GPPD Trips Risk Statement

Minors under age 18 must sign a downloaded hard copy with the signed permission of a legal guardian.

 

GPPD Trips Risk Statement

This Risk Statement is to advise participants of potential risks of living/working in third world developing nations. Participants willingly accept responsibility for consequences of these risks. Living/working in other cultures imposes risks not found or associated with work in an industrialized nation such as the United States. These risks include, but are not limited to, hazards to a person and property through cross-cultural offenses, accidents, disease, criminal and terrorist acts, weather conditions, emotional and physical stress from culture shock and loneliness, and/or inadequate medical services and supplies. GPPD cannot predict or prepare participants for every circumstance; however, advises trip and overseas ministry participants of the assumed risks associated with work in a foreign country by relaying information of GPPD policies through this Risk Statement.

GPPD will not assign participants to a ministry or area against their will. Leadership provides direction in areas of need and availability of programs, but the participant has the final decision in program involvement and has the right to end service and return to their passport country at their own cost and risk.

Reasonable efforts will be made to provide necessary emergency medical services on the field. Specialized services requiring evacuation from field country will be coordinated with, and under the direction of, the medical/evacuation insurance provider required for participation in the GPPD trip. (Note: Travel insurance coverage is included in trip cost. Additional potential costs, including deductibles and non-covered expenses, are the responsibility of the participant.)

 

COVID-19:

The Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 surfaced new health safety practices. COVID-19 is a real virus, is contagious, and can be deadly. It is the responsibility of the participant to protect themself and others from this virus, especially during international travel, via facemasks, testing, vaccines, etc. GPPD is not responsible for the risk of infection, complications, medical treatments, or unforeseen consequences because of contracting the virus during a trip on which a participant voluntarily joins.

The Government of Haiti (https://ht.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/) requires a negative COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccine status, conducted and dated within 72 hours of boarding a flight to Haiti (at the expense of the participant, not included in trip cost). Haiti trips leave on Saturday, meaning negative COVID tests must be shown to GPPD staff and dated between Wednesday - Friday. Participants with positive test results will not be permitted to join the team under any circumstance (this includes “false positive” tests). Flight cancellation insurance (included in trip cost) ensures refund of flight cost due to a positive COVID-19 test, minus any deductible. The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html) requires a negative COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccine status, conducted and dated within 72 hours of boarding a flight to the US. If a passenger cannot show proof of a negative test at time of boarding (to or from either country), airlines have been instructed to deny travel. GPPD will take participants to be tested before departure from Haiti to the US (test included in trip cost).

The CDC recommends those with a positive COVID-19 test to quarantine for 10-14 days. In Haiti, Our House of Hope is equipped to quarantine a person and ensure proper medical care. The cost to stay at Our House of Hope for quarantine (10-14 days or until a person can test negative) is $200 (at the expense of the participant, not included in trip cost). Additional persons willingly volunteering to stay behind with a person quarantined (ex: husband tests positive and wife tests negative but chooses to stay behind) must also pay $200 (at the expense of the participant, not included in trip cost). If a minor requires quarantine, a family member (ex: parent or legal guardian) on the trip must stay behind with them at an additional cost of $200 (at the expense of the participant, not included in trip cost). GPPD representatives will not stay behind with those quarantined. When appropriate, participants who originally tested positive will test again (test is approximately $85, at expense of the participant, not included in trip cost) and can fly home if they have a negative test result. Additional airline costs to change a flight date due to quarantine may be required (at expense of the participant, not included in trip cost).

Those willing to join a GPPD trip need to be keenly aware of the additional health, financial, and emotional risks COVID-19 adds to travel. If quarantine is required, participants need to be prepared to be away from their family, jobs, and home country for three weeks, two of which will be in isolation.

 

Special Note:

Since many insurgent, guerrilla, and criminal groups commit crimes of kidnapping and other forms of criminal extortion to demand ransom payment, it is important to understand that, while we are concerned for the well-being of our team and will pray and labor diligently for the release of any member taken hostage, it is GPPD policy to oppose ransom payment, including, but not limited to, cash, commodities, or services. GPPD trip participants should not assume ransom will be paid for release. GPPD strongly recommends those held hostage be interviewed by a counselor provided by the GPPD Executive Team as part of post-crisis debriefing.

 

Liability and Waiver Release:

In consideration of me and/or my minor aged child being allowed to participate in the trip sponsored by GPPD, it’s partners and/or agents, and in consideration of the benefits to be derived there from, I and/or my minor aged child hereby release GPPD, it’s partners and/or agents, and their present and former directors, Associates and their heirs, administrators, executors, and successors from all claims and liabilities of any kind, whether known or unknown, which arise or are connected with my participation or the participation of any member of my family, on a GPPD organized trip. I and/or my minor aged child recognize personnel, property, and health risks, including, but not limited to, accidents, kidnapping, illness, weather-related injuries, and death, and I and/or my minor child willingly and voluntarily participate on this trip with knowledge of those risks. If for any reason, including COVID-19 related circumstances, I and/or my minor child am unable to complete the planned stay on the mission trip or must extend stay in the foreign country due to quarantine or other reasons, I assume full legal and financial responsibility for expenses and consequences.

In the event of an emergency, I hereby authorize a leader of this trip to act as an agent for me and/or my minor child to consent to: x-ray examinations; medical, dental, or surgical diagnosis; anesthesia; treatments; and/or hospital care advised and supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist. I understand this is only for emergency situations should I be incapable of making rational decisions or should my minor child have a medical emergency and I/another parent/legal guardian cannot be immediately reached. I understand efforts will be made immediately to reach my family and/or emergency contact listed on my application.

Risk Statement Submission Form

Submitting the form below will indicate the following:

• I have read and understand the hazards and risks to my person and property associated with serving overseas.

• I understand my responsibility to read the State Department Travel Advisories regarding my travel. (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html)

• I will not hold GPPD liable for injury, disease, delay of return, additional cost due to extenuating circumstances, COVID-19 related consequences, and/or further unforeseen claims while voluntarily participating with GPPD overseas.

• I have read and understand COVID-19 risks, including possible additional costs and extension of stay due to quarantine, and will abide by COVID-19 guidelines set by GPPD, the CDC, and the Government of Haiti.

• I have read, understand, and accept GPPD policy regarding ransom payments.

• I accept responsibility for additional costs incurred on my behalf, even if I withdraw from the team.

• I understand funds donated to GPPD for my participation on the trip are tax-deductible and are not refundable. I understand if I must cancel my trip, I and my donors will not receive a return of funds. I understand donated funds are used to further ministry work, even if I withdraw from the team, and are not used for profit for GPPD.

• All information I have provided in my application and all submitted paperwork is true to the best of my knowledge.

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