Author: Cosmic Volunteers

Hannah Olson – Nepal

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This post is to report that as of today’s date April 27, 2013 our client Hannah Olson owes Cosmic Volunteers an outstanding balance of $385 for her trip to Nepal in October 2012.

Ms. Olson has refused to pay the balance despite the fact that Cosmic Volunteers provided everything promised to her — a volunteer placement, accommodations, meals, airport pickup, pre-trip advice, and 24 hour support.

We are posting this information as a warning to other volunteer organizations who may come into contact with her. We have full documentation of everything, including Ms. Olson’s agreeing in writing January 2013 to a monthly payment plan to pay off the balance.

Register Your Trip Abroad with Your Own Government

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Although optional for travelers, you should register your volunteering trip abroad with the federal government of your home country.

For example the“Smart Traveler Enrollment Program” (STEP) run by the US State Department allows US citizens to enter information about an upcoming trip abroad. You enter details such as your travel dates, destination(s), address abroad, emergency contact and more.

The State Department will then be better able to assist you abroad in an emergency. What kind of emergency? Natural disasters like an earthquake or tsunami; or, say, civil unrest following an election. Registering with STEP could also speed up the process of replacing your lost passport while abroad.

As an added service, STEP can also send you electronic updates on travel warnings, travel alerts and other information for the country you’ll be visiting.

Government websites for registering your trip abroad

US Citizens: https://step.state.gov/step

UK Citizens: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en

Canadian Citizens: http://www.voyage.gc.ca

Australian Citizens: http://www.orao.dfat.gov.au

French Citizens: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en

South Africans: http://www.dfa.gov.za/consular/travel_advice.htm

Google Glass Policy

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This is the world’s first policy on Google Glass.

Google Glass Policy

Cosmic Volunteers prohibits the use of Google Glass by our participants to make audio-visual recordings without the consent of the parties involved in our volunteering abroad programs.

These parties include but are not limited to: the children and staff at orphanages, shelters and day care centers; patients and staff at hospitals; students and staff at schools, host family members, Cosmic Volunteers’ staff, and any other persons involved in our programs.

This policy is designed to protect the privacy of those people abroad who generously welcome our participants and staff into their lives via our volunteering programs.

Background on Google Glass

Released in early 2013, Google Glass is a computer with a head-mounted display and wearable camera. It is being developed by Google. Google Glass provides its wearer with the ability to easily make surreptitious recordings. Google (the company) has the ability to index, tag, and store online indefinitely the identity and spoken-words of everyone in the recording – all without the consent of either the Google Glass wearer or the people in the recording.

Violations of Google Glass Policy

Any violations of this policy will result in the following:

First Violation:

Participant will be warned by Cosmic Volunteers’ staff of the policy violation. Cosmic Volunteers’ staff will ask Participant to immediately delete all audio-visual recordings the latter made without the consent of the parties involved.

Second Violation:

Cosmic Volunteers’ staff will cancel the Participant’s program immediately with no refund. Cosmic Volunteers’ staff will ask Participant to immediately delete all audio-visual recordings the latter made without the consent of the parties involved.

Throw Up in India

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We came across a blog post by entrepreneur James Altucher in which he provides 8 Alternatives to College.

We particularly like his reason number 2 — “Travel the World”:

“Here’s a basic assignment. Take $10,000 and get yourself to India. Check out a world completely different from our own. Do it for a year. You will meet other foreigners traveling. You will learn what poverty is. You will learn the value of how to stretch a dollar. You will often be in situations where you need to learn how to survive despite the odds being against you. If you’re going to throw up you might as well do it from dysentery than from drinking too much at a frat party. You will learn a little bit more about eastern religions compared with the western religions you grew up with. You will learn you aren’t the center of the universe. Knock yourself out.”

Costs to Volunteer in Uganda

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A potential volunteer from London just asked us how much it would cost her to volunteer at a clinic in Uganda for two weeks this summer. So we thought we would share the cost estimate information with everyone:

Costs for Two Weeks Volunteering in Uganda:

Our Program Fee: 760 GBP ($1155 USD)
Round-trip flight from London: 643 GBP ($977 USD)
Visa fee: 33 GBP ($50 USD)
Yellow Fever vaccination: 66 GBP ($100 USD)
Miscellaneous spending*: 182 GBP ($276 USD)
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Total: 1684 GBP ($2561 USD)

* 13 GBP per day average for snacks, shopping, sightseeing, Internet etc.