FAQ
No Alcohol, No Drugs Policy.
IICD Michigan (and all other DRH schools) have a "no-alcohol, no-drugs" policy.
This means that you may not drink alcohol, or use non-prescription drugs, from when you start the IICD program until when you finish (unless you are on home travel). This may seem an extreme policy, but there are good reasons for it, which we talk about below.
The policy applies whether you are at IICD, or involved in the program away from IICD.
It applies also to all IICD staff, as well as you.
Why have this rule ?
The rules are not simply a way to undermine people’s wills or attitudes, but they aim to provide good habits and offer an environment where people can function in their full intellectual and physical capabilities. We are all codependent and your abilities are tested and needed all of the time. It will be impossible to maintain an adequate study and work environment when staff or students are intoxicated. So if you have any doubts as to the necessity of this rule, we suggest that you ask for clarification and re-evaluate your priorities.
Disregard for this rule is not fair to your colleagues, or the people you are going to work with abroad.
We have a sincerely desire to keep IICD free from any drugs and alchohol for the benefit of the entire community.
Some of the pros and cons (from the participants point of view ) :
Pros and whys:
- “People with addictions tend to separate themselves from others”. Our activities while Development Instructors demand team work skills, co-operation and problem solving skills.
- “Drugs take away your inhibitions”. To be a DI you will have to be naturally able to communicate and express yourself, with a clear mind.
- “Drug addicted people can be destructive and violent”. Our work is about construction.
- “There are better things to do with your time than get wasted”. Your time at IICD and Africa/Latin America will be filled by studies and work, and this in itself can develop you as a person. Drugs or alcohol may take away from that experience.
- As adults and mature people we should have the right to take decisions about drinking and drugs.
1- Most alcoholics do not recognize their problem and tend to think that they can control their addictions when that is often not the case.
2- The same happens to users of so - called inoffensive drugs, that do not recognize when affected by the drug or that their attention is prejudiced.
3- At school everybody has responsibilities, problems affect everyone. Each person at IICD has a responsibility which is crucial for the functioning of the school such as driving cars, doing shopping, controlling oil and electricity, cleaning, group money and so on. We cannot depend on people who cannot control themselves.
4- IICD hosts teenagers with drug and alcohol problems from its partner schools in Denmark. These young ones have often their last chance to recover and become motivated to stay away from these substances. Any contact with drugs or alcohol, or the simple fact of knowing that they are around them, could destroy the recovery program for these kids.
A lot of people choose IICD, among many other projects, because of this policy. It shows that a serious training is provided . It projects a positive image to its employees, volunteers, donors and beneficiaries.
One of the biggest problems we are going to deal with in Africa is the abuse of drugs and alcohol, which has an extremely negative effect on families, societies and personal relationships. You should be a positive role model in Africa which you will not be if you cannot respect IICD's "no-drink", "no-drugs" policy.
Come to IICD to contribute with the best of you. Leave your addictions behind and learn how to be a different person.
No money! What can I do? Can I still participate?
In any case, you will need to pay our enrolment fee ($300) to participate and pay for your own transport to/from IICD at the start and end of the program. There is also a school fee payable at the start of the program - it (may) be possible to waive some of this if you come and volunteer at IICD (for example doing promotion for us) before the start of the training program.We can discuss this option during the interviews we have with you. Many volunteers have fundraised the money necessary to start - we can assist you in this by giving you a list of ideas on how to get started, fundraising letters etc.
We will work with you to help you finding a solution so you can participate.
The Preparation Period
Does the period prepare the volunteers for the fieldwork?
-Yes, IICD prides itself on training hard working and dedicated volunteers whom, in the past, have gone on and have made significant progress and differences to the countries and the local communities they were based in.
Do you work very closely with local organizations?
-Yes, while preparing volunteers have the option of doing community outreach and volunteering together with local organizations in the area on such projects as HIV/AIDS education, camps for underprivileged and "at risk" children, helping out in homeless shelters, etc. IICD wants our volunteers not only to take an active role in the issues of the world but also within the local community.
IICD currently works with two community development organisations in Detroit. You may know that Detroit is the poorest city of it's size in the US. 50% of adults there are functionally illiterate. We organise programmes based at IICD for the Young Detroit Builders (who educate and empower disadvantaged young people) and with the Georgia Street Community Collective (who work with sustainable living, garden faming).
What documents do I need to bring?
-You should bring your passport, four passport photos, any high school diploma, University Degrees or a trancript of your last successful year in school, a criminal record check, and a copy of your resume. You can request a more detailed list from our promotion staff, when you have enrolled.
I am not an American Citizen – Can I still participate?
-Yes you are most welcome. You need a B1/B2 visa. IICD will issue a letter which you bring to the U.S. Embassy, for visa purposes. We will guide you in how to proceed. You do not apply for the visa until you are enrolled.
Will it be possible for my family to visit me before I leave for overseas?
-Yes, IICD welcomes guests to come and see what their friend or family member is doing. We usually host a Friends and Families Weekend twice a year. There also is a short break where people who want to go home are able to, also twice a year. What is more, IICD knows how important it can be for a participant to see their family before leaving it, so we generally have a two week home travel for volunteers, sometimes before they leave.
-Will it be possible to accomodate children during training or at the projects in Africa, Brazil & Ecuador?
No sorry. We do not at this point have the facilities to accommodate children neither during the training or at the projects in Africa, Brazil and Ecuador.
What about health insurance?
- IICD will organise, and pay, for health insurance during the period you are abroad in Africa, or Latin America.
- Health insurance during the other time you are enrolled at IICD is your responsibility. You can take out insurance through IICD for this period (for a fee). We advise you to make sure you are insured for this period.
The Volunteer Period
Do I need a visa to go to the projects?
-Yes, you will need a visa. IICD will help you secure your visa prior to you leaving.
Where does the funding come from for the projects?
-Humana People to People gets the major part of its funding from income generating projects such as Clothes Collection. Besides that from a variety of sources such as UN (UNAIDS, UNICEF, WFP), different private corporations (Kellogs, De Beers, Johnson & Johnson). For more information please check out www.humana.org under contributors.
Does Humana People to People work in cooperation with any other humanitarian organizations in Africa?
-Yes, Humana People to People works with many other international and local humanitarian organizations along with commmunity organizations and government.
Do we need to take money for food and accommodation in Africa?
-No, you do not need to take money for food and accomodation. Humana People to People will provide accomodation while at the project. You will also receive a stipend from Humana when at the project which you can use to buy food etc with.
In case of an emergency how can people contact us in Africa?
Will we be able to contact our families easily?
-They can contact IICD and then IICD contacts the project leader who has a satellite phone. All projects have access to phones (landlines, satellite, and cellular) and a majority have access to internet.
What medical care is available should we get sick?
-While abroad, IICD along with Humana People to People organizes international health insurance for all volunteers. This gives you access to the best medical care in the counrty. It covers any and all illnesses and surgery you may need.
What are some of the precautions development instructors must take when in Africa?
-Making sure you use safe drinking water is a very big concern, you should always boil your water and let it stand until it is cool. Or if you cannot boil water, use a plastic bottle covered one half with foil or painted black and let it stand in the sunlight for 12 hours then let cool.
You also need to take the threat of malaria seriously. IICD will pay for prohylaxis which you should take when abroad, and should you still get malaria, fast and effective treatment will be available for you. You can find more information about malaria at www.cdc.gov/travel/mailinfor.htm .
What if we are unable to complete our designated time?
Is there penalty to coming back early?
-No there is no penalty for leaving the project early. If you have to leave you can leave, nobody will stop you. Although you are very much needed and the project would be saddened by your early departure.
Will we be likely to be in a rural or more urban community?
-Most volunteers are sent to very rural areas either living with other volunteers or by themselves in the project, or close by.
Do we cook for ourselves?
-The typical diet in Southern Africa is meat or chicken with a maize (similar to corn) and fresh fruits and vegetables from the region. A majority of volunteers do prepare their own meal or share the responsibility amongst themselves. You may be able to eat at your project.
How accepting is the community towards the volunteers?
-Very, Humana People to People have sent over 10,000 volunteers to Africa in the past 27 years and because of hard work, determination, and long life friendships built along the way, the communities have opened their hearts and their minds towards the volunteers coming to the projects.
How much extra time would I have to interact on a one on one basis with the African community?
-This is what makes the program so unique, you are always interacting with people in the community. It is all hands on work where you are visiting your neighbors talking about malaria, or helping build a latrine for a friend, or even helping start up an income generating business for the local women. There is no extra time needed to interact, you just do on a daily basis.
Are there moral and customs that we are trying to push on people to make them more "western"?
-Absolutely not, we believe in culturally sensitive education.This is another reason for 6 months preparation, by the time you leave you will know the culture, language, and history so that you can make judgements of your own on how best it would be to work in the community.
If there is a coup or election that makes it unsafe to stay in the region the volunteers are, what happens to us?
Humana People to People belives in the safety of all volunteeers and would never leave anyone in an unsafe area or situation. As soon as there is any type of instability, Humana People to People will make sure you will be removed from the country immediately and sent to another for the duration of your time.
What about my safety as a foreigner?
Your safety can only be measured by how safe you make your situation, just like anywhere else in the world. Use your common sense and do not make compromises!. It is best to keep in mind the lessons you were taught while a child. Always make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will return, go places in pairs or groups, do not flash expenses or money, etc.
Can I defer my study loans?
Many people who join IICD have student loans they took out for their college.
There are 2 types of loans:
* Government loans also called Stafford loans; this means the loan program is in one or the other way supported by the government
* Private loans - taken from a bank or another financial company.
The system to follow to defer the loans:
Usually all sorts of Stafford loans can be deferred.
Get a form from the loan agency when you start the program or send it once you are enrolled. You fill out the form before sending it to us. There are several boxes to mark in order to say why you are looking to defer the loan.
It can either be because you are participating in a full time volunteer program and do not receive any salary or it can be because you don`t have an income and thus can claim financial hardship.
IICD usually does not fit straight into one of the categories on the defer form so you have to figure out which one to choose.
The form should be signed by an IICD employee and sometimes it is necessary to attach a letter or a certain form.
It is a bit more difficult to defer the private loans as they are less flexible.
The reasons for deferring those are the same and you just have to work on the private loan company to find out which papers to use.
Can I use the experiences from the DI program for further employment?
-Yes, many past volunteers have gone on to work in other NGOs and also have stayed on with Humana People to People and have joined as a Project Leader.
How big are the teams usually that are working as development instructors?
-Besides your team, you will be working side by side with other teams from the schools around the world. All in all there usually is between 20-30 volunteers in the country working in the various projects along side you.
What is the refund policy?
After one week you get $2500 usd back - prior to 2 months $1500 usd back - and prior to one week before you leave $500 usd. Any scholarship you might have been given will be deducted from this amount.
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