Mission Details

Mission Air Travel and Transportation

The Mission Team will travel round-trip from Washington D.C. (IAD) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Our 2010 mission took us to the town of Dahley, Ethiopia about 1 hour out of Addis. We also visited Awassa, Ethiopia about 3-5 hours out of the city where team members spent one night in hotels provided by the Davis Moon Project. Team members are responsible for travel to and from (IAD) Washington D.C airport.  All travel is economy class. Mission Team members must be at least 18 years of age.

The Davis Moon Project will cover half the cost of a round-trip economy airfare ticket departing Washington D.C (IAD) and arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for each Team Member. The ticket cost will be negotiated by the organization on behalf of the Mission Team in order to secure a group travel rate. Team volunteers who are chosen to participate in the mission will be required to pay approximately $1500 by April 30, 2012 to cover their half of the airfare and baggage.

Team Members must limit themselves to ONE carry-on bag only. All checked baggage allowance is reserved for children’s books. The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for all group transportation, lodging and group meals while on mission travel.  Alcohol is prohibited on mission travel.

Mission Activities

The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for organizing a thoughtful mission itinerary that provides hands-on experiences with the children of Ethiopia. These activities may include: delivering books to children’s libraries, schools and orphanages; volunteering with impoverished children at local orphanages; construction projects within the community; group meals and; volunteering on public works projects that benefit children. The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for collecting and storing all books for our mission. Additionally, the organization will be solely responsible for arranging all book containers to be transferred to and from airports and ultimately delivered by Team Members to their destination in Ethiopia.

Passport

You will be required to submit a copy of your valid passport with your mission application. You may apply for a passport with the U.S. Department of State

Click Here for the US Passport Application

Processing times for passports are typically between 4 – 8 weeks. Expedited Services processing time is between 2 – 4 weeks. We strongly urge you to get your passport as soon as possible as a Travel Visa must also be obtained before your trip. Passport fees are typically $100 for processing by mail and $75 if application is processed in person. The responsibility for obtaining a passport lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the responsibility of the organization.
Please contact the National Passport Information Center with any questions:

1(877) 4USA.PPT (1(877) 487.2778)
Live Operator Service is available 6:00 a.m. to midnight, ET, M-F
(Except federal holidays)

Travel Visa

In order to travel to Ethiopia you must obtain a travel visa. You will need a “tourist visa” from the Embassy of Ethiopia to gain entry into the country. This is a paper permit that is inserted into your passport. You may obtain a tourist visa for $70 by contacting the Embassy of Ethiopia.

Embassy of Ethiopia
3506 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 364.1200

Click Here to Apply for your Travel Visa

Visa processing takes up to 4 business days provided all the requirements are complete and is valid for 90 days to 24 months from the date of issue. You will need a valid passport, the $70.00 fee, a return stamped envelope, a completed visa application and passport photo to apply. Keep in mind that your visa must be valid throughout your entire stay in Ethiopia and upon your re-entry to the US. The responsibility for obtaining a travel visa lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the responsibility of the organization. A copy of your tourist visa will be required by the organization before your travel date.

CLINK HERE PFD LINK TO VISA APPLICAION

Expedited Visa Services are provided for an additional fee by:

Ray Howar
2200 Columbia Pike
Unit 1005
Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: (703) 282.6668

Vaccinations

You will need to consult your doctor or travel clinic for the appropriate vaccinations. You are strongly encouraged to have a yellow fever vaccination in your passport when you enter Ethiopia. Proof of your vaccination record will be required by the organization before your travel date. Below is a sample vaccination schedule along with an estimated cost.

6 weeks before travel

1. Hepatitis A&B (1st of 3) $161 (charge for all 3 shots)
2. Yellow Fever $131
3. Typhoid $82
4. Tetanus $68

2 weeks before travel

1. Hepatitis A&B (2nd of 3)
2. Meningitis $164
3. Flu shot $20
4. Polio $48
5. Malaria oral pills (2 options) 6 cents or $7 a pill

*consult your doctor for the right medication for you

Post travel

1. Continue taking Malaria medication for 2-7 days after return from trip
2. Hepatitis A&B (3rd of 3)

*If you have never had the chicken pox – this vaccination is also recommended. It may be possible get Hepatitis A & B shots for a nominal fee through your county health department if your insurance company will not cover the cost. In Austin, you may get more information on this county service by visiting: Click Here

Austin City Connection
Public Health Services

A reliable travel clinic in the Austin area is:

Austin Diagnostic Travel Clinic
12221 N. Mopac 3rd floor
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 901.1111
Website Click Here

The responsibility for obtaining the appropriate vaccinations lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the responsibility of the organization.

Mission Health

There are certain health challenges associated with traveling to a third world country. Common health issues include, but are not limited to, malaria, dehydration, parasites, scabies, and physical injury. The vast majority of these symptoms can be easily managed with over the counter treatments and caution while eating in Ethiopia. Mission Team volunteers will receive a full briefing book in advance of travel that details recommended over the counter medications to consider. More information on health issues when traveling to Ethiopia can be found at:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click Here)

Please note The Mission Team will have access to medical care if needed.

Lodging

The Davis Moon Project will provide all lodging for Team Members while in Ethiopia. Lodging will be equivalent to a typical 2 star hotel. Participants must be prepared to share a room with another Mission volunteer. More than likely, Internet connections will not be available and limited phone use must be anticipated. Addis Ababa frequently experiences loss of electricity and our Team should be prepared for the unexpected. We may be utilizing an orphanage guesthouse as a lodging option. These guest homes help raise money for the local orphanages and are often found on the grounds of the children’s quarters. Another good example of lodging possibilities would be:

The Ethiopian Guest Home

http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/

Lodging details will be provided to the Mission Team no later than 4 weeks prior to take off.

To learn more about Ethiopia, please visit the National Geographic Facts About Ethiopia Website: (Click Here)