FAQs Archive

Q: Are there any discounts?

Yes, we have several discounts to help you make this experience even more affordable. Our available discounts tend to change, so talk to your ILP representative about which ones you may be eligible for.

Q: What if I'm worried about affording it?

There are many ways to making your ILP adventure happen, and we’re happy to talk to you about ways that might work best for you! We recommend checking out learning about fundraising. We have had past volunteers fundraise half or even all of their program fee. It takes work and can be a little intimidating but the pay-off is so worth it. To help you get started, we have a downloadable fundraising guide that brainstorms lots of fundraising ideas and explains how other have had success fundraising. Fundraising aside, our ILP team can help you with additional financial concerns. We have discounts available and customizable payment plans that make your goals more attainable, whether you're signing up in advance or can make monthly payments leading up to your trip or if you're signing up just before departure and want to look into options for going now and paying your program fee later, with plans as low as $100/month.

Q: What extra expenses should I plan for?

While your program fee includes quite a lot, you will need to budget for extra expenses like a passport, travel insurance which meets certain requirements, medical exams, ID photos, immunizations (if desired/required), teaching materials/supplies (if not donated), airline luggage fees, and transportation costs to travel to training in Orem, Utah. When it comes to spending money in-country, we recommend that volunteers budget around $1,500-$3,500+ to cover any in-country costs during the semester such as travel expenses during vacation days, weekend excursions, eating out with their group on vacation days, souvenir shopping, tickets to local museums, etc. How much you spend during your semester is really up to you. Your personal spending habits (plus where you are volunteering) may mean planning trips and activities with a different budget than others in your group. You can certainly get by on less, but you may miss some unique opportunities to travel outside of your assigned city or country, and will need to watch your spending when it comes to snacks and souvenirs. If you’re looking for a more affordable semester, your ILP representative can help you choose a country that has a lower cost of living, where things like traveling, accommodations, and activities tend to be less expensive than another country or region.

Q: What does my program fee include?

No matter where you’re going (whether that’s on one of our Humanitarian Programs or an Exchange Program), your ILP program fee includes a few things: Roundtrip international airfare from the U.S. Airport pick up and drop off Your visa Housing for the semester At home meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) WiFi Pre-Departure and In-Country Training — You’ll need to arrange transportation to Utah for the in-person training, but the training and materials are included in your program fee. You’ll also receive in-country training throughout your semester. You also have support throughout the entire semester. Some language and cultural experiences — Depending on your location, you may have access to language classes, a tour around the city, or cultural classes like a cooking class.

Q: What if I get homesick?

Everyone gets at least a little bit homesick at one point during their semester which is why we’re here to help. During your pre-departure training, we’ll talk about it and help you understand ways to overcome homesickness (giving you tips on how to adjust to the new culture, ideas on how to spend your time rather than watching Netflix, and ways to connect with your group). But, we can also give you a little advice right now! Finding ways to love your country and have fun is really key to avoiding the big homesick symptoms. It helps to stay in touch with friends and family back home but finding things you like about your new home is a big boost, too. This blog post may help you know what to anticipate, and how to handle some things that may come up during your semester. It’s also good to remember you’re not alone! Any time you want, you’ll be able to call and text friends and family, post on social media, video call, and share everything about your semester to everyone back home. Plus, you have your ILP group with you. Sometimes the best experiences come only after stepping out of your comfort zone to help distract you from missing home — ask your ILP group to try a new local snack with you, plan a trip for your upcoming weekend, or check out a shopping street to keep your mind busy.

Q: Does ILP ever check in with the school we're teaching at?

We go to great lengths and costs to make sure that we are sending volunteers to schools that are consistently keeping up our standards. It’s such a priority that each semester, someone from our stateside Support Team flies out from Utah to visit every school. They meet with both the school and local leaders as well as each volunteer to check in.

Q: Does ILP keep in touch while I'm abroad?

Yes! You may not see it, but a lot is going on to support you behind the scenes. Each semester has unique and unexpected challenges, so we have years of experience figuring out how to handle what may come up during your trip. We stay involved from start to finish. Each in-country volunteer has access to our 24/7 stateside Support Team. We're here to answer both the day-to-day questions and offer support when urgent situations come up. What if your flight gets delayed? Or you get sick on vacation and aren't sure what to do? Just text or call the Support Team! We will have frequently scheduled calls with your Head Teacher to go over the various needs of the group, but we're also available if you need to reach out directly. We aim to have someone from our team come visit in person once during your semester, about halfway through the trip. Additionally, our office is also in contact with your local leaders, when needed. Things are handled on a case-by-case basis but don’t hesitate to reach out to your Support Team during the trip if you have questions or concerns.