faq's.......
1. When is the next trip?
August 2021.....dates to be confirmed.
If you become part of the driving crew for the lorries and van then these usually leave two days before the coach.
2. When do I have to sign up by?
To give you the most amount of time to raise the money for the trip then we ask volunteers to sign up as soon as possible.
3. How do I sign up?
Please contact holly@teech.org for an application form, when a £70 deposit will also be required to secure your place.
4. How much does a trip cost?
The total cost per volunteer is £700, this covers.....
- £500 expenses – which covers hotels to/from Moldova whilst travelling, food on location and at hotels on the journey to/from Moldova, the cost of the coach, working abroad insurance and a t-shirt. Expenses can not be gift aided when making the payment to TEECH.
- £200 – this goes towards the project itself for buying supplies and equipment to enable TEECH to complete the project. Fundraising income towards the project itself can be gift aided.
Please note benefits from gift aid do not count towards the cost of the trip.
Where volunteers raise more than the minimum £700, the funds will be used to purchase supplies for the project or extra equipment for the school (for example, kitchen equipment or teaching supplies).
5. Where do we leave England from?
The coach usually leaves from Essex or Suffolk......2021 to be confirmed.
The lorries and van usually leave from Colchester, Essex......2021 to be confirmed.
6. How long is a trip for?
16 days, of which the first 4 days are spent travelling to Moldova, with 8 days on location and then 4 days travelling home. The 4 days travelling gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know fellow volunteers and see some of the other countries we travel through...Hungary and Romania are worth a look out of the window!
7. Where do we stay when on location?
On site at the school where the project is located. Volunteers will sleep in classrooms within the school, therefore camp beds or airbeds are required.
8. What are the toilet and shower facilities like?
Well....we dont always know this much before the trip. Usually the school will only have outside long drop toilets (after all thats why we are there, to change this situation), but the charity will take some portable camping toilets also (and loo roll!). We advise all volunteers to bring a camping shower bag so that we can shower outside.....the temperatures in the summer can reach over 30 degrees therefore the water will be warm if you fill up your bag each morning. You may wish to bring swimwear and flip flops to shower in.
9. What do we eat on location?
TEECH take basic food items on each trip but source local fruit, vegetables and meat on location to give the volunteers a taste of the local food and help put money into the local economy. TEECH will have volunteers on the trip who cook meals for everyone, It usually requires a team of at least 3. There is always a need to share the washing up!!
10. Do I need a visa?
No, even though Moldova is outside of the EU a passport is all you require, unless you do not hold a UK Passport and then you will need to check your countries requirements.
Due to Brexit this information might change.
11. Do I need vaccinations?
TEECH can not advise on medical requirements. We suggest you speak to your doctor a few months before a trip to ensure you have all the vaccinations which you may require.
12. How much spending money do i need?
Enough spending money to buy food on the journey to/from Moldova, along with a small amount of money to spend in the country. £150 is usually more than enough. We advise you to take Euro's and whilst on location TEECH can change this for you into Moldovan Lei.
13. Am I covered for medical/travel insurance?
You will require your own usual travel insurance. TEECH take out insurance for the charity which covers you working abroad.
14. How old do I have to be to join TEECH on a trip?
TEECH ask that volunteers are 16 years old or over. If below 18 years old then they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you volunteer to drive the van then you need to be 25 years old or over.
15. How can I raise money?
Volunteers usually ask friends and family for 'sponsorship/donations', but some go one step further and have car boot sales, cake sales, run half marathons or even car washes to raise money. If you have some good ideas then share them, everyone always like new ideas!!
16. What is a packing day?
TEECH meet once a month at their storage facility in Colchester, Essex to sort through all the items which are donated to the charity over the year and to organise supplies for the trip. Volunteers are expected to attend at least one packing day during the months prior to a trip. It is not only an opportunity for us to meet you, but also for you to meet fellow volunteers.
17. What is the loading day?
This is the day we load the lorries and van ready for the trip. The loading day is the Saturday before the trip leaving date.
18. What should I pack for the trip?
Once you have signed up then we can provide you with an information pack which includes a list of items you will need. We ask that you don't over pack as there is limited space on the coach for baggage, so be sensible. Basically you will require old clothes for the work we carry out (dont take anything you want to come back in good condition!). You will also require something to sleep on and in.
If we have not answered your question(s) then drop us a line at holly@teech.org and ask yours and we will be pleased to answer it for you.
August 2021.....dates to be confirmed.
If you become part of the driving crew for the lorries and van then these usually leave two days before the coach.
2. When do I have to sign up by?
To give you the most amount of time to raise the money for the trip then we ask volunteers to sign up as soon as possible.
3. How do I sign up?
Please contact holly@teech.org for an application form, when a £70 deposit will also be required to secure your place.
4. How much does a trip cost?
The total cost per volunteer is £700, this covers.....
- £500 expenses – which covers hotels to/from Moldova whilst travelling, food on location and at hotels on the journey to/from Moldova, the cost of the coach, working abroad insurance and a t-shirt. Expenses can not be gift aided when making the payment to TEECH.
- £200 – this goes towards the project itself for buying supplies and equipment to enable TEECH to complete the project. Fundraising income towards the project itself can be gift aided.
Please note benefits from gift aid do not count towards the cost of the trip.
Where volunteers raise more than the minimum £700, the funds will be used to purchase supplies for the project or extra equipment for the school (for example, kitchen equipment or teaching supplies).
5. Where do we leave England from?
The coach usually leaves from Essex or Suffolk......2021 to be confirmed.
The lorries and van usually leave from Colchester, Essex......2021 to be confirmed.
6. How long is a trip for?
16 days, of which the first 4 days are spent travelling to Moldova, with 8 days on location and then 4 days travelling home. The 4 days travelling gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know fellow volunteers and see some of the other countries we travel through...Hungary and Romania are worth a look out of the window!
7. Where do we stay when on location?
On site at the school where the project is located. Volunteers will sleep in classrooms within the school, therefore camp beds or airbeds are required.
8. What are the toilet and shower facilities like?
Well....we dont always know this much before the trip. Usually the school will only have outside long drop toilets (after all thats why we are there, to change this situation), but the charity will take some portable camping toilets also (and loo roll!). We advise all volunteers to bring a camping shower bag so that we can shower outside.....the temperatures in the summer can reach over 30 degrees therefore the water will be warm if you fill up your bag each morning. You may wish to bring swimwear and flip flops to shower in.
9. What do we eat on location?
TEECH take basic food items on each trip but source local fruit, vegetables and meat on location to give the volunteers a taste of the local food and help put money into the local economy. TEECH will have volunteers on the trip who cook meals for everyone, It usually requires a team of at least 3. There is always a need to share the washing up!!
10. Do I need a visa?
No, even though Moldova is outside of the EU a passport is all you require, unless you do not hold a UK Passport and then you will need to check your countries requirements.
Due to Brexit this information might change.
11. Do I need vaccinations?
TEECH can not advise on medical requirements. We suggest you speak to your doctor a few months before a trip to ensure you have all the vaccinations which you may require.
12. How much spending money do i need?
Enough spending money to buy food on the journey to/from Moldova, along with a small amount of money to spend in the country. £150 is usually more than enough. We advise you to take Euro's and whilst on location TEECH can change this for you into Moldovan Lei.
13. Am I covered for medical/travel insurance?
You will require your own usual travel insurance. TEECH take out insurance for the charity which covers you working abroad.
14. How old do I have to be to join TEECH on a trip?
TEECH ask that volunteers are 16 years old or over. If below 18 years old then they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you volunteer to drive the van then you need to be 25 years old or over.
15. How can I raise money?
Volunteers usually ask friends and family for 'sponsorship/donations', but some go one step further and have car boot sales, cake sales, run half marathons or even car washes to raise money. If you have some good ideas then share them, everyone always like new ideas!!
16. What is a packing day?
TEECH meet once a month at their storage facility in Colchester, Essex to sort through all the items which are donated to the charity over the year and to organise supplies for the trip. Volunteers are expected to attend at least one packing day during the months prior to a trip. It is not only an opportunity for us to meet you, but also for you to meet fellow volunteers.
17. What is the loading day?
This is the day we load the lorries and van ready for the trip. The loading day is the Saturday before the trip leaving date.
18. What should I pack for the trip?
Once you have signed up then we can provide you with an information pack which includes a list of items you will need. We ask that you don't over pack as there is limited space on the coach for baggage, so be sensible. Basically you will require old clothes for the work we carry out (dont take anything you want to come back in good condition!). You will also require something to sleep on and in.
If we have not answered your question(s) then drop us a line at holly@teech.org and ask yours and we will be pleased to answer it for you.
