Trip Dashboard:

Puerto Rico Trip FAQ, Puerto Rico, 2024

D0 PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE?

• Personal health insurance is required to attend.
• In Addition to personal health insurance, all participants will have international travel insurance through Amoveo Group.
• All healthcare costs are the responsibility of the participants or their parent/guardian.
• If you have participants without adequate medical insurance or want to purchase trip protection insurance, you can buy from any insurance provider you choose.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

During the day, you'll have the opportunity to serve in a variety of impactful ways:

1. Home Restoration: You'll assist in rebuilding homes that were devastated by Hurricane Fiona, providing a safe and secure environment for families in need.
2. Street Children Care: You'll provide comfort and support to street children, offering them a sense of community and hope.
3. Community Center Assistance: You'll lend a hand at the local Community Center, contributing to their daily operations and activities.
4. Community Engagement: You'll interact with the local community, learning about their culture and traditions while sharing your own.
5. Spiritual Connection: Through all these activities, you'll experience the work of God in Puerto Rico, deepening your spiritual connection and understanding of your faith.
    

During the evenings, we will have debriefing gatherings.

WILL OUR GROUP BE WORKING TOGETHER?

Groups working together or being split up are dependent on the amount of work projects during your stay.

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY?

Safety is our top priority!

• We require groups to bring 1 adult (21 or older) for every 5 participants who are under 21 years of age.
• We review safety procedures at the team center—appropriate close-toe shoes/boots, gloves, and goggles are recommended for any service project.
• Participants are not required to do any work that they consider unsafe. Participants may be using a drill for screws, but no one under the age of 16 can use a power tool or drill for drilling holes, and no one under the age of 18 can use a power saw.
• Although we serve in needy areas, we require work crews to always stay together. No one should ever be left alone, and all participants are back at the lodging facility by their designated check-in time.
• If an injury occurs on the worksite and is not severe, Amoveo Group staff will contact the team leader and coordinate any transportation needed. If the injury is severe, the adult on site will call “911”, and Amoveo Group staff will offer support and ensure that required medical forms are delivered to the hospital.
• Each group will have a first-aid kit
• Amoveo Group has trained staff in an emergency/crisis response protocol

WHERE WILL WE STAY?

• The Amoveo Mission Base offers a comfortable dorm room setting inside a local Christian College. It includes individual showers, eating facilities, and plenty of space to plan and debrief. On the property is a fire pit and comfortable places to sit back and interact with other members of your team.
• Participants must bring pillows, sleeping bags, or other bedding to sleep on bunk beds. Groups are assigned to sleeping rooms together; gender-separate and sleeping rooms may be shared with other groups, depending on their size and the size of the rooms.
• Address of Team Center - Residencia de Estudiantes Universidad Interamericana - Metro: PR-177 Avenida Lomas Verdes, San Juan, PR 00926.

WHAT IS THE MENU? WHAT IF THERE ARE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS?

• Meals include hot breakfasts, boxed lunches, and hot dinners. All meals will be prepared for participants by kitchen staff, and lunches will be picked up by leaders and/or staff and brought to project sites. The first provided meal is dinner on Saturday, and the last meal is breakfast on Saturday. One night during the week, teams are responsible for purchasing their own dinner.
• If you have a participant who must eat gluten-free—please let us know. Participants with special diets or allergies are welcome to bring their food items to fill in as needed during the week. Please know that we do have peanut butter on the menu. Amoveo Group cannot guarantee there will not be any cross-contamination during meal preparation by kitchen staff. A staff member will be available to answer any questions about food.

ARE BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED?

• Yes, Amoveo Group requires that all participants 18 years of age or older be screened and background checked by your church before attending.
• Background checks must be national and no older than two (2) years from the trip's start.
• You choose your background check organization vendor, or we have one we can recommend.
• 18-20-year-olds are not considered “adults” during the trip; however, we still ask them to go through your church’s screening process and have background checks run because of our commitment to safety.
• Amoveo Group requires a letter from the church’s pastor with his signature on official letterhead confirming that the church has on file official background checks for every 18+ participant for them to attend the trip. This can be scanned and sent to info@amoveo group.org. 
• If you require background checks, you will need to register your church/organization and then begin obtaining background checks for your people. Please go to www.ciaresearch.com and click 'Not Registered' in the upper right-hand corner of the screen to register your church/organization. When you get to the “How did you hear about us” entry, please type “Amoveo Group.” This will communicate that you are looking for the basic background check that will cost $15.00 a person.
• Please note that your church/organization will need to set up an account to use this service for legal and billing purposes.

PACKING LIST:

Documentation

• 2 Copies of birth certificate for every minor
• Notarized consent letter from parent/guardian for each minor (under 18 years of age).
• Personal health insurance card or copy

Toiletries

• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Soap and shampoo
• Any prescription medications
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

Personal Items

• Water Bottle
• Sleeping Bag or Sheets
• Towels and Wash Clothes
• Laundry/Plastic Bag (for dirty clothes)
• Blanket and Pillow
• Bible
• Sunglasses
• Water Bottle

Clothing Items

• Trip appropriate swimsuit
• Light Jacket and/or sweatshirt
• Long pants or jeans (long pants are necessary for working at Oasis)
• Longer shorts (5-inch inseam is a guideline to follow)
• Work t-shirts (for painting, building, etc.)
• Pajamas, socks, & underwear
• Work boots or sturdy shoes
• Shower shoes
• Bandanas, a hat, or visor
• Water bottle

Optional Items

• Camera*
• Rain gear*
• Snacks*
• Musical instruments*
• Flashlight*
• Spending money*

* Optional

WHAT NOT BRING:

• Alcohol, tobacco products, or illegal drugs
• Expensive clothes or jewelry
• Anything really valuable
• Fireworks, weapons, or toy guns
• Skimpy or revealing clothes

CELL PHONES / ELECTRONICS:

For security reasons, having your students leave these items at home is best. However, we understand they are great for capturing moments, sharing life, and communicating back home. If you bring any of these items, don’t let them distract you from your experience. If you choose to bring them, put them away during the programs and on your work sites.