How much will this trip cost?
What pre- and post-trip training and support does SPRINT provide?
Who are SPRINT’s hosts?
What will the team do during their trip?
Will students be safe?
How will people at home know what’s going on during the trip?
How much will this trip cost?
SPRINT works diligently to coordinate high-quality, cost-effective trips. SPRINT costs vary by team and location, and include these expenses:
- Airfare
- In-country food and accommodations
- Host fees
- Training costs
Additionally, students may choose to have other expenses applied to their individual SPRINT accounts in order to cover the cost through fundraising efforts. Such expenses might include:
- Immunizations as required for travel
- Visa applications when required
SPRINT helps coordinate fundraising efforts for students, including support letters and on-campus projects. It’s important to note that the cost of the SPRINT trip is ultimately the student’s responsibility.
Before airline tickets are purchased, participants must have at least 50% of the estimated cost of the trip in their SPRINT accounts. After the trip we count up final expenses and produce a final statement. This two-stage process is designed to help students pay for only the actual trip expenses, not more.
If students raise more money than is required for their trips, they may save those funds for future trips or receive a refund if their personal funds were used to pay for the trip. Please note that “personal funds” must be in the form of cash or check payment from the student. Funds received from parents or others are viewed by the IRS as donations, and cannot be refunded. Please consult with your student or the SPRINT office for more information.
What pre- and post-trip training and support does SPRINT provide?
Beginning in mid-Winter Quarter, SPRINT trains and equips students through facilitation of group-building training and the SPRINT Training class in Spring Quarter. The SPRINT training manual focuses on effective cross-cultural engagement, learning from local leaders, and the philosophy of the Christian Community Development Association, a partner of SPU’s John Perkins Center. In short, students are equipped to engage cross-culturally in responsible, respectful ways and contribute to the long-term work of local leaders through their short-term efforts.
After the trip, SPRINT provides opportunities in the Autumn Quarter for students to debrief and process their experiences. Our hope is to encourage students to integrate their SPRINT experience into their future plans, carrying the lessons from the trip well beyond the summer’s experience.
Who are SPRINT’s hosts?
SPRINT seeks to connect short-term teams with long-term local leaders whose work empowers local communities and shares the gospel in relevant ways. We believe deeply-invested local leaders provide the best possible learning experience for students, allowing students’ short-term work to contribute to ongoing projects that are of genuine value to communities.
What will the team do during their trip?
Trip itineraries vary by team and year, and are organized largely around the host’s needs and opportunities for service. Often, this means having flexibility to work with the changing needs of the hosts.
Before the trip, participants will have opportunities to communicate with hosts and get a sense of what they will be engaging in during their trips.
Will students be safe?
While travel to any unfamiliar location may involve new health challenges, etc., we work hard to ensure students’ safety during their SPRINT experience. Itineraries, accommodations, and work projects are coordinated by in-country hosts who understand their communities and are concerned for students’ well-being.
Additionally, all SPRINT participants will be enrolled in an international health insurance plan for the duration of their trip.
How will people at home know what’s going on during the trip?
To help others keep up with all the great stories and insights coming out of the experience, we encourage our teams to regularly post updates to SPRINT’s Facebook page.
The SPRINT advisor will also be in regular contact with hosts to help further ensure each participants’ positive experience.