Helpful Resources

Many people have questions when preparing for their trip with us. Below, we've compiled a list of helpful resources to aid you in the planning process. From airline suggestions to travel insurance, we have resources available for you! After reading the information below, if you still have questions, send us an email at [email protected] and we would be happy to provide additional assistance.

Travel

Airfare Resources

In accordance with our commitment to tailored volunteer experiences, we avoid dictating your arrival and departure and instead require that you book your own flight so that all travel is done at your convenience. We are happy to provide the following resources that may be helpful when booking your airfare.

Travel Sites

Airlines

Financial Aid Resources

Fundraising has long been a tool that volunteers have used to help cover the cost of their trip abroad and contribute to the resources needed to provide medical care at FIMRC project sites. We wanted to make it even easier to fundraise, and as such we’re happy to offer volunteers the opportunity to fundraise directly on their volunteer profile.Once enrolled, you will gain access to your very own fundraising page that can be shared to gather financial support for your trip. This is a great way to include family and friends and allow them to contribute in a tangible manner.

Currency Exchange

We encourage all volunteers to review the most up to date currency exchange rates (http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter) in order to receive the most favorable exchange and to properly budget for travel. Click here for a fun and interactive tool designed to help travelers develop a budget friendly packing list!

SAS Travel

Quite often, individuals traveling to Peru take advantage of the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu before or after their volunteer experience. Interested volunteers are encouraged to plan Machu Picchu visits in advance in order to compare prices and trip options. There are endless travel companies to assist with planning; however, volunteers frequently utilize SAS Travel (http://www.sastravelperu.com/).

Passport and Visa

Passport

All FIMRC Volunteers are required to possess a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel. Volunteers who are not U.S. citizens must check with their consulate or a visa agency to determine what personal identification is required. For information regarding the application process, renewal, or passport replacement visit, please visit the US State Department's website.

Visa

The visa requirements for FIMRC locations vary greatly for volunteers. Please contact [email protected] for questions and specific visa instructions.

Safety Information

The U.S. State Department

The U.S. State Department website is a valuable resource for volunteers as well as parents who have concerns about international travel. For information regarding travel advisories, travel tips, and more please visit http://www.state.gov/index.htm. The U.S. State Department also features a site dedicated to student travelers and parents and can be accessed at http://studentsabroad.state.gov/.

Volunteers are also encouraged to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a service provided by the U.S. State Department. Enrollment in this program ensures that travelers receive pertinent updates and travel alerts while abroad. For more information, visit https://step.state.gov/step/.

Vaccines

Volunteers are required to submit proof solely of COVID-19 vaccination to FIMRC (see here for updated information). Prior to your program, however, we recommend that US citizens visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) to see what vaccinations are recommended/required for US Citizens. The CDC has the most up-to-date information regarding travelers' vaccination needs.

Volunteers who are not US citizens must check with their country's equivalent of the CDC to determine what vaccinations are required or needed for their citizens.

If you have any questions about vaccines and immunizations, please contact your doctor or other health professional, or a travel clinic specializing in travel medicine.

Evacuation Insurance

All of our volunteers are required to have Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage for $50,000 minimum (the industry standard for individuals participating in humanitarian service abroad). FIMRC partners with iNext to provide volunteers with temporary and affordable international travel and medical insurance.

iNext specializes in providing international health insurance to mission groups, volunteer organizations, and individuals traveling overseas. The average cost for one week of coverage through iNext is $15. To purchase evacuation insurance, please notify FIMRC upon your enrollment. If you have questions or would like to speak with FIMRC's contact at iNext, please feel free to let us know.

FIMRC Precautions

Please contact us directly if you have any concerns regarding safety. Volunteer safety is one of our first priorities. While the safety of international travel cannot be guaranteed, we go to numerous lengths to ensure volunteer security. FIMRC sites are chosen with many factors in mind, including accessibility to volunteers. Our programs are designed to be accessible to first-time travelers as well as experienced medical volunteers.

At all of our project sites, we arrange transportation and housing to maximize safety. We work with our project staff to ensure that they are trained on safety measures, that you receive orientation upon arrival in-country, as well as compiling tips and recommendations for the duration of your experience. We require medical and evacuation insurance as a safety measure. We constantly update our safety protocol to ensure that we are doing our best to keep you safe.

What it comes down to is this: we do everything in our power to keep you safe. While there are no guarantees, we work tirelessly to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable experience and that you're able to focus on volunteering. Safety is our priority!