1. Nature of a Project

1.1 Travel2help.org accepts participants on its projects on the basis that they fully appreciate the inherent risks and in particular the risk of personal accident, disease and medical complications in a foreign environment. Travel2help.org does not provide any medical services (such as doctors, nurses or any other medically qualified staff), other than first aid supplies, and the participant accordingly undertakes to take all reasonable care of him/herself and all others with whom he/she reasonably foresees he/she may come into contact on the project.

1.2 Participants are accepted on the understanding that general flexibility is a necessary prerequisite for the type of project that is organised by Travel2help.org. Participants understand that public and private transport delays and breakdowns may occur. In addition, local regulations and protocol may be rigidly applied by regional and district officials and may result in delays. Communication between Travel2help.org headquarters and the field may be irregular. Travel2help.org will use all reasonable endeavours to rectify any problems.

1.3. Travel2help.org shall not be liable to a participant for any claim from discomfort or disappointment suffered from participation on a project.

1.4.Whilst Travel2help.org projects are advertised in good faith, participants acknowledge that the weather and wildlife are unpredictable and that Travel2help.org gives no representation that a participant will observe any particular species or enjoy any particular weather conditions while participating on a project.

1.5. The length of a project is calculated from the project start date. Participants should ensure that they have sufficient funds to cover their food, travel, and accommodation in-country prior to the commencement of their project and after it expires.

2. Acceptance

A project placement is only confirmed after Travel2help.org receives from the participant the amount of the non-refundable deposit specified in the notification of offer of a project placement, which the participant agrees in accordance with these conditions.

3. Payment

3.1 Participation is subject to meeting the payment deadlines set out and to the further terms of this clause 3. Travel2help.org shall be entitled to treat a participant’s application as withdrawn and to offer his/her place elsewhere if any instalment becomes overdue.

3.2 For participants on any project the balance of the placement fee must be received no later than 30 days before the expected departure date.

3.3 The balance of the placement fee payable under clauses 3.2 is that stated in the notification of offer of a project place to the participant, subject to clause 3.4.

3.4 The placement fee is subject to alteration without notice in the event of circumstances arising beyond the control of Travel2help.org. If the alteration results in an increase to the placement fee the participant may withdraw and receive a full refund. To qualify for a refund the participant must notify Travel2help.org in writing of their intention to withdraw within 14 days of the date written notification of the increase is sent by Travel2help.org. Travel2help.org shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any such withdrawal.

4. Withdrawal by participant

4.1 If a participant on any project withdraws other than in the circumstances as described in clause 3.4, the participant will be refunded after the date written notification is received by Travel2help.org as follows:

Number of days before expected arrival : Fees refunded

61 days & over : Placement fee minus deposit

Between 60 & 31 : days 50 %

30 days & under : 0 %

4.2 If Travel2help.org agrees that a participant may defer his/her project place to a later project and the participant subsequently withdraws, they will be charged as per clause 4.1, but on the basis that references to the due date of an instalment were construed as references to the due date of an instalment relating to the original project for which the participant first accepted a place.

5. Alteration and cancellation

5.1 Travel2help.org will use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that a participant participates on the project described in the participant’s letter of offer, but the participant acknowledges the right of Travel2help.org to change the location or other aspects of the project, to postpone or advance the departure date or date of return or to provide an alternative project or to make such other changes as Travel2help.org in the circumstances deems fit.

5.2 Travel2help.org reserves the right to cancel a project. If such cancellation occurs prior to the commencement of the project, no alternative project is provided by Travel2help.org and the participant has complied with all their obligations under these conditions, Travel2help.org will refund the placement fee, which the participant shall accept in full and final settlement of all claims which they may have against Travel2help.org.

5.3 All information published by Travel2help.org in any documentation is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication but Travel2help.org shall have no liability to a participant for any fact or instance not being in accordance herewith.

6. Force Majeure

6.1 Travel2help.org shall have no liability to any participant to make any refund or in respect of any other loss or damage suffered by a participant as a result of the curtailment, suspension, alteration or (subject to clause 5.2) the cancellation of a project caused by and/or any other consequences of any event of force majeure occurring.

6.2 For the purposes of clause 6.1 “force majeure” shall mean fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake, storm, tempest, hurricane, flood, landslide, outbreak of infectious disease, imposition of quarantine, government or other official intervention, the threat or outbreak of war, riot, civil commotion, the threat or an act of terrorism, loss, theft or damage to strategic equipment, hijacking, nuclear disaster, exchange rate fluctuations or other event or circumstance arising which is beyond the control of Travel2help.org.

7. Insurance

7.1 Participants are required to purchase appropriate travel insurance in respect of their participation on their project details of which have been provided to Travel2help.org.

7.2 The participant must ensure that the travel insurance referred to in clause 7.1 covers them for the type of work and activities in which the participant will be involved in the country of the project and through any other country via which the participant deploys, includes an adequate level of cover for emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation cover and provides cover in respect of such additional perils as is appropriate to the participant's individual circumstances.

8. Rules and Requirements

8.1 Participants must be in possession of a valid passport and of any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their participation. Participants shall also obtain all other vaccinations which are necessary or desirable for the countries in which the project is held within the necessary timescales and agree to comply with all entry, immigration, customs and foreign exchange rules thereof. Specific assistance and advice will be given by Travel2help.org in good faith but it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that the correct documentation is obtained and completed and that the correct advice is obtained.

8.2 Participants agree diligently and expeditiously to discharge all instructions and duties from time to time given to them by Travel2help.org and Travel2help.org field representatives and to comply with all Finnish law, the laws of the countries in which the project is held and with all the rules and regulations of Travel2help.org and of Travel2help.org field representatives from time to time in force.

8.3 The participant acknowledges that Travel2help.org shall be entitled to withdraw a participant's placement on a project without any compensation where they have breached any of the provisions of clause 8.2 or in any other circumstances where their conduct is inconsistent with the efficient operation of the project.

8.4 Each participant shall provide complete and accurate information in all documentation and forms from time to time required by Travel2help.org including comprehensive details of any pre-existing medical conditions, psychological or physical, and the participant shall forthwith inform Travel2help.org of any change or inaccuracy therein as soon as it arises or comes to their attention. Each participant shall provide such further documentation within the timescales required by Travel2help.org as it shall from time to time require and agrees carefully to read, and wherever appropriate, fill in and return to Travel2help.org, all documentation from time to time sent by Travel2help.org to them relating to their project.

9. Equipment, Food and Accommodation

9.1 Travel2help.org shall provide, and the placement fee shall cover, staff, food, accommodation and the use of general facilities for the period of the project. In view of practical constraints, Travel2help.org cannot undertake to provide for specialist diets during the project. Any such provision will be wholly at the discretion of Travel2help.org field representatives.

9.2 It is the duty of each participant to provide all equipment of a personal nature which may be required on a scientific project including any specific to his/her personal needs.

10. Indemnity

The participant hereby agrees to indemnify Travel2help.org from and against all loss, damage and liability which Travel2help.org may suffer or incur as a result of his/her act, neglect or default while participating on a project.

11. Copyright

Travel2help.org retains all copyright in, and editorial control over, works, including literary, film and photographic works, which participants may create or contribute to during their participation on Travel2help.org projects or thereafter, in respect thereof.

12. Interphase

Where a participant attends consecutive phases of a project, the paericipant is alone responsible for their individual safety, accommodation, food and fitness during the inter-phase period and Travel2help.org accepts no responsibility whatsoever for them.

13. Liability

13.1 Travel2help.org shall have no liability to participants in respect of any loss or damage suffered by or caused to them as a result of the act or default of any person or entity contracted by Travel2help.org to provide any services to participants, whether in the Finland or abroad.

13.2 Travel2help.org accepts no liability for any claim for damages in respect of injury, illness or loss, including consequential and/or financial loss, which a participant may sustain during or by virtue of his/her participation on a project save for any claim in respect of any death or personal injury caused by Travel2help.org negligence or that of any of its employees.

14. Complaint

A participant who has a complaint against Travel2help.org should make it in writing to the senior local representative of Travel2help.org as soon as the subject of the complaint arises. If the matter is not resolved to the participant’s reasonable satisfaction, the participant may make the complaint to Travel2help.org headquarters, other than in exceptional circumstances within 90 days of the end of the project. Travel2help.org will not, other than in exceptional circumstances, entertain a complaint following the end of a project unless it has been the subject of a written complaint to the senior local representative received during the time of the project.

15. Variation and conflict

15.1 No employee or representativeof Travel2help.org has authority to vary these conditions.

15.2 In the event of any conflict between any of these conditions and any other document issued by, or on behalf of, Travel2help.org these conditions shall prevail, unless otherwise indicated in writing.

Travel2help.org is incorporated in in Finland as a Private Entrepreneurship (Toiminimi).

Registered Office: Läntinen Pitkäkatu 18 c 61, 20100 Turku, Finland

© 2007