volunteer Safety SECURITY Jamaica is a very diverse island made up of different centres of activity. While our Kingston and surrounding area can be dangerous like most metropoles, our tourist area is very safe and protected. The pristine hills of Manchester provide a safe and cool platform from which to work unperterbed. We have a direct contact and phone number of the Manchester Police Department which is centrally located in the capital and close to most of our hosting families. HOSPITALS AND CLINICS The Hargreve Hospital in Mandeville is a stone's throw from most households and the Mandeville Hospital handles more specialized injuries, illnesses and concerns should such an unfortunate circumstance come to light. Our Physician Correspondent is on hand for check-ups and consultations as well. HOST FAMILIES It is in our best interest as a viable enterprise to ensure that our volunteers are safe, happy and comfortable in their surroundings. We try to get our volunteers in touch with their host families before they even arrive to the island in order to give volunteers a sense of what they are coming to. However, no matter your reasoning, rehosting can be requested and furthermore a family evaluation is made at the end of your stay in Jamaica in order to ensure that we have the best possible hosting situation for future or returning volunteers. You will also have 24-hour emergency support from your project's Volunteer Correspondent who can relate to any adjustment issues you may face and can provide a sympathetic ear. EVERYDAY LIFE We also provide best practices such as not walking alone at night in poorly lit streets, how to carry valuable equipment in metropoles and what prices are reasonable for things like public transport and street vendor items. You are not going to be in a tourist area and it is therefore important that you learn how to behave like a local and get treated like one by Jamaicans.
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