Hero Holiday

Students between the ages of 14 and 18 are eligible to apply. Anyone 18 or older can apply as an adult participant (at the time of the trip). Adults are required to go through a more in-depth screening process. If you are older than 18 years of age, you will be required to provide two character references and to mail our office a criminal record check with a vulnerable sector screening (this is obtained at your local police station). To attend the Haiti Hero Holiday, we require that you be 16 years or older. We love all ages on our trips, it adds much variety and life perspective to all our discussions. Parents, teachers, adults: we love having you travel too!

Sorry, we do not have any spring break trips planned for 2011, but if you have a group of 10 or more people we can help you organize a private charter to Mexico, Haiti, or the Dominican Republic. Please read the Private Charter section for your next step in this direction.

It’s quite simple, really: APPLY! Everyone who has ever applied for Hero Holiday has been able to join us, provided they still wanted to come and that they were able to pay all their fees on time. Our open trips are filled on a first come, first serve basis. If you apply late, there may not be space available in your trip of choice.

Didn’t we just say that? If your children are younger than 14, please contact our office for special arrangements. Unless otherwise requested, we will keep children on the same team as parent(s) so that you are able to have this amazing experience together. Children younger than 14 are required to stay on the same team as their parent and/or adult guardian.

Every day is an adventure! For those of you who cope best with a structured, up-to-the minute planned schedule, get ready to have your world stretched just a little bit! Working in a different culture is an adventure in itself. Things don’t always go as planned, so be prepared for last minute changes, delays, weather complications and so on. However, here is what you can expect: to take part in a building project that provides a school for the community or homes for families, getting involved in community outreach opportunities such as food and supply distribution, and sometimes even helping out with children’s homes and other community opportunities. Anything else is a surprise! Many times when we go into a community we begin to see other needs as well, and it’s pretty cool to make some last-minute changes in the schedule in order to help where we can. Many times the diversions end up being the highlight of the week!

Although you will be working very hard, we also make sure you have opportunities to participate in some fun activities. The specific project location will determine what extra-curricular activities are available.

No, but it sure helps! The official language of both Dominican Republic and Mexico is Spanish. In Dominican Republic and Haiti, the Haitian communities also speak Creole, a French/African-based language. If you speak French, you will be able to communicate fairly well with Haitians, so pay attention in French class! It’s always great to try to brush up on some useful Spanish phrases. For Mexico, it’s Español all the way! For Thailand, obviously it’s Thai! We always have translators available at each location, and we do our best to give our participants many opportunities to communicate with the people that they are working with.

We will provide all of the building supplies, but we do ask that you bring your own work gloves (two pairs), have proper footwear (such as work boots or running shoes) and a hat. A specific packing list is provided for each trip with your welcome email.

You are encouraged to collect supplies to bring to the local people. Depending on airline luggage restrictions, some trips will be more limited with the amount of gifts you can bring. These details will be provided after you are registered. Some gift ideas include: school supplies, small toys, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, clothing, shoes, hair accessories, baby items, and wrapped candy. Most airlines are charging an extra fee for any second checked bag, but please do not let this stop you from bringing your gifts, as they are greatly appreciated!

Yes. A valid passport is mandatory for all Hero Holiday destinations. Don’t worry if you don’t have a passport at the time of applying. You can notify us of your passport number when you receive it. Please let us know if you hold a passport from a country other than Canada. If you don’t currently have a passport, be sure to apply for it as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

You can pick up an application form at your local post office, passport office or download an application form from www.pptc.gc.ca. You will need an original birth certificate in order to apply for a passport. Your passport is valid for five years. For Thailand participants, if your passport expires less than six months from the date of the trip, you will need to apply for a new one before traveling to Thailand.

If you hold a Canadian passport, you do not need a travel visa to participate in Hero Holiday. If you hold a passport from another country, it is your responsibility to ensure you have met all of the requirements for entry into the country you are visiting, and for some countries this may include a visitor’s visa.

We do our best to accommodate to all dietary restrictions, although when traveling in a foreign country this can sometimes be complicated. It is recommended that if you have a dietary restriction to note it in your application and to bring other food options with you if we can not always meet your requirements. Vegetarians: the types of proteins that are provided in our destinations are beans, eggs and cheese. Feel free to bring you own snacks, but there will be options to purchase more at a convenience store at your destination.

The food is delicious at each of our destinations! In Dominican Republic, our resort often provides us with delicious buffet-style meals. In Mexico, we hire a cook who makes the best Mexican food (tacos, fajitas, etc.) that you have ever had in your life! Breakfast in Mexico is quite normal and we pack a lunch (usually sandwiches and snacks) for the work site each day. While in Thailand, you do not need to be a “chop stick handler extraordinaire” because most Thais actually eat with a fork and spoon. We eat a variety of Thai and Western food while traveling there. In Haiti, the food is very flavorful as well: breakfast is freshly baked pastries and dinners are an evening adventure.

There are pay phones available to call home. Please be aware that calling from other countries is expensive, so save most of your stories for when you go home. You can look into getting an international calling card from your long distance provider. Check out www.infocanadadirect.com. Internet access may be available, but keep in mind that it might not be as reliable as in Canada.

Yes. We will have forms available during the projects. You may also bring your own form from your school.

I hope not. Unlike some parts of the world where there are many ways to be eaten alive by wild animals and insects, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico are fairly safe. In Thailand, the wildlife is mostly friendly!

For sure there are jellyfish in the ocean; although our friend Captain Laird swears he’s never seen any close by and if anyone knows about jellyfish, it would be him.

On each application form there is a medical section that all participants are required to complete. If you have a health concern listed with an asterisk, you must provide written consent from your physician in order to participate in Hero Holiday. Clean and safe medical facilities are available at all project locations, and we have had excellent experiences with the healthcare that we have used in each of our locations. If you require medication or supplies, please make sure you bring them with you. All medication must be stored in original containers. Each of our staff members that lead our trips are current in their First Aid training and we always have First Aid kits at each of our worksites and back at our base.

Applications are located on the destination tab of your choice (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Thailand, or Haiti). When filling out your application there will be a waiver for parents to sign if you are under 18 years of age. You are considered a student if you are 17 years old or younger as of January 1st, 2011. You are considered an adult if you are 18 years old or older. Providing your computer has Adobe Acrobat Reader, which most do, a PDF file will open up. Hit print and away you go! Read the instructions carefully, fill out the form and mail it to our office.

If you are a student, I wouldn’t try it. Apart from the fact you signed a form stating you would not be in possession of alcohol, you will probably get stopped at customs since you are a minor. Adults are permitted to bring back one bottle of alcohol and as many cigars as they like. However, Mexican vanilla is something worth bringing across the border. I highly recommend it (for baking, not drinking!). Thailand is definitely not world famous for their cigars.

If your computer is an older model, it may not have Acrobat Reader installed. Under the Start menu (bottom left corner) you will find a list of all programs installed on your computer. If Adobe Reader is not listed, click here for a free download.

To print the application, click on the icon that appears just above the document. Don’t use File, Print or you will end up printing a blank page. If the application still refuses to print, please email or call our office and we will send you an application in Word format by email. Please indicate what type of application you require.

The application deadline for each Hero Holiday is listed under each project description and also on the first page of the application form. Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. The earlier you apply, the greater your chances are of getting accepted into the program of your choice.

Hero Holiday does not accept applications for leadership on our Hero Holiday projects. Leaders are our staff members or individuals closely associated with Absolute Leadership Development Inc. and have been appointed by Absolute to be in a position of leadership.

This program is offered in Dominican Republic and Mexico only. The deadline is earlier than the normal deadline for applications: January 15th of each year for the following summer. This program gives you an opportunity to develop your leadership skills in a great learning environment and help fight poverty at the same time. Applicants must be willing to participate for the entire program, which lasts approximately one month. Space is limited, so apply early!

Hero Holiday does not accept applications for leadership on our Hero Holiday projects. Leaders are our staff members or individuals closely associated with Absolute Leadership Development Inc. and have been appointed by Absolute to be in a position of leadership.

This program is offered in Dominican Republic and Mexico only. The deadline is earlier than the normal deadline for applications: January 15th of each year for the following summer. This program gives you an opportunity to develop your leadership skills in a great learning environment and help fight poverty at the same time. Applicants must be willing to participate for the entire program, which lasts approximately one month. Space is limited, so apply early!

No. We require all participants to meet at selected departure points. See the individual projects for more details. The logistics of organizing airport pick-ups for a large group coming in on many different flights in a foreign country is not something we are prepared to do. Safety and security is our top priority.

An Absolute representative will be waiting outside of the arrivals area with a Hero Holiday sign. We do require that your flight details be emailed to us ahead of time. Please forward the official itinerary that the airlines sends you to avoid any typos.

You can walk, drive, sail, fly, take the bus, subway or the train, depending on which area of Canada you live in. If you are flying to Toronto (YYZ) for our Dominican trips or San Diego (SAN) for our Mexican trips, we provide complimentary airport shuttles to and from the airport. Travel arrangements to our departure point and all associated costs with this portion are the responsibility of the participant and are not included in the cost of Hero Holiday.

The safety of our participants is our number one priority. For this reason we have a security team whose job is to stay up all night and be on call in case of a problem (or in the event that someone tries to sneak out!). No Hero Holiday participant, whether adult or student, will be permitted to venture anywhere alone, day or night. We do our best to make sure all of our Hero Holiday destinations are in safe areas.

We want Hero Holiday to be a safe place for all of our participants, and this is why we require a criminal record check (including vulnerable sector screening) from all adults 18 years and older. If you need to discuss your criminal record check with us, please feel free to contact our office. To apply for a criminal record check, you must visit the police station in the city or town in which you live.

Overseas Health Insurance is covered in the cost of Hero Holiday. You are automatically covered under our plan and in the event that the insurance needs to be used, there will be no out-of-pocket expenses to you. Please note that you must have a valid Canadian health card in order to be covered under our health insurance policy. Please visit Travel Underwriters to view the policy.

The list of recommended immunizations are listed on each application form: TD (tetanus/Diphtheria), MMR (measles/mumps/rubella), Poliomyelitis, Varicella (or history of Chicken Pox), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid. If your immunizations are not up to date at the time of applying, we require that you sign a waiver which is included in the application form. It is recommended that you visit your family physician or travel clinic as soon as you know you are participating in Hero Holiday to ensure all immunizations are up to date. The immunizations listed on the application form are current at time of editing and are subject to change. For more information on immunizations, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada.

There have been no cases of malaria reported from the areas we are working in. The Health Agency of Canada recommends a good insect repellent with a high concentration of DEET (30%). Good hand washing is important. It is recommended that you carry hand sanitizer. Once again, please discuss your options with your family physician.

The cost of Hero Holiday Dominican Republic is $2,385, departing out of Toronto only. The cost for Hero Holiday Mexico is $1,235, departing out of San Diego and $1,535 for August Trip Two. (See individual project descriptions for further details). Hero Holiday Thailand is $4,285, and we currently depart out of either Toronto or Vancouver. Hero Holiday Haiti cost is $2,485 and our team is meeting in Port au Prince (PAP), or there is the option to fly with our staff meeting in Hamilton, ON.

Trip One departs from San Diego by bus; therefore, the costs associated with traveling to San Diego from where you live is not included in the Hero Holiday price. Trip Two is a bus ride in our highway coach through the United States and down into Mexico rather than a flight. You will be “roughing it” more in Mexico! Mexican accommodations are a dorm-like setting (much like you would experience at camp) or alternately, at a campground where you will be staying in tents. In Dominican Republic, for safety and convenience, we stay in an all-inclusive three star resort. Dominican Republic has a very high volume of tourists, so the daily cost of meals, accommodations and travel are much higher.

Many people are surprised to discover that programs such as Hero Holiday charge volunteers a fee to work on an overseas project. After all, you’re providing free labour! First of all, a big thank you for doing so! However, here are a few things to help you understand our fees.

As all non-profit organizations, we work with limited resources and are not in a position to cover the cost of hosting you. Costs include food, accommodations, daily transportation and fuel, overseas health coverage and travel expenses from Canada to the project and back by bus or by air, extra leisure activities, and extra night security. Also, a portion of your fees is used to cover project expenses such as building supplies and hiring local workers to assist with the more complicated aspects of construction that the average participant would not be capable of doing. The final cost per person is actually more than we charge the participant, but we work hard throughout the year recruiting sponsors and partners to help to keep the cost as low as possible for our participants. Although you may know someone who got a great all-inclusive deal to a hot vacation spot, as an organization, we do not qualify for those “cheap deals” and they do not include the expense of administrating and running the actual projects. Imagine trying to book a last-minute deal 3 days before the project for 100 people!

Identifying appropriate projects in a foreign country and organizing all of the finer details to make your trip safe and effective is time-consuming and costly. Remember, we are organizing an entire project and not just your personal travel to another country. There is also the cost of administrating such a program, producing literature and brochures, maintaining the website, recruiting volunteers and corporate sponsors, interviewing and recruiting team leaders and general office expenses such as telephones and electricity.

Finally, not only do we have a budget based on the expenses of Hero Holiday, but we have also researched other programs as well. This is what we discovered:

http://www.globalvolunteers.org
A one week trip to Mexico costs $2,295 USD, not including airfare.

http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/
2 weeks: $3,424 - $3,681 CND, not including airfare or travel insurance.

Save pink river dolphins in Brazil!
$2,210 USD, not including airfare.
http://www.gvi.co.uk/

In Glow magazine in 2006�(a US magazine), they had a page entitled Volunteer Vacations. Here’s what they say:

• Protecting sea turtles in Malaysia: up to $4,000 USD plus flight costs.
• Harvesting crops/medical assistance overseas: $3,800 USD.
• Polar Bear research in Manitoba $4,000 USD plus flight costs.

It is recommended that you bring some spending money - depending on how much you like to shop! There will be opportunities to go shopping for souvenirs or to take part in some extra fun activities with a professional tour guide, get your hair braided, and so on. You may also get the munchies at the airport while waiting for your flight. Please note that participants are responsible for their own meals while traveling to and from their destination. The bus will stop at places where there will be a variety of food choices to accommodate different meal requirements. The most widely accepted currency in the places we travel is U.S. cash. Feel free to bring cash or travelers ‘cheques. While in the country of your destination there are places where you can cash your travelers’ cheques or bank machines where you can get more money.

There are so many great fundraising ideas out there! We have included some ideas under the fund raising section. We also include a letter on our letterhead outlining Hero Holiday that can help you solicit donations. Talk to everyone you know: family members, friends and local businesses. Let them know how they can be involved in a great project and get a tax receipt too!

We are staying at Sosua By The Sea Resort. www.sousabythesea.com

The accommodation location varies, based on the number of participants and time of year. You will be staying in either a dorm-style building with big rooms: one for girls and another for guys. Or you could be staying at our Hero Holiday compound. We have a few houses on location and a trailer. We can host up to 40 people there and love setting up some fun camp fires at night. Each site has hot showers, flushing toilets, and electricity. Meals are provided at the on-site restaurant. Lunches will be brought to the work site.

There are many guest houses throughout Thailand, similar to our Canadian bed and breakfast facilities. The exact location of the guest house we will be using has not been determined at this time.

During your ten day, nine night stay in Haiti, you will be staying at a hospitality home. This guest house is a safe and clean home in Port au Prince where you will feel more like family than a guest. Rooms are furnished with comfortable bunk beds.

In Dominican Republic, students share a room with up to three other students of the same gender. Married adults participating in Hero Holiday together will have a private room. Single adults will be allocated to a room with up to three other adults of the same gender. Adults have the option of paying for a private room. Costs associated with a private room are subject to change, depending on resort prices.

In Mexico, accommodations and the number of people per room will vary. In Thailand or Haiti, the number of people per room will also vary. For both these destinations, there are no options for private rooms.

One of the values that Absolute supports in high schools is abstinence. We feel that this message should carry over into Hero Holiday with our high school participants. Therefore, for our student participants, we ask that you stay in separate rooms during Hero Holiday unless you are an adult. (18 years +)

Bathrooms are available on all projects.

Yes. Purified water will be available for you at all times. You can fill up water bottles to take with you during the day and we will have a steady supply of drinking water on the work site. You’ll discover just how much water you are capable of drinking because we’ll make sure you drink a lot of it!

If you have a group of 10 or more people, we may be able to arrange a private Hero Holiday trip for you. We offer private charters to any of our Hero Holiday destinations, but many groups often choose Mexico or Dominican Republic, due to its price point. When applying for a private charter please email the following information to hh@heroholiday.com, and one of our staff will contact you shortly. Some things to consider are:

1. How many potential participants?
2. Possible dates you would be interested in. (please give more than one option)
3. Accommodation preferences.
4. Would you like us to arrange for your transportation or would you rather meet our staff at the destination?
5. How many building projects? (We recommend 15 participants to a house build)
6. Would you rather fund raise for your building project or have the cost included in your trip fees?

No, these trips have been arranged ahead of time by a group of people and are not open to the general public.

We need to make sure we’re not missing anyone, hence the need for registration. It would be awful to realize halfway there that we left someone behind!

Training is important. It is not so much to learn about how to build a house (although we will show you how to do that too) but to prepare you as much as we can for what you are about to experience. Poverty can be hard to deal with, even for those of us who see it all the time. We want you to be ready for it and to know how to process all of the emotions that come up along the way. Registration is also a good time to meet your other team members and get to know them before heading to the work site. We also go over what is expected of our team members and leaders so there won’t be any surprises later on. Most of our training will take place on location the first day.

No. We will provide on-the-job training. The work we get you to do is quite simple and straightforward. We leave the complicated stuff to the pros. However, you will be working hard!

If you are a doctor, a nurse, a carpenter, a brick layer or a candlestick maker, I am sure we can find some way to put you to work!

Absolute is not a government agency, nor are we supported by any Canadian Government funding or projects. However, Absolute Leadership Development Inc. is a charitable organization registered with the Government of Canada. Our registration number is 86123 2890 RR0001.

Yes, Absolute’s Hero Holiday is a charitable program, and we can issue tax receipts for donations towards a Hero Holiday project. Donation logs/payment forms are provided for all participants and must be sent in with any payment or donation.  In order to obtain a tax receipt, you must fill out a donation log and send it in with your payment. All tax receipts are mailed out in February following the year that the donation was made.

Absolute’s Hero Holiday program has been changing lives since 2005. Each year, we bring hundreds of teenagers and adults to one of our four locations around around the world, and each year our participants return home with amazing stories to tell of how they were a part of something that is changing lives.

Many of our staff members and leaders have worked with youth and young adults for many years prior to Hero Holiday and have many combined years of experience in dealing with most of the issues that arise.

Also, check out our References section. There are some people who think we’re pretty cool!

Charles Roberts - Programs Director

Nettie Brown - Programs Administrator

Cole Brown - Project Manager

Andrew and Dawn Bernardi - Hero Holiday Mexico Operations Managers