Question 1

Why was my Sponsor Trip canceled?

Accepted Answer

As the global Coronavirus (COVID 19) situation evolves, the safety of sponsored children, churches, supporters, and staff is the highest priority and of utmost concern to Compassion. Please know this decision was not made lightly, and we are also disappointed that this health situation has impacted our trips and visits in this way. One of the main reasons for the suspension is to limit the amount of potential virus exposure to the children and churches we serve. People in areas of significant poverty with limited healthcare resources are some of the most vulnerable during crises such as these. Another reason for our decision is the dynamic nature of government travel restrictions, which can change often and could result in being quarantined either upon arrival in the country or before you can return home. Under the current circumstances Compassion cannot ensure that you have a safe and optimal experience on your trip, and this is a top priority for us.

Question 2

I have a trip scheduled with Compassion. What will I be refunded if my trip is canceled?

Accepted Answer

The entire sponsor trip team is heartbroken that this situation has forced some trips to be canceled. In the case of a cancellation by Compassion, we will work with you to make the process as smooth as possible, including facilitating the following: We will provide a full refund for all costs paid to Compassion, and immediately cancel any international airline tickets already reserved. Please note your refund from Compassion can take up to 2 weeks to post on your credit card statement. We are unable to compensate for domestic travel cancellations or change fees. However, many airlines are allowing travelers to simply defer travel to a later date in 2020 with the majority of the value of that ticket left intact. We recommend that you contact your domestic travel airline to tell them that you are deferring your travel plans and inquire what their policy is regarding the current situation.

Question 3

How does Compassion decide to cancel trips?

Accepted Answer

Compassion looks at a variety of factors when assessing the viability of any given trip. Regarding the current health crisis, a coordinated, multidisciplinary task force is meeting regularly to understand the risks and mitigation opportunities. This team includes Compassion’s Senior Safety Specialist and representatives from our departments of risk management, legal, international security, travel, trips and visits, communications, global program and others. The team meets bi-weekly to better understand the current coronavirus crisis and make decisions on travel restrictions.

Question 4

Has Compassion canceled any trips so far due to coronavirus?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have unfortunately had to cancel several trips.

Question 5

When and how will I know if my Compassion Trip is canceled?

Accepted Answer

We are evaluating travel bi-weekly and will keep you updated on any changes in your trip status as soon as possible via email.

Question 6

If I decide to cancel from a sponsor trip, even though Compassion has not canceled the trip, what will be refunded?

Accepted Answer

Our cancellation policy still applies if you decide to cancel from your trip. All deposits are nonrefundable. 50% of the trip cost will be required for cancellations 59-31 days prior to the sponsor trip. 100% of the trip cost will be required for cancellations 30-0 days prior to the sponsor trip. *Important note: the cancellation policy is different for trips that are canceled by Compassion. See above for details

Question 7

There is a future trip I am considering registering for, are you accepting new registrations?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We are prayerfully optimistic that this crisis will allow us to return to our normal operations and will be able to resume travel when it is safe for all involved.

Question 8

When will the restrictions on travel be lifted?

Accepted Answer

Compassion is evaluating the travel restrictions bi-weekly and following any guidelines and recommendations from the CDC. When the travel restrictions are lifted, we will post an alert on our website and our trip email appeals will also resume.

Question 9

Where can I find more information about coronavirus?

Accepted Answer

Because the conditions are changing each day, we recommend checking out the CDC’s website or the World Health Organization’s website.

Question 10

Is my sponsored child in one of the countries affected by coronavirus? How is Compassion protecting children from the virus?

Accepted Answer

We are working closely with our frontline church partners and local governments to follow local and national guidelines put in place as each country tries to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. If your sponsored child’s country is affected, you will receive an email with more details. Compassion staff is taking every precaution to protect the children in our program. We have suspended all international travel to our national offices and our frontline church partners through the end of April. This means we will not be permitting any international visitors to meet sponsored children, visit Compassion child development centers, or visit national offices. We will be reassessing our travel policy throughout the coming weeks and may extend this travel suspension depending on the situation. We regularly teach good hygiene practices to children in our program (and moms in our Survival program), which reduces the spread of illness.

Question 11

Compassion has not canceled my sponsor trip, but I don’t feel comfortable going.

Accepted Answer

Although the trip leader will use all available information to decide whether to cancel or not, it’s up to you as the traveler to make the final call for your own travels. If you don’t feel comfortable going on the trip, you may cancel at any time. If you personally decide to cancel from a trip that has not been canceled by Compassion, the cancellation policy still applies.

Important FAQs Regarding COVID-19 and Compassion’s Response