Q:  What is the difference between Exit West and other Employee volunteer programs?
A:  The Professional and Organizational Development.  Allowing an employee extra time off to go to Africa on a “voluntourism” program gives the employee a warm personal feeling – and provides photos for the PR Communications department.  Exit West delivers professional capacity building and organizational effectiveness within the unique learning environment of international volunteer work.  And yes – your company looks good and your people feel great. 

Q:  What is the level of risk for an Exit West Work Team and who needs insurance? 
A:  “Construction work in the developing world” sounds a lot more risky than it actually is.  That said, Exit West works diligently to mitigate foreseeable risk through policy and action plans in partnership with our Host Communities and NGO Partners.  We maintain the right of refusal based on political stress, climate/natural disaster or other potential threats to health and safety.  Every Work Team member has 24hr. emergency access and all Program Partners are appropriately insured.  Many corporate events include a dangerous mix of alcohol and jet-skis/horses/hot-air balloons etc. so a shovel and a bag of cement present significantly less opportunity for personal injury.

Q:  Do you work on any development projects in Canada?
A:  The name Exit West speaks to the transfer of people, resources and experience OUT of the “Western bubble” of luxury and familiarity.  The authentic and fresh outcomes of Exit West corporate development programs are widely attributed to the physical environment of our Programs.   

Q:  Is Exit West a charitable organization?
A:  No.  Participation in an Exit West program is an investment into Professional and Organizational development – with direct social benefits.  These “collateral” benefits are certainly a goal of our Social Purpose Business model; but Exit West reaches beyond traditional forms of philanthropy and charity into a new level of holistic development.  Good corporate citizenship does not require charitable status.  10% of Exit West profits are reinvested into our charitable NGO Partners and projects. 
 
Q:  How physically demanding is this development work?
A:  While most of our projects do include tasks such as:  digging, lifting and climbing short ladders; the Host Communities which our Teams stay in are full of opportunity for people to “sit and help.”  Libraries need to be organized, Accounting books need to be structured, entrepreneurial business plans need coaching and strategy. 

Q:  Can we stay in a luxury-brand hotel?
A:  No.  Exit West programs eschew the traditional approach of luxury hotels to maintain program integrity of holistic contribution to the Host Community.  The accommodations we use are often Family owned/operated resorts which have been built over generations in the most beautiful locales possible.  Immaculate, secure and comfortable - our accommodations provide true rest and respite from the Western world.

Q:  Can we take more R&R time?
A:  Exit West programs are designed around a minimum of 4 full work days.  This provides a sense of authentic achievement in Team Members and allows the Team Coach to fully address the goals of the Corporate Partner.  If your Team wants a couple extra nights of R&R we can facilitate this.
  
Q:  How does a Work Team get created?
A:  Exit West Work Teams take two models:  The “Professional Peer Group” is a group of individuals coming together across industries or companies.  These business leaders can effectively explore the potential of Exit West for their own company – with the support and interaction of their peers.  “Homogenous Corporate Teams” are created by a single Corporate Partner (company) and can represent a specific team of employees (regional directors) or a cross-section of the total culture.  Exit West enjoys the opportunity to guide Corporate Partners through this aspect of the program.