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    Provider Vetting Checklist for Parents

    15 specific items to verify in writing from any volunteer abroad provider before you (or your child) pays a deposit. If they can't or won't answer any of these, that's your signal.

    Last updated:

    How to use this list

    Copy this list into an email to the provider. Ask them to respond in writing to each item. A reputable operator has standard answers ready and will share them. Anyone who pushes you to "discuss on a call" without writing things down is a yellow flag at minimum.

    1–5: Safeguarding (most important)

    1. Written child safeguarding policy. Any program with child contact must have one. Ask to read it before paying.
    2. Background check required. A current criminal-record check from your child's country of residence is the baseline. Programs that skip this for child-facing roles are unsafe.
    3. No unsupervised access. Volunteers should never be alone with a child. If the program promises "one-to-one time" with children as a feature, that's a red flag.
    4. Qualified local staff in charge. Local social workers, teachers, and child-welfare professionals lead the day-to-day work; volunteers assist.
    5. Named reporting channel. If your child has a safeguarding concern, who do they tell? Is there an escalation path that bypasses the on-site supervisor if needed?

    6–10: Money and refunds

    1. Fee breakdown in writing. Percentage by category: accommodation, food, training, in-country support, local partner contribution, admin. A reputable operator can produce this in 24 hours.
    2. What share goes to the local partner. Programs where most of the fee flows to foreign marketing are a red flag.
    3. Refund and cancellation policy. In writing, before paying. What happens if the program is cancelled by them? By your child? Due to illness? Due to travel advisory changes?
    4. Deposit recipient. Money should go to a registered organisation account, never a personal bank account.
    5. Hidden costs. What's NOT included (visa, insurance, vaccines, weekend travel, in-country incidentals)? Total trip cost is usually 1.5–2× the program fee.

    11–15: Safety, support, references

    1. 24/7 emergency procedure. Who answers? How quickly? What's the medical evacuation procedure? What's the nearest international-standard hospital?
    2. Insurance requirements. What insurance does the program require? Does it cover volunteer work specifically (most travel insurance doesn't)?
    3. Pre-departure preparation. Formal orientation, safety briefing, cultural prep. Programs that hand a volunteer off at the airport with no prep are amateur.
    4. Past volunteer references. Two or three recent volunteers from THIS specific placement (not the marketing testimonials). Verifiable contact details.
    5. Country travel advisory. What's your country's current government travel advisory for the destination? If it's "do not travel," the program shouldn't be running.

    Print this page

    Use your browser's Print → Save as PDF to keep a copy. The print stylesheet drops navigation and ads. Cross off items as you receive written answers from the provider.