Humanitarian XP sends Builders to amazing destinations all over the world. They will encounter situations things that are completely foreign: camel riding through Wadi Rum in Jordan, snorkeling with sharks in Belize, hiking Machu Picchu in Peru, navigating a busy marketplace in Ghana, and other out-of-this-world experiences.
Throughout all of these unforgettable instances, although creating memorable adventures, spiritual moments, and humanitarian experiences is very important, the first priority of Humanitarian XP is—and will always remain—the safety of our Builders. Keep reading to learn more about the pillars we have in place to make sure our Builders are safe while they’re away from home.
Thoroughly Vetted Locations
Aside from analyzing location needs and thoroughly assessing worksite projects using our sustainability rubric, our Program Managers weigh local safety heavily when deciding which trips will run in a given year. Our Local Coordinators, who go through an intense screening process, are our boots on the ground—they provide real-time updates on political climates, crime rates, public health concerns, and overall safety of the locations we visit. They help us choose safe housing and reliable sightseeing vendors, and vet accessibility to good medical care in care of emergencies.
We are regularly updated on location statuses, and in the case that safety levels escalate in a way that might affect our groups, we will re-evaluate our decision to send Builders there. We have canceled trips in years past due to civil unrest, and if we feel the need to cancel a trip, we will not hesitate to do so. At HXP, we live by the mantra that if we wouldn’t send our own kids to a location, we won’t send yours.
Top-Tier Trip Leaders
We filter each of our Trip Leaders through an extensive interview process. Each year, thousands of applications pass through our office, and only the top 10% of those applicants end up leading our trips.
Before they get to face-to-face interviews, they pass through three separate knock-out rounds so that we make sure those we interview are the best of the best. We start every group interview by letting them know that our top priority is our Builders, and setting expectations for them accordingly.
Once we think a Trip Leader is the right fit, we take them through a seven-point background check, where our team spends weeks combing through every aspect of their lives. We conduct official background checks, social media checks, interviews with roommates, and interviews with ecclesiastical leaders. Although this is a meticulous process, is extremely important to us that our vetting process is thorough so we can confidently say that we fully endorse our Trip Leader cohort.
After being selected, our entire group of Trip Leaders attend a mandatory three-day training, where they learn everything they need to know about running a trip. This includes learning how to keep Builders physically safe, emotionally well, engaged with locals and the culture, working hard, and more. Before this training, they are expected to memorize the official Humanitarian XP Trip Leader Handbook, but this intense weekend gives them even more insight about the little details and potential curveballs that they may encounter during their specific trip. From CPR training to lost passports and stressful airport management, over two decades of international trips have given us plenty of experience to share!
Humanitarian XP On-Call Staff
During the summer, the Humanitarian XP office doubles as a 24/7 On-Call center and resource for Trip Leaders, Builders, Local Coordinators, and parents at home. Our three-tiered system works diligently to ensure that any questions that need to be answered are done so promptly, and any emergent situation follows correct protocol. Once your Builder lands safely at their location, we will send you an email with information about how to contact our on-call line in case of emergencies at home.
Third-Party Support
In addition to our HQ staff being on-call at all times throughout the entire summer, we also partner with International SOS, the world’s leading medical and travel security risk services company. Their guidance regarding the safety of international travel is used by the majority of Fortune 500 companies and is widely considered to be the foremost authority on travel risk worldwide. This third-party professional organization offers international support and guidance, approves local hospitals and clinics, and provides and handles all emergency evacuation and security emergencies. SOS and Humanitarian XP’s partnership protects your Builder and their Trip Leaders.
Secure Builder Information
For safety purposes, we never publicly post information about the Builder Itinerary, and we ask you do the same. To learn more about what you can do at home to help protect your Builders, please see our Parents at Home page on our website!
As you can see, we go the extra mile to keep Builders safe and stop at nothing to provide world-class experiences. To aid us in our endeavors, we expect all Builders to follow a high standard of rules to ensure they are making smart decisions and not causing harm to themselves or other group member. For more information about Humanitarian XP Dealbreakers, click here.