Help One Now is...

...a catalytic tribe committed to empowering and resourcing high-capacity local leaders who care for orphans and vulnerable families in order to transform communities and break the cycle of extreme poverty.  We work with leaders who are already working effectively in their respective communities. These leaders are friends and partners in the fight against extreme poverty. They are our greatest resource, and without them, sustainable change is impossible.

Our ethos is to remain invisible in our communities and focus our efforts on resourcing key leaders instead. For this reason, we don’t typically do “mission trips,” as they can be a distraction to the communities in which we serve.

Instead, we will lead a limited number of Learning Journeys for committed, long-term supporters of Help One Now  each year. On these Journeys, emphasis will be placed on connecting with a community, building deep relationships with the local leaders, and brainstorming how you can unlock your human capital to partner together and support their work back home.

On this trip, we hope that you will...

• Meet and fall in love with our local leaders and the children they serve

• Learn from our local leaders by hearing their stories and engaging in their communities. Doing this helps us, the visitors, understand the unique issues in different environments

• See the impact of our Family Empowerment Program firsthand and gain a new understanding of how complex working in these communities can be,

• Be advocates of the country, people and orphans that you meet when you return home. You are the tribe; we need you to run with these stories and partner with us to make an impact

Tentative Itinerary

A few things to note about this trip:

Airfare and all expenses on the ground (meals, lodging, transportation) are included in the trip price, but any other costs associated with your trip would be your responsibility (those costs may include spending money, or appointments at a travel clinic before your trip, for example). We do allow our trip participants to fundraise through their registration pages in order to make those trip costs more manageable!

Those traveling are required to carry a passport with an expiration date further than 6 months away from the date of travel. Should your passport have already expired, or should your passport expire within the 6 months after your intended trip dates, you can mail in your old passport to get it expedited and renewed. HERE is where you can find more information on how to renew your passport.

**Please ensure you are up to date on all routine vaccinations. These vaccinations include a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and a flu shot! Most of you are up to date on these anyway!**

In addition, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends various vaccinations for international travelers depending on your destination country. Please visit a medical professional or a travel clinic as soon as you know you are traveling abroad, as they may recommend particular vaccinations or medicine based on your destination, some vaccinations are not always immediately available, and some vaccinations need to be administered over the course of months.

Ethiopia does not currently have any required vaccinations; however, we recommend Hepatitis A and a Typhoid treatment (pill or shot) as well.

Travelers may also choose to receive other vaccinations as well. You can find a full list of recommended vaccinations HERE

We know the lists posted by the CDC and WHO can be overwhelming, but do note that these vaccinations are merely recommendations--when in doubt, you can visit your local travel doctor or nurse.

We’d love to encourage you to familiarize yourself with Help One Now’s philosophy regarding international mission. In preparation for your potential Learning Journey, please try to read Doing Good Is Simple by Help One Now’s founder Chris Marlow. Another great resource is When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.

Insurance

Help One Now has purchased trip cancellation and medical evacuation insurance for each of you (included in trip cost). An email will be sent closer to your departure date with your card attached. Please print your insurance card and keep it with your passport while traveling.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

You will each be registered with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a free service provided by the US Government for citizens traveling abroad that will allow the US Embassy in Peru to better assist you in the event of an emergency.

Supplies / Packing List

Please do not bring anything you absolutely can’t live without (including jewelry and electronics). Be modest with the items you decide to bring to Ethiopia.  We recommend packing light and limiting your bags to carry-on only. You are allowed one carry-on and one personal item. For example, this could be a rolling suitcase to put in the overhead compartment and a backpack that you can put at your feet.

Mandatory Items

• VALID PASSPORT (with atleast 6 months of validity) to be carried on your person at all times.

• Water bottle (to be refilled)

• Clothing to fit your needs for the allotted time period: It is hot and humid in the daytime. Please dress modestly (shorts are fine, but no short-shorts; underwear and bra straps cannot show). For church services, please include “church” clothes, i.e. long skirt/dress, short sleeves or cardigan to wear if top is sleeveless. A light jacket is recommended just in case you get chilly at night or if it rains.

• Closed-toed shoes

• Toiletries (no perfumes/colognes or heavily scented items please- mosquitoes like those)

• Bug Spray- DEET (anti-mosquito) spray or wipes

• All necessary prescriptions to be kept in original labeled bottles (TSA regulations)

Suggested Items

• Snacks for when you're on the go (protein bars, trail mix, etc- there may be times where it makes more sense to eat snacks for lunch if you are on the go)

• Backpack to hold passport/cash

• Cash for sodas, souvenirs, etc

• Hat, sunglasses, & sunscreen

• Hand sanitizer

• Medicines/Personal First Aids: pain/fever reducer, Imodium, sleeping aid, band aids, alcohol wipes

** You will receive more detailed information in a Trip Packet a few weeks before departure. **