FAQs for Parents | Projects Abroad

We understand that choosing to send your teen across the world can raise a lot of questions. You know they’ll have a life-changing experience, but you might also be worried about the planning, the experience itself, plus their safety while they’re away.

It’s your job to worry and our job to help. Over the years we’ve answered thousands of questions from worried parents — the most common are collected here.

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, we’re just a phone call or email away. Get in touch with your own dedicated Project Expert for that extra reassurance before you take the leap.

What are High School Specials?

Our High School Specials are designed exclusively for teens aged 14 to 18 with full support and supervision.

They’re fixed date trips (two to four weeks in length) that are fully supervised from start to finish and take place during the school holidays. They follow a set itinerary which you can view in advance, covering the volunteer or intern work itself, social activities, and sightseeing.

Choose from a range of fields to be the main focus of their project work, including:

Medicine & Healthcare
Conservation & Environment
Childcare & Community
Culture & Adventure
Law & Human Rights
Building & Archaeology
Sports Coaching

The project they choose will dictate the professional skills and experience they will gain while travelling. Every project, regardless of specialism, will build important professional and social skills, which will be the catalyst for key personal developments, such as increased confidence.

High School Specials welcome students from all around the world. Our teen participants always say that one of the best things about their experience was meeting people from all corners of the globe who share their passion (and often people from their own country too!).

There are limited spaces available on every project, so we encourage you to consider it carefully but act quickly. As a general rule, if the date you want is online, it is still available.

What will my child learn?

We think experiences like our High School Specials are the best way for teenagers to safely step outside their comfort zone and develop new skills and perspectives. Every aspect of these projects is carefully planned so that they are fully age appropriate.

Your child will:

learn practical skills in the field of their choice, like how to screen for illnesses on medicine programs or how to survey wildlife on conservation projects — in most cases, this will be experience they simply can’t get at home
build and improve vital and transferable personal skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership
broaden their horizons and enhance their global perspective, meeting people from different backgrounds and understanding new ways of seeing the world
develop their confidence, independence, and adaptability as they they navigate life in a new country

All of this makes for an incredible experience to discuss on a CV and in interviews, whether that is for further education or employment. It is also a great chance to try working in a field they are interested in, confirming or ruling out a certain career path.

We surveyed our participants after returning home from their experience and found that, among teens:

97% became more independent and capable of managing new situations
94% feel more adaptable and comfortable adjusting to new environments
93% are more confident in themselves and their abilities
93% believe they developed a broader understanding of global issues, cultures, and perspectives
96% of medical participants felt they couldn’t have had their experience at home
87% of medical participants say it helped them confirm or rule out medicine and healthcare as a career path

Who will my child travel with?

On a High School Special, your child will travel alongside a group of other teens from around the world with round-the-clock supervision from our staff. It is a fully social experience, with fun activities, shared accommodation, and the chance to make new friends.

These projects are strictly for teenagers (no parents allowed!) meaning the whole group will be around the same age. On average, each two-week program usually welcomes between 15 and 35 participants.

For 73% of our teen participants it is their first time travelling abroad by themselves, meaning almost everyone is in the same boat and is eager to meet.

Occasionally, some participants travel with a friend, though the social nature of these projects mean they immediately get talking to other participants and it doesn’t impact the group dynamic.

If possible, we may be able to put you in touch with the parents of other participants travelling from the same country or region at the same time. That way, you can organise flights together and give your child someone to talk to ahead of their adventure.

Our participants mostly travel from:

the UK & Ireland
mainland Europe
the United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Japan

Every summer, we also provide a limited number of chaperoned flights from the UK, US, and Japan, allowing our participants to fly alongside a Projects Abroad staff member. This takes the nerves and stress away from letting your child travel and navigate the airport alone.

What is included in the project costs?

By sending your child on a High School Special, your project fees cover:

24/7 support and supervision from our staff
personally vetted accommodation, including host families and hotels
three meals a day, tailored to your specific dietary requirements, plus drinking water
all in-destination travel and transport
social activities and excursions, including entry tickets and workshops
comprehensive pre-departure preparation and advice
and more…

That means from the moment your child arrives at the airport until they are taken back by our staff, everything is covered. They’ll have a support network on hand at all times, and everything they need at their fingertips. No hidden payments, no nasty surprises.

We offer a flexible payment plan, allowing you to cover the cost of their adventure in instalments tailored to you. We also have a risk-free booking guarantee, allowing you to book with confidence.

Read more: Why pay to volunteer abroad?

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How does your safety and supervision work?

We have operated educational travel programs since 1992, developing projects that build skills and experiences which are also safe for everyone involved (participants, staff, and communities).

We believe we offer the best and most comprehensive safety and support on the market, with support available from the moment you book until your child returns home.

24/7 staff supervision

In every destination, we have local English-speaking staff who are permanently with the group throughout their program. This includes staying in the same hotel and joining in with group activities to ensure no one is ever on their own.

These staff members are fully background checked and expertly trained to ensure the highest standards. They are your child’s first point of contact for anything they need, whether that’s questions, concerns, or just someone to talk to.

On the first day of the project, our staff will hold a comprehensive induction session to ensure all participants understand the local culture and safety procedures of the project.

We aim for a 1:8 staff-to-student ratio. This ensures that our staff are never overloaded by looking after too many people and every participant can get the care and attention they need at any time.

Pre-arranged transport and accommodation

Our staff will meet your child at the airport no matter when they arrive, so they don’t need to navigate a new country on their own. Details of the staff member meeting them will be sent to you before they travel (including a photo) and they will have a Projects Abroad sign at the arrivals gate.

From there, our staff will take your child straight to their accommodation and allow them to settle in. This accommodation will be personally vetted by our team and hand-picked for safety, comfort, and convenience. Participants will share their accommodation with other travellers of the same gender and a similar age.

All our host families are also background checked and interviewed by our team and get additional training and support to help provide for their participants.

Our staff organise all transport for our participants, whether that’s longer trips between cities or daily transport to their placements. If the most convenient option is public transport, our staff will board with participants and ensure they reach their destination.

Pre-departure support and advice

Once you have submitted your child's application, you will be assigned a dedicated Destination Expert (DE) to help you prepare. Your DE will be your first point of contact for any questions you have in the run up to their departure.

You will receive a packing list tailored to your child’s destination and the time of year they are travelling. They will also provide you with support and advice regarding any visas or vaccinations your child may need.

Lastly, your DE will give you all the specific details about your child’s accommodation and placement, including exact addresses, locations, and project work. If you need anything at all before their trip, your DE will be happy to help.

Is there anything we need to do before we apply?

All you need to do before you apply is:

find your perfect project
select the right date for you
fill in the application form
pay the deposit (which is taken off the final project cost)

Then, you’re done! Our pre-departure team will reach out to you a few days after booking and talk you and your child through your next steps, providing all the support and advice discussed above.

They will be on hand to answer any questions at any time, but will stay in touch to make sure you’ve done everything you need ahead of departure.

Find out why we’re rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot

Read honest reviews from real participants and parents to find out why we’re recommended by TrustPilot.

“My daughter had such a great experience with Projects Abroad! She felt safe, made new friends, and received tremendously valuable exposure to the medical field, with hands-on learning in several different specialties.”

Click the link to read more:

How much contact will I have with my child(ren) while they are abroad?

Once volunteers arrive at the airport, we ask them to contact their family to let them know they’ve landed safely and have been met by our staff.

Our team will help them get online on day one. We usually recommend using an eSim, as these are fast and often cheaper than purchasing a local Sim card. In some countries, they are not guaranteed an internet connection at their accommodation, but there will be dedicated areas where they can contact you.

You’ll be given the contact details of our staff in destination who you can contact in case of an emergency. They will also have your contact details should they need to reach you.

Part of this experience is about learning to become more independent. With busy schedules during the day and social activities in the evenings, your child may not always be able to message you. However, it is a great opportunity for them to ditch their screens, disconnect, and experience life in the real world.

Lastly, you’ll also be added to a parent’s WhatsApp group closer to the start date for the specific project your child will be joining. The purpose of this is to:

connect you with other parents whose children are travelling at the same time
collectively ask questions to our team
keep you updated with what participants are up to
allow you to check in at any time during the project

How many other volunteers will be there at the same time?

The number of participants varies between projects, destination, and time of year. On average, each two-week program usually welcomes between 15 and 35 participants.

Summer is our busiest period, but your child will always travel alongside other participants of a similar age. We can advise on the busiest dates based on who has already signed up with us during the booking process.

Will my child be able to meet other volunteers before travelling?

If multiple teens from the same region and country are going on the same project, we can put the families in touch (with consent) so they can book the same flight or meet up beforehand.

However, our participants travel from many countries around the world, so this may not always be possible.

How safe are the countries where you base your projects?

Safety is our number one priority. We only send our volunteers and interns to countries that are safe and politically stable - if it isn’t, we won’t go.

We are constantly in contact with the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (as well as the equivalent in other countries), regarding safety and stability. We also devise and train our local staff on crisis management plans, so they know what to do if a problem occurs.

Can Projects Abroad help organise their flights?

While we can't book your child’s flights for them, our Project Experts will be on hand to offer advice and support to make the process easier.

We'll ensure they book the best return flights, pointing them towards the safest, most convenient, and cost-effective flight options, even for complex travel plans. Find out more about booking your flights.

My child only speaks English, is this an issue?

Not at all. No matter where you travel, our in-destination staff all speak English to a high level and will help communicate on behalf of the group. They can translate important information, allergy information, and instructions to guarantee the safety of our participants.

There are no language requirements for our High School Specials as participants have 24/7 supervision and language lessons included in their program. In many destinations, English is either an official language or spoken to a basic level.

However, these projects are still excellent opportunities to learn and improve their own language skills through cultural immersion.

How much spending money will they need to take with them?

The amount they take will depend greatly on the project they join and the country they choose. To get an idea, contact one of our Project Experts. They’ll be able to give an estimate depending on the project and country they’re considering.

My child doesn’t want to get vaccinations, can they still volunteer?

Yes. This depends on where you choose to go and on what, if any, vaccinations you’ve had in the past. We recommend you take a look at NHS guidelines for your destination or book an appointment with your local doctor six to eight weeks in advance.

How will you monitor their access to drugs and alcohol?

On all of our projects, our volunteers are required to follow our health and safety guidelines. We have a zero-tolerance policy concerning the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and other destructive behaviours.

High School Special participants have 24/7 supervision from our staff and aren’t allowed to go anywhere unaccompanied.

What happens if they want to come home early?

If your child wants to leave early, they can do so at any time. Our staff will still accompany them to the airport, but they won’t be refunded for the remainder of their project.

To prevent this, we will do everything we can to improve their experience. Our local coordinators are trained to monitor group dynamics and will frequently check in on participants to make sure they are happy with their social setting and accommodation.

Where needed, our staff will try to mix groups around to ensure everyone is engaging with each other and no one feels left out, and they will try to organise alternative accommodation.

Can I visit my child on their project?

You’re more than welcome to visit your child on their project. However, please keep in mind that they will follow strict itineraries during the day and need to abide by our accommodation curfews at night.

Does my child receive insurance coverage during their trip?

No, insurance is not included in the package. You are required to obtain appropriate travel and medical insurance to cover you for the entire duration of your project and time abroad.

Your travel insurance policy must include emergency medical including repatriation, personal accident, personal liability, and loss of baggage.

If you need us to organise travel and medical insurance for you, we are more than happy to assist. The additional cost will be added to your program fees.

How do you ensure your volunteer projects and placements make a difference?

Every project is planned, monitored, and evaluated in close consultation with community leaders in our destinations. Being guided by local stakeholders means that we can better allocate our resources to the areas they are most needed and support local efforts, not replace them.

We also conduct regular, rigorous impact assessments that culminate in the production of an annual impact report, detailing the numbers behind all our travel projects.

Read more: Our Impact

What happens if my child gets sick while at their project?

In the unlikely event that your son or daughter is unwell during their trip, our staff will be there to support them.

If necessary, they’ll be taken to the doctor or nearest hospital, and you’ll be kept well informed throughout the process.

“The local Kenyan staff were excellent. Unfortunately, she was ill during her stay but was taken to a clinic for treatment for an infection that required intravenous antibiotics. Carol, the director for Kenya, was absolutely outstanding - I WhatsApped her and she dealt effectively and quickly with some difficult logistics for our daughter who had to return to the clinic daily, an hour’s drive away.” - F Taylor, parent of a High School Special participant