Terms and Conditions

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DESTINATIONS

Terms and Conditions

The following Terms and Conditions together with the general information contained on our website form the basis of your agreement with Gustavo Caje-Medina trading as trading as Original Volunteers. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. By registering with us we are entitled to assume that you have had the opportunity to read and have read these terms and conditions and agree to them.

In these terms and conditions:

“you”, “your” and “volunteer(s)” means all persons named on your registration form (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date).

“we”, “us” and “our” means Original Volunteers.

“organisation(s)” means the organisations or charities for whom we advertise volunteer opportunities.

“placement(s)” refers to the volunteer opportunities we advertise on behalf of organisation(s).

We may change these terms at any time by posting changes online. Please review these terms regularly to ensure you are aware of any changes made by us. Your continued registration and/or use of our services after changes are posted means you agree to be legally bound by these terms as updated.

1. What Original Volunteers provide

We facilitate opportunities for independent individuals to volunteer with small organisations overseas which have requested a need for volunteers. By registering with us and paying an annual fee you can access details of all the placements we have information on and the prices charged by the organisations for your participation in those placements together with the relevant contact details of each organisation. You can then apply directly to an organisation(s) for whichever placement(s) you feel you are best suited for.

2. What we do not provide

We are not a tour or package holiday operator. We do not arrange or provide any travel arrangements such as transport, accommodation or any other services (including assistance during any placement). Such arrangements or services may be offered or arranged by the organisation or charity you volunteer with. This will be however entirely at their discretion according to their resources at the time. We have no control over and cannot accept any responsibility for any such arrangements or services even where we have assisted the organisation in making those arrangements, (for example where we have passed on your flight details to the organisation on your behalf so that they can arrange airport pickups for you). You are expected to make travel arrangements independently using the Internet and travel guidebooks, especially when sourcing local travel information for your destination. Any advice given by us on travel to and between placements is provided at our discretion and on a goodwill basis only. We cannot accept any liability for any inaccuracies in information obtained from third party web sites or travel forums which we pass on to you. You must also accept and understand that we are not able to keep up to date with every arrangement and service currently being provided in or to each location as these change constantly. Please also see clause 17 “Our liability”.

3. Cancelling

If you cancel your registration with us within 15 days of registering (“the cooling off period”) 100% of the registration fee will be refunded to you no questions asked*. Registrations fee in respect of cancellations made after the cooling off period has expired are non-refundable. This is because of the way registration fees are distributed and used to support overseas projects. Please note that your registration fee does not cover one volunteering trip but is instead the cost of your annual membership to the Original Volunteers volunteering scheme. Cancellations of the registration fee must be in writing by post. Cancellations by email or telephone are not accepted. *The cooling off period cancellation policy is not applicable to volunteers who have arrived at their first placement within 15 days from the date we received the initial registration fee.

4. Unused services

Once the cooling off period has expired there will be no refund of the registration fee for any reason whatsoever (this includes voluntary or involuntary termination of a placement, i.e. sickness, lack of personal funds to complete trip or placement, voluntary or involuntary change of itinerary, pregnancy, death of a family member etc).

5 Change or cancellation of a placement. You appreciate and acknowledge that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and should allow for alternatives. You accept that working hours, accommodation, services and placements offered may be subject to alteration or cancelled (sometimes without prior notice) due to local circumstances or events, which may include strikes, projects no longer considered suitable for volunteers, events emanating from political disputes, closure of local projects/charities, local management changes, climate and other unpredictable or unforeseen circumstances

We have no control over any placements or any of the organisations who offer these. We cannot therefore accept any responsibility if your placement is cancelled or significantly changed. If we are aware of a cancellation or significant change and we consider that the change will dramatically affect your placement we will endeavour to inform you accordingly. (A significant change usually refers to a change in the nature of the work that you as a volunteer will do, a pick-up arrangement or a substantial increase in the prices charged to you by the organisation concerned). If your placement is cancelled or significantly changed and you ask us to do so we will endeavour to advise you of an alternative placement, if available. We regret however that we cannot accept any responsibility for any expenses costs losses or compensation that you incur or request as a result of such cancellation or significant change (for example visa costs, non-refundable flight costs, transport costs to a new placement and any charges associated with a new placement, pre-paid payments, vaccinations or loss of enjoyment). You will not be entitled to a refund of your registration fee in the event of your placement being cancelled or significantly changed.

6. Prices and placement details

Prices and placement details quoted on our website or elsewhere are based on those provided by organisers. Prices and placement details are believed to be correct as of April 2008 although changes and errors do sometimes occur. We cannot accept any liability for any changes, errors or inaccuracies except where these are due to our own negligence. Where we become aware of a change error or inaccuracy we will advise you as soon as possible. The most likely cause for increases will be local inflation or local price increases to cover basic costs. Price increases and local inflation are out of our control volunteers heading to multiple placements over an extended period of time (ie registering in 2008 for a 2009 trip which finishes in 2010) should be aware that local prices will go up and you accept that you will need to pay any difference which later becomes apparent in order to take part on and continue with the placement. However there is no obligation to continue with the placement. You are reminded that the weekly prices are in any case kept as low as possible.

Please note that placement and other details and descriptions may often be subjective. Services such as accommodation, meals etc may be of a much lower quality or standard than what you may be used to. Health and safety standards (if any) in the country in which you are doing your placement may be much lower than the UK. If you require further information regarding a placement, (for example relating to matters such as the work you will be required to do, location and standard of accommodation and meals (if provided) or general health and safety advice etc you must request this from the organisation concerned directly.

7 Acceptance

We reserve the right to refuse applications and/or registrations from volunteers or prospective volunteers whom we consider unsuitable local staff and accommodation hosts may, at their entire discretion terminate the placement of any volunteer and/or their stay at any accommodation who appears to be a risk to himself/herself and those they are volunteering for or who is bringing the organisation they are working for, their coordinator or Original Volunteers into serious disrepute (this could include aggressive or intimidating behaviour, delayed volunteer contributions, slanderous comments about the institutions they are volunteering for, no regular volunteering presence, suspicion of any child related protection issue whether of a safety/sexual/bullying nature, lewd behaviour, alcoholism affecting their placement or those around them etc). It is also at the discretion of local staff and accommodation hosts to continue hosting volunteers who are not actively volunteering. Furthermore, because the nature of most volunteering involves working with vulnerable children and young adults your project may alert Original Volunteers that volunteering at future similar projects is not recommended. It will be at the discretion of other projects should they accept at any future placements should any of the above or similar occur. Also, we will not enter into discussion once a decision has been made by local staff. We cannot accept any responsibility in the event that your placement and/or stay at any accommodation is terminated as set out above. No refunds of any kind (including your registration fee and payments made to the organisation concerned) will be payable. Furthermore we will not accept any responsibility for any expenses, costs or losses of any nature that you may have incurred or incur as a result of a placement or stay at any accommodation being terminated as set out above (including any return or onward travel expenses.).

8. Transfer to another placement

A transfer is usually possible but only if approved by us in advance. Alternative placements will not be offered to volunteers whose behaviour is considered unsuitable. If you have not yet taken up a placement, are registered but are prevented from travelling by personal circumstances or lack of funds you may transfer your application to another person providing they meet all the requirements relating to that placement and the transfer of name is made no closer than 30 days before departure. You and the transferee will be responsible for paying all costs incurred in making the transfer.

9. Acceptance of risk

You accept that the nature of volunteering in developing countries is adventurous and involves a significant amount of personal inherent risk. You also acknowledge that there will be limited on site support at most locations, health services may be basic or lacking, training on placements will be lacking or informal at best and the safety standards of local accommodation and transport will not meet European standards.

10. Minor emergencies

Although a contact person is usually available for advice on emergencies, sickness and crime, when not present or immediately available, you accept responsibility for managing immediate arrangements by him/herself (ie by contacting their insurance providers, taking a taxi to hospital or reporting a crime to the local police). You must ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to meet such eventualities.

11. Authority at placements

At all times the decision of the local coordinator or staff where you are volunteering will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of all at the volunteer’s placement. You agree to abide by the authority of the local coordinator and local staff in all matters. You must also at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of the country(ies) you are visiting. If you are affected by any condition medical or otherwise that might affect other people’s enjoyment of their volunteering placement; you must advise us at the time you apply for your placement/s. Should you fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when volunteering or during your free time whilst volunteering or if in the opinion of local staff, or the coordinator your behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others we and/or the organistion concerned may terminate your registration or placement arrangements. We and the organisation concerned cannot accept any responsibility in the event that your placement and/or stay at any accommodation is terminated as set out above. No refunds of any kind (including your registration fee) will be payable. For any payments made to projects in advance it is at their discretion whether refunds for accommodation/services are payable. Furthermore we and the organisation will not accept any responsibility for any expenses, costs or losses of any nature that you may have incurred or incur as a result of a placement or stay at any accommodation being terminated as set out above (including any return or onward travel expenses.).

12. Travel documents

You must be in possession of a valid passport for entry to the country or countries which you are intending to travel to or through for your placement(s). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. You are also responsible for obtaining all required visas, permits and certificates including vaccination certificates, insurance policies, which are required for the whole of your journey/stay/placement (for example volunteer/work permits and/or visas). You accept full responsibility for obtaining all such documents visas and permits etc and are solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing or effective documentation. Any information or advice given by us regarding visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, special equipment, etc. is provided as a courtesy to you. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions as to the information provided. Please note requirements as to travel documents do change. You must check the up to date requirements with the embassy of the countries you are travelling to or through.

13. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel advisories

If the FCO (www.fco.gov.uk) advises against all or non-essential travel to a country or area you will be entitled to withdraw from any placement(s) affected by such advice or we may decide to cancel or withdraw such placements. In this case we will offer an alternative placement (if available). The registration fee is non-refundable. Except as set out above we are not responsible for any expenses, costs, losses or compensation of any nature whatsoever that you may incur or request as a result of cancellation or withdrawal from or of a placement following such advice from the FCO.

We will apply a common sense approach when considering cancelling /withdrawing placements following advice from the FCO. We will also seek advice from the relevant British Embassy in that country. For example if we have information that advice is likely to be downgraded shortly we may delay the offer of an alternative placement. If you decide to travel against the FCO and/or our advice you should be aware that this may affect your insurance cover, services (including the offer of a placement/accommodation and local discretionary services for volunteers may not be guaranteed or available on arrival). You may also face a much greater level of risk to your personal safety.

14 Factors outside the company’s control (force majeure)

Compensation and refunds will not be made for any change or cancellation caused by war or threat of war, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, decisions by governments or governing authority, natural disaster, bad weather, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of over transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of overseas institution directors or similar circumstances beyond our control. For the purpose of this contract we define the above as force majeure.

15 Your responsibilities

By accepting to volunteer using the services of Original Volunteers you understand that you are not arriving on a packaged volunteering or adventure holiday but that you are a committed and self motivated independent volunteer. Don’t leave your common sense at home and rely on others to ‘look after you’. All volunteers are required to insure they are adequately covered with travel insurance to cover medical costs and repatriation and should be aware of what their policy includes and excludes. Volunteers with worried family at home must make sure their family are aware that we do not have the time or resources to liaise with overseas staff on matters such as homesickness or culture shock (please see Complaints and Problems below). You understand that the more you put in to your stay the bigger the impact you will have and the better your personal experience will be. You must ensure you have all the relevant travel documents, full passport, the required visas, vaccination certificates, currency and access to sufficient personal funds. We will accept no responsibility for claims for theft from accommodation which has been provided for you during your placement or where baggage and belongings are in the care of local representatives or carriers, whilst in transit or otherwise. We will accept no responsibility for excursions or activities arranged through local agents or tour operators in the destination. Use your common sense to decide whether food is edible and safe to eat. Use your common sense to decide whether your safety is at risk by the activities and things you do during your placement whether whilst volunteering or during your free time. You must ensure that any privately-owned equipment and accommodation is adequately serviced and maintained e.g. bicycles. You must wear safety equipment such as life vests or helmets where provided or ask for these to be provided where these are not offered. You must ensure that privately owned safety equipment is in good order, looked after and secured when not in use. You undertake not to volunteer under the influence of drink or drugs and not to smoke in front of children, vulnerable adults or in enclosed spaces where it can affect other people. Volunteers with visible tattoos or facial/body piercings are required to cover or remove these wherever possible whilst volunteering.

16. Problems or Complaints

If you have a problem during your placement you must communicate this to the coordinator or local staff at your destination. In most cases matters can be quickly resolved locally. We are unable to enter into a discussion with local staff on behalf of a volunteer where a third party (i.e. family member) has contacted us unless the volunteer is physically unable to contact us (i.e. because of health reasons). If you consider the complaint or problem requires further attention and cannot be resolved locally it is your responsibility to alert us. We will acknowledge, investigate and reply as soon as possible. However, please allow for the fact that we have to deal with developing countries and delays of several days or weeks are not uncommon. You also acknowledge that we have limited power of advocacy on behalf of a volunteer. Please note that as your placement is a matter between you and the organisation alone, in all cases any assistance provided by us is provided on a goodwill basis only. As an independent volunteer you are entitled to leave a project if matters cannot be resolved to your satisfaction. We cannot however accept any responsibility for any expenses costs losses or compensation of any nature whatsoever that you may have incurred or request as a result of leaving a placement early because of unresolved issues or problems.

17. Liability

We are not a tour or package holiday operator. Accordingly, we do not sell or offer for sale any “packages” or act as an “organiser” within the meaning of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (“the Regulations”) and the Regulations do not apply to the services we provide.

Except as otherwise set out in these terms and conditions we have no control over and cannot accept any liability for the acts or omissions of the organisation(s) whose placement(s) we advertise, the placements themselves or any additional services or arrangements (such as transport or accommodation) which any organisation or other service provider makes for you. For all placements your contract for that placement is directly between you and the organisations concerned. For all other services (such as transport and accommodation) your contract for that service is with the service provider or organisation concerned (as applicable.) We are not a party to placement contracts or contracts for other services and cannot accept any liability in respect of these.

Our maximum liability to you if we are found to have been at fault in relation to any service we provide (as opposed to any service provided by any organisation or other service provider for whom we are not responsible) is limited to the registration fee you have paid to us.