FAQ

Safety is our #1 Priority. We focus on safety whether we are working here locally, globally or at our events.

It is imperative for the health and welfare of your child that B3 is apprised of complete and accurate medical information, including any mental or emotional issues. B3 programs are exciting and rewarding experiences, they can be physically and emotionally demanding.

We ask for a candid evaluation of all volunteers’ health so that we can explore the availability of appropriate medical services abroad and provide our staff and advisors with the background information to prepare and provide appropriate care for our teams.

We work with the CDC and our local Health Department to recommend appropriate vaccinations and preventative medications for our host country.

Each team travels with well equipped First Aid kits as well as additional backup items to ensure, should someone get hurt, we are able to provide appropriate care. Adults from each team are trained in basic First Aid.

Hospitals and clinics are researched before the teams travel, should the need arise. All volunteers are also provided with an insurance policy that covers them from the time they depart from the US until they return.

We provide bottled/filtered water to our teams when working globally and encourage our teams to drink plenty of water to stay healthy and hydrated.

B3 works hard to keep our teams safe and well fed.  We work with our community partners to understand proper/safe food preparation and how to create well balanced menus keeping in mind special dietary needs of our volunteers.

This is a subject that everyone wants to know about but is a little embarrassed to ask about.

We work with our host communities to make sure that there are always clean and well supplied bathrooms. While these may not always be exactly what you are used to having in your homes, we make sure that all toilets are cleaned several times each day and that there is always plenty of toilet paper.

Well before there was COVID, B3 was militant about hand washing.  Every place we work, eat and sleep has sufficient hand washing stations and supplies. Proper hand washing is taught at our team meetings and we make sure that every volunteer receives written information about the importance of hand washing and the recommended techniques from the CDC.

We encourage our adults to make sure that everyone washes their hands before any meal or snack.

We require all of our volunteers to wear heavy-duty work gloves on the worksite everyday as well as eye protection when deemed necessary by our local contractor (maestro). In addition, proper footwear is required; either work boots or heavy duty hiking boots. Sneakers are not allowed on the worksite.

In addition, we have our local work crew teach our teams how to use tools properly and safely. We also travel with rebar caps (“Sophies”) to protect against potential injuries.

B3 registers every team member with the US State Department through their SMART travelers program along with contact info for the leaders.

Every team travels with several international phones to be in contact with families and B3 support staff. All families are also provided wlth the contact information of B3’s Executive Director should there be an emergency. There is an electronic phone tree that is activated when the team arrives in the country, back in the US and also when the team is closed to arriving at the designated pick up spot at the end of the trip.

Each team does their best to stay in contact with family and friends through emails and Facebook live.

In addition, we provide each team with guides/translators that are well versed in the local customs and are knowledgeable about the area.

Our teams stay in secured locations that are either enclosed or protected by security guards.

B3 follows recommendations and protocol provided by the CDC, our local health department and individual countries requirements. Our teams travel with masks and plenty of sanitizer. If the US requires a negative COVID test before returning home, B3 will arrange for tests for the entire team. B3 is requiring the COVID vaccine for all participants.

Yes. All teams are expected to bring sunscreen, insect repellent and rehydration items (like Gatorade or Nuun). Our adults do a great job of reminding everyone to apply the sunscreen and insect repellent repeatedly. Keeping hydrated is extremely important. We rely on our adults to make sure that everyone is drinking enough water and eating the provided snacks to keep electrolyte levels high.

Our adults ensure the safety of travel documents (Passports and Proof of Vaccination Cards) by holding onto them during travel and securing them once arriving in our host community.

We ask that our volunteers not give any personal information like email addresses or Facebook account information to anyone in our host country. Any communication between our new friends and our teams will go through the B3 organization.

Adult Advisors are a pivotal part of the B3 program. The mission of our organization is to develop leadership skills in high school students. We depend on our adult leaders to help them achieve these goals and guide them towards becoming caring, responsible leaders that will affect positive change in the world.

Many of our Adult Advisors have been a part of the B3 program for a number of years – some have even been involved since the very beginning! Many are parents of former or current students in the B3 program, some are alumni (about 33% of our advisors each year are alumni), some are teachers who have witnessed their students transformed by the B3 experience and want to experience B3 for themselves, and some have heard stories from a friend or colleague and decided to get involved. Our adult leaders share a passion to work with youth to develop leadership skills, to encourage cultural exchange and to improve our local and global community.

While participation as a B3 Adult Advisor is an incredible, life-changing and fun opportunity, it is also a big commitment. We ask that advisors participate in the many B3 events scheduled throughout the year. For this, we recommend that all new prospective advisors live in the local area; B3 is a year-round program and Advisors must be able to attend team meetings and events. The role of a B3 Advisor requires active involvement in the program from July through the following June.

Being an Adult Advisors is a big commitment. We ask our Advisors to attend our MANDATORY three (3)-part B3 Leadership Workshop and attend our Team Retreat. We have monthly meetings that we expect all Advisors to attend and to interact/communicate regularly with their assigned students. In addition, we require that our Advisors volunteer at local B3 sponsored community service projects (at least 6 hours) with their team. We also expect our Advisors to support all of our fundraising efforts including our annual raffle.

We ask Advisors to act as inspirational leaders and guides, demonstrating integrity, patience, tolerance, responsibility, compassion, a thirst for adventure, and a sense of humor. Advisors can expect B3 to provide a safe, supportive environment.

All advisors must have a valid passport that must be VALID for 6 months after the day you return to the US.

B3 is about exploring new places and cultures, stepping outside of your comfort zone. Becoming part of your B3 team is almost like having a whole new family. We do not allow children and parents to travel together on the same team.

Yes – we ask our adults to pay a portion of expenses. The Adult Advisor program fee for each year is dependent on the date of enrollment.  The program fees vary each year but typically cost about $1000. Advisors are invited to take part in B3’s traditional fundraising efforts, e.g., Building Block Letters and product sales. Limited Financial Aid is available. (A deposit is due with the application and the remaining fee is due November 15.)

Please contact Amy Schroeder-Riggio if you are interested in becoming an Adult Advisor.

We ask our students to be responsible – to take care of paperwork, fundraising, community service requirements, attend meetings, retreats and events.

We ask our parents to support their child in accomplishing these goals throughout the program year.

More specifically we ask that all parents

*Ensure that all medical and dietary information is up to date and accurate.

*Make sure that we have a copy of your child’s current, valid passport (valid for 6 months after their return to the US). If your child does not have a passport or has an expired passport, please help them apply as soon as possible.

*Provide initial program deposit with enrollment form.

*Sign B3 Waiver allowing your child to be a member of our program and agreeing to the terms of that waiver. Please provide a completed copy of that waiver in a timely manner to the B3 Office.

*Review your school, family and personal calendars for academic or any other commitment to ensure your schedule does not conflict with travel dates. Please check your school schedule before choosing a trip date.

*Attend a mandatory Information Session for all first-year students.

*Encourage your child to volunteer for a minimum of 6 hours of B3-sponsored local community service projects as soon as possible. All community service hours must be completed by the end of the year. If this commitment is not met, the student WILL NOT be allowed to travel with B3 and their team and no refunds will be given.

*Attend KickOff Meeting in the fall with your child.

*Attend the final meeting prior to departure of the global portion of our program with your child.

*Read/respond to all B3 emails.

*Support your child’s fundraising efforts and participate in our annual raffle (required)

*Ensure that your child is current and up to date on all recommended vaccines and immunizations

B3 is about exploring new places and cultures, stepping outside of your comfort zone. Becoming part of your B3 team is almost like having a whole new family. We do not allow children and parents to travel together on the same team.

An initial deposit of $700-$900 (dependent upon enrollment date) is due with the enrollment form, and students are responsible for raising the remainder.

The total program cost** (including initial deposit) varies from year to year and depends on when you apply. Typically the cost is between $3300 and $3600*.
• Pre-Registration runs through May 31
• Regular Registration is June 1 – July 15
• Final Registration is from July 16 through November 15
*Program cost includes transportation, meals, lodging and construction materials.
**Program cost does not include immunization fees, passport fees or spending money abroad.

As part of the commitment to B3 and service, we ask students to earn their own way (or at least most of it). Advisors and B3 staff are available to help guide students through fundraising campaigns. Milestones are set throughout the year.

B3 guides students through the fundraising process by offering help with individual online campaigns and providing various opportunities to sell merchandise. Milestones set throughout the year helps ensure students are on target to meet their goal.

B3 believes that fundraising is an important aspect of our program. By earning their way, students gain a sense of ownership in their team’s project and helps gain an understanding of the nonprofit world.

We encourage families to work together to develop a fundraising plan.

Program fees only account for 80% of the actual program cost.

Families are required to participate in our annual fundraising raffle as part of the B3 commitment.

We host various other events and campaigns to fundraise for the organization; we invite our families to participate.

B3LOCAL varies from year to year – typically the cost is between $100-$200.

Yes. The countries we visit require a passport that is valid for at least six months after our return date. Some countries also require a special visa to enter. More specific information is provided during the enrollment process.

Passport regulations vary from country to country, Click here to renew or apply for a US passport.

Requirements and recommendations vary from country to country. We work closely with the Center for Disease Control and our local Health District to ensure that all of our participants have the opportunity to receive the necessary inoculations and/or medications. We offer clinics at our office for the convenience of our members.

The safety of participants is B3’s first priority. We conduct several site inspection trips to research potential destinations and projects. We verify that the locations are economically and politically stable. We explore medical facilities, locate appropriate housing, and discuss safe food preparation with the communities. We tour the communities where we will work and live and consider each building project and address any potential safety concerns. We develop contingency plans and travel with a local translator/guide. Each team is accompanied by adult advisors (chaperones) to ensure a safe and healthy trip for all.

Often, just a smile and a few simple words can bridge the communication gap. But in case that doesn’t work, we always travel with translators.

Trips abroad are scheduled for one week in conjunction with the February, March or April school vacation periods.

We do our best to accommodate these requests. During the enrollment process, each student is allowed to choose at least one other person they’d like to travel with (if you have a group of friends you’d like to travel with, make sure you include each other’s names). Keep in mind, B3 is always a great way to make new friends and build relationships that last a lifetime.

B3 is about exploring new places and cultures, stepping outside of your comfort zone. Becoming part of your B3 team is almost like having a whole new family. We do not allow children and parents to travel together on the same team.

Of course! We’re always happy to hear from others doing good in our neighborhood, and will do our best to help them with their mission. Please email info@buildersbeyondborders.org with any recommendations.

Each student is required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours of local community service.  B3 contributes nearly 2,500 hours of local service annually in our communities. Projects vary but are typically organized in collaboration with community partners including Wakeman Town Farm, Green Village Initiative, Homes with Hope, Norwalk Watershed Association, Earthplace and Al’s Angels among others.

Similar to our international program, we look for projects that make an impact on the community at large. Although we occasionally make exceptions to assist individuals and families in need, we believe we make a bigger impact when working for or with groups. Our projects have included an annual clean up of Earthplace in Westport, cleaning local waterways, updating facilities at schools, supporting local food banks and homeless shelters, and building or maintaining community gardens to name a few.