Best Volunteer Abroad Programs

Ownership of Site; Agreement to Terms of Use

These Terms and Conditions of Use (the "Terms of Use") apply to the uVolunteer web site located at www.uvolunteer.org, and all associated sites linked to www.uvolunteer.org by uVolunteer. The Site is the property of uVolunteer. BY USING THE SITE, YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF USE; IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT USE THE SITE.

uVolunteer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change, modify, add or remove portions of these Terms of Use, at any time. It is your responsibility to check these Terms of Use periodically for changes. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes will mean that you accept and agree to the changes. As long as you comply with these Terms of Use, uVolunteer grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited privilege to enter and use the Site.

Content

All text, graphics, user interfaces, visual interfaces, photographs, trademarks, logos, sounds, music, artwork and computer code (collectively, "Content"), including but not limited to the design, structure, selection, coordination, expression, "look and feel" and arrangement of such Content, contained on the Site is owned, controlled or licensed by or to uVolunteer, and is protected copyright, patent and trademark laws, and various other intellectual property rights and unfair competition laws. Except as expressly provided in these Terms of Use, no part of the Site and no Content may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, publicly displayed, encoded, translated, transmitted or distributed in any way (including "mirroring") to any other computer, server, Web site or other medium for publication or distribution or for any commercial enterprise, without uVolunteer's express prior written consent.

Our Information

Although we strive to provide materials that are both useful and accurate, laws, regulations, data and other information change frequently and are subject to varying interpretations. In addition, the facts and circumstances of every situation differ. Accordingly, although we endeavour to use reasonable care in assembling the materials, the materials may not be up-to-date, accurate or complete. Please contact us via our contact information provided on the bottom of each page of the website to determine whether you have the most recent version of the materials made generally available by us. We note that even the most recent version available from us may not be up-to-date, accurate or complete.

Some of the material on our website has been contributed by various affiliates, partners and service providers. The inclusion of such material does not indicate and approval or endorsement or such partners, and we totally disclaim any liability with respect to the foregoing.

Your Information

In order to register with us or purchase products or services from us, you must provide us with certain information, including your name, contact information and payment information. You may also post information and materials on our website or otherwise provide personal and other information to us, such as through our "Request Information" option on our website. By providing us with information or materials, unless you otherwise specify in writing to us at such time, you grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, transferable, sub-license able (through multiple levels), non-exclusive, worldwide right and license to use, reproduce, distribute, display and perform (publicly or otherwise), prepare derivative works of and modify, make, sell, offer to sell, import and otherwise use and exploit all or any part of such information and materials in any form or media (now known or later developed) for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without compensation or other obligation to you except as otherwise required by our Privacy Policy. You acknowledge that we own all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or derivative work created using or incorporating your information and materials. You represent that your information will be accurate, current and complete when posted or provided to us. You also represent that you have the power and authority or capacity to grant us the above license, that your information and materials are not subject to any claims or encumbrances, and that your information and materials and our exercise of the above license do not and will not violate any law, rule or regulation or infringe, misappropriate or violate any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, publicity, privacy or other rights of any third party.

Privacy

uVolunteer's Privacy Policy applies to use of this Site, and its terms are made a part of these Terms of Use by this reference. To view uVolunteer's Privacy Policy, click here. Additionally, by using the Site, you acknowledge and agree that Internet transmissions are never completely private or secure. You understand that any message or information you send to the Site may be read or intercepted by others, even if there is a special notice that a particular transmission (for example, credit card information) is encrypted.

Links

This Site may contain links to other independent third-party Web sites ("Linked Sites"). These Linked Sites are provided solely as a convenience to our visitors. Such Linked Sites are not under uVolunteer's control, and UVolunteer is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of such Linked Sites, including any information or materials contained on such Linked Sites. You will need to make your own independent judgment regarding your interaction with these Linked Sites.

International Travel

International travel to the developing world can be risky, when deciding to partake on a volunteer placement arranged through uVolunteer you acknowledge and accept the risks involved in living and working in the countries we offer programs in.

uVolunteer is not liable (to the maximum extent of the law) for any loss or harm you may suffer or cancellations to your program, including but not limited to loss caused by: Delay, death or bodily injury, damage to or loss of property, natural disasters, cancellations in the event of war or threat of war, terrorism or threat of terrorism, fire, sickness, bad weather, acts of government or local authority, acts of god, or other event or circumstance which amounts to a "force majeure".

You must also understand that some of the activities you may partake in may fall outside your personal and travel insurance cover.

Charges

Applicants must pay the fees outlined on www.uvolunteer.org and detailed in the applicants program information sheet. Please note that the prices quoted on our website are subject to change and it is the applicants's responsibility periodically to check our website for current fees.

Once an applicants program has been booked and we have confirmation of payment of deposit, we will send the applicant a program Information Sheet and an Invoice outlining remaining balance and date which it is due.

An Application deposit of US$150 shall be payable by the applicant on submission of the final application (form 2). This deposit will be subtracted from the total program fee. uVolunteer occurs administrative and organisational costs in confirming and booking an applicant placement, due to this and because of the narrow margins we run in order to provide you with an affordable placement our deposit is non-refundable if a applicant cancels their program after their program has been booked. If a applicants program is cancelled or postponed by us or one of our partners, the applicant's deposit will be refunded.

The outstanding balance of the applicant's program fee is outlined in the program information sheet shall be payable 60 days prior to the program start date. There is a 3% transaction charge for each time a payment is made into a participant's account when paying for part or all of the total program fee. If full payment is not made by the due date as specified in the Program Sumarry, the applicant's placement may be cancelled, without liability on the part of uVolunteer.

If the applicant books a placement with a Start Date of less than 60 days from their Initial Application Date then the total program fee shall be payable at the time of application.

Cancellation and Refund

uVolunteer, at its discretion, reserves the right to cancel any project placement prior to departure. If we cancel an individuals program we will refund the total amount paid to us by the individual including their application fee. uVolunteer will not be liable for any other refunds, costs or damages in respects to the cancellation of a applicant's program.
If an applicant needs to cancels a program for any reason, they should submit notification of cancellation by email to apply@uvolunteer.org.

Cancellation will be effective upon the date uVolunteer emails a confirmation of cancellation to the applicant who requested the cancellation. uVolunteer will confirm all cancellations within a period of 3 days.

Cancellation 90 days before program start date
If the cancellation is effective 90 days before the program start date, uVolunteer will refund the total program fee minus the application deposit.

Cancellation between 90 to 61 days from program start date
If the cancellation is effective between 90 and 61 days, uVolunteer will refund 50% of the program fee minus the application deposit.

Cancellation between 60 to 31 days from program start date
If the cancellation is effective between 60 days and 31 days from the program start date 25% of the program fee will be refunded minus the application deposit.

Cancellation between 30 days and the program start date
No refunds will be given if the participant cancels their program between 30 days and the program start date or any time after this date. In the event a participant decides to discontinue his/her programme before it is due to end for any reason, there will be no refund.

Participants are solely responsible for all transportation to agreed pick-up point in host destination country, including airfare, taxes, charges, expenses or penalties that might result from any cancellation of the participants program, whether it is cancelled or altered by the participant or uVolunteer.

Applicants should make sure that they understand our cancellation policy before applying to any of our programs. If you do not fully understand this cancellation policy please contact us.

uVolunteer can not make any exceptions to our cancellation policy and we strongly recommend participants purchase cancellation insurance.

Any refunds payable by uVolunteer will be made to you within ninety (90) days from confirmation of cancellation. All refunds will be subject to charges incurred in returning funds back to the participants account.

Disclaimers

UVOLUNTEER DOES NOT PROMISE THAT THE SITE OR ANY CONTENT, SERVICE OR FEATURE OF THE SITE WILL BE ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED, OR THAT ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT YOUR USE OF THE SITE WILL PROVIDE SPECIFIC RESULTS. THE SITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE DELIVERED ON AN "AS-IS" AND "AS-AVAILABLE" BASIS. ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SITE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. UVOLUNTEER CANNOT ENSURE THAT ANY FILES OR OTHER DATA YOU DOWNLOAD FROM THE SITE WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR CONTAMINATION OR DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES. UVOLUNTEER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. UVOLUNTEER DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACTS, OMISSIONS AND CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND/OR ANY UVOLUNTEER SERVICES. YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ANY LINKED SITES. YOUR SOLE REMEDY AGAINST UVOLUNTEER FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE SITE OR ANY CONTENT IS TO STOP USING THE SITE OR ANY SUCH CONTENT. THIS LIMITATION OF RELIEF IS A PART OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

A possibility exists that our website or materials could include inaccuracies or errors, or information or materials that violate these Terms of Use. Additionally, a possibility exists that unauthorized alterations could be made by third parties to our website or materials. Although we attempt to ensure the integrity of our website, we make no guarantees as to its completeness or correctness. If you find questionable our website's completeness or correctness, please contact us via our contact us link provided the bottom of each page of our website with a description of the material to be checked and the location (URL) where such material can be found on our website.

Jurisdiction

The terms and use of the Website shall be governed by Costa Rican law. All claims or disputes arising out of or in connection with the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Costa Rica. The information contained in this web site is subject to change without notice.

UVOLUNTEER SERVICE AGENCY S.A is a company registered in Costa Rica No. 310153509
Our principal place of business in Apartado 280-4250, San Ramon, Alajuela, Costa Rica, Central America

Effective December 2005
Updated by Core Team on 23/05/2008

Copyright © 2006 uVolunteer Service Agency S.A. All rights reserved.