Skip navigation
Sign up for news and updates.

 privacy policy

Experience the trip of a lifetime!

Have you ever wished you could see the impact of your contributions firsthand? Or meet children and families in another country who are benefitting from Plan's programs? Here is your opportunity!

Visiting your sponsored child is a rewarding way to see the impact of your contributions. Sponsor visits provide an opportunity to meet the child you are sponsoring, tour their community and see firsthand the projects made possible through sponsorship. If you would like to plan a visit please contact us or call a Donor Relations Executive at 1-800-556-7918.

You can also join Plan for one of our upcoming Destinations field trips. Destinations field trips are fully-escorted tours designed for small groups of 10-15 travelers, giving you a personalized experience and an in-depth understanding of the work you so generously support. Below you'll find descriptions of our upcoming Destinations field trips and a few of the most commonly asked questions, and answers, about visiting the field.

Destination: Niger, January 23-28, 2012

Leadership donors* to Plan International USA are invited to participate in an exclusive trip to West Africa led by our CEO, Tessie San Martin.

This very special trip will include visits to a variety of Plan projects in Niger, including IMAGINE – a successful program to expand educational opportunities for girls by constructing, furnishing, and training teachers for girl-friendly schools. You'll spend time with students, parents, and teachers whose lives have been transformed by IMAGINE, and see for yourself the extraordinary impact of your philanthropy.

Travelers will also visit local cultural sights, including Koure Reserve, home to the last herds of wild giraffes in West Africa.

With Ms. San Martin and our dedicated local Nigerien staff, you'll gain an intimate understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing families in Niger, and an insider's view of the life-changing progress made possible through your generosity.

Participants must pay their own travel expenses. Cost for this fully-escorted trip, including meals, accommodations, translators, program site visits, and tourist excursions is $2,369 per person. (Airfare not included.) For more details or to reserve your spot, please call Debi Gaskin at MTS Travel at 866-633-9320.

*Donors who contribute $5,000 of more to Plan International USA qualify for this leadership travel opportunity.

How to make your contribution

Click here to make a gift of $5,000 or more to the IMAGINE project in Niger.

You are also welcome to raise the $5,000 donation to qualify for this trip. Our online fundraising page makes it easy for you to reach out to family and friends for contributions.

 

Questions and answers about field visits

What are the first steps I need to take to plan my visit?
All sponsor visits and Destinations field trips must be arranged through our office at Plan International USA. Unauthorized visits will not be allowed and Plan’s Zero Tolerance policy will be strictly enforced. For the protection of the children in our programs, we require all visitors (18 years and older) who are visiting the field to read and sign our Child Protection Standards and to undergo a background check:

Once your forms are received and processed, a Donor Relations Executive will contact you regarding the next steps to planning your individual visit.

For general information on sponsor visits, or if you have more specific plans, please contact us or call a Donor Relations Executive at 1-800-556-7918. Please check with your travel agent for information on weather, holidays, currency, visas and health requirements.

How much time is needed to arrange a sponsor visit?
Advance notice of 8-10 weeks is ideal and helps ensure that our field staff has plenty of time to confirm the visit date with the sponsored child's family and arrange for transportation, an interpreter, and visits to some of the community projects in the area. If you do not contact us with the required notice, we regret that we will be unable to host your visit.

How will I get around during my visit?
If you are joining us on a Destinations field trip, your accommodations, meals and in-country travel will be arranged by Plan and our travel partners. If you are making arrangements for your own individual trip, accommodations should be close to the field office. Depending on the travel distance to the child's community, either our Plan field office can make arrangements to pick you up or your hotel representative can help arrange a bus or taxi as needed. A Plan staff person will accompany you for the duration of your visit and a translator will be available.

What can I bring to my sponsored child or the community?
Simple, inexpensive gifts are best. A t-shirt, school supplies, and a baseball or soccer ball make the best gifts. You may also want to ask a staff person if there is an appropriate item to purchase in-country and bring along. Please note you'll meet many other community members who are interested in knowing you. An extra bag of sweets is great to share with the many curious children who will come to see you during your visit. For example, passing out lollipops is a great way to break the ice when greeting a group of children.

How long do the visits usually last?
Many of the communities in which we work are a considerable distance from the main field office. So, it's likely that you will need a minimum of four hours, but probably closer to a full day to complete your visit. Once you arrive in the community, you'll have time to meet your sponsored child and his or her family, visit some projects in the area, and have time to enjoy their company. We can't make arrangements for you to stay overnight with your child's family. Travelers on our Destinations field trips will receive a complete itinerary of planned visits and activities.

What if I have special needs during my stay?
Please inform our Donor Relations Executives and they will notify our field staff of any special needs. They will do their best to accommodate you. We highly recommend that this be handled prior to your visit.

Do I need to take any preventive medications before I visit?
Please contact your physician or international travel clinic in your city several weeks ahead of your visit. Depending on where your travel brings you, there are many precautionary medications you may need to take. Your physician can arrange for you to receive the proper medications.

You may want to visit the US State Department's website for more information about international travel: http://www.travel.state.gov/

Just a note: Visits are a rewarding experience for all involved and, if such travel is feasible for you, we highly recommend taking this journey. A community usually plans a special celebration, meal or special event to honor the visitor and it is a great disappointment to sponsored children and others when a visit is changed at the last minute. We would appreciate your sensitivity to this while in the planning process. For information on planning a visit, please contact a Donor Relations Executive or call 1-800-556-7918.