1. Healthcare

Service-Learning Trip
to
Suchitoto, El Salvador
June 28 - July 12, 2015
for youth 10th grade and older
Powell House –New York Yearly Meeting Youth Program
If you have come to help me, I don’t need your help.
But if you have come because your liberation is tied to mine,
come let us work together.
- Lilla Watson, Australian Aboriginal artist
The Trip in a Nutshell:
• Two weeks in Suchitoto and surrounding communities in El Salvador.
• 12-15 participants, plus 3 bilingual adult chaperones/ translators
• Possibility of experiencing rural daily life through home-stays
• visits to rural communities to work and meet with youth and community
leaders
• 20-25 hours of informal, conversational Spanish instruction, with
opportunities to use language in authentic settings
• 35-40 hours of service work
• learning about Salvadoran history and culture, as well as the effects of
United States involvement in Central America, and the political climate of
today
• some sightseeing and some play
• daily reflection or worship-sharing in the manner of Friends (Quakers)
\
In coordination with the
Palo Alto Friends Meeting (Quakers) El Salvador Project
Information about the El Salvador Projects can be seen at
http://www.pafmelsalvadorprojects.org/
Trip Costs: approximately $1950
$650 per person for airfare from Newark Airport (Avianca/TACA),
$100 for travel insurance and
$1200 for all in-country expenses.
Transportation to Newark Airport is not included.
Trip coordinators:
Mike Clark, Powell House; and
Robert Broz, Suchitoto, El Salvador.
Financial Aid: We do not have a financial aid program for this trip, but encourage
participants to engage their Monthly Meetings and their extended families in their
trip plans. How about encouraging folks to give a contribution towards your trip
rather than the usual holiday, graduation, or birthday gift?
Dear Participants and Parents:
We encourage you to read through this information and make your decision early,
as we will only be able to accommodate 12-15 participants. We are keeping our
group deliberately small to build intimacy and bonding, to do worship-sharing, and
also so that we can fit our entire group and their luggage into the micro-buses and
truck transports and to make sure there is space for everyone when we spend the
night in private homes and community buildings.
This trip offers an opportunity to see what it is like to live in a developing country
and to learn of the role that the US had in that country's history. Our stay will focus
on the rural communities which have projects that have been supported by Palo
Alto Friends Meeting, under the oversight of Carmen Broz and the El Salvador
Committee. This year we will visit El Barío and Apulo, where we will speak with
community leaders, visit schools, learn of the peace process in El Salvador, and do
some volunteer work in each community. There will also be cultural experiences
and opportunities for sightseeing.
Cost for the trip is $1200 plus airfare and travel insurance (approx. $750). The
$1200 includes all meals, accommodations, ground transportation, entry fees, as
well as the language instruction and program costs. Transportation to Newark
Airport is not included.
We will have several adult staff members. Our chaperons are from both the US and
from El Salvador. Mike Clark lived in Guatemala for six years and has traveled
throughout Central America. Hannah Condon is a Powell House Youth Program
grad who went to high school in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and is currently living
and studying in Central America. Robert Broz lives in El Salvador and is field
manager for the Palo Alto Friends projects that were initiated by Carmen Broz.
A Salvadoran youth program coordinator will also accompany the group.
This packet contains several pages of useful information plus registration forms to
complete. Please go through it carefully and let Mike know if you have any
questions.
En Paz y Amistad,
Mike Clark, Youth Program Director
518-794-8811
[email protected]
Safety and Behavior Expectations
El Salvador Service Trip
We cannot guarantee your safety and health. We can ask you to follow some
guidelines that will help keep you safe and healthy. Following them is your
responsibility to yourself, the group and your parents.
We will be staying in a spiritual retreat center and need to respect the values and
customs of our hosts. There is an added benefit other than it just being the right thing to
do. People will help watch out for your safety.
1. All the normal youth program guidelines apply for the whole trip. This includes
smoking. If you smoke and have not discussed this with Mike or Chris yet, call us
now to develop a plan.
2. Do not go any place alone. Three people is much better than two. One of the adults
must know where you are at all times. Women often get comments and harassed on
the street. It is important for women not to walk alone.
3. Do not go out at night except in an adult-supervised group.
4. Your appearance sends a message. Local people have a perception of young North
Americans from TV, movies and maybe direct experience. We do not want to
reinforce the “sex, drugs and whatever” image that is out there. We want to look and
act in a way that says we are there to understand and connect with local people.
This means being clean, neat, natural hair colors and minimal piercings.
5. Sexual intimacy with other group members or people we meet there does not have a
place in this trip. Both as a safety measure and in respect of our hosts, put romance
on hold for two weeks.
6. The biggest danger on the trip is probably traffic accidents. People drive very
differently so you can not predict what they will do. Cars often pass on the right.
Pedestrians have no rights. They will not stop for you!
7. Drugs. You may be approached because you are young and American. Do not
accept any offers from anyone. Do not buy, bring, use, sell or share drugs.
Consequences can be swift and harsh and result in a situation that we will not be
able to remedy. If you are arrested in El Salvador it will likely be years before you
get home.
You may have concerns about the amount of violence that is reported in El
Salvador. The United States Department of State does not currently have a travel
alert for El Salvador, but we encourage you to have a look at their advisories at
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1109.html#safety
We are happy to answer questions and discuss your safety concerns.
Mike Clark & Chris DeRoller
[email protected]
Robert Broz
[email protected]
Accommodations:
For most of our stay we will be in the hostel Centro de Arte Para La Paz in Suchitoto.
Check it out at http://capsuchitoto.org
There are bunk beds at the hostel, accommodating 2-4 people in a room with a bath
that is shared between rooms. The hostel has running water and showers, but the water
is cold. For our home-stays in the communities we will be distributed among host
families, and will be sleeping in beds or on mattress pads on the floor.
Because we are participating in rural living, we will be going to bed early and getting up
early each day, even while in Suchitoto. This will be important so that we can effectively
participate in our work projects and interact with our local hosts. In the communities we
can expect “outhouse” type facilities, with washing up at the outdoor “pila”, or sink, and
a quick body rinse in the bathing enclosure. None of our locations provides heated
water for bathing.
Meals and Transportation:
Meals will be very simple but food is plentiful, consisting mainly of plantains, eggs,
cheese, beans, and Salvadoran style tortillas. (Full disclosure: eating a fresh-off-thecomal tortilla made from masa may change your theology forever.) There will be
vegetarian, but not vegan, food options on the trip. Dairy-free diets can be
accommodated, but not other dietary needs although most meals contain gluten-free
options. Long-distance transportation will be in a micro-bus with air-conditioning and a
hired driver. Short-distance (less than 10 miles) transportation will be Salvadoran style
in the back of a transport truck.
Weather:
The weather in July is hot and sticky with daily rain showers in the afternoons. A rain
poncho is necessary. It generally stays warm at night, so a light sleep-sack and maybe
a light blanket or throw is all that is needed for the home-stays (see packing advice).
Laundry:
There will be laundry services available at the hostel, and two washes/dries are
included in the fees. You can expect to do laundry just once during each week, so you'll
want to reserve a set of clothing as your work clothes.
Spending Money:
The US dollar is the official currency in El Salvador. All trip essentials will be covered in
your payment. You may want to bring $50 to $100 of spending money for snacks,
souvenirs and internet use. Bring $1, $5 and $10 bills. 20s can be hard to change.
Air Travel:
We are currently planning to buy group tickets and leave as group from Newark Airport
on Avianca. The current ticket cost is around $750 which includes trip insurance. If
participants fly from airports other than Newark, then they should plan their flights so
that they arrive in San Salvador close to the same arrival time. There will be an
additional charge for separate airport pickups.
Participants will be met by Robert Broz and we will board our mini-buses for the one
and half hour trip to Suchitoto.
Immunizations:
You need to have an updated tetanus shot. We recommend a typhoid and hepatitis A
vaccine as well. The best thing to do is to refer to the CDC’s travel information for
Mexico and Central America www.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx and also contact your
health care provider for immunization specifics. Be sure to get your medical
appointment a good 4-6 weeks in advance of the trip so that vaccines have a chance to
take effect.
Passports: You can find the specifics for getting or renewing a U.S. passport and the
application forms at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html
This site tells what forms you need, what kind of identification, and what is needed for
minors aged 14-17. You can also find the names of the post offices in your area which
handle passport applications. You will want to begin the passport process right away.
For info from the US State Department on El Salvador:
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1109.html
Entry/Exit Requirements: To enter El Salvador, U.S. citizens must present a current
U.S. passport and a one-entry tourist card. The tourist card is obtained from immigration
officials for a ten-dollar fee upon arrival in country (included in your trip payment.) We
require that minors traveling without a parent have a notarized statement stating that
parents have given their permission for travel. (See “Notarized Permission To Travel
And Medical Form” below). This will also allow us to pursue medical treatment, if
necessary.
Service Projects and Donations:
A major purpose of the trip is to provide service to the rural communities supported by
Palo Alto Friends Meeting's El Salvador Projects. The 2015 projects will be organized
around language learning/teaching with some opportunity to work in more physical
ways, with an estimated 35-40 total service hours.
Additional Travel Advice
In addition to early-to-bed and early-to-rise, we will need to change some of our other
daily habits. Here are things we can practice to begin to make ourselves conscious of
differences in daily routines:
Don’t put tap water in your mouth. We’ll drink only bottled water and use it also for
brushing teeth. Sticking a toothbrush under the water faucet is such a habit that
most people forget and do it automatically. So try practicing for several days
before you go, using bottled water instead.
Don’t put toilet paper in the toilet. Throughout Latin America – from private homes to
luxury hotels – you will find a small container next to the toilet. That’s where you
drop the used toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. The plumbing simply
isn’t designed to accommodate those items. It’s pretty embarrassing in
someone’s home to be responsible for stopping up the toilet, so start being
aware. Hold on to the paper a moment and think, “I won’t drop it in the toilet.”
Know where your food and drink come from. The safest place to eat is at the hostel
or at a private home or restaurant, and the most risky food is from a street
vendor. We’ll drink only bottled water from a reliable source and eat mostly
thoroughly cooked hot foods. We can eat fresh fruits that we wash and peel
carefully, but no salads, no lettuce and tomato in the sandwich or taco, etc., so fill
up on salads before you go.
According to the CDC, traveler’s diarrhea is the most common risk, and the
above precautions are the best way to prevent it. It is rarely serious and usually
lasts no more than 3 or 4 days. Bathrooms are hard to come by, so you want to
be careful of what you eat and drink. For more information, please check out the
Center for Disease Control’s website www.cdc.gov/travel/. If your physician offers
a prescription for diarrhea, it is a good idea to accept it.
Take photocopies of your passport or other ID. Leave a copy at home. Once we
get to El Salvador, we will leave our passports locked in Robert Broz' safe and
carry our copies.
If you rely on prescription medications or glasses, take along a copy of the
prescription. Please also indicate on the medical release form what medications
you are taking.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices: Most service providers don't have international
long distance service. Seriously consider leaving your electronic devices home
and documenting your experience through journaling and sketching.
Bring a friendly, flexible attitude. We will be experiencing things that may be very
different from what we are used to, and it will be helpful if we can be open to
these new experiences. One of our best opportunities for service will be to be
patient listeners and friendly communicators across language barriers.
Expect and be willing to be uncomfortable. The trip will be an intense experience.
You will be challenged emotionally and physically. We will be walking up and
down steep hills every day. The strain of language, food and cultural differences
can be difficult. The poverty and harshness of life for so many can be
overwhelming. Sharing the joys and delights in those same people’s live can fill
us with wonder and hope.
An orientation will be offered on our first day in Suchitoto, covering local
customs and manners, developing our community expectations, and including a
walking tour of Suchitoto.
Registration and Trip Payment:
Registration Opens November 15, 2014. It closes February 1, 2015.
You may register on-line or with the paper registration form.
Trip payment schedule:
• Non-refundable $300 deposit is required for registration
• February 1 - $800 total due ($500 plus the above $300 deposit) plus two
photocopies of your passport picture page. This is to purchase the airplane
tickets. Once airplane tickets are purchased we cannot refund that cost.
• May 1 – Remaining paperwork and balance due (about $1150, depending on
airfare and travel insurance)
The $300 deposit may be paid with a check or paid on-line with a credit card or Paypal.
The balance should be paid with a check or money order. Make checks payable to
Powell House, with “El Salvador Trip” on the memo line.
Cancellation: We need a minimum of 12 participants. If there are fewer than 12
participants by Feb 15, the trip will be canceled and your money will be refunded. If we
should need to cancel the trip at a later date, your money will be refunded.
If you should need to cancel after February 1, refunds (less the $300 non-refundable
deposit) will be dependent on our ability to find a replacement for you. No refunds will
be granted after June 1.
Please note that the “permission to travel form” needs to be notarized. This gives us
permission to take participants under the age of 18 outside of the U.S. None of the other
forms need to be notarized. All should be signed.
Questions??? Contact....
Mike Clark 518-794-8811 [email protected]
Emergency Contact in El Salvador
Robert Broz 503-7860-9435 [email protected]
Packing List
Weather will be mostly hot and sticky. We will be packing lightly...just what we can
carry in a medium suitcase and day pack. Try and limit your suitcase to 20 pounds as
you will be lifting it on and off the mini bus and carrying it short distances. Pack light
clothing, you will probably find jeans to be too hot, plus they don't dry if you need to
rinse them out. Doing service projects will definitely get you dirty and sweaty, so you will
want to have some clothes that you reserve for “work clothes.” Short shorts, revealing
tops, bare midriffs, etc. are likely to be considered provocative.
Essential Equipment
• sturdy shoes with socks
• comfortable shoes or sandals with sturdy soles (flip-flops don't bear up well)
• flip-flops for shower
• casual pants, shorts (not very short) (1 for work, 2 for regular wear)
• shirts (1 long and 4-5 short sleeves) (1 or 2 for work, the rest for regular wear
• bandana
• swim suit (some places will not allow swimming in shorts)
• rain poncho (an absolute must)
• Light jacket (layers)
• sleepwear and a week's worth of underwear
• skirt or light dress (again not too short)
• sleep sack (you can make a sleep sack by sewing up a queen sheet or buy a
sleep sack at a supply store such as REI) and light-weight blanket
• day pack (small backpack)
• sunglasses
• flashlight
• sunscreen
• hat/visor
• insect repellent (with DEET)
• canteen or unbreakable water bottle
• hand lotion
• 2 towels/wash cloth, soap/toiletries
• Waterless hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial hand-wipes
• any prescription medications you may need (See Medical Authorization form)
• spending money in small denominations ($5 and $1 bills )
• Passport case or waist pack containing passport or other photo ID, medical
authorization form, copy of Health Insurance Info. (ID), any other medical info.
Suggested
• pocket dictionary (Spanish-English, eh?)
• Extra glasses/sunglasses
• pocket knife (not in carry-on)
• playing cards, book to read
• journal, pen/pencil
• Over the counter pain relievers /arnica, etc.
• Anti-diarrheal medication
• Small travel packs of tissue (can also be used as toilet paper)
• A couple of photos of yourself and family to share with host family
Please do NOT bring: items that you would be sorry to lose.
Planning Calendar
December / January
• Send in application and completed forms
• Check your passport. If needed, apply for passport or renewal. You may be
denied entry into El Salvador if you passport expires within 6 months, so if it is
close to the expiration you should get a renewal.
February 1 Registration Closes
• Check with healthcare provider and find out immunization status and timeline for
needed immunizations. Make appointments.
• Make appointment with notary for the minor’s permission to travel without a
parent form.
Start working on Spanish.
Get into good physical shape.
May 1
• Final payment due.
June 1
• Deadline for final payment and any remaining paperwork.
Start practicing daily habits: tooth brushing and TP disposal
And, some recommended preparation...
•
Please take time to look at the El Salvador Projects website to get a feel for the
projects and their history. There are lots of photos of the communities and of
previous service-learning trips. www.pafmelsalvadorprojects.org/
•
A fascinating read is “Witness to War: An American Doctor in El Salvador.” Charles
Clements went to El Salvador during the civil war and wrote a vivid account of his
experiences. You will get a good feel for what went on (and the U. S. involvement)
and can imagine how the shadow of those events still affects El Salvador today.
•
A pre-trip gathering may happen at Earth Song 2015 or at another time. It will be a
time to meet each other, get acquainted with some Salvadoran history, and for
participants and parents to ask questions. The location and date will be determined.
While not required, it is a great opportunity to get to know each other and get
questions answered.
•
View the film “Romero”, showing the life of the assassinated Salvadoran Archbishop
Oscar Romero, on your own.
•
Practice Spanish. Learn basic vocabulary.
•
Get in shape. Do lots of walking. It will be hot there. We will be walking a lot on
steep hills.
El Salvador Trip Registration Form
Mail to: The Powell House Youth Program
524 Pitt Hall Road, Old Chatham, NY 12136-3410.
Phone: 518-794-8811 x13
•
•
•
E-mail: [email protected]
Please register me for the El Salvador service / learning trip from June 28 - July
12, 2015
I have enclosed a $300 deposit. I understand registrations will not be processed
without a deposit. The deposit is non-refundable unless you are not selected to
go on the trip or if the trip is cancelled.
The cost of trip is $1,200 plus the cost of the plane ticket and travel insurance
(estimated $650 RT from NYC and $100 for travel insurance). The $1,200
includes all lodging, meals, transportation in El Salvador and program costs.
Transportation to Newark Airport is not included.
I will pay
•
•
$800 by February 1 (which includes the $300 deposit ) plus two photocopies of
your passport picture page. Once airplane tickets are purchased we cannot
refund this amount.
Approx. $1150* by May 1. * Balance remaining depending on airfare and travel
insurance.
Name___________________________
Monthly Meeting______________________
Address _______________________________________________________
City___________________________
Phone _______________
State______
Zip__________
Birth Date ___________
Youth E-Mail Address ____________________________________
Parent E-mail address ___________________________________
Food Allergy* __________________________________________
Medical Concerns
Please explain in detail
How much Spanish do you speak?
Do you have a passport? No ____
Yes, expiration date _________________
Exact name in your passport: _____________________
Parent Signature______________________ Printed Name___________________
On the back explain any thing that might prevent you from going on the trip:
Powell House – New York Yearly Meeting Program
El SALVADOR SERVICE-LEARNING TRIP
AGREEMENT TO TRIP CONDITIONS
Please sign and return one copy and keep a copy for your records. The
cooperation and support of all participants will make our service-learning trip a
successful and rewarding experience for everyone involved. It is important that we
hold a common picture of some standards for our time together. Please discuss the
following conditions with your family and consider them carefully.
These guidelines are to be followed by all participants, regardless of age.
During the trip:
1. No one will buy, possess or use alcohol, other drugs or illegal substances, or be
in the presence of those who are engaging in any prohibited or illegal activity.
No one will buy possess or transport items that are illegal in either El Salvador
or the U. S. (fireworks, switchblades, paraphernalia, etc.).
2. This is a non-smoking trip. No tobacco products should be used or in your
possession.
3. In the event of problems, every effort will be made to contact parents/ guardians.
Whether or not such contact is made, group leaders’ decisions will be honored.
If the group leaders deem it advisable for a student to return home early – either
because of a medical condition or serious breach of this agreement – parents
agree to pay all costs.
4. Any illness or injury must be reported promptly to a group leader.
5. All participants will be cooperative and prompt in arriving at meeting places,
work assignments and group activities and will remain with the group
unless alternate arrangements have been specifically agreed on with the
leaders.
6. Neither Powell House nor the trip leaders will be held liable for any injury or
expense resulting from this trip.
I have read the trip conditions above and I agree to support and abide by them.
_________________________________
Participant
______________
Date
_________________________________
Parent
______________
Date
_________________________________
Parent
______________
Date
Parental Consent for Travel into El Salvador and for Medical Treatment
We, the undersigned parents or guardians of _______________________, a minor, hereby give our
permission for the minor named above (“participant”) to participate in a tour sponsored by Powell House
of Old Chatham, NY, USA scheduled for June 28, 2015 to July 12, 2015, and including any extensions
determined by the tour leaders to be necessary. We agree to reimburse Powell House should it incur any
expenses in the event that the participant must leave the group prior to the return of the group for any and
all reasons (such as a family emergency, medical treatment, drug use or other discipline issues.)
Travel into El Salvador or any other country
We, the undersigned parents or guardians of the participant, do hereby authorize Michael S. Clark or Christine
DeRoller or assignees, to transport the participant into El Salvador and any other countries that said authorized
person determines need to be entered for purposes of the tour.
Medical Authorization
We, the undersigned parents or guardians of the participant, do hereby authorize Michael S. Clark, Robert Broz or
Christine DeRoller, or assignees, to consent to any and all medical/dental examinations, x-rays, anesthetics,
procedures, surgical diagnoses and/or treatments and hospital cares that are administered under the supervision of any
physician, dentist, surgeon, and or other medical/dental professional and care giver and of a recognized hospital
(“medical care”).
Further, as parents and/or guardians of the participant, we do hereby expressly consent that the participant may
receive emergency medical care without our notification if we cannot be reached. We agree to pay any costs
incurred in treating the participant.
Name of Tour Participant: _______________________________ Birth date: ______________
Health Insurance Company: ___________________________ Policy Number: __________________
Primary Insured on Policy: _______________________________ ID#: _________________________
Relationship of Participant to Primary Insured: ______________________________
Claims Address of Insurance Co.: _________________________________________
Claims Telephone Number of Insurance Co.: _________________________________
Participant’s Permanent Address:
________________________________________________________________
Street
City
State Zip Code
Daytime Phone: _______________________ Evening Phone: ____________________________
Name of Parent or Guardian A (Print Name): __________________________________________
Signature: __________________________ relationship to participant ________________ Date______
Name of Parent or Guardian B (Print Name): _____________________________________________
Signature: __________________________ relationship to participant ___________ Date______
NOTARY PUBLIC: ________________________________ DATE: __________________________
PHOTO RELEASE FORM
I give permission for photographs and other images of me to be used in articles
about our service trip, for publicizing future trips of similar nature, or for
publications about Powell House, Palo Alto Friends Meeting and/or New York
Yearly Meeting.
These images may be used
• in print,
• on the websites of Powell House, Palo Alto Friends Meeting or NYYM,
• on social media related to those organizations or for this specific trip.
Name of participant
____________________________
Signature of participant _____________________________
date _________________
If under18
NAME OF PARENT/GUARDIAN _________________________
(Please print)
___________________________________
SIGNATURE OF PARENT/GUARDIAN
DATE ________________
Medical Treatment Authorization - Adult Form (18 and over)
Powell House – New York Yearly Meeting
El Salvador Service-Learning Trip 2015
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I _______________________ plan to travel outside the U.S. during June and
July, 2015, in the company of Mike Clark, Robert Broz and other delegates of the
Powell House Youth Program.
I hereby authorize the above named adults, or other designated trip leaders, for the
duration of this travel, to authorize any medical treatment deemed necessary by
them in the event I am unable to make such decision for myself. I understand that
efforts will be made to contact my designated emergency contact(s) listed below
prior to medical treatment. In the event that contact is not deemed feasible, I give
permission for any of the above named adults to obtain medical treatment on my
behalf.
Allergies to food, drugs, insect bites or other:
__________________________________________________________________
Diet restrictions or other special conditions:
__________________________________________________________________
Medications participant will take on the trip: All medications should be in original
container with name and instructions clearly indicated.
__________________________________________________________________
Health insurance carrier and ID number:
__________________________________________________________________
Date of last tetanus shot:______
Emergency contacts:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Signature of Participant _________________________________ Date ________
Name (Please print) ________________________________________________
PHOTO RELEASE FORM
I give permission for photographs and other images of me to be used in articles
about our service trip, for publicizing future trips of similar nature, or for
publications about Powell House, Palo Alto Friends Meeting and/or New York
Yearly Meeting.
These images may be used
• in print,
• on the websites of Powell House, Palo Alto Friends Meeting or NYYM,
• on social media related to those organizations or for this specific trip.
Name of participant
____________________________
Signature of participant _____________________________
date _________________
If under18
NAME OF PARENT/GUARDIAN _________________________
(Please print)
___________________________________
SIGNATURE OF PARENT/GUARDIAN
DATE ________________