Volunteer With Us

• Staying at Kusewera Village.
• Trip cost $599 includes but is not limited to airport pick up/drop off, lodging, meals, trip leader.
• Cost does not include airfare (roughly between $1250-$1900 RT depending on route OR use 80k miles if you have United Mileage Plus/Star Alliance partners miles or find someone to donate them to you. Great websites to check for flight deals include JustFly.com, OneTravel.com or CheapoAir.com). Also does not include $50 Malawian entry visa (upon arrival) and $15 background check fee for new volunteers.
  • All trip volunteers must secure their own negative COVID test results (with proof) 1-3 days prior to leaving in order to enter Malawi.
  • All trip volunteers must secure a negative COVID test result prior to leaving Malawi (we will go as a group, but it will cost $100) and is required for return back to US.
• Acceptance as a trip volunteer is based on application, questionnaire, completed mandatory training (see next note), final approval by review team.
• Each volunteer will be required to complete pre-trip training that includes topics of culture competency, diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias. Having an understanding and acknowledgement of Kusewera’s mission and statement with those topics in mind is key and will help finalize volunteer participation.
• Your registration and a $500 non-refundable deposit must be paid in order to HOLD your spot by June 15, 2021. *IF our review team determines that you do not have final approval to join our volunteer trip, your deposit will be refunded to you. Mandatory training and review will be done prior to the due date of final trip costs.
• Full trip costs are due by July 23rd, 2021.
• **ADD ON safari experience optional (team goes together) w/ addt’l cost of $450 pp (includes transportation, lodging, meals, 2 safaris excursions – land and boat)
  Trip Leader: Karen Osborn
• IF you have already been approved, and would like to make your trip payment or you want to make a donation to someone’s trip, you may do that HERE.

• Volunteering on a trip with Kusewera is open to people from all walks of life, with a passion or skill, that will be implemented into our existing programs. Our approach is to “learn from and participate with” the communities. What are your passions and skills?
• The days with the kids include an intense set of daily clinics, (morning and afternoon) that the children attend, and are led in partnership by local staff and volunteers. Be prepared, as it’s a lot of work!
• We like to provide volunteers with the opportunity to explore a bit of the local town and other parts of the country in which they are working in.
• Kusewera offers the option of a short, 2 day safari / excursion. We’ve worked hard to gain relationships, that give us the best rates on everything from transportation, safari, food and more. Your visit and resources spent locally and at safari can help their communities tremendously.
• We encourage each volunteer to take over 1-2 checked bags of donated items like clothing, medical supplies, sports equipment, etc. that is easier to assure delivery of donations into the right hands.

TRIP / FUNDRAISING / CANCELLATION POLICIES:

• **Kusewera led trips (unless designated as a family trip) are limited to volunteers over 18 years of age, or 14-17 years of age WITH a parent or chaperone over 25 yrs. of age accompanying them on the trip. 
• Individuals and groups with children may apply. Kusewera has questionnaires and interviews for children under 14, and for their parent(s) and/or guardians to determine if they are a good fit. We recommend a parent join a trip to Malawi first, before deciding if their own child is ready for a humanitarian trip.
• **If the volunteer cannot make the humanitarian trip that they register for due to medical reasons or emergency situations out of their control, and notice is given to Kusewera at least 60 days prior to scheduled trip departure, their $500 non-refundable deposit may be held for them for 1 calendar year, in order to allow the volunteer to go on another humanitarian trip within 1 year. If the volunteer is not able to make said trip the following year, their non-refundable $500 will go towards general Kusewera projects that benefit the children.
• If the volunteer has personally paid for the trip costs, and there are funds above the non-refundable deposit, it may be refunded to volunteer only if it is at least 60 days prior to scheduled trip departure.
• If volunteer cancels 45-59 days prior, refund amount will be 75% (less the deposit) of personally funded fees.
• If cancellation is 44 days or less, 50% may be refunded (less the deposit) of personally funded fees.
• Should the volunteer raise funds for their full humanitarian trip costs from donors other than themselves, and need to cancel, no refund will be given, but same % amounts may be held for up to one calendar year. If the volunteer cannot make said trip or the following year’s trip, all donations from other donors will go towards general Kusewera projects that benefit the children. If volunteer raises funds over the trip cost (including safari) on Crowdrise, all remaining donations will go to the general Kusewera account for projects that benefit the children. Volunteers may raise personal funds for flights, immunizations, etc through any other funding page not related to the Kusewera Crowdrise pages, such as GoFundMe.
• **Kusewera reserves the right to deny participation to potential volunteers that do not meet the requirements, through the application process, reference checks and background check.