to create any relationship of agent and principal, partnership, or employer and employee.

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