Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: What is Beyond Borders? What is Transformational Travel? Do I need a passport? Do I need any vaccinations? Do I need a visa? Is it safe? How much luggage can I take? What about laundry? What are the accommodations like? What is the voltage in Haiti? What will we eat? What is the weather like? Should I bring valuables? Do I need insurance? What if my family needs to contact me? What does my fee cover? When do I have to pay?

What is Beyond Borders? Beyond Borders is a group of people who join together out of devotion to Christ to work for justice and peace by fostering transformative learning within and across cultural and economic borders. We promote non-traditional education in Haiti by giving grants to Haitian organizations for community and church based literacy programs. At present, Beyond Borders provides financial and technical support for more than 70 literacy centers serving approximately 1,700 children and 500 adults. We promote non-traditional education among people from English speaking industrialized countries by placing volunteers who are seeking to learn from, and live out the gospel in Haitian communities, and by hosting short visits of small groups of people who want to learn more about how to confront human misery and hunger in the world. All of our work is done in complete cooperation with our Haitian sister organization, Limyè Lavi (Light for Life). (top)

What is Transformational Travel? This initiative seeks to create a framework for meaningful dialogue among groups that rarely communicate with each other for the purpose of bringing transformation to each of these groups, which can lead to greater justice and peace. As a Transformational Travel participant you will be exposed to some of the realities lived by two-thirds of the world’s people, and together, we will search and reflect on what it means to follow Jesus in such a world. It is our hope that participants will be intentional about engaging in a process of ongoing reflection and action with others in an effort to discern God’s call after they return.

Participants in these groups usually do not give any specific services to the people of Haiti. We do not build churches, teach Sunday school classes, or lead agricultural workshops. We have found that this type of “service” often fosters a sense of paternalism among the visiting groups. Indeed, this type of giving often inhibits our ability to learn from people the realities of their lives. The consequence is that we do not realize what is really needed, and risk providing our assistance in a way that is more self-serving than helpful.

Transformational Travel groups spend their time in Haiti learning about the life of Haitian people: their culture, their joy, their hunger, and their suffering. You will also meet expatriates who have spent years working for justice alongside the oppressed. There will be times throughout the week for you to reflect with your group about what you’re learning, thinking, and feeling. Participants perform their most important service when they return home by the life choices they make in response to their experience and by sharing what they have learned with others in an effort to promote local and global compassion, justice, and peace. (top)

Do I need a passport? Yes. The application may be obtained and submitted in person at your nearest Passport Office, U.S. District Court, and sometimes at the Post Office. Check “United States Government Offices” section of your phone book or call the post office. All adult U.S. passports are valid for 10 years. Passports normally take 2-4 weeks to be issued. Apply as soon as possible. By law you can obtain a passport within a few days if it is urgent. It’s a good precaution to bring a photocopy of the first page of your passport in case you need to get a new one for some reason. (top)

Do I need any vaccinations? Yes. Ouch! Consult your personal physician or a community health service (2 months in advance). It is usually recommended that you receive the following:
1. Tetanus (a shot) this is good for 10 years
2. Malaria Preventative (pills)
Some physicians also recommend preventatives against:
3. Typhoid (a shot, or oral)
4. Hepatitis A (a shot)
5. Polio
Other questions or concerns can be directed to the Center For Disease Control in Atlanta at 404-639-2888. Unfortunately, the Red Cross does not accept blood donors for one year after they have been in Haiti. You may want to donate one more time several weeks before you go. (top)

Do I need a visa? Maybe—check with us. (top)

Is it safe? Haiti is a country having a history of political and economic turmoil. We will explore some of the reasons for this during the trip. However, Haitians love to show hospitality to visitors and North Americans are generally safe in Haiti (especially when we consider Haiti in light of the violence found in our own streets in the U.S.). Beyond Borders remains in contact with knowledgeable people in Haiti before and during trips and will take every precaution to assure the safety of our group members. In certain rare cases we will postpone a trip. Numerous groups have visited Haiti with Beyond Borders within the past few years and there have been no incidents of violence threatening the group. (top)

How much luggage can I take? We will provide you with a list of what you may want to bring. We recommend that you pack only the necessities and travel lightly. One suitcase and a carry-on piece of luggage (ideally a small back pack) should be enough. However, international airline regulations allow up to 70 or 140 lbs. depending on the season. (top)

What about laundry? All is done by hand. We will find you a sink, or someone who does laundry for an income if you need to do laundry during your stay in Haiti. (top)

What are the accommodations like? We will be staying in a guest house in Port-au-Prince. Sheets, pillows, blankets, and towels are provided. For two or three nights we may stay with a rural Haitian family. (top)

What is the voltage in Haiti?120 volts, but we only occasionally have electricity. Mostly we use kerosene to light our lamps. (top)

What will we eat? Beyond Borders provides all of your meals while you are in Haiti. Some meals will be simple while others festive. Rice and beans are a staple, but things like bread, peanut butter, and fresh fruit are always available. Filtered drinking water will always be available. (top)

What is the weather like? Haiti is in the tropics and is very warm all year long. The average temperature only varies by five degrees (Fahrenheit) from winter to summer. There are two rainy seasons (spring and late fall) when it often rains in the afternoons. A long-sleeved shirt or light sweater may be appreciated for cool nights during the winter or at higher elevations. (top)

Should I bring valuables? We don't recommend it since visitors stand out as people who often have valuables. Cameras are an exception. Haiti has much beauty and you may want to take pictures. Bring plenty of film and extra batteries. We will teach you how to ask people in Creole if you can take their picture. Beyond Borders cannot be responsible for any items that are lost or stolen at any time during the visit.

You will also want to bring some money along. Traveler’s checks will NOT be very useful. US cash will be. You will need at least $35 cash to cover the exit fee, and enough cash for any Haitian crafts or art you may want to buy (anywhere from $40 to $150 will do). Credit cards are not commonly accepted. (top)

Do I need insurance? Please check with your current insurance policies (health, life) to see what restrictions there are on international travel. We require all participants to have health coverage. Global Underwriters is one company that offers a variety of packages of travel insurance. (top)

What if my family needs to contact me? Your family can contact Beyond Borders at the Norristown office in the case of an emergency, and they will assist your family in contacting you in Haiti. Outside of regular business hours leave a message on the office line AND try to contact Jonathan Haggard at his home at 610-275-8670. People can call the office in Haiti at 011-509-257-6357 or 011-509-512-3149, but there isn’t always someone there who speaks English. Phone lines to Haiti don’t always work efficiently, but we will make every effort to contact the group in the case of an emergency. Calling out of Haiti is quite easy using an AT&T, Sprint, or MCI calling card. When standard phones are not available, staff often have access to cell phones. (top)

What does my fee cover? The fee you pay to Beyond Borders covers the expenses of hosting you in Haiti for the week such as food and lodging, and it covers the cost of traveling throughout Haiti with your guides (2-4 depending upon the size of your group). We generally travel in a private van with an outstanding Haitian driver. Sometimes we give an honorarium to a speaker or group that we meet with.

There are also some administrative costs of arranging these trips, such as mailings, the preparation of trip materials, office expenses, etc. The standard fee for an eight (8) day trip to Haiti is $900 per participant.

The fee does not include the costs for transportation to and from Haiti, immunizations, exit fee ($35.00 cash), food and beverages not on the regular menu of the included meals, and all other expenses of a purely personal nature. Because the fee is for services rendered and therefore not a donation, it is generally not tax-deductible. (top)

When do I have to pay? We normally ask for a refundable deposit of $100 three months in advance of your departure. The balance is due a week before your departure for Haiti. You are also responsible for your travel to and from Haiti. We recommend that you reserve your tickets well in advance, and that your group travel together to Haiti. Your guide will arrange to meet you at the Port-au-Prince airport. Most participants purchase non-refundable tickets, which are usually much less expensive, but we cannot refund the cost of your tickets in the rare case where the political situation in Haiti causes an abrupt change of trip dates. Often ticket dates can be changed for a fee. (top)

We hope this information answers all of your questions. If not, please feel free to contact us.