Our commitment to excellence is demonstrated by Think Pacific being recently honoured to receive best study abroad and international exchange experience of the year.  The award was given by professionals in international education and chosen by judges from universities and fellow travel organisations from across the globe.

The planning for every project is extensive and overseen by our in-country management teams. Our projects are designed and delivered in conjunction with local partners and local advisors.  We assess our long term objectives, roles and responsibilities, time-frames, sustainability, and your experience ahead.  We visit to check and brief each element of your project and consider medical support, accommodation, plan logistics and conduct risk assessments. By the time you reach your project, your global experiences are just beginning, but we are at the culmination of months upon months of talking, designing and working. So don’t be surprised by how excited everyone is by your arrival!

We undertake risk assessments for all our projects and these are updated and monitored regularly to ensure that you are fully supported from arrival until departure from your project.  Risk assessments are provided to you in advance in your pre-departure portal. We encourage all participants to play an active part in assessing potential risks and understand why prevention measures are taken. Think Pacific adopt the highest standards of Industry practice using the BSI 8848 code of regulations for leading projects, adventure activities and fieldwork outside of the UK.  Copies of our risk assessments (and related policies) are available to the public upon request.

TP is not for everyone. You’ll often need to get out of your comfort zone, challenge your perspectives and throw yourself into our project aims and life in a new culture. For these reasons, it’s important we set your expectations fully, get to know you, find out what skills and enthusiasm you’ll bring. We’ll never rose tint the experience and we can’t accept everyone who applies. Once we receive your application form, the next step is for our project co-ordinators to schedule a telephone chat. We’ll explain the project in detail and learn more about you. This personal approach is ethical and responsible, for you and for all local communities we support. It ensures we guide teams of remarkable and prepared people ready to make a positive impact.

Pre-departure support is comprehensive and ongoing. This includes your online information portal with multiple areas of information to answer frequently asked questions.  You can tick off your portal pages step by step to ensure everything is covered and considered before departure.  Our online presentations allow you (and next of kin) to log in at home and be briefed and prepared as we present live from our offices in the UK or overseas.  We connect you with ATOL bonded flight agents, provide insurance information, detailed kit list and set up a Facebook group for your team. You always have a friendly voice at the end of the phone. No question is too small or too silly – so don’t be shy in asking! We’re here to help you prepare every step of the way, and we love doing so.

Every project no matter what duration, begins with a comprehensive briefing upon arrival. Here we recap on key information from your pre-departure support and run through health and safety issues, cultural awareness, local language, and local orientation as well as preparing you for the specific aims of your project.   In a relaxed and beautiful environment at one of our preferred hotels or beach resorts, we take care and time to acclimatise you to the local culture, ensure you are well informed and have the chance to meet our senior staff.  We want you to have the best start, a focused mindset and the perfect preparation for the success of your wider project.

Every project is led by our local and international staff team.  Our staff team undergo training and best practice and have been chosen due to their passion for the projects and experience of international development. We ensure our projects have constant personal support and direction.  We’re proud to have a team of remarkable staff and many are past participants themselves, having been in your shoes, shined on their project and were inspired to return. Our staff live close by from staying at the resorts to living with local families in the same communities or areas.  Our staff offer 24/7 support alongside working with local project partners and communities to ensure objectives and time frames are met and projects run smoothly.

The Think Pacific team are accessible 24 hours a day during every project, to provide constant back-up for your peace of mind and to friends and family back home too. Our management teams in Fiji, Bali and Thailand are available as constant back-up and assistance with any issue or emergency.  We keep easily accessible records of our participants travel information including flight details, insurance policies, medical conditions, and next of kin details. We keep in close contact with our overseas teams with daily updates relayed to our UK team.

We have an experienced team overseeing all aspects of our projects, mentoring our staff and working alongside local partners, year-round.  Our management Teams are integral to our unique operational success and delivery of the highest standards. Our Managers are always locally based, providing overarching support no matter the project or Country. Additionally, Participants are prepared by our expert staff in the UK who have extensive experience working internationally.  Staff hold relevant training applicable to project aims. Our local management staff exemplify our knowledge of local customs and traditions.

We are fully committed to responsible international projects and our code of conduct for volunteers has been created to enable you to achieve the most out of your time overseas in a safe manner. It also ensures that the local partner organisations and communities we work with are treated with respect and consideration at all times.  By undertaking our project you will be representing not only Think Pacific, but seen as a representative of our local partners.   TP is responsible, ethical, culturally sensitive and treats all people with respect and integrity.  We expect our participants to exemplify our aims and mission and be the absolute best version of themselves throughout their time on their project. A copy of our code of conduct is provided to each participant before departure.

We have comprehensive emergency plans for participant safety in extreme situations, which have been designed by our in-country management team, approved to national standards and updated regularly, with staff being briefed for such scenarios.  As an example of our response, in February 2016, Fiji experienced a rare cyclone (TC Winston), the first such incident in over 25 years. Our volunteers were based on Koro Island. We were the first organisation in Fiji to make contact and land on the island (with our emergency plane response) and our volunteers were the first of 4,500 people to leave the island. All students and leaders were kept safe and free from any injury. We received heartfelt messages of thanks from grateful parents.

Our ethos is ‘prevention is better than cure’. We provide health advice and information before departure and ensure participants are briefed about living in the specific conditions of their project, which may include basic sanitation facilities, drinking rain water and challenges of the heat and humidity of the tropics. Staff are available 24/7 to discuss any medical complaint, we have communication and carry extensive first aid supplies. We are usually less than 1 hour from the nearest medical facility and our staff are on hand to arrange road or boat transportation on your behalf if you require. We have excellent knowledge of local medical practitioners across our project destinations- from clinics, local doctors, dentists, and personal contacts with the best hospital care. For any cases of illness, however small, we can facilitate and be there with you.

We know that projects overseas can come with challenges – This might be homesickness, adjusting to new food and culture or the basic sanitation. We are focused upon providing key support to help you tackle your challenges and gain the most of each day. In the end this leads to huge personal growth and self-development. Our staff are approachable, personable and always on hand to discuss issues and provide emotional and motivational support.  We hold daily team meetings and discuss the highs and lows of project life. We also organise one-to-one briefings with you (named a ‘PPP’). A scheduled time to discuss your role, how to gain the most from your experience and to speak in confidence as you adjust to your project abroad.