Risk Management

Safety & Risk Management

GIVE is focused on providing our volunteers with an experience of a lifetime that is safe, educational, and impactful. Of course, risk is inherent in all international travel, but we maintain a culture of comprehensive risk mitigation on all of our trips. We work to identify risks in our operations and minimize those risks through carefully selected partnerships, proactive planning and continuous assessment of effective communication, training, equipment, and emergency response. We have a comprehensive risk management plan and, acknowledging that change is a constant, we continually implement changes to our programs and adapt as circumstances evolve.

 

Highly recommend traveling with this organization! It was such an amazing experience I will never forget…I also travelled during the busy post-COVID summer, and while I had trouble with flight delays, GIVE was there 24/7 on-call if anything was to happen and they were incredibly helpful. Flying alone felt scary as a young female, and across the world, but GIVE made me feel so comfortable and safe throughout the entire process.”

– Jasmine, Tanzania Volunteer

Our People

All of our guides started as GIVE volunteers, gained necessary certifications during our Wilderness & International Leadership Development Course (WILD), increased their experience and skill-sets as in-country interns, and are now facilitating safe, educational, and inspiring experiences for our volunteers. All staff are certified in Wilderness First-Aid and CPR, and trained in Risk Management, Outdoor Leadership & Teamwork, Wilderness Skills & Decision-making, and Cultural Awareness.  We also employ local guides in each of our destinations, who act as a critical link between our volunteers and the communities we empower. Click here to meet the GIVE team!

Our Precautions

Our adventure activities are supervised by trained personnel specialized in those specific activities. These include safari, surfing, snorkeling, and volcanic sand-boarding, among others. As the nature of these activities indicates, there is inherent risk and we strive to mitigate these risks by:

  • Providing volunteers with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about participating in activities prior to participation.
  • Partnering with personnel who are trained in the activities we participate in as well as briefing volunteers before commencing volunteer or adventure activities.
  • Implementing comprehensive risk management plans should any issues arise.

Our Places

At GIVE, the safety and well-being of our participants is our top priority. We understand that encouraging a loved one to travel abroad can be a significant decision, and we want to assure you that we have conducted extensive research and careful planning for all our program locations. Each location is selected not only for its meaningful opportunities to make a difference but also for its safety and support infrastructure. Our team continuously monitors local conditions and collaborates with trusted partners who are deeply rooted in their communities. We assess factors such as healthcare access, local regulations, and cultural contexts to ensure that every traveler is in a safe and secure environment. Moreover, we provide comprehensive orientations and ongoing in-country support throughout the program, including 24/7 emergency assistance.

Smart Travel With GIVE Volunteers

GIVE educates our volunteers to be informed travelers and volunteers prior to departure and again in-location. Smart traveling techniques, such as traveling in groups and the buddy system, are utilized and emphasized throughout the excursion so our travelers are equipped with the tools to make knowledgeable and responsible decisions. We also convey codes of conduct to our volunteers before the start of the trip that outline our expectations and ensure that our travelers are responsible and respectful guests in our host communities. Additionally, we promote responsible behavior by putting our travelers in low-risk situations with the tools needed to enable their well-being, as well as maintaining strong emergency action plans in case something does go wrong. We encourage everyone as responsible travelers to be ambassadors for both GIVE and our home countries.


More On Safety

GIVE Team Leaders are prepared for emergencies at all international volunteer project sites and adventure locations. We take great care in establishing emergency action plans, including communication strategies, knowing the best routes to community resources (hospitals, etc.), identifying consolidation points, preparing evacuation plans, and establishing partnerships with locals to assist in the event of emergencies. GIVE also has 24/7 emergency and evacuation assistance, the GIVE Headquarters has a 24/7 internal line for guides, and the GIVE Headquarters and flight agents are available on a 24/7 external line whenever volunteers are traveling. In addition, GIVE has established working relationships with local authorities and governmental officials of our presence to ensure the best safety measures are applied to all projects and adventure tour planning.

 

GIVE requires all participants to purchase International Medical and Travelers Insurance that meets GIVE’s minimum policy standards and is definitely worth it! Traveler’s insurance covers you for unexpected events leading up to your trip (i.e sickness or injury) as well as travel-related complications such as baggage loss and flight delays.

Neither GIVE nor the locations we travel to require any vaccinations, but we do recommend that all volunteers consult their doctor to discuss vaccination requirements and recommendations. Inform your doctor where you are traveling, what activities you plan to do, and how long you’re going to be traveling. Please do not wait until the last minute as most immunizations take at least one month to take effect, and some vaccinations can take up to two months. Please visit The Center for Disease Control and Prevention for more information regarding immunizations and vaccinations.

 

Why you can book worry-free:

 

Free trip changes

We won’t charge you to change your start date, program, or destination.

Guaranteed Flexibility

Your trip deposit(s) and payments can be used as credit towards any future trip.

360 Degree Support

Whether it’s helping first-time travelers navigate their layovers, working with concerned parents, or navigating a pandemic. It is who we are as an organization and as people. Simply put: we care.  

Ready to start your adventure?