Study Abroad students
click here
Safety & Security while on the SAGE Program Safety is of major concern to us at the SAGE Program. While it is impossible for anyone to guarantee absolute and complete safety - whether at home or on the other side of the globe - we go to great lengths to control the risks we can which are outlined below.
Experienced, Qualified Staff SAGE employees are all seasoned travelers, have extensive experience with organizing youth travel, as well as extensive experience in developing countries. SAGE staff are versed in international safety procedures and risk management, and take this into consideration when developing any itinerary for a custom trip. SAGE staff members have undergone comprehensive risk management training through NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), and as a program we engage in active, ongoing risk management.
Close Collaboration with Local Experts SAGE has an extensive network of contacts and personal relationships in the countries we work in. We work directly with local experts and counterparts on the ground, so that we always have quick access to information and resources. SAGE carefully screens local organizations to ensure that they have outstanding reputations and trustworthy track records.
Emergency Contact Information SAGE provides Trip Leaders with a list of emergency contacts specific to their trip, detailing local medical facilities, police stations, the nearest US Embassy or Consul, as well as 24 hour response numbers both in-country as well as in the US. In addition, SAGE provides all trip leaders with local cell phones that have the capability of calling both within country, as well as internationally.
Student Safety Training SAGE provides an orientation to students when they arrive in country so that they are sensitized to and learn how to avoid safety risks. The in-country orientation covers topics such as keeping documents and money secure, carrying hotel and emergency contact information, avoiding unwanted attention by dressing in a way that is respectful of local culture, etc. While ultimate responsibility for student behavior rests with the trip leaders (and students themselves!), SAGE strongly recommends that students never do any exploration or activities alone, but rather be in groups of three or more at all times.
Excellent Medical Insurance SAGE provides each group participant with comprehensive medical insurance while they are abroad so that they have full access to emergency care. The insurance is in effect for the full length of the trip and is effective 24 hours a day worldwide. Insurance plan benefits include, among other things: $0 deductible, 100% of routine doctor or hospital visits, costs incurred for a medical evacuation, flight costs for a family member to travel for a bedside visit. SAGE sends Trip Leaders a detailed description of the full medical insurance plan prior to departure along with a list of nearby medical facilities. For individuals studying, traveling and volunteering abroad, please contact our office if you are interested in purchasing this insurance.
Political & Security Evacuation As a policy, SAGE will never send a student or group into an area deemed unsafe by the US Department of State and we register all groups traveling abroad with the local US Embassy. If there are political and military events in the foreign country that have created a situation in which a student or group is in danger of imminent bodily harm, SAGE provides an evacuation service through our partner that will take our trip participants to the nearest place of safety and then to the home country.
Communication SAGE communicates regularly with in-country staff during the course of a trip to ensure that everyone is informed about the group's whereabouts and status. Trip Leaders have regular access to phone service via SAGE cell phones as well as local land lines and students are able to communicate with friends and family back home periodically via email and public pay phones.
Small Group Size and Flexible Planning A unique aspect of the SAGE Program is our emphasis on small group sizes and low student-Trip Leader ratios. We do this not only to ensure a high quality experience for students and to make sure that student needs are met, but also to maximize the security and safety of the group. With smaller group sizes, Trip Leaders are able to manage student behavior risks more effectively and to remain flexible in planning. Trip Leaders can also respond more quickly to changes in local conditions, political circumstances, or student health.
Travel Safety:
- Whenever possible, SAGE will arrange for students to travel together to India on the most direct flights as possible.
- School representatives will meet the students upon arrival at the airport and will escort them to and from the school with students.
- All school vehicles used for school-sponsored trips are licensed, registered and inspected regularly, and all vehicle drivers are licensed and insured.
General Safety background:
- Woodstock and Kodaikanal Schools are over 100 years old and have an excellent track record concerning the safety of their students.
- The schools are located in small towns, several days' travel distance from the border with either China, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, and to date, no political turmoil has affected the school communities.
- The schools have a long history of good relations with their neighbors in the local town and communities and maintain close contact with security officials.
- The SAGE Program has sent hundreds of students to India since 1992 without incident.
Campus Security:
- Both schools have a full force of security guards, many who have military training.
- School security guards work around the clock, guarding the main entrances to the campus, patrolling the campus during the day, standing at the crossings whenever students cross the roads, and are posted outside each of the residences all night long.
- School security fencing surrounds all the main and residential campuses, and all campus gates are locked at night.
- All security guard stations, residence halls and classroom buildings have inter-campus telephones.
- The school maintains and practices protocols of evacuation and lock down drills.
- Each residence hall has several adult residence supervisors who share "call" duty during the night.
SAGE has an outstanding safety track record and has not had one serious student illness or injury since it began sending students abroad in 1992.
