Expanding Opportunities
Service Journey
General Info
Greetings:
I am so happy you are considering a service journey to Kenya. It will truly be an adventure you will not forget. You will have the opportunity to share your expertise with Kenyans, visit with families, and see the sites as well. It is an experience tourists do not have. Working and laughing side by side toward a worthy goal will make your experience special. Expanding Opportunities is very grateful for your willingness to undertake this challenge. Here is some information for you.
Expanding Opportunities is a 501c3 non profit organization formed in response to volunteer service in Kenya. It is our strong conviction that there is no substitute for personal experience with another culture. For more information about the organization, its goals and projects please visit the web site at http://www.expandingopportunities.org
The service journey is open to anyone. Minors must have parental permission. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Program Fee BASE COST includes:
The BASE COST does NOT Include
BASE COST
| January 13 - January 28 | 16 Days | Art in Kenya: Shopping tour | $1,800.00 |
| January 13 - Febraury 25 | 44 days | Art in Kenya, Teaching in Rabondo, Individualized HOME service | $3,850.00 |
| January 13 - April 10 | 88 days | Art In Kenya, Teaching in Rabondo, Individualized HOME service | $4,700.00 |
| January 27 - February 11 | 16 days | Individualized HOME service | $1,450.00 |
| January 27 - February 25 | 30 days | Double Teaching Experience or Individualized HOME Service | $3,150,00 |
| February 10 - Febraury 25 | 16 days | Teaching in Rabondo, Kenya, Individualized service | $1,700.00 |
| February 10 - April 10 | 60 days | Teaching in Rabondo, Teaching in Mangu, Indiivudalized Service | $3,450.00 |
| March 12 - April 10 | 30 days | Individualized HOME Service | $2,300.00 |
| Long Term Service | 6 months or more | Individualized - See list of needs | negotiated |
The BASE COST may be reduced if 5 or more people are traveling.
Note:
CANCELLATION:
Once tickets are issued they are non refundable.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $50.00.
If you cancel your trip 30 days prior to departure all but $50.00 of the base cost will be refunded.
From 29 - 15 days prior to departure 60% of your base cost payment will be refunded.
There can be no refund after 15 days prior to departure due to prepaid expenses in Kenya.
AIRFARE
As people are volunteering from all parts of the world, we have not included airfare in the BASE COST. Some of you may choose to amend your travel to include a stay in Europe. Those traveling from Maine, may choose to travel as a group. You can allow us to arrange your airfare, accept a referral from us, or book your own flight. If you choose to book your own flight we will meet you in Nairobi, Kenya. We will assist you with the most appropriate selection for you and work with you to get compatible flights.
We will be happy to book and pay for your flight. The cost from Bangor, Boston or New York will be $1,600.00. This cost may be adjusted according to current airline rates at the time of booking. You will be notified of the final flight cost prior to purchase.
The cost of the flight from any other city will be calculated upon request.
PASSPORTS AND VISA
You will need a VALID Passport. Please allow sufficient time for the Passport Agency to process your passport.
You will obtain a VISA upon entry into Kenya. You will need to bring $50.00 US Dollars.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The flight is done in at least two stages. First a flight to Europe takes approximately 6 hours, then a flight to Kenya approximately 8 hours. You may plan a to extend your vacation in Europe. We will assist you with your flight plans and meet your plane in Nairobi.
There is telephone, email and fax communication in Kenya but it can unreliable and expensive. Email from a cyber cafe, or TEXT messaging from our cell phone is the best and most economical form of communication.
SAFETY
A trip anywhere inside or outside of the country has an element of risk. Our organization does not carry liability insurance. Therefore we must ask that you assume the risks yourself. The normal precautions that any tourist traveling abroad should heed are expected for travel to Kenya. We contact the American Embassy prior to departure to inform them we are in the country and to allow them to alert us to any current dangers. If you provide us with a copy of your passport, we will register you with the Embassy and it will expedite things should your passport be lost or stolen.
Kenya has always been a peaceful and friendly country. The Embassy bombing was one of those completely unexpected acts as was the Ohio bombing and the 9-11 disaster. The recent political post election crisis is settling down and we expect by January 2009, all will be in order and peaceful. We will be in the countryside for the majority of the time, which is peaceful, rural, and much more like home. Please consider the normal precautions that any tourist traveling abroad should heed. The best pieces of advice are:
a. do not show your money around-keep only an expendable amount on you
b. safeguard your passport
c. never travel alone and never after dark without an African.
HEALTH CONCERNS
We will be eating in our place of accommodation and in host homes. They understand our needs, but it is each individual's responsibility to select the food they will eat.
WATER : Bottled water will be provided. It is best to drink only bottled water, bottled juices and sodas or HOT beverages - NO ICE without first asking if the water has been boiled or treated. ·
If there are specific health concerns, please let us know ahead of time. There are no required immunizations. Yellow Fever and Typhoid immunizations are recommended. Malaria prophylaxis is also recommended. As for other immunizations, please visit your family doctor and read the information available at the Center for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
You can also contact the consular's office for more information on safety concerns http://travel.state.gov/
OTHER CONCERNS?
Feel free to contact me at 207-722-3708 or 207-722-3809 (FAX) or info@expandingopportunities.org
For more Information:
Write: Expanding Opportunities, 84 Payson Road, Brooks, ME 04921
Call 1-888-760-7943; 1-207-722-3708
Email: info@expandingopportunities.org
Visit: www.exop.org