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What can I do if I've booked a program but can't travel?
What can I do if I've booked a program but can't travel?

You can change your program, or postpone your stay with ease...no extra fees, no deadlines!

Sophie Laurent avatar
Written by Sophie Laurent
Updated over a week ago

We recommend our volunteers closely follow travel recommendations. In the meantime, we guarantee that all deposits on bookings made through Volunteer World are safe. This is thanks to your Flex Option.

The health and safety of our volunteers and local partners is what matters most to us. We monitor all updates from the CDC and local health authorities regularly to provide you with the most updated information. 

The Flex Option

One of the perks of booking through Volunteer World is that we have a Flex Option. This means you can postpone your booked volunteer program or use your current deposit for any other program on our platform. 

Most importantly: there's no deadline for the Flex Option and no extra charge. It's flexible and easy to use. 

Our live chat team is also here to guide you through the process and support your volunteer journey.

How do I use the Flex Option?

Now the practical side of your Flex Option and how to use it:

How do I postpone my Volunteer Trip?

The kindest thing to do right now is to postpone your trip to another time later this year or even next year. This is the best way to support your volunteer organization. 

  • We recommend you get in touch with your local project coordinator before the start date of your volunteer program. They will be happy to guide you through this and do what they can to help you find a new time slot for your volunteer journey.

How do I switch Volunteer Programs?

The flex option also allows you to transfer your deposit to any other volunteer program on our platform. This is great if your current volunteer program doesn't have future time slots that match your schedule, or if you are unsure on when to reschedule for example.

To switch programs, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Get in touch with our live chat team to get all the support through the process and possible alternatives right away.

  • Step 2: Cancel your trip in your application overview and inform your coordinator about postponing it to a later time.

  • Step 3: Re-apply for any other program on Volunteer World.

  • Step 4: You may have received a new offer with new dates. That's great! Contact our customer support and your deposit will be transferred and you're booked for your new volunteer program!

We recommend you follow the steps above before your upcoming volunteer trip so we know you've paused your volunteer journey.

What if I already made my final payment to the volunteer organization?

The final payment is arranged directly with your volunteer organization which is why you will contact them if they haven't done so yet. Most volunteer organizations have taken measures so you can easily postpone your trip and are ready to welcome you once you can travel again.

We encourage you to continue to support your volunteer organization by rescheduling your travel plans to help them continue to exist.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with our live chat team. We are here to support your volunteer journey in the most sustainable way.

-Kindness is Contagious-

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