Time Commitment

The Wave System

We send participants overseas in three waves, each lasting six weeks. HELP International participants can serve for 6 weeks; 12 weeks; or 16 weeks for the same program fee. 

2012 Summer Program Dates

Wave 1: May 10th - June 20th

Wave 2: June 14th -July 25th

Wave 3: July 12th - August 22nd

Dates may vary slightly depending on airline days of service in specific airports.

If you are going to Fiji, please be aware that the end dates are one day earlier for each wave (June 19th, July 24th, August 21st) due to  Air Pacific's days of service between LAX-NAN.

Participants can choose to stay for as many waves as they wish. The program cost is the same regardless of how long participants decide to stay in-country. There are also opportunities in Fall and Spring with Hogar del Niño Orphanage. And in the fall of 2012 we will begin a pilot program of sending a small number of paid Project Developers overseas during the fall (to conduct project wrapups and evaluations) and spring (to conduct needs assessment and project startups). 

Part of our development ideology revolves around the belief that in order for substantial impact to be made, people need to be in-country long enough to understand the needs of the community and then execute effective projects. Thus, we incentivize participants to go for at least 6 weeks, or longer for the same price. Some people can only commit to 6 weeks some 12 and some 18. We appreciate all the valuable impact interns and volunteers have, with no set preference according to their time commitment in-country.