trips

Trip Overview

Short term teams can spend one to three weeks in Guinea-Bissau. A team leader helps to provide assistance and direction to logistics and cultural expectations. Short term trips can help other people, but they will change you. How much can be accomplished in one week? LEAD was born because of one persons one week trip. When you step out, especially if you have never gone to a developing country to help, you will be ruined forever for the ordinary.

Our teams work on everything from medical support, to business training, and can work in the capital city of Bissau, or travel to the former slave island of Djiu de Gallinhas.

Everyone makes a difference.

Common Question:

Q. What if I can't go on the week you have slated, but I have interest in a particular area being focused on another week (i.e. medical assistance)?

A. No problem! Regardless of the general focus of a trip, we easily adjust so that everyone's abilities and interests are put to work. If you want to serve in any area, if we have a reasonable amount of time to prepare for you, there will be no problem. The Guineans will do anything to accomodate your coming in this regard.

What will I do on the trip....

Team itinerary is geared towards your strengths. There are some really important tasks that you would be able to help accomplish. If you have any skills in the following areas it will be helpful.

• Take pictures (Some posed, but most of them scenic, orchards, children playing, people talking, and team shots)
• Interview people (We have about 30 people we want to interview)
• Art
• Storytelling
• Construction
• Service
• Teaching
• Prayer
• Medical assistance
• Problem solving skills
• Administrating (being a group coordinator is a great help)
• Sports - Especially soccer, frisbee, ball (kids and adults love sports in Guinea-Bissau)
• Willingness to teach English

How to get started...

1. Get your application. (DOWNLOAD MISSION APPLICATION)

• a. Application
• b. 2 Passport Photos
• c. $50 non-refundable check (this covers the cost of your visa, logistics communications).
• d. Fill out a single copy of the visa request form.

2. Make sure your passport is current.

3. Go to the local travel clinic and begin your immunizations.

4. Attend Guinea-Bissau Team Meetings (see the schedule page for more info)

Trip Cost

Trip Cost - typical: 1 week $2200 / 2 week $2350

How the funds apply...

Missions Application Fee $50

This is to offset the cost of communication with Bissau prior to departure, and cover the cost of your Guinea-Bissau Visa Request. It is not refundable, nor does it apply to your trip cost.

Airfare $1600.00 (we do not guarantee rates)

This is the approximate cost flying to Portugal, then Air Luxor to Bissau. If there are no flights available the cost will be roughly 450.00 more through TAP Air Portugal.

Guinea-Bissau Housing, Food and Travel

All food, bottled water, in country travel, and housing. (If you want to stay in a hotel cost is much greater). We can provide you with a general outline of what the funds will be expended for, however, when we are in country, we do not report to the team how these funds are spent. Every trip requires different supplies and resources. These are the amounts that allow us not only to accomplish our objectives, but to also leave things better than when we arrived. The food is the least expensive catagory of things we purchase. The rest includes, fuel, electrical repairs, email or internet connection for the team coordinators, wages for workers, repair to vehicles, refrigeration, food, bottled and purified water.

Additional Costs not included:

• Internet use at SITEC café and any long distance telephone calls are not included.
  
  

  Access will be provided and cost is about $5 per hour for internet, and $3.50 per minute long distance telephone. We do send emails regularly and will be happy to communicate to team member's families and deliver emails from families during the trip. Please note the telephone use policies in the Short Term Missions Application.

• Leisure, incidentals, and tourist items (We recommend 100-150 dollars)
• Travel Expenses in Europe - You have a 200.00 towards hotel, taxi, and food. These costs will be discussed more when reservations have been made but you may wish to sight see.
  
  

  It may be necessary or you may decide to room in Europe in transit to Africa, (often teams do because of the duration of the flights) we will make arrangements for you. You may be able to reduce costs by sharing a room. Sometimes travel plans include London, Amsterdam, Lisbon, or Paris, tours can be taken. Whatever travel or entertainment plans you have outside of Guinea-Bissau will be your responsibility.