3-Week Texas / South Africa

What is the cost of this trip?
The cost of the South Texas / South Africa IMMERSION Perspective(s) trip in 2024 is $6,700 ($12,000 for a married couple). This includes all program costs, international flights, and host arrangements.

Is there any training before or during the program?
Each IMMERSION Perspective(s) trip is led and facilitated by qualified trip leaders with experience in the communities you travel to. Relevant resources and videos will be made available to team members a few months before the trip, and the trip itself will consist of several discussion and learning times for participants engaging in new and challenging topics.

What is included in the cost of the trip? Are there extra costs?
On our side, we try to keep IMMERSION all-inclusive so you don't have to worry about any hidden fees or big, unexpected costs! Most of your essentials (airfare, housing, staffing, training, breakfasts, and dinners) are covered—but plan to pay for immunizations, travel to/from the start location and return flight airport, lunches each day, any meals while traveling, and a new passport if you need one. We also recommend a small stash of spending money in case you need shampoo, snacks, or souvenirs along the way. But this amount is minimal and totally up to you.

Experience Mission also requires all team members to travel with a Personal Emergency Fund—a debit or credit card with $1,000-$1,500 available and $300 of reserve cash in case you were to have a medical issue or reason to travel home unexpectedly. This amount may seem high, but it's purely a precaution. Most team members never spend a penny of their emergency fund while on the trip.

Is the initial deposit refundable?
Once you commit to a trip, we're counting on you. We don't offer refunds, but we'll do our best to be flexible and work with you to transfer the funds to a different trip whenever possible. You can read more in our Refund Policy document.

How can I communicate back home?
We encourage you to pack your cell phone or other small, wifi-enabled device. Often, just turning off cellular data and connecting to a local hot spot is the best way to stay in touch with friends and family. In some locations, you'll be totally off the grid. While, in other locations, you will be able to get online daily. All information regarding connectivity plans will be communicated to the team prior to the trip!

What if I have a personal emergency and need to talk with someone at home?
In all things, we're there to support you. If you have a personal emergency, your trip leaders will allow you to use an EM phone with international calling or data. In most locations, communication is fast and easy, but in some locations it can be slow or very expensive to make a call back to the U.S. After you Submit an Interest Form or Request to Join the trop, ask our staff more about communication limitations or how we get in touch when there is an emergency.

Do I need a passport or visa?
You will need a passport! If a visa is needed for your trip, the EM staff will guide you through the process of applying for one after you join the team. But if you don't have a passport yet, you'll want to start applying for one now.

When will I get a trip itinerary?
We'll send you an itinerary, including all flight information, approximately one month before the start of your trip. But you'll also receive many details through pre-trip calls, emails, and your online MyMission account on EM's website.

Will EM provide a detailed packing list?
Yes! Through our experience in these communities, we have developed a helpful packing list that covers all the necessities to live and engage well while on the trip.

Should I purchase Travelers Insurance?
Experience Mission requires all team members to travel with a “Personal Emergency Fund”—a debit or credit card with $1,000-$1,500 available and $300 of reserve cash in case you were to have a medical issue or reason to travel home unexpectedly. This amount may seem high, but it's purely a precaution. Most team members never spend a penny of their emergency fund while on the trip. Although Travelers Insurance isn't required, we highly recommend it because it may help you recoup some costs if you did have an issue.

What if there is an emergency that affects the entire team? What will we do?
Your team leader, local community partners, and international staff are equipped to support you if there is an issue (i.e. natural disaster, political unrest, increased crime, etc.) while living abroad. If your team were to need to leave the country, each of you would be responsible for using your “Personal Emergency Fund” to rearrange travel plans, but our staff would be available to guide you. We also take extra precautions by enrolling our teams in STEP (Safe Traveler Enrollment Program) through the U.S. Department of State. This means we will receive any urgent travel updates for U.S. citizens in the region where you are living and serving.

Will I be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine to join IMMERSION?
The Covid-19 vaccine is not currently required by Experience Mission to participate in the IMMERSION Perspective(s) program. We will provide all team members with access to up-to-date CDC guidelines and recommendations for travel vaccines and/or medications, if necessary.