Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Most of our projects require you to be over 18 years old but we do have some projects that are able to accept under 18 volunteers so if you would like to find out more about these please just contact one of our advisors. Also, if you are under 18 but have a friend/member of family who is over 18 and travelling with you, then in most cases they can act as a legal guardian for you allowing you to take part in the project. (we require parental consent in all these instances)
2. Can I bring my children with me to volunteer?
Many of our projects are able to accept family volunteers. It is not possible for all our projects but if this is something you are interested in doing then please contact one of our advisors who will be happy to look into options for you.
3. I want to travel with a number of my friends, can you arrange a group project for us?
Yes we can! We really value groups of volunteers because of the large amount of work they can do in a small amount of time. We are well used to receiving groups and can accommodate groups for the majority of our projects. We can also arrange bespoke itineraries for groups so if you would like to arrange a group volunteer project then please contact one of our advisors to find out more.
4. I only have 1 week to spare and really want to help out. You say you have a minimum of 2 weeks, is there any way I could stay for only 1 week?
Most of our projects do require a 2 week minimum but there are a few that can receive volunteers for one week so if you really are pushed for time then just contact our advisors for details. Wherever possible though we do always encourage our volunteers to stay for at least 2 weeks, and more if possible - because after orientation and settling in, one week is never enough!
5. I have a specific skill that I want to put to use. Where can I do this?
Many of our projects require the help of skilled volunteers. If you have a specific skill to offer but can’t find a project on our website that would be able to utilise this then contact our advisors. Due to the changing nature of our projects there are often projects that would benefit from receiving advice and support from skilled volunteers and these projects may not necessarily be advertised on our website.
6. I can’t choose between 2 or 3 projects. Is there someone I can talk to?
Of course! We have recruitment offices in both the UK and in Asia so are available on the phones most hours of the day to give you advice on which project would be best for you and to help you in your decision. You are also welcome to email us with any questions that you might have and for advice on what project is the right fit for you. Every member of Kaya staff has worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and most have visited and volunteered on our own projects, so have first-hand experience of the countries and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your placement.
7. I don’t have my travel insurance yet. Can you recommend someone for me?
For UK citizens we recommend using Mind the Gap, World Nomads (for community based projects), and Ensleigh or Trailfinders (for wildlife projects). For US citizens we recommend TravelGuard, iNext, and Seven Corners. The reason that we suggest these companies is because they tend to provide a more comprehensive cover that tends to cover the type of activities you will be getting involved in while volunteering. Whichever company you choose it’s important to speak to an advisor directly and let them know where you are going and what you will be doing. That way they can arrange the appropriate level of cover for you.
Also, if you choose to book your flights through Kaya's dedicated STA Travel advisor, then you will receive a 10% discount on the travel insurance that they offer. This insurance covers volunteers for most project related work but does not cover you for working with animals. If you would like to know more about receiving a quote about the price of flights and insurance from STA's Kaya travel advisor then please send an email to info@kayavolunteer.com or give us a call on +44 (0)161 860 6212.
8. I have my own private health insurance policy, does this cover me to volunteer abroad?
For all programs it is mandatory for volunteers to have travel health insurance cover in case of an accident. With private health policies, this varies greatly from insurer to insurer and also depending on the level of cover that you have. Many policies only cover you for healthcare within your own country so if you are thinking about just using your exisiting insurance rather than taking out travel insurance you should always contact your provider, explain to them what you will be doing, and check whether you will be covered whilst you’re away. It’s also always advisable to take out some additional travel insurance as well to cover your belongings such as lost baggage or stolen items while you are away.
9. I know that you are based in the UK but do you accept volunteers from other countries?
You are more than welcome to join us whatever country you are from! While we are registered as a British Company, we regularly accept volunteers from all over the world and we will provide you with the same amount of support as we do our British volunteers. All volunteers are responsible for making their own way from their home country to the airport stipulated in your Welcome Pack and we will provide you with your initial airport pick up from here. Please note that visa information provided may not apply to your nationality and you should always contact the country embassy in your home country to check on the tourist/visitor entry requirements for you.
10. I am not British, can I pay in another currency?
We accept payments made in Pounds (£GBP) or in Dollars ($USD). We have a set conversion rate which is £1 = $1.75 and all of our payments made in Dollars must adhere to this conversion. If you are a US Citizen depending on how the market is fluctuating, it may be cheaper for you to submit your payment to us in Pounds as you may well pay a lower conversion rate with your bank. You can settle your project fee with us via PayPal online, through Bank Transfer and also by sending us a Cheque.
11. I’m worried about the safety of volunteering abroad. Do you have any procedures in place to help reassure me?
The safety of our volunteers is always our key priority. We have sets of emergency procedures in place to cover every eventuality; our volunteer coordinators carry an emergency phone 24/7 in case of incidents and are well trained in how to deal with any situations. All our project sites are evaluated when we begin working with them to establish safety practises and remove or minimise potential hazards. There is always a certain level of risk involved in travel within developing countries that we have less control over - the road safety is rarely as good as it is for us at home, there are tropical illnesses that exist and we do experience incidents of pick pocketing on occasions. However we provide a thorough orientation on site that helps you minimise those risks, and pre-departure packs to help you prepare.
12. Do you accept last minute volunteers?
Yes we do. In the past we have arranged for volunteers to leave and participate in a project within 2-6 weeks of their initial enquiry. While we do not recommend this as the best pactise for volunteering, in some cases we can turn this around for you. Please note that this is not possible for all of our projects and you will need to be cross checked with Kaya staff and in country coordinators before we can confirm you. Some of our popular project become fully booked months in advance. In such cases that you are accepted, we do ask that you bear with us and the team on the ground when you arrive as everything may not have been arranged as smoothly as it would normally be. There are usually months of planning which go into hosting a volunteer and while everyone will endeavour to arrange your placement as quickly as possible we ask that you land in country with enthusiasm and also patience; after all, it was your decision to leave so soon! To guarantee your space and give yourself enough time to prepare, try to book at least 3 months in advance.
13. Do you have offices across the globe?
Kaya’s main office is located in Manchester, in the UK but we do also have a base in Asia. Both of these offices can be contacted on our main UK number +44 (0)161 860 6212. We can arrange for our placements advisors to call you back at any convenient time and have an online form dedicated to just this. Just pop in your name, email, contact number and local time zone, and we’ll do our very best to get hold of you for the time that you have specified.
14. How flexible are you with travel dates?
All of our projects have certain start dates depending on the country and in some cases the project that you are interested in. To find this out click on the project of your choice and look at Start Date information at the top of the screen. You can apply up to one year in advance and we do recommend applying 3 – 6 months in advance of when you want to volunteer to give both us and the project on the ground sufficient time to arrange all of the details associated with your placement. Arrivals and departures outside set dates may sometimes be possible, but may incur some additional charges.
15. I know what project I want to work on. What happens now?
Great! It is a simple procedure. If you are happy with the project that you have chosen and feel ready to secure your space on the project then we ask you to fill in our short application form on our website by clicking the Book Now button for the corresponding project. We then ask for a £150 or USD $250 deposit which will reserve your space on that program. If for any reason you are not accepted this will be fully refunded to you. If you are accepted then this deposit becomes non-refundable and will secure your spot on the project. You will then just be required to submit the remainder of your project fee 6 weeks before the start date of your program. If you are signing up within the 6 week marker, we ask for you to submit your payment in full when you apply.
16. I’m really interested in diving and already have my Open Water Certificate. Can you suggest something for me where I can get more qualifications?
Depending on your level of qualification and what you are hoping to gain from your project we can suggest a number of alternatives for you. We have marine conservation initiatives which provide first time divers with a PADI Open Water Certification, after this we can provide you with an Advanced PADI Qualification. If you are looking to further your credentials in underwater conservation we also offer a SSI Ecological and a SSI Environmental Monitoring Program in Thailand for participants staying up to 8 weeks.
17. I would like to help teach children but I have no formal qualifications. Can I still apply?
Kaya’s Teacher Training Manual does just this – prepares volunteers for all forms of teaching placements. We understand the importance of feeling prepared, especially when faced with a room full of eager faces ready to learn from you and how for some, this may be a daunting prospect at first. Our Manual runs through warm up games, ice breakers, teaching topics and much more to help ease you in to your first few weeks of teaching. All teaching volunteers receive a copy of this manual as soon as they apply and pay their deposit so that there is ample time to make preparations before you arrive. If you lready have teaching experience or a TEFL qualification, you will find you are given a lead role or more responsibilities than other volunteers (if you’d like them!)
18. I’m really interested in studying medicine at University and would like to get more experience within the health setting. Is there anything you can suggest?
Yes! We have a number of projects which are open for those with a keen interest in health awareness and education, nutrition and community health outreaches as well as those interested in gaining a greater insight into the world of a third world clinic and medicine distribution. These projects do not require prior medical knowledge or training, however we will still ask for a CV to check your compatibility for the project. If you would like more help finding the right project, get in touch with one of our advisors and they can point you in the right direction.
19. What do I need to do for a visa?
Depending on your nationality and the country that you are visiting this will need to be checked in advance of you departing for your project. On the whole we work with tourist visas which are generally cheap and easy to secure. You may need to apply for this at your home embassy or will receive an entry stamp on arrival, but you need to make sure you are prepared before you head off and know exactly the requirements for entering the country of your choice. You will always need an up-to-date passport with at least 6 blank pages, as well as passport validity for 6 months after your departure date. Work, business and volunteer visas are expensive, difficult and often take months to procure and 9 times of out 10 these are not necessary for the work that you will be undertaking. If you are unsure of the type of visa you need for your project, feel free to ask one of our advisors. Once you have this information, you can check the requirements of the visa for your nationality at Visa HQ: http://www.visahq.com/citizens/
20. I haven’t got enough available funds to pay Kaya for my trip. Can you offer me any support?
Although we do not offer any bursaries for our projects, we do have a guide to fundraising which will give you some great and imaginative ideas about how to raise some extra money to help finance your trip. From marathons to shaving all your hair off, there are so many ways that you can get sponsorship from family and friends to help send you on your incredible adventure. And often this fundraising process can form an invaluable addition to your CV.
21. I’ve had to drop out for a number of personal reasons. Can I reschedule for another time?
Yes, of course! So long as you give us adequate notice (6 weeks or more) we can hold your deposit for 1 year from the date that you initially signed up for a project of your choice. If at that point you are still unable to complete your placement, then we will examine every case individually to assess whether we are able to extend this further.
22. I am having trouble paying. What are my options?
You can pay both your deposit and the balance of your fees either online, by cheque or by bank transfer, where we can receive Pounds sterling (UK£) or US dollars (US$). To make payment online, click on the “Pay now” button and enter your name and the amount your need to pay (to protect your information we don’t keep your details online, and we will match your payment to your name manually). Payments are processed by Paypal, as, this ensures your card details are always safe. There is no need for a paypal account to use this service – just click on ‘pay with a card’ one you are on the Paypal page. Please note – some banks and card providers have a lower limit for online transactions than for regular payments. If you are having trouble making the payment, contact your card provider and ask for permission to process the amount required (the banks have introduced these safeguard to protect against internet scams). To pay by bank transfer, please see the bank details on your invoice. Cheques should be sent to Kaya Responsible Travel, The Arches, North Campus Incubator, Sackville St, Manchester, UK, M60 1QD.
