FAQs Archive

Q: What happens in case of an emergency?

The majority of Head Teacher training focuses on how to handle emergencies. Local Coordinators work together with the Head Teacher to solve medical, political, host family, and safety problems. The Head Teacher is also regularly in direct contact with the ILP Directors and Program Managers who make themselves available at all times. All volunteers and parents will have access to the personal cell phone numbers of our Directors. Along with these resources, ILP uses several safety benchmarks to help ensure safety in an emergency situation. We often look to other organizations such as the U.S. State Department, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and their worldwide missionary program, and other international programs and universities such as BYU that have participants in the same locations we do and take into account any safety measures that they make. We do require that volunteers have health insurance while living abroad. If you do not already have health insurance that will cover you internationally, we can recommend plans past volunteers have used that meet our requirements (these plans may also include other things you’d like covered during your time abroad).

Q: How will the political and economic situation affect me?

In each of our ILP countries, the political situation is currently friendly towards the US and Canada (we have found that service to children is an international common denominator that can help smooth over any prejudices). The economic situation is challenging but improving in all of the ILP countries. Each location and semester has a unique housing setup that will work best for that city (sometimes you live with a host family, other times in a dorm or apartment) and it is arranged by the Local Coordinator. Volunteers typically live in housing that is similar to housing that middle-class locals may live in. You likely won’t have all the comforts you’re used to at home, but ILP works with Local Coordinators to ensure that your basic housing needs are met such as a bed, clean water, etc. It’s an adventure living abroad!

Q: Do I need to get vaccinations or antibiotics before I go?

Our policy on vaccines has always been to leave the decision up to you when we can, but some countries do require travelers to receive particular vaccinations (we have more info about this, below). The Covid-19 vaccination is no longer required for ILP volunteers, but is recommended. We have more information on our Covid-19 page . For volunteers headed to Uganda — There are certain immunizations required for all travelers entering Uganda. Please contact us if you’d like more information on the medical requirements for this country. For these + all other immunizations you may choose to get, consult with your health care provider and what’s suggested by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Just keep in mind that the CDC often lists immunizations that are recommended for those living in rural areas; most ILP schools are located in larger cities or more developed areas, not rural areas.

Q: What happens if I get sick while I'm abroad?

If you get sick on your semester, your Head Teacher and Local Coordinator will help make sure you are cared for and can accompany you to get medical care and provide support if needed. For straightforward injuries (such as a broken leg) and minor illnesses, local medical clinics are readily available. If hospital care is required, you will receive assistance from your Head Teacher and your Local Coordinator to get to quality facilities to care for those needs. If you or your family prefers that you return to America for medical assistance, your Head Teacher will help you make those arrangements. Any associated travel costs for medical care will be your responsibility. Please note that this isn't always an option: there are situations where you will need to be treated in-country. We do require that volunteers have health insurance that meets certain requirements while living abroad. If you do not already have health insurance that will cover you internationally, we can recommend plans past volunteers have used that meet our requirements (these plans may also include other things you'd like covered during your time abroad). This is an additional cost you should budget for. Most plans that meet these requirements are $100-$250 for your semester, depending on your coverage and the policy.

Q: Is it safe to live abroad?

We go to great lengths to find locations for our programs that we feel would be a good spot for American volunteers to live in. Part of this includes our Directors and Program Managers personally traveling to scout out each location prior to opening a new program and visiting again at the midpoint of each semester to talk with volunteers in person about how their experience is going. Program Managers are also available by phone 24/7 for the group when support is needed throughout the semester. The media tends to look for the most extreme stories to report on, and often generalizes an entire country even if only one area is affected. Even if stories are being shared on the news, it may not affect our particular program, so we have several other watchtowers to rely on when making decisions about the safety of our volunteers. ILP also keeps an eye on similar programs who are in the area (like church mission programs and university study abroad programs) and stays in touch with our Local Coordinators in each country (who act as our ‘eyes on the ground’). Our Directors welcome any calls from parents (or volunteers) who would like to discuss concerns in more detail. There are always certain risks associated with traveling but following the ILP safety rules helps reduce those risks. Over more than three decades, ILP has worked hard to make sure thousands of volunteers have had a safe experience abroad and will continue to work hard to maintain that for future volunteers.