About us.Safety and back up

Do I Need To Stay In Touch With My In-Country Support?

It is vital that you maintain a comfortable relationship with your volunteer abroad in-country coordinator and support staff and that they are familiar with who you are and the work you are doing. Make sure you have their phone number, email, and local address for easy contact. Should anything happen (sickness, project issues, emergencies, etc) you must know how to get in touch with them.

Once you decide to venture abroad to live or work, a whole new vista of experience opens up for you. From the moment you get onto the aeroplane, everything is new, different and exciting. The smells, sounds, the people, the weather, the language, the environment, food tastes different, flowers and trees are more exotic … It’s a wonderful, eye-opening experience and one that you’ll never forget.

But initially it can also be a little scary. That’s why our Country Consultants and In-Country Staff all help you with advice and guidance each step of the way, starting with helping you to choose the best place and the most suitable projects for you. And they continue to give assistance for the duration of your stay.

YOUR SAFETY:

Our No. 1 priority is to ensure that you are in a safe environment while on your project. With this firmly in mind, we only start new destinations that are politically stable and safe. Where a situation changes (as happened in China with the SARS epidemic, for example), our staff in the UK and our local staff overseas constantly monitor the situation. If we think that your safety is compromised, we will immediately take steps to remove you from the unsafe environment.

We are constantly in contact with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and this supplements the information received from our local staff on the ground..

Support from our Local Overseas Staff:

We have excellent, paid, local support and back-up staff teams in all our destination countries and they are there to assist with any concerns, advice and administration. They are contactable 24 hours a day and we are in constant liaison with them about you and your placement. They look after you during your stay and liaise with our partner organizations to ensure that your placement provides maximum benefit to both you and them. They can also give you help or advice on your teaching/work responsibilities and the practical aspects of living abroad.

Their local knowledge is invaluable and they can direct you to all the most impressive sights and tourist attractions to visit, as well as the beauty spots that are off the beaten track! They will also advise you on any safety issues specific to places that you may want to visit during your free time.

On Your Arrival:

Our local in-country manager will meet you at the nearest international airport, without additional charge, regardless of whether we’ve booked your flights or you’ve chosen to book them yourself. This is because we’re very aware of how daunting it can be to travel for the first time to a strange country. A friendly face to welcome you is very reassuring!

On very rare occasions we may use a reputable approved local transfer company to pick up volunteers from the airport, but usually you’ll be met by a member of our overseas staff, who will hold up a MAASAILAND EXPLORER sign or one with your name on.

Placements and Projects:
Before you go on your placement, we’ll send you lots of information to help you prepare. Before leaving your home country, you’ll be given (amongst other things):

• Contact information,e. the address and telephone number of your Overseas Maasailand Explorer Manager and, where relevant, the contact details of your host work organization.
• You’re Placement– this is a booklet filled with information about your placement. It includes information on flights, visas, local transport, currency, the cost of living, medical info, insurance info, what to take with you, dress code and a host of other things.
• You’re Project– detailed information about your specific project or projects.
• You’re Country– a booklet containing general information about the country you’re going to, including the town or city, the people, the culture, places worth visiting while you’re there, including photos.
• If you’re doing a teaching placement, we also send you a Teaching Guideto help you prepare. This will assist you in planning lessons and give you ideas for topics to use in your classes.
• You will also receive a Safety Guidewith travel tips, put together by Maasailand Explorer to help you travel safely.
• An ID Card– This is a wallet-sized card with your photo and the address and telephone numbers of Maasailand Explorer Overseas office and our local office here in Tanzania. It’s laminated (makes a good souvenir!) and is easy and convenient to carry around with you.
• Flights and Travel:You can arrange your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements.

Induction:
During the first few days after your arrival you’ll receive an Induction. The depth and length varies according to country, but will include useful information on:

• Local banks, local transport, money, the telephone system, etc., and where these are different and/or complex, we’ll show you how to use them.
• You’ll be taken around the local area, often on local transport that you may need to use during your placement (this could be a bus, train, tro-tro, metro, matatu, tuk-tuk …)
• Location of the post office, where to change money and internet facilities, etc.
• Advice on safety, local customs and code of behavior.