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How to
book
Step 1:
Simply click on this link,
Application
Form and email us a request for an application
form. The form will be emailed to you for your completion. You then
simply email the completed application back to us for assessment.
Wait until we advise you of acceptance.
Step 2 :
Once you have received Confirmation
of Acceptance and your Applicant Reference Number from us, complete the booking form
that we then email to you, making sure to fill in the
fields referring to Program Reference Number, Applicant Reference Number and
Travel & Medical Insurance Details. The Program Reference Number is obtained
from the link Programs / Fees and is the unique
number of the program you have chosen. Once the booking form has been completed
email it back to us.
Step 3:
Read the Agreement and Indemnity
below (you may print a copy for your records) making sure you
understand the provisions of both documents. This form
will be presented to you for your signature upon arrival and is a pre-requisite
for participation in a program.
Step 4: Please
Click here
to open The Indemnity Form . The Agreement is below.
Step 5: Once you have
received confirmation of receipt of
your booking by Focus S.A., you may transfer the 10%
deposit of the total fee into Focus S.A. Bank Account which
will be emailed to you with the confirmation. Please ensure you quote your applicant reference number on the deposit form or
electronic fund transfer request when doing this.
Step 6: Keep the copy of your deposit slip/funds transfer advice
from your bank for your own records. We
will confirm receipt of your deposit with you within 7 days.
Step 7: Advise us by email/telephone of your flight details and
the exact date and time of your arrival in Durban. Deposit the balance of the
fee into our account at least thirty days before you depart.
Step 8: Board and have a safe flight to South Africa – we will be
awaiting your arrival at the airport!
Indemnity
and Agreement
Applicants are required to complete and sign the
Indemnity form after acquainting themselves with the Agreement, whose terms and
conditions numbered 1 to 16 are deemed to be accepted by the applicant, by the
appending of the applicant's signature to the Indemnity form. This is standard procedure. All volunteers will also be protected from any liability in respect of
all losses, accidents and injuries of whatever nature they
may cause, anywhere they work and/or anywhere they visit or activity they
participate in, by a similar indemnity which the project organization and Focus-S.A.
will sign and hand to them for safekeeping upon arrival.
1. The Agreement
All persons applying for Focus-S.A.'s volunteer work
experience must complete and sign the Indemnity form upon
arrival in South Africa. The person or persons who have signed the Indemnity
Form are hereafter interchangeably referred to as the client/s and applicant/s.
Upon signature the client agrees to be bound by these Agreement and Indemnity
conditions. No client or client’s agent/ representative, of Focus-S.A, has the
right to alter, vary or waive any of these conditions.
2. Payment
Once Focus-S.A. confirms receipt
of the Booking Form, the
client will transfer the non-refundable 10% deposit of the total program fee
into the Focus S.A. Bank Account details of which will be
emailed to the client. The balance of the program fee is payable in full, 30 days
before the beginning date of the selected program. If the balance of the program
fee is not paid on due date, Focus-S.A. reserves the right to disqualify the
applicant. If an applicant applies 30 days or less before the start of the
program, then the full program fee is payable at time of approval.
3. Cancellation / Change by client
Focus-S.A. has to pay certain expenses on behalf of
approved applicants in advance, some of which are not refundable and others only
partly so. A cancellation penalty is therefore levied to offset these advance
payments. Any notification of cancellation or material change must be in
writing, emailed or faxed to Focus S.A.. The date on which the notification is
received by Focus-S.A. or its agents will determine the cancellation penalties
applicable. In the event of cancellation the following cancellation penalties
are applicable :-
Number of days before program beginning date:
31 or more days = 25% of total fee payable,
30 to 21 days = 40% of total fee payable,
20 to 10 days = 60% of total fee payable,
15 to 0 days = 80% of fee payable.
Please note that this cancellation penalty excludes, and
is over and above the 10% non-refundable deposit already paid by the client.
4. Cancellation or change by Focus-S.A.
Focus-S.A. reserves the right to cancel or change a program
in any way. In the event of a program being cancelled by Focus-S.A., for
whatever reason, the client may choose a full refund of all moneys paid, or
alternatively any other program that Focus-S.A. is in a position to offer. In
the event of a partially completed program being cancelled or changed, the
client has a right to claim a pro-rata refund of fees paid based upon the
percentage of time completed. No further liability by Focus-S.A. to the client
with regard to the cancellation or change will arise. In the event of an
applicant selecting an alternative program offered by Focus-S.A., which has a
lower fee than the original program, then the client will be entitled to a
refund of the difference. If the alternative is more expensive, then the client
will be liable for the additional cost.
5. Unused Services
In the event of a client failing to join a program, joining
after commencement, or leaving prior to completion, no refunds or liability will
be accepted by Focus-S.A.
6. Information
The information in the brochures, circulars, leaflets and
other advertisements issued by Focus-S.A. or its agents is given in good faith,
and unless specifically stated, shall not in any way be binding or form part of
any contractual agreement between the client and Focus-S.A.
7. Changes
Focus-S.A. does not accept any liability arising out of
changes to itineraries, or any other matters relating to a program, due to
factors beyond its control. These factors include wars, strikes, weather,
political disputes, border closures, delayed flights etc. Any expenses incurred
by the client arising out of these changes are for their own account. Volunteers
may not change their own programs.
8. Travel Documents
All clients must be in possession of a valid Passport,
together with any required Visa/Work Permit and the client accepts full
responsibility for obtaining same from their local Republic of South Africa
Embassy or Commonwealth High Commissioner. Any information or advice given by
Focus-S.A. or its agents with regard to the above is given in good faith and
Focus-S.A. can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of information given.
Should a client be refused entry to any country due to incorrect or incomplete
documentation, Focus-S.A. will not be held liable for any costs of such delays
or repatriation costs for the client.
9. Authority on Tour
The client accepts that at all times the decisions of
Focus-S.A. officials, its employees, agents or assigns will be final on all
matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of the client.
10. Unsuitability
During the program, should a client, in the sole opinion of
Focus-S.A. or its duly authorized representative, be considered unsuitable for
the program, due to being in contravention of any customs or laws of South
Africa, or by reason of causing inconvenience or annoyance to other clients,
then Focus-S.A. may disqualify the applicant. In such circumstances
transportation back to Johannesburg Airport will be provided for the client’s
departure from South Africa. Focus-S.A. will not be liable to make any refund to
the client, and no other liability by Focus-S.A. to the client will arise.
11. Limitation of Liability
Client bookings are accepted on the understanding by the
client that certain risks exist which are an inherent part of travel and
residence in South Africa, and clients undertake all programs and associated
expeditions or excursions at their own risk. Whilst Focus-S.A. always looks
after the safety of clients, no responsibility, however, can be accepted for any
death, injury or loss that might occur to any clients by any causes whatsoever.
The client and his/her dependents, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns,
hereby indemnify and hold blameless, Focus-S.A., its members, employees,
representatives and agents, as well as all Organisations that form part of a
project, the Organisations members, employees, representatives, agents and
clients, from any claims of whatsoever nature and from any liability for delay,
loss, damage, injury, illness or death arising from any cause whatsoever out of
events related to or occurring during a program or its associated expeditions or
excursions.
12. The Agreement
This agreement, by whosoever it is made and wherever it is
made, is subject to and shall be governed and construed according to South
African law. The client agrees that by appending his/her signature to the
Indemnity undertaking hereunder, they also thereby bind themselves to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement or Indemnity
to Focus-S.A. shall also be construed to refer to its members, employees,
representatives and agents and any reference to a project Organisation, will
also automatically refer to the Organisations members, employees,
representatives, agents and clients.
13. Claims and Complaints
Any complaint that the client has against Focus-S.A. must
firstly be taken up with the program managers, in order that the program manager
is given an opportunity to remedy the problem. If the client has any further
complaint, this must be lodged in writing with Focus-S.A. within 10 days of the
end of the program. If these procedures are not followed, then Focus-S.A. will
not be held liable.
14. Duties at Projects
There are no set or predetermined duties at projects, and
the client accepts that duties will be allocated at the projects by the project
personnel on a day to day or week to week basis and according to their
discretion. Clients are also encouraged to use initiative and are free to
suggest or offer to do any task, or provide any assistance that they notice or
believe will be useful to, or is required by, the project.
15. Fee Increase
Focus-S.A. reserves the right to increase program fees due
to any increases in operational or running costs in instances where the full
program fee has not yet being paid by clients. In instances where the full fee
has been paid for any program, the fee will be fixed and no such fee increase
will take place despite increases in the mentioned costs.
16. Insurance
It is compulsory for all clients to obtain appropriate
Travel and Medical Insurance before commencing a program. This insurance, which
must be for the full duration of the program, must cover medical, emergency
travel and personal accident. Details of this Insurance must be provided as
required on the booking form once acceptance to join a program has been
communicated to the client.
Enquiries
Should you have any queries regarding the program, projects, excursions or
activities please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy
answer them. administration@focus-southafrica.co.za
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