The Cultural Exchange Project Travel Blog

Safety First When You Volunteer Abroad

Written by Randy LeGrant | Apr 23, 2010 12:23:00 PM

For those of us involved in sending people abroad for many years, it is impossible to escape the dreaded call about an accident involving one or more of your volunteers or teachers.  In my 35 years of doing this work, I've been on the receiving end of such calls three times.  When I mention these calls in meetings, someone always suggests that one every ten years isn't so bad.  And if you've been the one picking up the telephone in the middle of the night to hear the news that someone is injured, or worse, even one in your lifetime is one too many.

At GeoVisions, we try hard to provide safety tools for all of our participants and traveling staff.  We provide safety information in advance of our volunteers and teachers traveling abroad.  We include the most amazing travel, accident and health insurance you can get when you go abroad with 24/7 telephone support...answered always by a person, not a machine.

Sara's Wish Foundation is an organization dedicated to keeping people safe when they travel abroad.  Primarily interested in students who study abroad, Sara's Wish Foundation put out a video, Know Before You Go.  The video, which we include here, is really for anyone who is traveling abroad.  It is very powerful.

Please watch this short video.  You can also use this link to get to the Sara's Wish Foundation website where you will find so many useful safety tips and helpful information.

Have the time of your life.  Have fun.  Experience life in another culture, incredible food, make new life-long friends.  And put safety first.

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