Certificate of Completion:

We issue a certification of appreciation / completion at the end of your volunteering project in Uganda. This is an appreciation and the certificate is an important addition to your professional resume/CV of Cooperate social responsibility (CSR).

Volunteer requirements

We only admit volunteers who are 18 years and above, unless the child / minor is volunteering along with their parent or guardian. This includes students taking a Gap year and missionaries.

All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to our team on arrival in Uganda.

Acceptance onto a Program

WCDF reserves the right to refuse acceptance to any application. The volunteer certifies that all information provided to WCDF relating to personal background, qualifications, experience, medical history, and current state of health is accurate and truthful, and that no information relating to the aforementioned areas is withheld.

WCDF accepts no liability for errors or omission of information provided by the volunteer. WCDF and the reserve the right to remove a volunteer from their program, without entitlement to refund or compensation, if it becomes apparent that untruthful, inaccurate or incomplete information was provided by the volunteer in their application, or if relevant information was withheld, by giving notice to the volunteer.

Groups

Volunteers traveling as part of a group may be offered the option to have their application and registration managed centrally. In this situation, each volunteer agrees that the team leader may accept these Terms & Conditions on their behalf and that they have given their permission for the team leader to submit their personal information and documentation to WCDF on their behalf as part of their application to volunteer. WCDF accepts no liability for errors or omission of information provided to administration by the team leader.

Travel and Documentation

The volunteer is solely responsible for arranging and paying for their travel to and from the program destination, as well as any local transport costs. Participants are responsible for ensuring their travel documents are up to date and valid for travel to Uganda. It is also the responsibility of the participant to obtain and carry all necessary documentation such as visas and passports, when traveling to Uganda. WCDF may provide advice and guidance in regards to the required travel documentation, WCDF is not responsible for the accuracy of its advice or providing or obtaining any supporting documents such as visas, medical certificates, or travel permits.

Insurance

WCDF does not issue any insurance cover of any kind to the volunteers. Travel insurance cover is mandatory for every volunteer, and they can purchase in their country before departure for the trip. This insurance should cover the entire travel duration.The volunteer is solely responsible for evaluating and determining the type, extent and levels of any insurance coverage they need or desire for their planned volunteer period.

Payments & Refunds

All WCDF fees are priced in US Dollars (USD). Where a volunteer elects to make payment in a different currency, the conversion rate applied on payments and any eligible refunds will be based on current exchange rate charged by our payment provider (plus a conversion fee) at the time the payment or refund is processed. Therefore, in situations where the original payment is fully or partially refunded, the actual amount refunded in the volunteer’s chosen currency may be less than the original payment amount. Refunds will not exceed the original amount paid.

Payments made using a credit can only be refunded as a credit (where eligible). No cash refunds will be made for payments made with a credit. International banking transaction fees are non-refundable in all circumstances.

Registration Fees

Payment of registration fees confirms a volunteer’s acceptance onto one of our volunteer programs. Registration fees are not transferable to other persons. Program Fees are due no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the volunteer’s program placement. Failure to make this payment can result in a loss of volunteer placement with no refund of Registration Fee. The registration fee is fully refundable if WCDF is notified 60 days before the start date of the volunteer’s chosen program.

Where a group of eight or more people is volunteering with WCDF, the group/team leader must register ahead of other group members in order to secure the group’s starting dates and plans. Group members must then apply and register no less than sixty days before the program starts.

WCDF reserves the right to revise the terms of any Registration Fee Options it offers, including the fee amount, at any time. WCDF may offer new Options at any time. Revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their Registration Fee payment before the revisions are due to take effect. All Program Fees and payments for additional services attract a non-refundable 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees. International wire transfer payments attract a minimum fee of $75. Requests for registration fee refunds must be made only in writing via our official email address, with clear details for cancellation and shall be effective on the date of actual receipt.

Cancellations are subject to the following policies

Cancellations must be made 60 days or more; with  less US$ 150 charged as cancellation fee. On the other hand, volunteers can ask for a registration fee credit to be held in their name for future use, for a period of 12 months from their earliest registered start date.

59 – 40 days; WCDF shall offer no refund of registration fees.  39 days or less; no refund of registration fees is available. A registration fee credit may be held in their name for 12 months from their earliest registered start date, provided program fees have been paid in full by their due date.

Accommodation

Program Fees include accommodation for the duration of the volunteer program. No compensation or refund will be offered should a volunteer independently choose alternative lodging.

Add-ons

Any additional in-country activities or upgrades booked and paid for through WCDF in addition to the volunteer’s Program are deemed  “Add-ons” for example, tours, excursions, courses, extra or different accommodation.

Personal Risks

The volunteer acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their choice to travel to, temporarily reside in, and provide volunteer services in Uganda. All travel and volunteer work can involves a certain degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities and personal perils to the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted by and solely assumed by the volunteer. Therefore, WCDF team , including any and all of its employees, managers, directors, shareholders and hosts together, the “WCDF Related Parties”, are not liable and disclaims all liability, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for any loss or harm the volunteer or associates may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused directly or indirectly by:

Personal injury; Emotional injury; Death; Illness or disease; Damage to or loss of property; Natural disasters; Hostage situations; or War or terrorism.

In the event of a suspected or potential outbreak of any infectious disease on the program, among close contacts, or in locations recently attended by the volunteer then the volunteer agrees to undertake any testing required at their own cost. Should the volunteer refuse to undertake such testing, the WCDF Team is entitled to dismiss the volunteer from the program and remove them from their accommodation at any time without refund, and put in place other measures to protect the health of other volunteers and the local community.

Non-discrimination

WCDF volunteers must agree to abide by this non-discrimination policy and accept that any evidence of discrimination by the volunteer in any form will result in instant dismissal from the program with no refund.

WCDF strictly adheres to a non-discrimination policy of not denying any person access to, or participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical condition or developmental disability.

Under 18 Volunteers

Volunteers who participate in an WCDF volunteer program prior to turning 18 years old are required to submit to WCDF a signed consent from their parent or legal guardian(s) before WCDF can process their registration.The Under-18 Volunteer and their parent/guardian each acknowledge that whilst on a volunteer program, it is the Under-18 Volunteer’s responsibility to make all reasonable efforts to avoid any activity, environment, object or substance that may have an adverse effect on the Volunteer’s health or well-being.

If the Under-18 Volunteer fails to comply with the Code of Conduct or other risk mitigation provisions,WCDF reserves the right to withdraw the Under-18 Volunteer from the program at any time if it’s in the best interests of the health, safety, and general welfare of the program, other participants or of the individual participant. Withdrawal of the Volunteer from the program will be at the Volunteer’s and/or Parent/Guardian’s expense without any right to a refund. All program participants acknowledge that they will be responsible for their own actions at all times. Participants will be required to sign a behavior contract during their program orientation.

Volunteer Behavior

The volunteer agrees to comply with WCDF code of conduct and waiver.WCDF reserves the right to dismiss a volunteer from the program at any time without refund, in the event that these Terms and Conditions are breached.

WCDF reserves the right to notify the emergency contact appointed by the volunteer, and also the volunteer’s education institution or employer if traveling under its oversight, in the event that the volunteer is dismissed from the program or in other circumstances deemed appropriate by WCDF.

Drug and Alcohol Use

The volunteer must abide by the rules put in place by WCDF team, volunteer placement institution, and the host or hotel in regards to alcohol consumption. Drug use is strictly prohibited and will result in instant dismissal from the program with no refund.

Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy

All volunteers must pass a background check prior to participation on any WCDF program. Volunteers must read and adhere to the WCDF Child Protection Policy and agree to follow all procedures contained within it. If at any time the volunteer fails to follow the guidelines set forth by the WCDF Child Protection Policy, they understand that their volunteer program may be terminated by WCDF Team and further appropriate action will be taken, with no entitlement to any refund.

Photographs and Videos

Any photographs, images or videos provided to WCDF by a volunteer before, during or after theirWCDF trip will be deemed to have been provided with a non-exclusive licence and consent for WCDFto edit and use these photographs, images or videos for the purpose of marketing and promoting its volunteer programs online and in printed materials in perpetuity without entitlement to any payment or royalty.

Feedback or Reviews

WCDF reserves the right to use any feedback or reviews provided or shared by volunteers for marketing and promotion purposes. This might be feedback given through questionnaire or online platforms.

Force Majeure

WCDF has no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure of WCDF to comply with these Terms and Conditions, where the same arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of WCDF.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions and the service provided pursuant to these Terms and conditions will be governed by the laws of Uganda and the parties submit to the non – exclusive jurisdiction of the Ugandan Courts.

Miscellaneous

This website is presented solely for the purpose of promoting WCDF services and activities. This site is controlled and operated by WCDF from its offices in Uganda. WCDF reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions or the services it offers from time to time.