WLS International Terms and Conditions of Service

The following terms and conditions are an agreement between you and WLS International Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘WLS’). Please read the WLS International Terms and Conditions of Service carefully. By clicking on the box besides the words 'I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree with all the booking terms and conditions' on the online booking application form, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

Program Fees

We reserve the right to revise the program fee on our website. Once you have received a price quotation then this is valid for two months from the date of issue and you will only pay the price quoted even if prices change on our website for a period of two months.

Program fees are due 6 weeks prior to the start of your program. Failure to make payment by this time may result in loss of your placement. Your deposit is non-refundable. Program fees and deposits are not transferable to other persons, other dates then your start date as per your application or to other program locations. You are allowed to change your start date by up to one week before or after your original start date. If the remaining fees, which is your total fees minus your deposit, has a value of more than 1000 US$, or equivalent in another currency, then this needs to be paid with a bank transfer. Program fees paid with a bank or wire transfer will need to have transaction costs covered by the volunteer. For program fees paid with a credit card or with PayPal 5% will be added to cover transaction fees.

Upon receipt of your application form and deposit we will start to organize your program. However if you withdraw your application at any stage, as we will have already incurred costs in processing your application, organizing your program, confirming your accommodation and looking for a placement; we regret that we cannot refund your deposit as we need to cover our costs incurred on your behalf.

We reserve the right to cancel your program due to unexpected situations or changes with the program, our partners or with the charities or any situations that require us to do so. In this case you will receive a refund. We are however not responsible for any costs you have in canceling your flights or any other costs.

We aim to place you in your preferred project but changes can occur with the project you were placed with so we might have to place you in another project. A one week program includes 7 days/6 nights, a two week program includes 14 days/13 nights, a three week program includes 21 days/20 nights, a four week program includes 28 days/27 nights.

Refunds and Cancellations

We will only cancel your placement when we receive instructions from you. Cancellation is effective from the day we receive this notification. In the event of your cancellation WLS retains part of your placement fee, depending on the number of days before the placement start date you cancel.

Refund Policy:
6 weeks or more prior to the start of your program: Loss of deposit
6 weeks or less prior the start of your program : 100% of total booking cost (including your deposit)

No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave your volunteer placement or program for any reason after the trip has begun. No refunds will be made for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals or services not utilized. Once your program is confirmed you are not able to postpone your program.

Travel

The volunteer is solely responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel, specifically including all airfares or other transport costs to and from the host country as well as any local transport costs. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to carry all necessary documents when traveling abroad. While WLS International may advise the volunteer on required travel documentation, WLS International are not responsible for any supporting documents necessary for the volunteers travel needs or other purposes.

By becoming a volunteer in one of our programs abroad, you acknowledge and accept the risks associated with living and working in developing countries. WLS is not liable for any loss or harm you may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused by delays, bodily injury or death, emotional upset, damage to or loss of property, war or terrorism. WLS is not liable for any errors or mistakes made by partner organizations, charities and projects.

We will try to place you in your preferred project if possible, if not we will place you in another project in the same country.

Unusual Circumstances

Your program may be disrupted by an unusual event or circumstances that WLS could not reasonably have foreseen. If the unusual event is serious enough to significantly affect your program, we will try to arrange a suitable alternative if possible. We do not make any refunds in these situations and you will be responsible for any travel costs involved. We cannot accept liability for the effect of any unusual event or for any loss, damage, expense or claim of any description you suffer as a result.

The volunteer acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their agreement to travel to, temporarily live in and provide volunteer services in a developing country. Such travel and volunteer work can be often hazardous and involves a certain degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities and personal perils to the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted by and solely assumed by the volunteer. Therefore, WLS International including any and all of its employees, managers, directors, shareholders, host families and host country partner organizations are not liable, to the maximum extent of the law, for any loss or harm the volunteer or associates may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused by: Personal injury, Emotional injury, Death, Illness or disease, Damage to or loss of property.

WLS provides a service connecting volunteers to partner organizations and local charities/projects. You agree that WLS is not liable for any actions or omissions of any partner organization and local charities/projects. WLS has no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure of WLS to comply with these terms and conditions, where the same arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of WLS.

Passport & Visas

You must ensure that you have a full passport, valid until at least 6 months after your planned return date. You are responsible for organizing your own visa. Many countries do not issue visas specifically for volunteers. Work permits are often difficult to obtain. In most countries therefore WLS advises volunteers to enter on tourist visas. Technically, you are not permitted to work on tourist visas, but because you are not undertaking paid work, it is tolerated. At the time of writing none of our volunteers, to our knowledge, had encountered any problems with immigration authorities at port of entry on this point.

Flights and other Transport

You are responsible for arranging and paying for flights to and within your chosen country. Apart from the meet and greet service when you first arrive you are responsible for internal travel costs during your program. In all cases, this includes daily transport to and from your placement. We cannot meet, reimburse or otherwise be responsible for any flight, travel or other costs or expenses of any nature (including, for example, any charges made by airlines etc for canceling, changing or transferring flights or other arrangements) which are incurred or arise as a result of your placement not proceeding or being cancelled, curtailed, withdrawn or changed.

If you give us the wrong flight details which results in our coordinator making an unnecessary trip to the airport then we can arrange a new airport pickup if there is sufficient time, a 50 US$ fee will be added for arranging an additional airport pickup.

Use of photos and comments

By agreeing to these terms and conditions you agree that we may use any photo(s)/image(s) we or someone on our behalf take of you or any comments (written or verbal) you make during or in connection with your placement for our promotional and marketing purposes (such as including them in our brochure / website) without obtaining your further specific permission or making any payment to you. WLS reserves the right to use feedback and images provided by volunteers for website materials such as testimonials.

Insurance

It is highly recommended to have travel insurance during your program. You have to obtain your own travel insurance before you leave for your program. WLS International does not provide the volunteer with insurance of any kind. The volunteer is solely responsible for evaluating and determining the type, extent and levels of any insurance coverage they need or desire for their planned volunteer travel period.

Complaint Procedure.

You should email us detailing the precise nature of your complaint(s) within 30 days of the event that gave rise to your complaint.

Code of conduct

All participants on our programs are expected to adhere to proper conduct at their projects, proper conduct with children and listen to the instructions of your coordinator or partner organization and the charities code of conduct. This covers, but is not limited to, respecting others’ cultures and beliefs, working responsibly at your project, respecting the accommodation and avoiding drugs and illegal activities. Also participants will be removed from their program without a refund if they engage in illegal, violent or improper behavior.

It is understood that any participant in a our program will obey the laws of the host country. This forbids alcohol consumption by minors and the use of illegal drugs. Volunteers are expected to be courteous and respectful at all times, and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. WLS reserves the right to expel (without refund) any volunteer with improper behavior.