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.