FAQS

How many DM12 participants will there be? We have selected 20 volunteers to participate in the DM12 initiative in Louisiana.

Do I need any vaccinations? We strongly recommend our volunteers consult with a medical professional before travelling. As every individual has their own health needs and levels of acceptable risk, we encourage you to work with your medical professional to decide on the best preventative measures for you. Up-to-date Tetanus vaccination is highly recommended.

Can I leave the program early? We have planned the DM12 program with the intention of all participants to remain on the program for the entire duration. However, if an unexpected circumstance arises we will do all that we can to support you if you need to return home.

Will there be time to rest? The workweek will run from Monday-Friday, and everyone will take Saturday and Sunday off work to rest. In addition to the weekends, the whole team will take a mandatory three day break every 30 days to allow time for physical and mental rest. We will provide a $200 stipend to cover the costs associated with taking a break.

How will I receive my $200 stipend? When you arrive at the program our Volunteer Relations Coordinator will provide you with a form so we can collect your payment details.

Can I leave Louisiana during my required break? We recommend avoiding non-essential travel. It is our priority to protect you and the community in which we serve from COVID-19 transmission through unnecessary exposure. By minimizing non-essential travel we further reduce the risk of transmission to the community in Louisiana, as well as our team of volunteers and staff.

Is COVID-19 testing mandatory? Yes. All Hands and Hearts require all volunteers to take a molecular-biological COVID-19 test (PCR test or Antigen Test) and present a negative result. The test must be taken within 7 days of your arrival to the program. Testing before travel helps mitigate some of the risks of COVID-19 and helps us protect the community we serve, our volunteers and our staff.

Can I bring anything for the program? We have a wishlist where you can find our most needed items!

How do I confirm my spot on the program? To confirm your spot, please complete the volunteer service agreement, volunteer waiver, and travel form in your invitation email.

How am I getting to program? When your place is confirmed we will work with our partners Airlink to arrange your round trip flights to program. We will arrange for all volunteers to be collected from the airport and brought to our base.

What do I need to do in preparation for arrival? (temp checks, testing)In the lead up to your trip, check that you are symptom-free by regularly taking your temperature and monitoring for other symptoms. Please inform us if you have had COVID-19 symptoms at any point within 14-days of your planned arrival. You will also need to take a COVID-19 test(PCR or Antigen Test) within seven days before your arrival—you will be required to show the results, indicating that you have tested negative, at the base to ensure anyone arriving on our program is not infected with COVID-19.

What type of COVID-19 testing do I need to have? All Hands and Hearts follow the expert advice of authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regard to the correct use of different types of test. FDA guidance can be found here. For pre-arrival testing we require you to obtain an antigen or molecular test within 7 days of your arrival, we cannot accept antibody testing for this purpose. Where possible we will prioritise the use of molecular-biological COVID-19 test (PCR test or Antigen Test), in line with guidance.

Find more general FAQs on our website, along with our COVID-19 FAQ's.