EXPECTATIONS

Ambassador award recipients can expect the following from Export Hope:

  • Announcement of conditional acceptance per the timeline on the website.
  • A $110 check made out to The Department of State you can use towards obtaining your passport if you do not have one.  The check will cover the application fee of $110.  Other incidental fees (photos, site specific fees, etc.) are the responsibility of the award recipient.
  • Financial support in obtaining a country specific VISA if required for travel up to $250 maximum (fees vary).   To control award recipient’s costs, candidates can choose volunteer destinations that do not require country-specific VISAs.
  • Payment of costs for selected program (typically between $3,000 and $4,000) with Volunteer Abroad Travel Partner Organization (VATPO).
  • Payment of costs for your air travel (typically between $500 and $1,000) and assistance with flight bookings.
  • Payment for Travel Insurance Policy provided by/through the VATPO or an alternate Travel Insurance Policy (typically about $120).
  • Travel-orientation materials (provided by VATPO).
  • A travel journal to document your program experiences.
  • Post-travel incidental expense reimbursement equal to the amount you fundraise, up to $500 max.  The funds you raise (up to $500 max.) will be provided to you upon your return from traveling and completion of the program.  In some cases, a partial pre-travel stipend may be advanced.
  • Open Communication:  We will ask questions that will help us to more effectively run the program and will share new information proactively when it becomes available.  You should expect prompt answers to your questions as well and are encouraged to ask!

Export Hope (EH) expects the following from Ambassador award recipients:

  • Sharing photos and video from your trip.  Writing one travel blog for the EH website during or on return from your trip and supporting it with photos/video.  You will need a camera with video capability (a mobile phone camera should be adequate).
  • Signing a release, after your careful review of it, releasing EH and all related parties from liability regarding your participation in the program.  Link here to review the Agreement and Release Form.  You can also download or print the release via this link.
  • Signing the release will also allow EH to use your photos, likeness, image, identity, etc. to promote the Ambassador Program on the EH website, in EH social media, for fundraising, etc.  We promote the program so we can possibly send more Ambassadors in future years.
  • Participation in 10 hours of local community service during holiday time off from college; see timeline.  Provide EH documentation of your hours served.
  • Obtain a U.S. Passport by deadline; see timeline.  This confirms your full acceptance to the Ambassador Program.  Learn more about applying here.
  • Application for country specific VISAs, which are only required for select destinations and should be avoided if possible.  Completion of the application process with Volunteer Abroad Travel Partner Organization (VATPO) and acceptance for participation in your selected program.
  • Careful review of all travel-orientation and other materials provided by the VATPO.
  • Completion of the EH pre-travel, online survey.
  • Participation in a pre-travel interview (by phone or in person).
  • Fundraise $250 minimum to be used towards incidental travel costs.   Link here for more about fundraising.  Funds raised (up to maximum of $500) will be distributed to you upon your return and completion of the program.  Bring along about $100 per week for incidental, in-country expenditures.
  • Some countries require payments to be made upon arrival/departure from the country. You need to take these costs into account and be prepared to pay for these on entry/exit.  Research and consider this when selecting a destination.
  • Review VATPO provided documentation and do research on traveling to your chosen destination to understand any entry/exit costs.  Be certain you have funds for such expenses when traveling.
  • Consideration of your travel destination and a conversation with your healthcare provider(s) so you make informed decisions about any vaccinations you may decide are appropriate.  Learn more by visiting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s travel website here.
  • Journal about your volunteer activities:  upon return, submit exerts from your travel journal and one travel story for the Export Hope website; more on journaling below.
  • Participate in post-travel interview (by phone or in person).
  • Completion of EH post-travel online survey.
  • Open Communication:  Please ask questions about anything that’s not clear to you about the program.  Your questions will help improve the program for future Ambassadors.

Your journaling activities to include:

  • Daily Activities
    • Record daily activities and experiences.
    • Use sentence or bullet-point form.
    • Include date and daily count of hours in field.
  • Weekly Activities:
    • Reflect, using the following questions, 1-3 times per week:
      • What did you enjoy most?
      • What was the most challenging?
      • What did you learn?
  • Weekend Reflection after the completion of each field week:
    • What was the most surprising?
    • What gave you the greatest sense of satisfaction?
      • How did this make you feel?
    • How many hours did you spend in the field this past week?
  • Other Activities:
    • Two or More Field Interviews
      • A VATPO staff or leader, co-volunteer, local community member, etc.
      • Additional interviews encouraged.
      • Option to record and/or video interview.
    • Photo journaling:  take photos/videos often as allowed by VATPO
    • Post to EH social media pages, using hashtag #ExportHope20##

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