Open Team FAQ
How do I know I'm ready to lead a team?
One of the best ways to see if you’re ready to serve internationally is to look at the ways you’re currently serving in your local community. If you have a personal relationship with Christ, are involved with your local church, and are willing to be flexible, then you might be ready to serve on a short-term team.
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How old do team members have to be?
Team members need to be 18 years of age or older. In some cases, team members below the age of 18 can apply to join a team if their parent or legal guardian is also applying to serve on the same trip. Please note that any applicant under the age of 18, must complete a special version of the Disclosure of Risk, specifically for minors.
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How much does a typical team cost?
Excluding airfare and depending on the country you visit, the per person team costs that include a portion of the project/program donation, range between $1,000 and $1,800. To price out the approximate international flight costs, visit www.kayak.com.
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What do team costs cover?
Costs cover in-country lodging, transportation, food, and drinking water for the team. In addition, costs will also contribute to buying materials and supplies for the team's project or will support a community's program. Please be advised that team costs typically do not cover things such as passport application fees, visa fees, immunizations, or international medical insurance.
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What is the $75 participant fee for?
All team participants are required to pay a $75 participant fee (even repeat team members). These funds help offset the costs associated with setting up a short-term team. These expenses include overseas field staff communication and compliance efforts with international accounting and legal guidelines. It is also applied to expenses associated with team training manuals.
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What is a Field Liaison? How can they help me?
A Field Liaison is a Food for the Hungry employee working in the U.S. as a part of our Global Engagement department. A Field Liaison works closely with our staff overseas to coordinate your team visit and to help facilitate an ongoing relationship with your partner community. They are very knowledgeable about the country you'll serve in and act as a liaison between you and our staff overseas.
He or she will help answer questions and guide you through the entire process of leading a team.
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What training will I receive prior to going on the trip?
Food for the Hungry believes that the pre-field training and post-field debriefing are essential parts of the entire short-term team experience. You will be provided a copy of our team training manual, which includes information about Food for the Hungry's history, vision, and ministry philosophy. Team members will learn about poverty, development and God's heart for the poor as well as practical information regarding culture stress, ministry ideas, how to pack for your trip, country specific information and more. If you become a team leader, it is expected that you guide your team through the entire manual and that every team member participates in the training.
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What about safety?
Food for the Hungry Field Liaisons monitor international situations through the U.S. Department of State's Travel website (http://www.travel.state.gov/) and other subscription services. The website informs travelers about all types of risks, including health, terrorism and civil unrest. Field Liaisons also maintain close communication with staff in the country and community where teams are sent. They assess each situation before a team is sent out and during the team's visit to the field. Should a personal emergency arise either at home or while team members are on the field, the Global Engagement department has an extensive emergency communication plan to address the situation. Also, all team members are required to purchase international health insurance in the event of an overseas emergency.
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Do I need to obtain a visa?
While not required for all countries, some countries like Bolivia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia will require visitors to obtain a visa before entering the country. Typically, these visas can be obtained at the airport when team members arrive. Should you be traveling to a country that requires a visa for entry, your Field Liaison will inform you of the visa application process for that country. Also, please see http://travel.state.gov/ for foreign entry requirements.
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Do I need special vaccinations or medicine?
The best advice regarding your health can only come from a professional. Team members are encouraged to visit the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Travel website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. This will provide information about required and recommended vaccines for particular destinations. Team members are also encouraged to visit their family doctors to update routine vaccinations as well as to receive prescriptions for any necessary malaria prophylaxis. Special vaccinations, such as typhoid and yellow fever, can only be given by special travel clinics. The CDC will have information about where to go in your area for specific vaccines.
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How will I know where to take my team when I arrive at the airport?
Once your team arrives at its destination, each team is hosted by an in-country team coordinator. The team coordinator will greet the team at the airport and will have planned all of the lodging, food, transportation, and details for the team's schedule. The team will be accompanied by the team coordinator during the entire duration of their time in the country. Often times, the team coordinator will serve as the main translator for the team and is familiar with the country's culture and customs. It is for this reason that team members are required to listen to and follow the instructions provided by both their team leader and team coordinator.
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Do I need to know the language?
Although helpful, team members are not required to have any degree of fluency in the language of the country and community being visited. The team will be accompanied by their team coordinator, who will also serve as a translator at all times, and additional translators will be provided, if necessary.
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Do I need to have any special skills?
Team members do not need to have any special skills or experience in construction, children's ministry, drama or music. Typically teams serve communities through basic construction projects, VBS, or educational projects. Before departing, Food for the Hungry will provide the details needed for you to prepare for the activities your team will be involved in. We do ask that all team participants go willing to listen, learn and glorify God.
If you do have special skills, check the appropriate boxes on the team member application. We will create a team member profile to send to the field. If your skills are needed in the community, FH staff will schedule a time for them to be utilized.
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Do team members participate in evangelism?
In short, yes. We do recognize, however, that we serve in a variety of different locations and that each of these locations faces a unique set of circumstances. As a result, our work and evangelism efforts look different in every area. Paul discusses this reality in I Corinthians 9:19-23. In our evangelism efforts, we seek to minister to the whole person (James 2:15-17) in word and deed. Because our in-country staff understands the culture and circumstances of the community, they serve as the team's best resource for determining what is culturally appropriate and effective in sharing the gospel. Food for the Hungry also works closely with the community's local church, believing they are the institution God has set up for his message to be proclaimed.
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What other opportunities are available with FH?
Food for the Hungry offers a variety of opportunities to meet spiritual and physical needs worldwide. Our Child Sponsorship program enables you to form a relationship with a child and address the spiritual, educational, health, and emotional needs he or she faces. Volunteer Advocates motivate their home community to be aware and get involved in the fight against world poverty. And our Community to Community (C2C) program provides a church in the U.S. the opportunity to partner with a community overseas through prayer, child sponsorship, short-term teams and advocacy.
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