HXP sends Builders to amazing destinations all over the world. They will encounter situations and experiences that are completely foreign: camel riding through Wadi Rum in Jordan, snorkeling with sharks in Belize, hiking Machu Picchu in Peru, navigating a busy marketplace in Ghana, and other out-of-this-world experiences.
Although creating memorable adventures, spiritual moments, and humanitarian experiences is very important, the first priority of HXP is—and will always remain—the safety of our Builders. Keep reading to learn more about the pillars we have in place to make sure our Builders are safe while they’re away from home.
Vetted Locations
Aside from analyzing location needs and thoroughly assessing worksite projects using our sustainability rubric, our Program Managers weigh local safety heavily when deciding which trips will run in a given year. Our Local Coordinators, who go through an intense screening process, are our boots on the ground—they provide real-time updates on political climates, crime rates, public health concerns, and overall safety of the locations we visit. They help us choose safe housing and reliable sightseeing vendors, and vet accessibility to good medical care in case of emergencies.
We are regularly updated on location statuses, and in the case that safety levels escalate in a way that might affect our groups, we will re-evaluate our decision to send Builders there. We have canceled trips in years past due to civil unrest, and if we feel the need to cancel a trip, we will not hesitate to do so. At HXP, we live by the mantra that if we wouldn’t send our own kids to a location, we definitely won’t send yours.
Top-Tier Trip Leaders
We filter each of our Trip Leaders through an extensive interview process. Each year, thousands of applications pass through our office, and only the top 10% of those applicants end up leading our trips.
Before they get to face-to-face interviews, they pass through three separate knock-out rounds so that we make sure those we interview are the best of the best. We start every group interview by letting them know that our top priority is our Builders, and setting expectations for them accordingly.
Once we think a Trip Leader is the right fit, we take them through an eight-point background check, where our team spends weeks combing through every aspect of their lives. We conduct official background checks, social media checks, interviews with roommates, and interviews with ecclesiastical leaders. It is extremely important to us that our vetting process is thorough so our process is definitely meticulous but we can confidently say that we fully endorse our each and every Trip Leader in our Trip Leader cohort.
After being selected, our entire group of Trip Leaders attend a mandatory three-day training, where they learn everything they need to know about running a trip. This includes learning how to keep Builders physically safe, emotionally well, engaged with locals and the culture, working hard, and more. Before this training, they are expected to memorize the official HXP Trip Leader Handbook, but this intense weekend gives them even more insight about the little details and potential curveballs that they may encounter during their specific trip. From CPR training to lost passports and stressful airport management. Over two decades of international trips has given us plenty of experience and we want to share it all with our Trip Leaders.
HXP On-Call Staff
During the summer, the HXP office doubles as our typical office and a 24/7 On-Call center and resource for Trip Leaders, Builders, Local Coordinators, and parents at home. Our three-tiered system works diligently to ensure that any questions that need to be answered are done so promptly and any emergent situation follows correct protocol.
Once your Builder lands safely at their location, we will send you an email with information about how to contact our on-call line in case of emergencies at home.
Third-Party Support
In addition to our HQ staff being on-call at all times throughout the entire summer, we have also partnered with Travel Guard, one of the world’s leading travel insurance providers. Travel Guard specializes in providing state-of-the-art travel and medical assistance to millions of travelers worldwide. With service centers located across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, they offer 24/7 support that includes Travel Medical Assistance, Emergency Travel Services, and Worldwide Travel Assistance. This third-party professional organization offers international support and guidance, works directly with local hospitals and clinics, and manages potential emergency medical evacuations and travel-related security issues. The partnership between Travel Guard and HXP provides an additional layer of protection and peace of mind for your Builder and their Trip Leaders.