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.
Due to the nature of our work,
Help One Now requires special approval from the trip lead, and director of international operations to join the trip if you are under the age of 18. If approved, we will email out a form to get signed by parents or legal guardians, giving permission to travel out of country with the team.
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. **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!**
The Dominican Republic does not currently have any
required vaccinations; however, we recommend the Hepatitis A vaccination, a Typhoid treatment (pill or shot), and Malaria medication as well.
Some travelers choose to receive the Cholera, Hepatitis B, Rabies, and Yellow Fever vaccinations, but REST ASSURED: we know these lists may seem overwhelming, but all of these vaccinations are entirely optional and are merely precautions!
Covid-19 Requirements:
Due to continued Covid-19 restrictions and risks, we will be taking several precautions to ensure the safety of every traveler and the communities we will visit. While cases are lower in these communities, we will take every caution necessary to prevent the potential of carrying the virus during travel in order to protect each team member on the trip, the leaders we partner with and their teams, and the communities we will visit. Here are some precautions and updated information for all travelers:
- Each traveler is required to present a negative Covid-19 test taken within the week leading up to the trip.
- Each traveler will be required to take a Covid-19 test once in-country for their return to the U.S. (Vaccinated travelers must take the test within 3 days prior to departure, and unvaccinated travelers must take the test within 1 day prior to departure, per current CDC guidelines).
- Each traveler is recommended to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and carry with them their proof of vaccination.
- Each traveler will be required to carry with them a face covering. This will be worn at all times while visiting communities, as well as during international travel.
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
by Help One Now’s founder Chris Marlow. Another great resource is
by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
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