FAQs about Our Programs

• What happens if I encounter issues with my internship or volunteer placement? Can I change the placement?

  Should this really happen, we first attempt to mediate between you and the placement organization and clarify any misunderstandings, which often culturally based. If this is not possible, we try to arrange an alternative placement for you locally. This is dealt with by our on-site coordinators.Some readers

• Will I be the only participant at my destination, or will I have contact with other international program participants?

  At almost all locations, we have other program participants at all times. We are also partners with major travel agencies and tour operators specializing in the fields of work experience travel, educational travel and youth travel from around the world at many locations, providing on-site support services in the countries in which we are active for the participants they book into our programs. We have over 3000 participants in our programs each year. Even if other participants are engaged inSome readers

• What is the minimum age to join?

  The minimum age for most travel programs is 16 years. For some internships and volunteer placements, there is a higher minimum age (usually from 18 onwards). This is specified in the info box of the respective program descriptions. If you are not yet 18, we need the signature of your legal guardian indicating their approval of your stay abroad and taking responsibility for your actions there. Participants under 16 can join if accompanied by at least one legal guardian. We can also offer childSome readers

• I am from Iceland/Saudi Arabia/Mexico/Lithuania etc. Can I join your programs?

  Every person from this earth can participate with us. However, sometimes there are restrictions for certain nationalities regarding visas for specific countries. We can provide you with information on this.Few readers

• I want to participate with my friend/partner/sibling/classmate. Is that possible?

  For many programs, this is possible. You can simply select the number of travelers during the online booking, and there are often lower prices per person when 2 or more people book and travel together. For groups of 5 or more people, we can offer you an individual group price; please contact us regarding this. For internships where we need confirmation from an organization to accept you as an intern is required, we cannot promise in all cases that two or more people can be in the same internsFew readers

• What's the typical age of the World Unite! program participants?

  We regularly have participants of all ages, from 16 to mid-80s. Families with children can also participate. We welcome all participants. You can also join our internship programs if you are older than the typical age of a student, as we consider lifelong learning essential. The age distribution varies depending on the program and placement location. Across all programs, approximately 60% fall in the age group of 18 to 29 years; 10% are under 18; 10% are 30-49, and 20% are 50+. For Working HoFew readers

• Can I travel around my destination country after/before/during my internship/volunteering?

  Certainly, you can travel around. For longer trips, we recommend doing this before or after your program participation with us. However, during your program, you can often go on day trips on weekends. Participants frequently use the Whatsapp/LINE participant groups we have at each destination to coordinate joint excursions and activities. In Tanzania, Zanzibar, and South Africa, as a World Unite! participant, you also receive a 15% discount on safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs, day trips, and water sFew readers

• Can families with children participate?

  Certainly, this is possible. On our program overview page, you can filter for programs that are especially suitable for families with children. If you follow this link, this filter selection is already pre-set. If you have further questions about traveling with your family, we are happy to advise you.Few readers

• Can I get a written confirmation from you needed for scholarships, child benefit etc.?

  Yes, we can issue such confirmation documents.Few readers

• Of which nationalities are your participants?

  We attract participants from all over the world with our offerings. We also in partnership with major travel agencies and tour operators from many countries specializing in work experience travel, eduational travel and youth travel, who send participants to our programs, and we support on-site. The exact distribution of participating nationalities varies depending on the program and placement location. Across all programs, about 60% are European (mostly Germany, Austria, Switzerland, ScandinaFew readers

• Is it possible to extend the program participation on-site?

  Generally, an extension is possible. If you decide on-site that you want to extend, please contact the local coordinators or our international communication team. In a few cases, there may be limitations, such as when the maximum duration of your visa is reached and cannot be extended, or if internship positions have already been assigned to subsequent interns. If it's challenging for you to determine your duration of stay before traveling, please reach out to us, and we will explore the bFew readers

Booking Process

• If I combine two or more programs in the same country or in different countries, is there a discount?

  Yes, there is a discount. Not all discounts are integrated into our website's booking system. If you are interested in combining different programs, please contact us, and we will provide you with the exact rate!Some readers

• Can I get consultation about your programs by phone?

  Certainly! The following options are available to speak with us: Through the chatbox here in the FAQs, video conferences (with video or voice only) are possible. Simply inform the team member that you would like to have a phone/video conversation, and we will start the call. You can also schedule an appointment for a video conference via our chatbox: https://calendar.app.google/HTfn6JSUU6aVP9fd7 Phone call (German landline): +49 (0) 7825 4Few readers

• Which payment options exist?

  You can pay via credit card, Paypal, bank transfer, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.Few readers

• When do I have to make a payment?

  If your arrival is soon (within the next 2 months), you will pay the full amount when you make the booking. If you are arriving later, you can either pay the full amount when booking or make a deposit of 200 USD/EUR and pay the remaining amount one month before arrival. For our long-term Working Holiday programs, you can pay accommodation costs monthly on-site.Few readers

• Is it already binding and will there by any costs when I send you my resume?

  When you send us an inquiry and your resume, it is non-binding for you, and there are no costs involved. We will propose possible volunteer placements/internships, etc., and you decide whether you want to accept them. It only becomes binding when you agree to a proposal, and we send you an invoice. You make a deposit to secure your position, and usually, the remaining amount is due one month before the start date. This process may vary for some programs (e.g., our Ireland programs). DifFew readers

• How far in advance do I need to sign up?

  Generally, we can organize participation in our programs relatively last-minute (2 weeks lead time is sufficient). If you are reasonably flexible about the program, we can often enable program participation with only a few days' notice. If you want to book very last-minute (less than 2 weeks lead time), just ask us what we can arrange! Remote internships (with the exception of internships with Japan companies) can be arranged with only a few days' lead time. Some programs might need a longerFew readers

Use of the Website

• Our new website will be launched in 2024

  We are currently working diligently on our completely new website, which will go live in the end of 2024. What you currently see at https://www.world-unite.de is our website that has reliably served for the past 10 years. The FAQs you see here, including the chatbox, are already part of the new website. Some information in the FAQs is already adjusted to the content of the new website, which may differ slightly from the content of the previous website. If anything is unclear, please feel freeFew readers

About World Unite!

• Where do I find feedback and reviews from participants?

  You can read participant reviews and feedback here: On GoOverseas On our Facebook Page On Google about our Programs in Zanzibar (https://www.google.com/maps/place/World+Unite!+Zanzibar+-+Volunteering,+Internships,+Cultural+Travel/@-5.8677877,39.3519905,1121m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!3m7!1s0x1842d96786cd9081:0xb2841aae30451f8c!8m2!3d-5.8677877!4d39.3519905!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11vylv5nmw?hlSome readers

• Is World Unite! a German organization?

  Only our programs in Germany are offered through our German company. For all other programs, we are directly registered with our own organizations in most of the countries where we run our programs. Invoicing and the provision of services are done in the name of the organization responsible for the country that you would like to get the service at.Few readers

• How can I make sure that World Unite! is a trustworthy organization?

  We are a member of WYSE (World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation), whose members commit to adhering to an extensive code of conduct. For many years, we have been an inbound partner in the countries where we operate for numerous international travel agents specializing in youth travel, educational travel, and volunteer travel, as well as universities. This means we host travelers who book through these partner organizations and provide the on-site serFew readers

• Can you send me your printed catalog or brochures?

  For many years now, we consider extensive printed promotional and informational materials as no longer contemporary in a digital world. You can find all the information on our website, which we constantly update. This not only saves costs, enabling us to offer more affordable program prices but is also more environmentally friendly. If you have further questions, we're happy to answer them.Few readers

Other

• I have lots of old clothes. Can I send those to Africa and you will give them to an orphanage?

  Usually, the shipping costs do not justify the value of the clothes, and who is benefitting most from this is the shipping company. It might make more sense to donate the clothes to a charitable project at your home country and instead donate the amount of money that the shipping would have cost. With this amount, we can purchase new clothes or other needed items locally. This also supports the local economy, such as local tailors who make the clothes.Few readers

• I would like to support a charitable organization in a different way than through volunteering. Can you help?

  Just get in touch with us and let us know your ideas. We are happy to facilitate in favor of projects that will of course appreciate any form of support. We will continue to monitor the use of donations, and, of course, this is entirely free of charge. We are also partners with "Pack for a Purpose" and "Labdoo." You can read more about it here.Few readers

• Can you recommend a travel insurance?

  Yes, to join our program, we recommend Caremed insurance. They offer useful options such as: Health Insurance: Covers expenses if you fall ill during your travels. Travel Cancellation Insurance: Covers expenses if you need to cancel your trip for an important reason. Third-Party Liability Insurance: Covers expenses if you accidentally cause damage to someone during your travels. Accident Insurance: Provides a one-time payment in case of permanent disability as a result of an accident dFew readers

• Can I get university credit for an internship with World Unite!?

  Yes, it is usually possible to get university credit for an internship with World Unite!. The decision, however, needs to be made by your university's internship office. We provide certificates confirming the internship and its contents; we can also get your internship contracts and training plans signed and/or stamped. You can check the respective internship descriptions on our website to see if there is qualified personnel at the internship placement who can act as an internship supervisor.Few readers