"I loved every single activity and all of the service we gave! Even when I was not particularly knowlegable in a certain area, it was great to learn more and help everyone else on their projects. I discovered talents and interests that I had no idea I had before. Every single moment was so great. I loved it!"
-Jessica Reeves, Uganda 2007
"From my experience, I gained an understanding of my responsibility to serve because I can, because I have been blessed to have the resources to turn away from my and my family's immediate needs and look outward. I never expected to gain such a pressing understanding of my need to serve. I never expected to meet people who were so much "better" than I am, who had so much to teach me of compassion, of self sacrifice and of hope. I feel that I was literally healed by the people of El Salvador as they changed my perspective and expectations."
HELP International is dedicated to offering a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to young people seeking to change their lives, while creating positive change in the world. We know that we are only as safe as our least informed and vigilant volunteer. HELP has recognized the importance of establishing policies and procedures in the effort to protect the safety and well-being of HELP participants, while acknowledging that no single plan can address all contingencies.
Please read the HELP International Code of Conduct (pages 12-20). The guidelines in this document have been carefully considered in order to keep our volunteers safe. Abiding by these requirements is an essential part of a safe volunteer experience.
Listed below are a few of the ways HELP strives to keep our programs, before and during participation, as safe as possible.
HELP regularly and responsibly monitors safety issues in each of our program locations. A review of all programs at a local, regional, and country level is conducted in which safety, security, and overall quality are measured.
HELP regularly consults with other organizations such as the U.S. Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), The LDS Church Security department and BYU's full-time travel security analyst responsible for overseeing health and safety concerns.
All HELP programs are registered with the OSAC's local Regional Service Office (RSO) to receive regular safety and Warden Messages.
Each HELP program's safety and security conditions are evaluated yearly by our Board of Directors. The board has ultimate authority for approving the safety of programs and sites, and has the ability to cancel programs or revise them to address safety and security concerns.
All participants are required to attend a health, safety, and security training session that stresses safety issues and understanding cultural differences. In this session we also provide a country specific orientation in which safety precautions are outlined.
Emergency procedures are in place, including medical and general emergency evacuation procedures.
Each HELP Country Director is required to carry an international cell phone to facilitate emergency communications. If there is a problem, HELP volunteers can use the cell phone to call internationally and talk directly to the HELP Executive Director.
HELP International strives to keep volunteers informed of conditions and decisions related to travel safety and well-being. However, in these changing times, it is necessary that each volunteer take responsibility for his/her own safety by staying informed and conducting themselves accordingly. We provide tools and resources about a variety of such issues, including information from the U.S. State Department about volunteers having a "safe trip abroad," the consular information sheet for each country, and security briefings distributed by the U.S. State Department local Regional Service officers.
