Homes of Hope

To be eligible for this program, students must: 

Be at least 18 years of age before the first day of the program

Be in good academic standing

Have not participated in a previous year

Have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past the date of the return, and be eligible to travel to that destination. Please check in advance if you need any visas or travel permits to travel to Mexico. This may depend on the country of origin of your passport. 

Students in any year of study can apply! 

Students with a disciplinary probation record are not eligible for this program. Additionally, selected students must maintain 'Good Conduct Standing’.

If there are any questions or concerns about eligibility, please email globalengineering@uclagary.ca. 

Students will be selected on a first come, first considered basis, being mindful of our ratios for single gender rooms and ensuring we have appropriate accommodations for all participants.

This program is heavily subsidized. Students are expected to contribute $750 towards the program costs. This is non refundable. Please be prepared to pay your deposit to the program on January 13 along with a submitted photocopy of your passport.

Student should also be prepared to cover additional expenses such as: 

• Meals on days of travel
• Additional baggage fees (If required)
• Passport & Photos (If required)
• Immunizations: based on recommendations from travel clinic, cost varies depending on individual circumstances and destination
• Travel insurance (cancellation, interruption, and medical)

As part of your commitment to participate in these programs, you can expect to:

• Travel and participate in a planned itinerary as a group
• Share a room with other participants. 
• Have a valid passport, medical/health insurance, vaccinations, visa, etc.
• Participate in online and in person pre-departure education and mandatory trip meetings
• Sign forms required by the Schulich School of Engineering and the Office of Risk Management

Rooming arrangements will be made aligning with the Schulich School of Engineering Guidelines for Student Trip Room Arrangements and within the possible configurations offered by Homes of Hope and their facilities. 

Please review this “What to Expect” document from Homes of Hope. 

The student assumes all financial risk and responsibility for their trip payment should they cancel, as payment will not be refunded. Costs may be covered by insurance. 

Mandatory Steps Upon Acceptance

After being accepted to the program, students are expected to complete the following steps by January 13: 

1. Complete your registration in RAISA, including submitting a copy of your passport. 
2. Submit the signed the Participation Agreement. 
3. Pay your deposit. 

If the steps above are not completed by January 13, you will be removed from the program and we will move to the next person on the waitlist. 

Shortly before the dates of the program, you will also be expected to complete a pre-departure orientation. More details will be provided after acceptance and closer to the date of departure. 

More details regarding registration with Homes of Hope will also be provided upon acceptance and you must complete the required steps from their organization as well. This may include, but is not limited to: i) completing their registration forms, (ii) completing a release of liability, (iii) providing relevant medical information, (iv) giving authorization and consent for treatment, and (v) reviewing safety guidelines. 

Students can expect for the program to be conducted in English. Spanish may be spoken by others in context but it is not a requirement for students to speak Spanish to participate.

This program is already heavily subsidized buy donated funds so students are not eligible to apply for additional funding like SSAF to participate. 

The minimum standards for insurance that you are required to have to participate on our programs is linked below. Please check at the time of paying your deposit that your insurance meets these standards. If you are not sure if your coverage meets these standards, you may provide this document to your insurance provider to confirm. You may use existing coverage if you are already insured (i.e.: through a family member’s coverage as a dependent).

Please review the insurance document. 

Note that all travel must be endorsed by Risk Management at the University of Calgary.

In the event that they determine that it is not safe to travel at any time prior to leaving for the trip, the trip will be cancelled.

Faculty Contact Information: Dr. Arin Sen, asen@ucalgary.ca

General Information: Vivian Elzinga, globalengineering@ucalgary.ca