international

Travel Tips

While our goal as an organization is to work in difficult places, we make every attempt to ensure the safety of our staff and participants in the field. All of our trips involve thorough planning in collaboration with in-country partners.

Note that the Arts Relief and Restoration Program specifically targets the toughest places in the world; these places are often intrinsically un-safe. While we never purposefully place staff or participants in peril, there is a higher level of risk involved with ARR trips than our Goodwill Tours or Cross-Cultural Discovery Tours [i.e. we do take ARR groups to countries tagged with a State Department travel warning]. Please contact the Overseas Coordinator concerning the specific circumstances of individual trips.


International Program FAQs

Why is there a need for BuildaBridge International?

Since 1997, BuildaBridge has been coordinating mission and service arts programs around the world. The documented impact of these programs has confirmed the effectiveness and need for the transforming power of the arts among the world's most victimized children and people in conflict and poverty. There is a role for the direct service to these populations as well as exposing those of influence and means to the world's problems. Artists and the arts have been misunderstood and underutilized in their transforming potential for peace, reconciliation, wellness, hope and healing among those with little on no financial, human and social capital.

Where is BuildaBridge currently sending artists?
BuildaBridge is currently sponsoring programs in Hungary, Egypt, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Belize. We have recently conducted service trips in Malaysia, Palestine, Italy, India, Liberia, Georgia, Guatemala and are in the process of the planning future programs in Armenia, South Africa and Jamaica. Due to the continual requests from global organizations seeking our collaboration, we are constantly developing further relations in Central and Southern America, Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe, and hope to eventually provide service opportunities in every country served by the United Nations.

For more information regarding current programs, click here

Where does BuildaBridge International receive its funding?
BuildaBridge is a 501(c)3 funded through grants, individual donations, participation fees, and consultation services.

Do I have to pay my own way to participate in an overseas trip?

For the most part, yes. BuildaBridge tries to keep the participation and travel costs as low as possible, but cannot afford to cover the costs of all overseas participants. Participants are encouraged to raise support for their trip and donation checks for individual participants can be written to BuildaBridge to provide the donor with a tax write-off.

How are our volunteers (Artists on Call) chosen?
After a potential artist volunteer expresses interest in working with BuildaBridge, he or she must first submit an updated resume and complete the BuildaBridge volunteer application along with a personality and global awareness profile. All artists must participate in a BuildaBridge training session, followed by an interview with the BuildaBridge President, or the International Program Coordinators. Potential Artists on Call must also meet these five basic requirements:

* Strong motivation

* Ability to deal with difficult environments

* Creativity in working with a scarcity of artistic resources

* Training in therapeutic art modalities, community development, and crisis

management

* Ability to raise funds in order to cover partially or entirely the travel expenses

What are the typical living arrangements while on assignment?
Accommodations vary by as to the nature of the program. Participants on the Cross-Cultural Discovery Tours will mostly reside in very clean, comfortable and often upscale hotels during their trips. Artists’ living arrangements through our other two programs usually consists of home stays or group lodgings at equipped community centers, schools, or program facilities. Artists may some times only have access to the bare essentials.

How can I volunteer?
Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with your interest; include which programs in particular, if any, you would like to be involved with. After that we will send you an application and begin the review process

Do I need to speak the language?
There are no language requirements to be an Artist on Call (AOC), although some programs may prefer volunteers possessing proficiency in a certain language over others. Language skills are definitely an asset and should be noted on your application. For those who do not speak the language, interpreters will be provided at the work site.

What skills do you look for?
BuildaBridge International embraces and values all of the arts, from visual to culinary. The expectations of each program determine the skills required of each AOC. In filling out an AOC application please be sure to include all of your skills and talents.

How long are the programs?
Assignment length varies by the organization and the extent of its project. Most AOC programs are between one and two weeks long, however, some projects can engage artists for a couple of months

Will I need a passport and/or visa?
Traveling outside the United States requires a passport. BuildaBridge International is unable to procure passports for volunteers.

Depending on the country and length of stay, a visa may be required. BuildaBridge International will assist you with all the necessary forms and materials to obtain the visa.

Are there opportunities to volunteer as a group?

Yes. Our GoodWill Tours are centered around traveling performing art groups. If another type of group (school club, group of friends, etc.) would like to volunteer some time, BuildaBridge International will accommodate that request according to organizational needs at the time. Many of our service trips are planned in conjunction with typical breaks from school and extend for only one week at a time.

Do I have to be Christian to work with BuildaBridge?

No. BuildaBridge is an ecumenical organization, but does not require staff or volunteers to be Christians; however, a strong faith background can be helpful. BuildaBridge works with a variety of religions and cultures and asks that staff and volunteers are committed to doing good in the world and share our values of peace, faith, reconciliation, and love.

 
Thoughts on safety and travel planning
I am planning to go on this summer's mission trip to Europe, but I am having trouble convincing my parents that it is safe to go. My mom says that there is just too much stuff going on in the East and she is apprehensive in letting me board a plane and fly to the other side of the world (I have never been out of the country before). I know that I am on my own being a sophomore in college, but my parents' opinions still matter to me. Is there a way that you cold help me to let them know that all efforts will be made to ensure the safety of all us while we are [on the trip]?

Answer:
First-time traveling can have a fear factor. It can also have a multiplying effect on parents. I know, I have three children and five grandchildren (one of them being a godson). I understand the worry, particularly in the post-9/11 world. One hears so many reports of violence, bombings, and terror threats that it does appear to be safer to stay at home (or even in your house!).

First let me share how we make decisions about the countries we visit, how we make choices for ministry, and then provide some resources for further reading on the web.

  1. We do not take groups to unsafe countries (we define unsafe as those countries that have a travel warning advisories from the US State Department. However, see note above concerning ARR programs.)
  2. Terrorist activities tend to take place in well populated areas and in countries where there is significant tension with the United States or internal conflict (for example: Iraq, Palestine, etc.). There are a number of regions in the world that can be very dangerous; we do not travel to these countries (However, see note above concerning ARR programs). There is no country without crime; crime is unavoidable. However, we can limit the possibility of being a victim by planning, training, and safe practices. Because we work with local people in countries where we travel, they are very often aware of dangerous political activity and unsafe areas.
  3. When you say the East, I am not sure what you mean, but Western and Eastern Europe, are not the East. The Czech Republic, for example, is very far from Iraq and Indonesia. We are talking a greater distance than New York to California! Before making a decision, it helps to locate the country on a map, read news reports, and check the State Department website for travel reports.
  4. I live in Philadelphia. Nightly, I hear reports of shootings in the city. I know I am reasonably safe because I know the city well enough NOT to go to certain parts of the city at night or to enter the clubs and other places where conflict erupts. It is the same with our hosts; they know where danger spots could be and help us to avoid them. But, to be honest, I often feel much safer in Europe and most countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America than I do in my own country. America has more guns per capita than any other nation.
  5. The American media tends to focus on the catastrophic. Because we see so many images of violence and reports of terrorism, it is very easy for us to assume that the world is totally under siege; this is just not the case. )Though that does not mean we should go "willy nilly" into the night without precaution.) So, we take every precaution we can. Our trips are highly regulated; we will give pre-travel training for safety. Every traveller is assigned at least one "travel buddy" and possibly two. No student or traveller is allowed to go places alone, or with our guests (without your buddy). We have nightly room checks and morning travel calls just to keep track of everyone. You will have and keep contact numbers of every location. With the advantage of cell phones, you and your parents or significant others will be able to talk several times within the trip and they will know where you are.
  6. We will stay in smaller hotels (not the big tourist ones) or homestays, avoid large crowds and demonstrations, and stay abreast of any political activity. If we sense that there is danger we will change the itinerary. If there would be a travel warning for the country of destination we will cancel the trip. We will check this up to the last day before we depart.
  7. Now let me change the tone a bit to say a word about why even bother to travel abroad. I was a missionary in African for 12 years. Some days were difficult and there was a greater chance of me getting AIDS from a car accident than being shot or blown up. I lived very close, by the way, to the incident several years ago where a group of terrorists bombed a tourist hotel near Mombassa. I learned to be safe. I wore a seat belt to avoid traffic accidents, I listened to the news and avoided tourist gatherings and gatherings of large groups of Americans (especially those related to the US government). My children attended boarding schools and I knew that they had a plan for safety just like we will have for our trips. I did these things not because I like danger (I don't and avoid it). I felt a greater calling to be a witness of God's love in the world. I believe all Christians have this calling, not a calling to place oneself in danger. Your hosts will want you to be safe as well: they would not wish any harm to you.

I realize this message may not be enough for your parents. They love you and care for you and want to see your future safeguarded. But they may not have all the facts about where you are going. You might look at the map and see just how far you will be from the trouble spots of the world. Reassure them that you will be under close supervision (maybe more than you thought).
 

Rwanda

Rwanda Rwanda

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Costa Rica

Netherlands

Netherlands Netherlands

Georgia

Georgia Georgia