nformation Before Registration

Registration Fee

You must be a member of Humanitarian Affairs at the time you apply to go on an IVS project. Membership runs for 12 months from your date of joining. If you are not a member, please include the membership fee together with your project registration fee when you apply.

Our Membership and Registration Fees are the same for all Humanitarian Affairs - IVS projects either Short Term or Long Term.

Health & Dietary Needs

If you have any medical or dietary restrictions, it is very important you mention them when you register. Volunteers must be in good physical condition.

Be advised that we may not be able to accommodate to your dietary requirements. It is wise to bring your own provisions. Some humanitarian workers find it helpful to bring along a stash of protein-rich food, like peanut butter, cereal, health bars, or dry seeds / nuts to supplement their diet.

Some camps may also set restrictions on occupants, for example, no smoking & no alcohol allowed.

Please read the descriptions and expectations of each trip / project carefully and be sure you are ready to abide by the conditions listed before you register.

Changing Your Project Options

There is a penalty of US$50 for changing your choice of project after submission of your registration form.

There are limited opportunities for each project. Once we have made your placement request to our partner organizations, other potential volunteers registering for the same option will be turned away when the places are filled.

A lot of paperwork and international electronic communication follows every placement request. Therefore we strongly discourage any change to your choice of project after you have registered.

First Come First Served Basis

REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. There is no specific deadline for most projects, but early registration ensures a much greater chance of placement in your preferred choices. Majority of placements for the summer months are usually made before mid-May. Applicants are advised to apply the minute they have decided on their choice of projects. Some projects are filled very quickly.

Unfortunately, we can't tell you if places are available in a particular project until we have received your form & fee and make a request for your placement with the relevant authorities.

Bear in mind applications are coming in from all over the world. Places available today may be taken up before the end of the day. Act now! Don’t put off your decision till it is too late.

Again please do not call to ask if places are available. We will not know until we put in a request on your behalf.

Traveling With a Friend

Two people wishing to be placed in the same project should register as soon as possible immediately after projects are announced and preferably select projects that need more than 12 volunteers.

Small projects that need 12 or less volunteers usually only accept only one volunteer per country. Send in both your friend's and your registration forms together. REMEMBER to indicate on both forms that you want to be placed together in the same project.

Being placed in the same project can be difficult but not impossible. Some projects in Germany and projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia may allow friends or couples to be together on the same project.

Families

Some of our partner organizations are open to families participating, depending on availability of places.

Cancellations

Acceptance of our refund policy is a condition of your application and has become necessary because of the administrative costs involved in cancellations / non-acceptance of suitable places.

We assume that you will be interested in the choices you put down, so please don’t put down choices unless you really want to go on them.

We will do all we can to place you on a project but we cannot refund you if you are placed on a project of your choice and you then change your mind.  We do hope that you understand.

In all cases of cancellation / non-acceptance, you will continue to be a member of IVS for 12 months from your date of joining and receive e-newsletters and information about our work.

Refund Policy 

Your payment is made up of two parts namely the membership fee and the project registration fee. In all cases, your membership fee will be retained by Humanitarian Affairs.

If we are unable to place you on the project of your choice (e.g. no more vacancies or dates have changed),
you will receive a full refund of your registration fee.

If the project of your choice is cancelled by the partnering organization, we will do what we can to find you a place on an alternative project.

If there are no suitable alternative choices, you will receive a full refund of your registration fee. If you cancel your application before the confirmation of your placement on a project, a fee of US$20 will be payable to cover administration costs. We will deduct this from your registration fee.

If you do not accept a place offered to you on any of the projects you have applied for, or you have to cancel your participation last minute you will not be entitled to any refund.

Refund will take 3 months to process.

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