The 4-1-1: Electricity

Electricity

If there is electricity at your destination or overnight stays, the supply is 220v, with frequent, intense surges and occasional blackouts that last for a few minutes to several hours. You need to be prepared with a flash light and batteries. You will also need appropriate transformers / adapters / surge protectors if you bring an electric shaver, hair dryer, curling iron, or other electronic equipment.

The 4-1-1: What to Wear

Clothing

The Muslim culture encourages modesty in dress. Shorts should not be worn outside the home, and women should not wear pants, short dresses, or tight clothing. Due to the HOT climate, cotton clothing tends to be more comfortable. The preference for loose, ample clothing that fully covers the body reflects the Muslim belief that the body is both sacred and profane, both powerful and dangerous. Clothing here, as in western countries, is a status symbol. The wearing of tight clothing that clearly reveals the body shows a lack of respect for oneself and others. Thus, the offensiveness of shorts, mini skirts, and tight clothing will be attributed to European eccentricity at best, or to shameless immodesty at worst.

The months of April and May are "scorchers"!!  Even for those acclimated to the heat, some days seem almost unbearable.  Plan your trip and clothing accordingly. As evening temperatures from November through February tend to be cooler (60's), you may prefer long sleeves, a light jacket, or sweat shirt if you will be outside.

You may wear long (knee length), loose shorts inside the Niamey Guesthouse compound for exercise and relaxation.

You may have need of a modest swimsuit. Bring a long pair of pants or jeans for riding camels and for evening picnics at the river. Thick-soled, supportive sandals or tennis shoes are good to walk in. Appropriate clothing for sports varies from place to place; please ask us to make sure what is acceptable.

Let us say upfront that visible, multiple body piercings and tattoos, as well as radical hair styles and chewing gum are not permissible on the field simply because it detracts from The Message, drawing attention to the individual rather than Christ. If you have a question about this, please contact your Songhai Team Host.

When you are out in the villages and speaking to an individual or teaching, please take off your sunglasses. In short, remember that you are representing the IMB and Christ. We are not asking that you dress in your Sunday Best, because panty hose and heels or suit and tie will not work in the bush. However, we are asking you to look your best daily as you minister.

Guys

Jeans or khakis are good with T-shirts, Polo-type shirts, or collared, cotton shirts. The grunge look is not acceptable. "Fashion" holes in jeans are not the fashion in West Africa, just a necessity of the poor. Men do not have to tuck in shirts in the village; this style is called a "Thank You". Baseball caps are fine outside; take your hats off inside the house. A beard is fine; no beard is fine. Just do not use your time on the field to grow one. Caution: untrimmed goatees are the mark of conservative Muslims here in Niger; please trim beards and goatees short before coming. 

Gals

Short sleeve (not sleeveless or low necked) T-shirts with mid-calf skirts and jumpers or dresses are good. Tops must meet and overlap waistlines. No spaghetti strap tops or tight, form-revealing shirts. Definitely wear bras. No spandex, please. Double check to make sure that your skirts are not made of such thin material as to allow a see-through effect; we have lots of sunlight here! Depending on where your ministry is located, you may need to keep your head covered with a bandana or scarf. No baseball caps or cowboy hats. Your bathing suit does not need to have knees in it, but should be a modest one-piece. You may wear loose jeans or pants to and from the airport.  You do not have to cover your head in the airport.

The 4-1-1: Money & Budgeting

Money / Budgeting

Before you come, you will receive an estimated total cost, so your volunteer team can plan accordingly. Your daily costs have been based on the place(s) where your specific group will stay, your team's traveling schedule, and the number of people in your group. Unless otherwise stated, daily costs include your food, kitchen help, cleaning supplies, gas for the stove/oven, marketing expenses, guesthouse/hotel expenses, translators, transportation, airport tips, vehicle gasoline, and generator fuel. Depending on the team, there might be other expenses also, such as canoe and camel "rental", giraffe guide, laundry expense, etc.

At least 6 weeks before you come, your team leader should receive a budget from your Songhai Team Host with instructions on how to best transfer funds to cover these expenses.

For other expenses, credit cards are fine for Paris or other layovers on your trip here, but do not plan on using credit cards or traveler's checks in Niger, Mali or Burkina Faso. Occasionally you can find an ATM machine in some of the capital cities. Miscellaneous expenses, such as bottled water, cokes, snacks, A/C, and laundry, will be paid on the last day of your visit as personal expense.

West African countries use the CFA as their currency. Current exchange rates can be found at www.xe.com. Look for CFA BCEAO Francs - XOF.

The 4-1-1: Travel Arrangements & Airports

Making Travel Arrangements

Traveling in West Africa is a bit different than traveling through Europe or within the States. There are limited available flights each week, so you will need to schedule early for the best choice of flights, for the best price, or for an option at all. Some carriers that service West Africa are Air France (via Paris, France) and Royal Air Maroc (via Casablanca, Morocco). Timbuktu, Mali is serviced by local carriers via Bamako (Mali) or Niamey (Niger). Remember to log in your frequent flyer miles when possible. It is highly discouraged to travel through West Africa on stand-by tickets.

As soon as your tickets are purchased, please send your Songhai Team Host a copy of your itinerary.

Please note that down time, shopping, hippo hunts, giraffe safari, and language study will depend on your travel and work schedule. We will do as much fun stuff as we can fit in after the work has been scheduled. It is almost impossible to schedule extras when you are on the field seven days or less.

Advice for West African Airports

• Keep your boarding passes as they are sometimes required when you de-plane.
• Keep contact phone numbers with you during travel.
• It really is ok if you do not speak French. Do not feel intimidated; just be friendly and courteous.
• As you enter each country, you will be given an immigration card to complete. For this card, you will need the address of where you are staying.
• The first check point is usually where officials check for your passport and visa. They will take your immigration card and might check your airplane ticket.
• The second check point is usually where officials check your health card for confirmation of your Yellow Fever Vaccination.
• After the health card check, you will get your luggage and progress to the area where custom agents will check your bags. Let them see that you are willing to open all bags by beginning to unlock and unzip them. Sometimes they will not look in any, other times they will look in them all. Sometimes they are x-rayed.
• Should your luggage not arrive, you will need to proceed to an office, usually inside this baggage claim area, to register the missing item(s).
• You will show your passport again to a uniformed officer just before leaving the secured area.
• Outside, you will probably be met by your Songhai Team Host or another previously arranged person.
• Even though you are tired, keep an eye on your bags and carry-ons at all times.
• The person meeting you will usually pay tips in local currency, just double check. If you need to do this yourself, the going rate is $1 per bag; you can pay the porters in American currency, but please do so in paper bills rather than in change

The 4-1-1: What to Pack

What to Bring and How to Bring It

In addition to personal needs, you will need to bring:

• all supplies needed to do the job you are volunteering to do
• a few Band-aids and antiseptic cream
• a few basic over-the-counter medications, in original containers, something to treat:
  colds/ cough/ stuffy noses
  diarrhea/ vomiting/ stomachache
  fever/ headache/ general aches and pains
  allergies
  motion sickness
• any prescription drugs you need on a regular basis or any drug that you might need on an emergency basis (such as someone who has a severe allergy to something, tendency to asthma attack, etc.) in the original containers, enough for the whole trip
• Bible, journal, pencil/ pen
• camera and film or extra cards
• flashlight and batteries
• a very generous quantity of wet wipes and hand cleansers
• travel-size Kleenex and toilet paper
• chap stick
• lotion, light face moisturizer
• sunglasses
• hat (guys, for sun protection) or scarf/bandana (girls, for modesty)
• insulated, water bottle or thermos to hold at least 1 quart of water that has an opening big enough to add ice
• sun screen and aloe
• mosquito repellant and an anti-itch cream
• some snacks (nothing that will melt)
• comfortable, protective, walking shoes
• loose, comfortable, modest clothing - cottons, jeans and khaki work well
• a can (or dry mix) of chicken noodle soup, some saltine crackers, some Gatorade or Kool-Aid-type mix, and a small box of Jell-o, in case of sickness
• a package of Clorox cleaning wipes
• Visine eye drops and saline nose drops are good to sooth dry eyes and noses
• an alarm clock
• battery powered fan (if sleeping outdoors)
• sleeping bag & pillow (if sleeping outdoors)
• tent or mosquito net (if sleeping outdoors)
• a copy of your passport and visas (in your carry-on)
• a copy of your yellow card (in your carry-on)
• a back pack/ day pack/ bag to carry things in each day

How to bring it

You must contact your air carrier and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to determine current limitations and restrictions.

In your carry-on luggage

Think, "What would I need to survive if my suitcase got delayed or lost for several days?" This is a VERY GOOD possibility!

• a least one complete change of clothes
• all your prescription and emergency medications
• a few toiletries (keep in mind current airline restrictions, consider samples or travel-sized items)
• copies of your passport, visas, and health card
• contact information (who will be meeting you, address and phone number of where you will be staying)
• travel itinerary and tickets
• money (or on your person)
• a snack
• really important stuff
• you CANNOT carry pastes and liquids in your carry-on (peanut butter, tooth paste, canned fruits or tuna, make-up....)

In your checked luggage

When you come to West Africa from the US, you will be allowed two 50-pound bags on major international carriers. Confirm your luggage weight allowances, size restrictions, and excess weight prices with your airlines. If your trip out includes a flight on a tiny, singl engine plane, luggage and weight will be greatly restricted. For the return trip, many volunteers choose to bring older clothing and leave it, which allows space for souvenirs. Others bring suitcases that can "nest" into one another for the return trip.

Packing tips

Try to avoid packing liquids and items that could melt. Anything liquid or squishy should be placed in a double zip lock bag. If you purchase anything new to bring, whether for yourself, for ministry, or for a gift, take it out of the original packaging and remove the price tags. Keep the receipts separately, if needed. Pack discreetly; any personal electronics can be wrapped up in clothing so as to not be so visible.

Secure your luggage with zip-ties. Place a baggie, containing several extra zip-ties and a piece of paper with your name, home address, and destination address, on the inside of each of your suitcases so that it is the first thing Homeland Security sees; it is nice to add a thank you note to security officers for keeping you safe.

Some teams tie a certain colored bandana or ribbon to each of the suitcases, which is a good visual to the baggage handlers, helping them to know you are all going to the same place.

Do not bring anything that cannot be replaced.

Special Instructions for Cassettes and films

If you are bringing cassettes, videos, or medical supplies for give-away, divide them equally between all team members' luggage (i.e. DO NOT bring a whole suitcase of videos; it looks to customs officials like you will be selling them.) It will help to have on hand as you clear customs a letter from your home church stating that these items are for gifts to the Songhai people of the village where you will be ministering. The letter should be on the church's letterhead, nice quality paper, in English or French, signed by several people and their titles, perhaps with a notarized stamp or gold sticker and ribbon.

The 4-1-1: Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

If your team is coming as a volunteer team through the IMB, your team IS REQUIRED to have travel insurance from Adams and Associates International. If you are coming independently, we urge you to consider this insurance, which covers medical evacuation

The 4-1-1: Child Protection Training & Background Screening

Child Protection Training and Background Screening

Children are a precious resource entrusted to us and their care and protection is a top priority. In a world where sexual and physical abuse of children is a sad reality, many churches are taking steps to assure that the children related to their ministry are safe and secure from sexual and physical abuse. The IMB is joining the growing number of churches in implementing a child protection process. Because almost everyone serving on the mission field interacts with children, we are asking that all short term mission trip participants ages 18 and older, have child protection training and go through a background screening process.

Many churches have training in place for those who work with children and youth. Child protection training materials are also available free of charge at the IMB’s Web site.  Each person should participate in their church’s training or review the materials provided by the IMB.

Many churches utilize a screening process that includes a criminal background check, an interview, and confidential references. The IMB is requesting that this three part process be utilized for those participating on a short term mission trip. The sending church (or other sending organization) should interview each potential team member, gather and evaluate personal references and secure a company to conduct a criminal background check for each team member. The check should include a county, state and national record check.

Many churches already have engaged a company to conduct criminal background checks. For churches or partner groups that do not have a process in place, the IMB has established a relationship with Protect My Ministry to facilitate the criminal background check process.

The IMB offers sample interview questions and a sample confidential reference form that can be used to complete the other two parts of the background screening process. If a church uses Protect My Ministries, the interview is built into the background check process and need not be separately repeated.

More detailed, step-by-step procedures for completing the training and background screening components of the child protection process are available on the IMB Web site.

Team leaders should confirm in writing to their host contact on the field that each short term mission trip participant has completed the child protection process. The training and screening only needs to be completed every four years, no matter how many trips a person may make.

For short term mission trip participants under the age of 18, the sending church or entity should conduct a reference check only. The training and the other elements of the background screening are not required.