Don’t worry, you are not making any commitment when you leave this information. We will contact you within a few days to see if you have any questions or help you through the application process if you have chosen to apply. If you aren’t interested, we won’t bug you anymore.

We accept applications up to three semesters (1.5 years) in advance. Because we’re limited on how many volunteers we can send to each country, the earlier you’re able to apply the more likely we’ll have spots available!

As we mentioned, each location has a certain number of volunteers needed. Once those spots are assigned, we work off of a waitlist system. The waitlist shifts quite a bit (volunteers switch countries, defer to another semester, etc), so it’s not uncommon to be on the waitlist when you first apply and then to receive a spot a bit later.

There are no deadlines! As soon as we open up a semester on our application, you can apply. You’ll find that you have more options the earlier you apply, but we frequently have last minute spots available even during the weeks or days leading up to departure. 

Yes. ILP Volunteers must be at least 18 before they leave for their ILP semester; you’re welcome to apply 1.5 years in advance (so when you are almost 17 or 17) if you’ll be 18 before you’d leave to go abroad. You must have a legal guardian who is able to sign the agreement in your behalf until you are a legal adult (at which time you will sign the agreement for yourself).

As part of your application, you will provide two references (the application asks for their contact information — after that’s provided, we will email a short reference form that they can fill out and send back).

For your academic reference, you may choose any teacher who has given you a grade within the last two years, including high school teachers.

For the character reference, each situation is different. Typically, you choose a respected person who can attest to your good character with authority, who is not related to you. Religious leaders (bishop, pastor, preacher, etc), are a great option for this. However, managers, coaches, mentors, and others who have worked closely with you work as well. 

Don’t wait to apply! There is plenty of time to decide before it’s official — the online application and country assignment are broken up into separate stages.  When you apply we’re just asking to see which countries you are interested in. You are not locked in to that spot. Also when you apply, you’ll be put in touch with an ILP representative who is there to answer your questions and give you more information about each country you have your eye on. There will be time for you to decide on a country to volunteer in later; right now is a good time to do some research and get your questions answered about certain countries. You’ll have plenty of time after you’ve applied before you accept an official city and country assignment.  

We’ve actually found that many volunteers end up switching where they’d like to go anyways after talking to their rep and learning more about each program.

There is a $30 application fee (although this can be waived, we’ll let you know more about that after you’ve sent in your online application).

After you are accepted, there is a $270 deposit which is due in order to accept and secure your official spot in a location that semester.

If you would like to pay your program fee right away, there is a $100 discount (for paying in full within 3 weeks of your acceptance). We also have a couple of payment plans if that works better for you! We especially love our monthly payment plan (and it’s the most popular option too) because it is really customizable — you get to choose your start date, so in a nut shell the earlier you start the smaller your monthly payments are.

An ILP representative (who has been a volunteer with us before) will contact you to help you complete the next steps of your application and talk over the basics of our program. They are also there to help answer any of your questions before you fully commit.  

Once you apply, our review committee will consider your application. It typically takes two or three weeks before you’ll be notified if you have been accepted via email.

First you need to apply and complete all the application parts. Then you’ll be accepted as an ILP volunteer and will need to complete our ILP Orientation and a second set of documents. Once those have been completed and submitted, it takes around 4-6 weeks for you to be officially assigned to a city and a country if there is a spot available. Hooray!

If the country you want most already has a waitlist, we can talk to you about your options. You may want to be assigned to another available location while also be placed on the waitlist for other countries you want. If a spot opens up, we can easily transfer you.

There is a specific number of volunteers that we can send to each location, determined by the host school, based on things like housing and the number of students attending that semester. If there are more volunteers applying for a country than there is room for, ILP starts a wait list (one location may only have room for 4 teachers that semester, but if 20 people apply, 16 will be put on a waiting list after we’ve offered the city and school assignments to the first 4 applications who got all their paperwork in. Make sense?).

Just because you are on a wait list doesn’t mean you won’t get into that country. Because people are applying so far in advance (often a year or 1.5 years early), it is common for plans to change. Additionally, the majority of our volunteers are on wait lists for multiple countries, which all change frequently. The wait list frequently changes because when one person gets into a country, it has a domino effect, which impacts the wait lists for that country, and the other countries that volunteer was waiting for. See how that works?

Your ILP representative can work with you when it comes to being put on a waiting list or choosing another country to volunteer in. We have many volunteers who accept an assignment in another country they were also interested in while still remaining on a wait list for their first choice location in case that opens up. We will do our best to help you receive a volunteer spot that you are excited about while also remaining as fair as possible to all applicants.

ILP has native, on-site coordinators that help volunteers enjoy their country safely (called Local Coordinators). They are there to help as you adjust to living in a new country and look out for the general needs of the ILP volunteers. They speak the local language (which is very handy) and can help with some language barrier issues.

Your relationship with your Local Coordinator depends on a few factors (some like to be very involved and get to know the group, while others are there to help via text, phone call, or visit when necessary). They’re often quite protective of their group of volunteers and work closely with your Head Teacher to help with what they can.

Local Coordinators are locals, and act as a liaison from the Head Teacher and ILP group to the local staff of the school. They usually keep an eye out for the ILP volunteers and can help with some housing and scheduling concerns, but aren’t there to take on the role of a parent (they aren’t there to make sure you’re getting along with others or that you are taking your vitamins!). ILP’s structured as an independent program, with some support from your Head Teacher, other group members and a Local Coordinator.

We do our best to choose both Head Teachers and Local Coordinators who will follow the standard that we ask of them, but if for some reason you don’t feel like they are meeting your needs, don’t worry; you’ll have the contact information of your Program Manager (and the ILP Directors) to help you with any issues that may arrive once you’re in-country. 

The ILP Directors also give you their personal emails and cell phone numbers so they can be reached at any time. You can even call them at midnight — Well, hopefully you’re only calling them at midnight if there’s an emergency … but know that you have that option available. You have many resources to reach out to if you feel like one support system isn’t working.

While most first time volunteers have no experience teaching prior to their ILP semester, yes, there will be at least one person (your Head Teacher) who has taught with ILP before. Head Teachers are volunteer peer supervisors that have at least one semester of ILP  teaching experience. Your ILP Head Teacher works with your ILP group — they are there to help lead the group, conduct teaching trainings, give suggestions for working with the children, plus work with the Local Coordinators and school to help keep things running smoothly.

You may also have alumni in your group who are returning to teach for the second or third time, so don’t worry — you’ll have lots of support and places where you can get your questions answered.

It’s also good to remember that most locations are familiar with the ILP program. Children who have been in ILP classes for a few semesters typically know what to expect (though they do like to bend the rules to make sure you’re paying attention!). But even if you’re the first semester in a brand new location, you will have a Head Teacher there who’s familiar with the ILP method to help you.

Yes! You may not see it, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Each semester is different but we have lots of experience figuring out how to handle what may come up during your semester. In addition to the ILP Directors, each group has a Program Manager who has frequently scheduled calls with your Head Teacher while you are abroad. They talk about what’s going on with your group, the school, and what improvements or changes need to be made if any.

Your group’s Program Manager or one of the ILP Directors also comes to visit every ILP location during the semester to check on the program. Additionally, our office is also in contact with your local leaders when needed. We handle things on a case-by-case basis, but don’t hesitate to reach the ILP office during your semester if you have questions or concerns.

We go to great lengths and costs to make sure that we are sending volunteers to schools that are consistently keeping up our standard.  It’s such a priority that each semester, one of the program directors from Utah visits each and every school. They meet with both the school and local leaders as well as each volunteer to make sure that your experience is a successful one.

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, ways to spend your time rather than watching Netflix, and ways to connect with your group). 

But, we can 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.

Of course! Our office representatives have all been on at least one ILP semester and are happy to answer your questions; you are more than welcome to call our office (801-374-8854) and talk one-on-one with an ILP rep. You can also schedule a time for a representative to call you.

Another resource is the ILP Takeover Instagram Account. That account is run by volunteers in-country to show you what it’s really like — taking you through a house tour, explaining meals, running through what vacations are like, and more, with tons of pictures and videos. Groups typically have a day where they answer all sorts of questions.

Then, once you have finished your application and have been accepted, you are invited to join your country’s Facebook group which is full of ILP alumni for your country and future volunteers (like you). Loads of volunteers use the ILP Facebook groups to ask specific questions about their country or their school like “any tips on things to pack?” or “what coats and boots do you recommend for a winter in Eastern Europe?” or questions about what teaching is like and where to get teaching ideas.

If your parents have questions, they’re more than welcome to check out the same resources, this blog post, and/or email the office to set up a call with one of the Directors — just email office@ilp.org.

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 airfare from the US to your volunteer country
• Your visa
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Housing for the semester
• WiFi
• At home meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, apart from vacation days and weekends adjacent to vacation time)
• Pre-Departure Training and In-Country Training (you’ll need to arrange transportation to Utah, but the 2-day pre-departure training and materials are included. You’ll also receive in-country trainings through your semester.) You also have support through the entire experience.
• 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).

ILP has two main volunteer programs: Exchange and Humanitarian (plus a Hybrid program that combines elements from both). You can compare the programs and their fees here but in either program, your program fee covers the same things.

In our Exchange programs, the service that you give is subsidized by the host school and your student’s family. These students come from a wide variety of backgrounds (typically middle to upper class) and are able to contribute to help fund the education you’re providing. This helps keep your costs low.

In our Humanitarian programs, the students and children you serve generally come from extremely limited means. Many are so underprivileged that getting their basic needs such as food and housing is a daily concern. Some of the children live in an orphanage. The volunteer work you provide them is a gift – free of charge – as their families could not otherwise afford an education like this. This means that your program fee will be higher than the Exchange programs.

Our Hybrid programs are just that — a combination of the Humanitarian and Exchange programs. In these programs, you’ll be teaching children from both backgrounds: those who come from more affluent backgrounds (and are able to help subsidize the program cost) and those who come from limited means. It’s a unique way to keep the overall cost of the program down while helping as many children as possible.

You can discover how unique each of our Humanitarian Programs are and choose which one is right for you here.

While your program fee includes quite a lot, you will need to budget for a few extra expenses that you may need like a passport, travel insurance which meets certain requirements, medical exams, ID photos, immunizations (if desired/when 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-$2,000+ 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 a different budget than another ILP volunteer. 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 you won’t be paying as much on your vacation days than you would in another country or region. 

There are many ways to make it happen and we’re happy to talk to you about ways that might work best for you. First we recommend checking out our free Guide To Affording a Semester Abroad which is full of helpful tips.

Fundraising is the way to go. 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 fundraising packet that brainstorms lots of fundraising ideas, explains how other have had success fundraising and puts you in touch with experienced representatives who can help you out along the way. You’ll have access to that when you are accepted.

Fundraising aside, we can do a lot to help you with financial concerns, including offering payment plans and discounts. Many volunteers sign up a year or more in advance, giving themselves plenty of time to work, fundraise, and save up before any payments are due to ILP.

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.

Nope. We have a $30 application fee, but even that can be waived (ask your ILP representative how!). There is a $270 deposit that is due after you are accepted to guarantee your spot and that must be paid before you can officially receive an assignment to a specific location.

After you’ve been accepted, you will complete ILP Orientation where you will set up a payment plan that is realistic for you — We have a couple of different payment plans to help break up the program fee over a few months to make things easier, plus have fundraising tips and discounts to help even more.

If you would like to pay your program fee right away, there is a $100 discount (for paying in full within 3 weeks of your acceptance). We also have a couple of payment plans if that works better for you! We especially love our monthly payment plan (it’s the most popular option) because it is really customizable — you get to choose your start date, so the earlier you start, the smaller your monthly payments are.

We really want to do what we can to help make this realistic for you. If you can’t make payments until you start a summer job, we can help you pick a payment plan that matches up with your paychecks when your job begins. While there are some specific payment deadlines (like when your flight needs to be purchased), our payment plans are set up to help keep you on track — but we are here to be flexible. Just let us know what’s going on and we can do our best to work with your situation. 

Travel is a big part of your experience — every ILP volunteer has Saturday and Sunday off from teaching, plus scheduled vacation days. While you’ll need to budget some money for things like museum tickets and ice cream, travel is where volunteers spend the bulk of their spending budget.

How much you spend on vacation will vary — flying is going to be more expensive than taking trains or buses, certain countries are going to be more expensive than others, etc. Volunteers who have managed their money well on other things (like eating out and buying souvenirs) were able to attend all trips during vacation time with a $1,500ish budget, particularly in countries like Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean.

Just remember, how much you spend abroad is completely up to you; we have had volunteers get by on less, and have had volunteers who have spent double that amount. You and your ILP group will decide your travel plans including things like where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, and which excursions you do throughout the vacation … which means you have a lot of control on how much you spend.

If you cannot afford to travel, you are welcome to stay in your city during vacation times. Certain ILP countries do require that you leave the country at some point to abide by visa rules, so if you’re planning to not travel please let your representative know so that you can be placed in the right country for you.

Cash always works, but credit or debit cards work very well too, especially Visa and MasterCard. Some countries accept cards at most restaurants, shopping stalls and eateries, while other countries operate better on cash — either way, you’ll need a credit or debit card to pay for things directly and/or to get local currency out of an ATM. It’s often best to carry both cash and a card so you have options.

There is often a minimal foreign conversion fee each time you use your card and you may want to contact your financial institution to be aware of how much that fee is. There will probably also be an ATM fee associated every time you take out cash; comparing those fees may help you decide whether to pay for most things in cash or pay for more things with your card. You may also want to consider opening up an account that offers no fees on foreign transactions to save a bit of cash.

Yes. ILP is a non-profit organization, so donations made directly to International Language Programs are tax deductible (we’re an IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organization; the program fee and other contributions are tax-deductible). When volunteers fundraise, many have had luck getting half of all program fees (or more) through generous donations.  Parents, relatives, and friends can all act as ILP program “sponsors” to help you make this semester abroad happen.

Yes. We have quite a few volunteers who opt to receive the $100 discount for paying in full within 3 weeks of acceptance and then fundraise to “pay it back”. Once you’ve paid in full, we will refund you the money received from donations (up to the full program fee amount). This typically happens just before your semester begins.

You will volunteer for about 3-4 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Unless you’re serving in the Romania orphanage, you’ll also need to spend some time during your week planning your lessons and preparing to teach — that usually amounts to 1-2 hours a day. There may also be time spent commuting to school, depending on where you live.

You may be volunteering in the morning and afternoon, or the afternoon and evening; the times are determined by your Local Coordinator so that they work best with the program there, but either way, you’ll have quite a bit of time outside of your volunteering hours. How you spend your free time has a big impact on your semester — living abroad should be spent out exploring, not spending hours watching Netflix!

Here’s one example of what your day could look like, if you want to make the most of things:

Waking up to FaceTime or video call with your family (you may be 2 hours ahead of them, or 12!) then you could go for a quick jog with your ILP group before eating breakfast at your apartment. Next, you’ll have some time to plan lessons before visiting a nearby cathedral or maybe you need time to run to the grocery store for snacks to eat on the train for your weekend trip! Have lunch with your group and finalize some details that you’re planning for your upcoming vacation.

Since you are with the kids in the evenings, you’ll have lots of free time before you even need to be at the school, so make the most of it.

Next it’s a commute to school … you may walk, or take a bus, ride the metro or take a taxi. You’ll spend 3-4 hours with your class  — you’re teaching kitchen today and the kids loved the idea of celery, peanut butter and raisins as “ants on a log”, but not every lesson goes perfectly! Don’t worry, it’s all part of the experience … and there will be good days even with the hard days. After class, time to tidy up before commuting back to your apartment for dinner and playing a few games with your ILP group before bed.

There will also be days where you want to stay inside, lessons don’t go according to plan, or you are homesick. Hopefully, you are able to get out and make the most of your ILP experience each day because the experience really does go by quickly.

We leave this up to you. ILP does not scheduling out your entire day (just your teaching schedule), which gives you the opportunity to really take charge of your experience and decide what it will be.

We can’t encourage volunteers enough to just get out and explore — you may have the chance to attend some language and culture classes provided by your school, but you’re also welcome to work on the language yourself, go out with your ILP group to grab a treat downtown, head to the theater to see a ballet, concert, plan a picnic in the nearby park, visit the local pop-up market, do some shopping, take a hike to the mountains behind your school. Each location will be unique, but in every city you’ll find there’s plenty to be explored. You’ll also need to spend your free time planning vacations and other adventures.

We recommend brainstorming and making a big long list of things you want to see, do, experience and eat during your semester abroad with your group (get help on the ILP blog!); that way, you’ll always have a list of ways to really get to know your country. On you’re officially accepted and assigned to a location, you will also have access to your City Page (a website of tons of info for assigned volunteers), which has city-specific ideas for things you can do. 

On the weekends, you’ll have even more free time —  there are no volunteering hours scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. Some groups leave to explore a nearby city (or even a new country, depending on where you’re located). You can also spend the full day adventuring in your home city, like a little stay-cation. Take a train out to the edge of town, spend all morning at a museum, or take a full-day hike to a nearby volcano, beach or castle.

Again, once you are assigned to your specific location, you’ll have access to a City Page that lays out favorite weekend trips. You can also look at our blog for ideas — many posts there are destinations that are easily done on the weekend.

On the whole, yes. As a reminder, ILP is not affiliated with any religion, however, many of our volunteers are religious and would like to attend services.

Church services of many faiths are available in ILP countries and cities. There are often many opportunities for members of various faiths to worship in local services — if finding a meetinghouse or service to attend regularly is important to you (ie: one that is closer than another location), feel free to talk to your ILP representative about finding a location that would be best.

In general, there are a number of ILP volunteers who are interested in attending services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  There is an option for members to attend church in every location, whether that be a local branch or ward.

Just to clarify, this is a common question because many of our participants are religious, but it is not a requirement to attend church or to be religious to volunteer with ILP.

You’ll see them every day — one of the most important parts of your semester abroad is the friends you’ll make with your ILP group. If you’ll be living with a host family, you’ll be getting together with your ILP group to explore your city or check out a new restaurant together when you’re not spending time with your host family.  If you’ll be living with your ILP group, you’ll be spending most of your free time together.

Your Head Teacher and/or Local Coordinator can help orient you to your city once you arrive and help you find your way around. You may also make local friends who would love to spend time with you showing you their city. Often though, the best way to explore your city is to simply wander around with your group members. It can be quite the adventure even just walking around a new part of town and is a great way to discover more activities for your group to do throughout the semester.

Past volunteers who have lived in your city have recorded some of their favorite spots they’ve found and recommend you check out which can be invaluable for your group. You can find suggestions once you’re officially assigned on your City Page! But still, we encourage you to just explore to find new spots around your city — we know there are places just waiting to be discovered.

Your school may have a track or gym that you can use, but if not, look for a nearby park with a running path or grab your ILP group and go for a run in your neighborhood. There could be a neighborhood gym you could get a membership for. If none of these options are available, you can look online to find workout videos and host a yoga or Zumba night with your ILP group.

Once you’ve been assigned to a country and school, you’ll be able to ask the ILP Facebook group for your country and see how past volunteers exercised at their school. On your City Page, there is a section about working out and resources are explained there. You can also see if that question was answered in a previous ILP Takeover on this Instagram account (or ask the next group). 

You may need to get creative with what you have available, but every semester volunteers find ways to stay active.

Most volunteers get around by walking or using public transportation — the specific type of transportation depends on your country, but you’ll typically run into buses, trams, metros or motorized carts like tuk-tuks or rickshaws. If you don’t live near the school you teach at, you’ll also use public transportation to get to your classes. Some volunteers have chosen to purchase a cheap bicycle for getting around town (instead of walking or riding the bus) but in almost every location, you’ll be walking quite a bit so bringing good walking shoes is a must.

It’s not recommended, but it is an option for you.

Taking a class can be a productive way to fill your free time (most people are actually surprised by how much free time they really have), but it also means missing out on some of your ILP experience — like studying or doing homework while you’re group is out exploring. It’s recommended that you’re mindful of the type of class and the credit load if decide to take a class online during your semester.  

You’ll also need to be aware that WiFi in general tends to be less reliant and slower than you’re used to in America. Because of this, it’s best to take classes where you can work ahead or have a flexible professor so that you’re not caught in a scenario where the internet happens to temporarily go out the evening your paper is due. You may want to talk to your ILP representative about locations that have better connection than others if you’ll be taking an online class.

We have more in-depth info about this question, here.

It depends on your housing which is different in every location. If you live with a host family, most often you will not live with another volunteer.  In every other housing (apartment, dorm, etc.) you will live with other group members. Most setups have volunteers sharing a room with at least one other volunteer, sometimes more … if that’s the case,  it’s a slumber party every night!

Host family locations are typically found with our European locations, however, there are some host family situations for male volunteers as well as married volunteers in other locations.

Volunteers live like the locals, in local neighborhoods — That may mean living in a Soviet-Era apartment in Ukraine or a tropical wooden cabin called “the Tree House” in Costa Rica.

In some of our Humanitarian locations, you’ll be living in a home that you might not consider nice, but it’s an obvious step up from the tin roofs and dirt floors of your neighbors. All ILP housing could be described as basic, complete with necessities like beds, chairs, tables and desks, along with running water, electricity, etc. ILP volunteers won’t be living in grass huts or living with dirt floors but there will be some adjustments compared to comforts you may be used to growing up with — for example, most locations use fans instead of air conditioning. If you’ll be living with a host family, you’ll typically be living in modest, middle-class housing that may or may not have the things you’re used to (like a dryer for your clothes). Living like the locals is one of the most influential ways to really immerse yourself in the culture of your country and makes up a big part of your ILP experience.

There are countless pros and cons to each living situation, but here are some to consider:

Many past volunteers say that living with a host family can feel a bit scary at first because it’s a new experience, but it quickly became one of their favorite memories from the semester. You’ll come to love your host family, you’ll be more exposed to the language, have opportunities to experience more of the culture firsthand, and so much more. As a heads up, living with a host family can be challenging in the beginning, especially if you don’t speak the language. It’ll be an adjustment living with a new family and possibly a host sibling but most volunteers settle in within a couple of weeks. We really encourage you to spend time with both your host family and your ILP group.

If you’ll be living in the dorms or the apartments, you’ll spend even more time with your ILP group, because you guys will be living together (and probably sharing a room). There’s a strong social connection with the other volunteers which brings a little more “America” in your overall experience, but the cultural aspect you get with a host family might not be as strong. We encourage you to really go out and explore your country with your group since you won’t have that automatic resource like you would in a host family.

If you’re single, probably not. Volunteers living with a host family might have their own room, but sometimes you’ll share a room with a host sibling of the same sex. If you’ll be living in apartments or dorms, you’ll be most likely be sharing a room with at least one other volunteer of the same sex, sometimes more. Your Head Teacher will help make room assignments, so let your Head Teacher know if you’d like to have a say in who your roommates are.

Married couple volunteers will have their own room.

If you are living in an area that utilizes Host Family living arrangements, you will find out more details about your family once you arrive in-country (your Local Coordinator makes these assignments). Before you leave, you will fill out a little questionnaire which will be sent to your Local Coordinator, so they can help find a host family to best match your personality and interests.  

Your Local Coordinator is responsible for finding host families each semester — about 50% – 75% of host families either had or currently have children in the ILP program, so they are happy to participate.

Host families must be financially able to support a volunteer living with them (plus, they must be supportive of the ILP Code of Conduct). While host families are most often a great part of the experience, if for some reason things aren’t working out with that host family, you are never stuck. If needed ILP will remove you from the situation right away and work with your Local Coordinator to find you another family.

Needing to switch host families could happen for a lot of reasons; maybe your host family needs your room so a relative can move in, maybe your host parents lost their jobs or became ill. Sometimes the family isn’t a good a fit for the volunteer or vice-versa. Just let us know if you feel uncomfortable with your host family for any reason.

Each volunteer will fill out a “Host Family Question” form where they can share a bit about their preferences, habits and other personality traits so your Local Coordinator can work to find a host family that should be a good fit.

Yes, but it does depend on location. Talk to your ILP Rep to get more details for your particular semester, but you’ll also find some married housing in countries like the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, and a few others. Get a full list, here.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided to you by either your school, your host family, or via a stipend. Meals are not provided during scheduled vacation days, which also include any weekends adjacent to those vacation days (most volunteers are traveling and eating out during these days anyways — it’s just something to be aware of if you decide to stay home instead of traveling). 

Volunteers are responsible for purchasing any supplement foods like snacks, treats, going out to eat, or any items that you’d prefer to have in your diet in addition to what’s provided.

You’ll be eating like the locals, so what foods you’ll be eating depends on which country you’ll call home:

Eastern Europe: Common foods are potatoes, beets, different kinds of soup, chicken, bread, dumplings, cabbage and cauliflower, etc. Tea is also very popular. Plan on lots of meals served with bread, soup, and your favorite root vegetables.

Asia: Common foods are rice, chicken, pork, fish, seafood, vegetables, local fruits, curries, stir fries, and soups. Oh, and rice is a staple here. In some locations, you’ll have flatbreads served with curries filled with lots of protein-rich veggies like lentils, chickpeas, and beans. 

Central America: Meals here often consist of rice and beans, fried plantains, corn tortillas, and meat like chicken or beef. Even for meals like breakfast, you’ll find a scoop of rice and beans.  You’ll also run into fresh fruits like pineapple and papaya.

The Caribbean: You’ll find lots of beans, rice, pasta, tortillas, chicken, pancakes, bread, fried plantains, fruit and other foods in the Dominican Republic. Plan on running into fruits you know from home (like bananas) and others you might not recognize (like sugar apples).

Africa: Many local dishes include staples like rice, beans, pasta, plantains, pork, and fresh fruit like bananas and jackfruit.

South Pacific: You’ll have lots of fresh fruits and veggies (avocado, pineapple, raspberries, coconut, papaya, cucumber, tomato, etc) that are grown locally. Yams and other root veggies are popular, served with rice, eggs, and some proteins like chicken, beef, or fish. Lots of dishes are made with coconut milk.

Even though meals are provided, ILP volunteers are responsible for purchasing things like snacks, ice cream and other additional items you may prefer; if you incorporate a lot of fruit and fresh veggies in your diet and you’re headed to country that doesn’t eat a lot of fresh produce, feel free to add a bit into your budget to shop at a local market for that.

If you have allergies or certain dietary restrictions, you’ll need to be proactive about finding meals that work for you. With as many unique diets and needs as there are, we are unable to accommodate everyone.

If you have certain dietary needs, plan on adding more to your spending budget so you can purchase snacks and meals that fit your diet better than what the local cuisine may provide.

You may find the following information helpful, as well as this blog post about eating vegan, vegetarian, and/or with dietary restrictions while traveling:

Additionally, we can talk to you about certain countries that might be a little easier for you to work around your dietary needs.

Not in most countries. You will have purified water available at your home and usually at the school if you cannot drink the water from the tap in your country. We suggest packing up a metal water bottle that you can easily refill from these purified water filters to take with you to school and to use during the day. On vacation, you can purchase bottled watered at any convenience store.

It’s also important to remember things like not drinking liquids with ice in them at restaurants (unless you know for sure the water to make the ice is purified), or eating fruits washed with a questionable water source. If you’re not sure, best to eat fruits that have a thick peel (bananas, pineapple, etc) instead of ones you bite directly into (like apples).

Some volunteers have preferred to travel with a purifier instead of relying on bottled water or purified water at their ILP house or apartment.

No. In fact, most volunteers speak only English. It is not a requirement and it’s completely possible to get by with relying solely on the English language, friendly locals you meet, and Google translate.

You’ll be fine! The majority of ILP volunteers don’t speak the local language and have a fun and successful semester. It is helpful to learn a few key phrases and words to help you get around and connect with the people around you, but it isn’t required. Especially with apps like Google Translate which can help you get over the language barrier, you can get by without knowing the local language. In fact, in locations where travelers come from all over the world — English is the go-to language and you’ll find that you encounter many people who speak English, whether they’re a local or a foreigner. Plus, you probably already know charades which will come in handy during your semester (seriously).

If you’d like to learn the local language, we say go for it! Not only will it enrich your semester abroad, but locals you meet really appreciate that you’re attempting to speak in their language (even if you’re still learning). And of course, it can be helpful when it comes to buying a train ticket, shopping, and ordering food. Many Local Coordinators arrange opportunities for ILP volunteers to have the chance to attend culture classes which often include some basic language lessons. You’ll have plenty of free time to use for your own language study if you’d like to learn the local language.

Also, your Local  Coordinator and local friends you meet can help you with the language barrier; in the past, Local Coordinators have helped ILP groups buy train tickets or make reservations over the phone.

As far as volunteering goes, classes are held entirely in English using ILP’s methodology which is similar to immersion. We’ll show you strategies to holding a lesson and interacting with your kids even if they don’t speak any English yet. Even if you do speak the local language, you’ll be asked to speak only in English while teaching. However volunteers who serve at the Romanian orphanage (and are not teaching English classes) often learn a few basic Romanian phrases to help communicate a little easier with the children there.

It depends on your family. Some families speak minimal English or have a family member that speaks well. Some volunteers have host families where no one in the family knows English. Sometimes, the only one in your family who speaks English is your 5-year old host brother, who speaks a second language a best as a 5-year old can.

It can seem like an intimidating obstacle to overcome, but so many of our volunteers have had incredible experiences with their host family, despite a potential language barrier. At first, you might only be able to communicate using some charades, pictures and Google, but you’ll probably pick up some phrases and words in the local language that you can use. Your family might pick up a bit of English too — some families may have a host sibling who is an ILP student … and can act as a little live-in translator.

Prior to the semester, ILP volunteers attend a Pre-Departure training and a portion of this is to give you a quick overview of how to prepare yourself to live in another country and adjust (including things like safety, culture shock, and things that are unique to the country you’re going to).

While you live abroad, many Local Coordinators arrange informal language and culture classes 1-2 times each week for volunteers. They are a good way to get more out of your experience. Classes may be focused on learning some helpful phrases in the local language, learning how to make a local dish, or might include a tour around your city with your Local Coordinator. Because in the past some groups have been more interested in attending than others, classes are typically only offered if your group expresses interest in having them.

In every country you’ll have access to the internet either at home or at your school but every location is different. Keep in mind that because you are living in another country, the internet will probably run a little (or a lot) slower than you are used to. In certain locations, you may run into a very slow connection or periods where the WiFi cuts out completely temporarily.

If you are dependent on having a better WiFi connection for something like an online class that you’re taking, talk to our representatives at the office and we can help direct you to countries that tend to be more reliable.

It’s not required, but does come highly recommended.

International phone plans are becoming more common — first, talk to your current provider and ask what their international plan consists of. If you’re lucky you might already have international coverage, while other providers may have a fee to add limited data or minutes (which can get pretty expensive).

If you can’t get a good deal on an international data plan, know that volunteers have had luck purchasing data cards from local shops in their country. We have information about this on your City Page (a website you have access to once you’re assigned to a specific school) with details like where to get one, and the price of some plans available. 

Also, apps like Skype, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts are free to use so you can message and call home whenever you’re online, but you might want a data plan so you don’t have to rely on the internet to stay in touch. It’s pretty helpful to be able to download Google Maps on vacations so you can get around or check in at home whenever you’d like. Plus, parents tend to like knowing that you’re always in reach, even when you’re away from your home.

It’s up to you, but most volunteers bring their phone, and some sort of tablet or laptop. Some schools might have a computer that you can use, but it’s not common or something to rely on. In general, volunteers regret not bringing something like a tablet or laptop. They come in handy when you’re planning lessons, planning vacations, and keeping in touch with friends and family, but ultimately, it’s up to you. The rule of thumb is, if you use it every day at home, you’ll likely want to use it every day abroad, too.

It depends. Volunteers love to receive mail from home, however we’ve had more luck with items arriving in some countries vs others. Once you’re assigned to a location, we’ll have quite a bit of information to introduce you to your new country, including information about receiving mail.

If you do send a package, you should never send anything irreplaceable or terribly valuable because the mail systems can be quite unreliable. Just so you know, it can take quite a while for a package to arrive — in some locations, it can take up to two months for something to get to you.

You don’t need any previous teaching experience to volunteer with us. And no one is expecting you to be the best teacher on the first day! Actually our teaching method is quite different than traditional teaching methods, so it will be new for everyone on their first ILP semester (even if you happen to already have some teaching experience). 

As a heads up, there is a learning curve to teaching — it’s not difficult, but it usually takes most volunteers a few weeks (or a month or so) before they feel more comfortable teaching.

The method is extremely effective, with most children becoming functionally fluent after about 500 hours (about one year) of classes. You may not notice your students improve with their English skills day-to-day, but know that you are still making an impact. It takes time to learn a new language. When you look back over the semester you’ll likely see how they’ve grown and you can feel proud that you’ve had a hand in that!

Plus, most volunteers totally adore the kids they teach; there will be difficult teaching days, but by the end of the semester, volunteers have a hard time saying goodbye to their students. The majority of our volunteers will tell you that teaching is the most challenging but most rewarding part of the whole ILP experience.

When teaching the younger kids (the Primary Level), classes are made up of around 8 students; they’ll attend ILP classes and complete activities in English for ideally a couple hours a day. During this time, the students will rotate to different “lessons” (or content areas) taught by different teachers (each one lasting about 20-30 minutes). For Primary lessons, teachers won’t be teaching in a formal sense  — it’s more similar to a structured, fun party. In English, children will play games, sing songs, hear and act out stories all through activities which focus on students learning to speak English.

For more advanced classes with older students (Elementary level), teachers create lesson plans using things like textbooks, grammar strategies, etc as students focus more now on reading and writing, while also improving their speaking skills.

ILP teachers hold English lessons through total immersion; the ILP method works by creating an environment where the children learn the language by “playing”; the lessons you’ll teach are more like a well-structured birthday party than formal classes. These lessons are broken up into six teaching areas (areas like arts & crafts, games, gym, etc). Instead of desks and textbooks, the kids start the ILP program with games, gym, kitchen and other fun activities. For older, more advanced students, the classes become a bit more traditional while still utilizing our immersion methodology.

All ILP lessons are meant to be fun and engaging and conducted entirely in English, so no need to learn another language!

Before departure, volunteers are required to attend a 1-day training workshop in Orem, Utah, as well as complete the online portion of ILP training. 

During online and in-person training, you’ll go through training workshops to qualify you to teach and volunteer with ILP — we will cover the ILP teaching method, cultural seminars to help you prepare for your new country, and it is an opportunity to meet other volunteers going on your semester (likely to your own country or city).

Throughout the semester, your Head Teacher will hold training workshops each week with your group to revisit skills you briefly learned about in Pre-departure training. It’s often easier to understand these skills as you practice them in a live setting, so your Head Teacher will drop in on some of your classes each week to help you work on those skills you’ve been learning, help you troubleshoot things that aren’t working so well, and provide feedback as best they can.

If you cannot arrange to attend an in-person training session, please talk to us about your options! We’re happy to help arrange another way for you to receive your ILP training before departure.

Before you leave to volunteer, there’s a mandatory training you’ll need to attend in Orem, Utah. Training is held usually 2-3 months prior to when your semester starts (there’s typically 3-4 training sessions for teachers held so that you can choose one that works best with your schedule). For Romania volunteers, 1 training session is held. We do our best to get this date to you as soon as possible so you can fit it into your schedule. 

You can find the dates for training on my.ilp.org — you’ll have access to this site once you’ve been accepted as an ILP volunteer and after you register an account name and password. As a reminder, you can get the walk through on how to access my.ilp.org in your acceptance email. Feel free to reach out if you can’t find that email, or need a reminder. 

If you cannot arrange to attend an in-person training, please talk to us about your options! We’re happy to help arrange another way for you to receive your ILP training before departure.

Pre-departure training briefly covers all of the teaching skills before you leave for your semester, but the real learning happens when you start working with the kids.

There’s quite a bit of information that we have to go over in training and it can be a bit overwhelming. You will complete a packet that can help you remember the highlights (and for the in-person portion, we provide a notebook to help prompt you to take notes on the most important tidbits) but it is still common to forget things. Remember, we expect that you won’t be a perfect teacher the first week. (Actually the first couple of weeks is more about getting used to your new students and how to manage a classroom than anything else).

Your Head Teacher will have workshops with your ILP group to give you tips and remind you about things you learned in training. Your Head Teacher meetings will also cover learning teaching skills. Your Head Teacher has taught at least once with ILP so they are there to help you lesson plan, work with your class (and the troublemakers), and help you give the kids the best English education they can get.*

*In our Romania location where volunteers are serving in an orphanage (rather than teaching English), your Head Teacher is there to help with any specific issues that may come up in your volunteering schedule, help brainstorm ways to interact with the children, etc.

Helping children learn English is the main focus of our program, but you can also volunteer in our Orphanage program in Romania.  Instead of teaching, volunteers in Romania are there to help these children develop, meet goals for physical growth, and help them adjust to a family-like setting before entering foster care.

Get more information about our Romania program here.

Apart from our Romania location, every ILP participant is there to teach English (and in Romania, are there to help with our Orphanage program there). We are unable to send volunteers who will not be helping — when it comes to married couples, both spouses will need to participate in the ILP program, whether they are a Head Teacher or a volunteer. It isn’t an option for one spouse to work remotely or attend online school while one spouse participates in the ILP program.

When you are teaching, you should be neat, clean and modest. In most schools, nice jeans (no holes) and a nice shirt (tee shirts with no logos) are fine. In general, as long as your shoulders are covered (and all skirts/dresses go past your knees), you’re in good shape. 

However each location is slightly unique depending on the host program’s preferences. In a few countries, the schools require that female volunteers wear dresses or skirts while in our Romania orphanage program, volunteers will need to wear medical scrubs. You will be getting more specific ideas on what you can wear while teaching at the Pre-Departure Training.

We also have programs where modesty (while teaching or not) is extremely important for cultural reasons. In those locations, you’re asked to wear flowy clothing that covers you shoulders and goes past your knees and be mindful of covering up when you’re exploring, just walking around town, swimming, hiking, etc. Being respectful of the culture is an enormous part of your ILP experience, and a huge part of that is dressing modestly particularly in certain locations. If you think this may be an issue for you, please contact the ILP office about your semester preferences to see which countries would be the best fit for you. 

Volunteer time is three to four hours each day (with the weekends off). Depending on the location, you may volunteer in the morning or afternoon, but no one will be volunteering more than 20 hours a week. 

No, ILP volunteers create and plan out their activities. Plan on setting aside around two hours per day, which includes prep time, set-up and clean-up time. You may need a little more time at the beginning of this semester while you’re getting used to the process, and a little less time at the end of the semester after you’ve developed good habits. You will plan lessons one week in advance to be reviewed by your Head Teacher.

In advanced English classes (which are held in certain locations) there are lessons already prepared and you’ll just need to follow the curriculum, but you’ll still take time to go over what needs to be taught and be prepared to fill the class time.

Take a peek at the next FAQ question to get resources, links, ideas, and suggestions for your lesson plans.

In the Romania orphanage program, you will not spend time outside of volunteering planning lessons like the teachers do. Instead, you will create goals for the children to help them progress and work on those skills as you play and spend time with them. For example, if the goal for one child was to learn to share, you might work on passing a toy truck back and forth that day as you play together on the floor. There is much less preparation time needed here.

ILP volunteers will be coming up with their own lessons if they are teaching Primary Levels. Pinterest is often your main source for kid friendly ideas. We also have tons of resources to help you plan your lessons, including an entire blog post of ideas, plus more resources online once you’ve been accepted to the program.

Get lesson ideas here.

If you’ll be teaching Elementary students, you’ll just need to follow the ILP curriculum; your lessons are planned for you in a few different textbooks and you’ll get instructions on how to follow curriculum online.

Plan on teaching children of all ages! The ILP Program includes levels that start at 3 or 4, and go up to about 15 years old.

The kindergarten level includes children who are 4-6; at this age, they become functionally fluent speakers through organized play. At age 7, students enter our Basic Reading program where they learn to read English. At age 8, they begin our Follow-Up Elementary program, which is more of a traditional classroom setting. Kids in this program can be as old as 15 or so. Certain schools focus on certain age groups (only hosting ILP classes for younger students) while others teach classes to all age groups.

At the orphanage program in Romania, the children can range from young infants up to 18 years old. You’ll find that most of the kids are toddlers (7 or 8 years old).

In the kindergarten classes, there are usually up to 8 children per class, in Basic Reading there are 10-12, and in Follow-Up a maximum of 15.  Keeping class sizes smaller is an important and unique aspect of our program. You may find as you look around that other volunteer teaching programs place you with classes that are upwards of 30-50 students (sometimes even more); We find incredible value in enabling you to work more 1-1 with each of your students.

You will be teaching alone, but in rare cases you may team-teach. It’s natural if you feel nervous about this at first, but you will be surprised how comfortable you become leading an activity. Remember, the groups are small and your students are excited to be there – even if they’re too cool to show it.

ILP has two main volunteer programs: Exchange and Humanitarian (plus a Hybrid program that combines elements from both).

In the Exchange program, volunteers are teaching students who primarily come from middle to upper socioeconomic classes. To keep costs low for you, host schools subsidize some of the expenses through tuition. In this sense, it is truly an exchange. This is also the situation for a portion of the kids you teach in Hybrid programs. 

In the Humanitarian program, the children come from extremely limited means. Many families come from underprivileged circumstances and some of the children live in an orphanage. The ability to speak English is an incredibly valuable skill to set the stage for a successful future for any child, and this is especially true in touristic areas. The education you give in these programs is free for the children and their families who are unable to help subsidize your costs. This is also the situation for a portion of the kids you teach in Hybrid programs. 

Our goal has always been to open doors for children by teaching them English — but what we didn’t realize is that learning this language would only be the “tip of the iceberg” — these kids truly benefit from their relationships with our volunteers. ILP volunteers are there to teach, but are also there to act as a positive role model and a friend to these kids.

Most volunteers bring 2 carry on items (like a backpack or a purse, and a smaller suitcase) and 1-2 checked suitcases. Once your flight is purchased by ILP, check with the airline you’ll be flying with to see what their baggage policies are. Volunteers are responsible for their own baggage fees if any. Many airlines will allow one free checked bag (up to 50 lbs) and have a fee for the second bag, but you’ll need to double check the exact policy.

That’s up to you! (As long as travel rules are being followed — you’ll need to vacation with at least 3-4 people from your group, and will need to have your travel plans approved by an ILP director/Program Manager, etc). This isn’t a complete list below, but will give you an idea of where you can go during your semester:

• Europe Volunteers – Travel within the European Union and other approved countries.
• Thailand Volunteers – You have lots of places to explore in Thailand, but you can also travel to neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
• India Volunteers — Soak up all the sites India has to offer (which is a lot)! You also have the option to visit other countries like Nepal, or even Thailand if you’d like — but really, there is more than enough to keep you busy in-country.
• Mexico Volunteers – Vacation inside Mexico or head to nearby ILP countries like Nicaragua or Costa Rica.  Most volunteers opt to stay within the country though because there is more than enough destinations in Mexico!
• Dominican Republic Volunteers – There are plenty of places to travel to within the D.R., volunteers can also hop over to most of the surrounding Caribbean Islands.
• Nicaragua and Costa Rica Volunteers – Vacation in these two ILP countries or head to approved countries like Panama, Mexico, and even Peru.
• Africa Volunteers – There is plenty to see and do within Uganda during your semester, but you may also travel to approved countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and more!
• Vanuatu Volunteers – We love all the things to do on your own island of Efate, but you’re welcome to island hop in Vanuatu (Check out Santo or Tanna). You can also visit Fiji, Australia, and New Caledonia. So fun!

You do! Once you arrive in-country, you’ll decide with your ILP group and Head Teacher where you want to visit. There may be some compromising so that everyone is happy with the travel destinations, but often it works out that you’re able to go to the places you’re hoping to. Your group will plan where you want to go (once it’s approved by a Program Manager), how to get there, where you’ll stay, and what you’ll do together. You can find vacation ideas and vacation planning tips on the ILP blog.

*The one unique exception to this is our India program, where volunteers will have their trips and excursions planned and accompanied by our in-country Tour Guide Team!

You’ll have every Saturday and Sunday off, plus a few vacation dates scattered throughout your semester. Usually, it works out to be around 9 days off total. You will not know your travel dates until you arrive in-country; your school and your Local Coordinator will figure out your vacation dates.

Usually, semesters have a couple of  3- or 4-day weekends, plus a longer vacation that may be around 5 days off from teaching (plus the time off you get on the weekend, of course).

Since volunteers plan their own vacations, this is completely up to you! Each country is full of popular sites to see and things to do, and past volunteers have left their favorite suggestions to help you plan your trip (plus, we have lots of their tips on the ILP Blog). Volunteer groups may decide to go on safari in Uganda, spend a weekend holding baby sea turtles in Mexico or touring cities like Prague or Budapest (and more!). Since volunteers will be planning their own vacations, we suggest you start looking into and researching which cities you’d like to travel to — feel free to check out guide books like Lonely Planet or searching online. The ILP blog also has daily posts which are full of travel recommendations and tips, with tons of advice from past volunteers. 

Vacation dates vary each semester but tend to closely follow local holidays. You won’t know your vacation dates until you get to your country as they are arranged by your Local Coordinator and may change from semester to semester. When you arrive in-country, your Head Teacher and Local Coordinator will discuss vacation dates for that semester with the school. Once you know your dates, your ILP group can start planning your vacations.

We know travel is a huge part of your experience abroad and often ends up being most of your personal spending budget.  But since you and your ILP group are planning where to go, where to stay and how to get there, you can have some control of how much you’ll spend.

How much you spend on vacation will vary — flying is going to be more expensive than taking trains or buses, certain countries are going to be more expensive than others, etc. Volunteers who have managed their money well on other things (like eating out and buying souvenirs) were able to attend all trips during vacation time with a $1,500ish budget while others who opt for more expensive experiences have reported spending closer to $5,000 throughout the semester.

Just remember, how much you spend abroad is completely up to you; we have had volunteers get by on less, and have had volunteers who have spent more than double that amount.

If you cannot afford to travel, you are welcome to stay in your city during vacation times. Certain ILP countries do require that you leave the country at some point to abide by visa rules, so if you’re planning to not travel please let your representative know so that you can be placed in the right country for you.

In short, yes. We’ve had volunteers who have been able to sit down with their group and decide to go on one or two of the group vacations and then spent the rest of their vacation time in their own city. Similar to the point above, some ILP countries do require that you leave the country at some point (for visa purposes) so if you won’t be able to leave the country, talk to your ILP representative about volunteering in a country that would be right for you.

Your parents are welcomed to visit you, but be sure to call the office to make arrangements prior to purchasing tickets. It often works best for your parents to visit at the end of your semester or during your scheduled vacation days so you don’t miss any teaching days. You will not know your vacation dates until you arrive in-country (they are set by the host school) which can make planning a visit a little tricky. ILP cannot predict your vacation dates, so your parents will  likely need to wait to purchase tickets or plan on visiting you after your ILP semester ends.

Friends and siblings are not allowed to visit during your semester unless they are accompanying your parent’s visit. If your friends or siblings would like to visit on their own, they can schedule a trip with you once your ILP semester is completed (if you choose to travel on your own afterwards).

Volunteers can travel after their ILP semester if they would like but there will be some extra costs associated. Your ILP program fee includes roundtrip airfare to your ILP country during the dates of your semester. If you’d like to change those dates (to come home later) or change your airports (so you can leave to go home from another country), you’ll need to pay the cost of those changes (given by the airline and/or travel agency) or in some cases purchase a new flight home.

If you’re interested in traveling after your ILP semester, feel free to contact your ILP representative to discuss what those costs might look like (it can be expensive). They’ll be able to send you a bit more info after talking about options if you’re still interested in staying after your semester. 

Yes, it is safe. The media tends to look for the most extreme stories to report on, and often generalize 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 and so we have other watchtowers to rely on when making decisions about the safety of our volunteers; ILP keeps an eye on similar programs who are in the area (like Church Mission Programs and university study abroad programs) and stay in touch with our Local Coordinators in each country as they become 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 help reduce those risks. Over more than two 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.

ILP follows several safety benchmarks to help keep each volunteer safe:

• ILP Code of Conduct and Safety Rules: All ILP volunteers agree to abide by the ILP Code of Conduct, and Safety Rules. Volunteers who follow these rules self-filter out many of the risks associated with traveling (and being abroad) which is the major reason we have these in place.
• Head Teachers: ILP Head Teachers are peer-age leaders who have previously taught at least one semester with ILP. These volunteers stood out as exemplary teachers and demonstrated good social skills and team skills. They act as coaches to the ILP group, helping in the classroom, helping with lesson plans, boosting the group dynamic and other behind-the-scenes projects.
• Local Coordinators: Local Coordinators are native to the country and help in several ways. They may impose curfews as needed, restrict both local and long distance travel, advise about local political circumstances, and keep an eye on local situations that might impact the safety of our volunteers. Local Coordinators also assist with host family and apartment living situations, visa support, language and culture classes, and other situations as needed. They aren’t there to completely take on the role of a parent, but do often help out in many ways that help keep our volunteers safe while they’re living abroad.
• State Department/Embassy: All volunteers are registered with the nearest American embassy or consulate; after registration, volunteers will receive any political or travel advisories through the U.S. State Department warden system. 
• ILP is not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but the majority of our volunteers are members; we maintain contact with religious missionary programs and many church leaders in areas where our volunteers serve.
• BYU and other international programs: ILP exchanges information with international programs that have students in the same locations as we do — like the study abroad programs at Brigham Young University (BYU). We compare notes about political or travel advisories, as well as disease epidemics or outbreaks with these programs to help ensure the safety of our volunteers.

Each ILP location has a dependable local clinic or pharmacy for smaller needs and access to larger facilities (most likely in the capital city) for more serious concerns. Local Coordinators are familiar with the area and can assist volunteers in finding adequate health care facilities when needed. They are also available to accompany the volunteer and provide translation if needed.

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.

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).

For all countries except for Mexico — It is required that volunteers be fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine prior to departure for the majority of our locations. Several of our program locations began requiring the Covid-19 vaccine once it became available, and as of late 2021, it became required for most ILP countries for various reasons. Currently, for volunteers heading to Mexico the vaccine is recommended but not required. We have more information about this 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 (CDC). Just keep in mind that the CDC lists immunizations that are recommended for those living in rural areas; most ILP schools are located in larger cities, not rural areas.

If you have special physical, emotional, or mental health needs, you will need to consult your doctor to learn if your needs can be met living abroad. We’d be very happy to provide information that you might need to share with your doctor to help the both of you make the best decision when it comes to volunteering with us. It is very important to us that all of our volunteers have an equal opportunity to have a great experience!

There may be individual circumstances where we believe that living abroad may not be the best situation for you and in those cases ILP will invite you to either postpone your trip to a later date when things have changed or possibly not participate with our program (even if you have consent from your doctor). Over the years we have gained experience working with thousands of volunteers with unique health needs and want to do what we can to help set you up for success, whether that means living abroad or not.

We typically do not recommend that your medications are sent to you through the mail, so it’s best to speak with your doctor and see if you can get a larger supply temporarily that will last for the entire semester.

If you’re not able to get enough medication to last your trip, talk to us. An ILP director will be visiting each school about halfway through the semester in person. If your parents are able to pick up a second supply of medication for you and bring that to the ILP office, we would be happy to bring it to you on the mid-semester visit. Give us a call and we’ll see if that is something that could be worked out.

In each of our ILP countries, political situation is currently friendly towards the US and Canada. We have found that service to children is an international common denominator which can help smooth over any prejudices.

The economic situation is challenging but improving in all of the ILP countries. Each location and semester has unique housing setups that will work best for that city (sometimes you live with a host family, other times in 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!

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 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 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 an affordable traveler’s card which carries health insurance that includes coverage abroad, along with emergency evacuation, and other benefits.