FAQ

FAQ


Q. I am not an American Citizen – Can I still participate?
A. -Yes you are most welcome. You need a B1/B2 visa. CCTG will issue a letter which you bring to the U.S. Embassy. We will guide you in how to proceed. You do not apply for the visa until you are enrolled.

Q. No money – what can I do – can I still participate?
A. -The schools running the training period have smaller and bigger scholarships available. The scholarships are not given according to your former experiences and skills but to whether you need it or not. We will discuss this during the interviews we have with you. You can apply for one when you attend a preparatory weekend or a meeting. Many volunteers have fundraised the money - we can assist you in this by giving you a list of ideas how to get started, fundraising letter etc. We believe that financial matters are there to be solved so if you have the will we will support you in finding a solution.

Q. What means No Drugs No Alcohol Policy ?
A. This means that everyone, from staff to volunteers, must refrain from the use of drugs or alcohol while enrolled in CCTG. This includes fundraising and other activities outside the school. Exception for this rule is when you have Home Travel period which means leaving the school and staying somewhere else. You are expected to respect this policy in order to maintain the common wellbeing for everyone.

Q. Why do we have this policy?
A. 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 CCTG free from any drugs and alcohol 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 CCTG and Africa 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. Cons: - As adults and mature people we should have the right to take decisions about drinking and drugs. We understand, but we maintain our position for the following reasons: 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 CCTG 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. A lot of people choose CCTG, 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. Come to CCTG to contribute with the best of you. Leave your addictions behind and learn how to be a different person.

Q. What documents do I need to bring?
A. -You should bring your passport, four passport photos, any High school Diploma, University Degrees or a transcript of your last successful year in school, a criminal check, and a copy of your resume. More detailed list can be required from Promotion Staff.

Q. Does the training prepare the volunteers for the fieldwork?
A. -Yes, CCTG 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.

Q. Do you work very closely with local organizations?
A. -Yes, while training volunteers have the option of doing community outreach and working together with local organizations in the area on such projects as HIV/AIDS education, camps for underprivileged and "at risk" children, ect. CCTG wants our volunteers not only to take an active role in the issues of the world but also within the local community.

Q. What is the success rate within the training program?
A. -The ratio of volunteers that start to volunteers that go on to the projects is 12:10.

Q. How much time is spent in class vs fundraising?
A. -8 weeks out of the 6 months is set aside for fundraising and reaching your goals. This time period is flexible and you may be able to fundraise your goal in 2 weeks or may have to use more than 8 weeks.

Q. What sort of fundraising is typical?
A. -The “typical” way is either street fundraising or door-to-door solicitation or site finding. This is how a majority of our volunteers reach their goals but it isn't for everybody. CCTG does not want to hinder a person’s innovative spirit and embraces new and exciting ways of fundraising.

Q. Will it be possible for my family to visit me before I leave for overseas?
A. -Yes, CCTG welcomes guests to come and see what their friend or family member is doing. There also is a short break where people who want to go home are able to do so.

Q. Can I leave California during the 6 month training period?
A.-Yes, other than our Home Travel period, CCTG has no objections to those who need to leave for special occasions, provided we are notified in advance and the travel has been arranged.

Q. What about health insurance?
A.-For the time spent here, CCTG would advise our volunteers have arranged some kind of insurance.

Q. How many people attend the school?
A. -CCTG has from 15 – 25 participants training at all times.

Q. How often do I have to take the classes?
A. -We usually have a daily structure that is divided into two parts, one is common courses and discussions held with all participants and the other is tailored for your specific program. This includes language, country history, job specialization, ect. Courses start at 8.30 a.m and finish at 6.30 p.m Monday through Saturday.

Q. What is the refund policy?
A. After one week you get $2800 usd back - prior to 2 months $1300 usd back - and prior to one week before you leave $300 usd. Any scholarship you might have been given will be deducted from this amount.

Q. Do I need a working visa to go to the projects?
A. -Yes, you will need a visa. Either a work visa or a work exemption visa, depending on the country. CCTG will help secure your visa prior to you leaving.

Q. Where does the funding come from for the projects?
A. -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), Corporations (Kellogg, De Beers, Johnson & Johnson). For more information please check out www.humana.org under contributors.

Q. Does Humana People to People work in unison with any other humanitarian organizations in Africa?
A. -Yes, Humana People to People works many other international and local humanitarian organizations along with community organizations and government.

Q. Do we need to bring money for food and accommodation in Africa?
A. -No, you do not need to take money for food and accommodations. Humana People to People provides sufficient funds for food and necessities. They also provide accommodation while at the project.

Q. In case of an emergency how can people contact us in Africa? Will we be able to contact our families easily?
A. -They can contact the school and then the school contacts the project leader who has a satellite phone. All projects have access to phones (landlines, satellite, and cellular) and a majority has access to internet.

Q. How big are the teams usually that are working as development instructors?
A. -Besides your team, you will be working side by side with other teams from the schools around the world. All in all there usually are between 20-30 volunteers in the country working in the various projects along side you.

Q. What medical care is available should we get sick?
A.-While abroad, CCTG along with Humana has organized international health insurance for all volunteers. This gives you access to the best medical care in the country. It covers any and all illnesses and surgery you may need.

Q. What are some of the precautions development instructors must take when in Africa?
A. -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 do not have access to fire, use a plastic bottle covered one half with foil or paint black and let it stand in the sunlight for 12 hours then let cool. Another concern is Malaria, but if you go on www.cdc.gov/travel/mailinfor.htm they will answer this question better – also read the section on Safety under the Program

Q. Can I use the experiences from the DI program for further employment?
A. -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.

Q. What if we are unable to complete our designated time? Is there penalty to coming back early?
A. -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.

Q. Will we be in a rural or more urban community?
A. -Most volunteers are sent to very rural areas either living with other volunteers or by themselves with a host family in the community.

Q. What is the typical diet? Do we cook for ourselves?
A. -The typical diet in Southern Africa is meat or chicken with a maize porridge (similar to corn) and fresh fruits and vegetables from the region. Majority of volunteers do prepare their own meal or share the responsibility amongst them.

Q. How accepting is the community towards the volunteers?
A. -Very, Humana People to People have sent over 10,000 volunteers to Africa in the past 20 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 new volunteers who come.

Q. How much extra time would I have to interact on a one on one basis with the African community?
A. -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 women with 5 children down the road. There is no extra time needed to interact, you just do on a daily basis.

Q. Are there moral and customs that we are trying to push on people to make them more "western"?
A. -Absolutely not, we believe in cultural sensitive education. This is another reason for 6 months training, by the time you leave you will know the culture, language, and history so that you can make judgments of your own on how best it would be to work in the community.

Q. If there is a coup or election that doesn't support the program what happens to us?
A. -Humana believes in the safety of all volunteers and would never leave anyone in an unsafe area or situation. As soon as there is any type of instability, Humana will make sure you will be removed from the country immediately and sent to another for the duration of your time.

Q. What about my safety as a foreigner?
A. -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 expensive stuff or money, etc.

Q. Can I defer my study loans?
A. -Many people who join CCTG 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 one or the other way supported by the government * Private loans - taken from a bank or another financial company.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. -The minimum age required is 17 1/2 at the start of the program. There is no upper limit.

Q. Can I bring my children?
A. -No you cannot. As earlier stated to join our programs you need to be 17 1/2 of age. The projects we work at in Africa cannot accommodate children from abroad