VSL Forms

Purpose: Your upcoming experience will be successful only when we treat each other with respect, cooperate with each other, and live up to the highest standards of conduct. The following pledge is to make clear the expected conduct and to remind you of your responsibilities to Amizade, other participants, and the community as well as to ensure the successful outcome of the Amizade VSL Program designated on this Reservation Form (hereinafter the “Program”). We expect all Program participants to abide by any and all applicable laws including local, state, and federal laws governing internet usage and/or similar technology and/or similar platform and to which the participant may be subject. Additionally, Program participants must adhere to any and all local city, regional, state, and/or federal guidance regarding COVID-19 restrictions or requirements while participating in any Program activities. Each participant is expected to hold him or herself to the highest standard of conduct while participating in any aspect of any Amizade Program, whether virtual or in-person. Accordingly, Amizade (and/or its authorized representative) reserves the right to dismiss any participant from the Program for failure to abide by any applicable rules or laws or for violating this Code of Conduct. Possible disciplinary procedures for violations of the Code of Conduct and other rules, laws, etc. are outlined at the end of this document.

● My language, actions, and behavior will present a positive image to others of Amizade, my city, my country, and myself.

● I will respect and cooperate with those in the Program and all corresponding experiences with me, including fellow participants, experience coordinators, cultural guides, community members, and anyone else involved in and/or affiliated with the Program and/or any related experiences.

● I will listen to instructions and follow them accordingly.

● I will not behave in a way that is unsafe, is a bad influence on others, reflects poorly on myself, my fellow participants, Amizade, and/or which makes life difficult for others.

● I understand that the success of this Program is dependent on the contribution that each participant makes, and this includes me.

● I understand and acknowledge that these intentions and acknowledgments may be expanded and/or revised based upon Program, experience, and/or other needs or circumstances.

● I will actively (and to the best of my ability) participate in all Program activities and follow facilitator instructions regarding group meeting protocol.

● I will demonstrate inclusive behavior by creating a respectful and encouraging space for others to share their opinions and thoughts; by being aware of how my online actions may impact others; and by bringing an attitude of kindness to this experience.

● I will not break any local and/or US laws and/or other applicable laws, including the use of any illegal drugs or other controlled substances while participating in the Program and/or related activities.

● I will not break any social distancing and/or other self-isolation and/or COVID-19-related guidelines and/or recommendations for the sake of this Program.

● I will not share, with any individual not part of the Program cohort, any teleconferencing service (whether through Zoom, Google Meet, and/or similar service) meeting links, identification numbers, access codes, password information, and/or any other information enabling, in whole or in part, access to and/or participation in Program content.

● I will not make a video recording, audio recording, take photographs and/or screenshots of, and/or stream audio/video of any Program content and/or other meetings, without express permission and authorization of Amizade, its authorized representative, and/or the facilitator.

● I will not reveal and/or share any confidential and/or private information of Amizade, other participants, the facilitator, and/or any other personnel affiliated with the Program.

● I will not bully, threaten, harass, discriminate, and/or otherwise act inappropriately or disrespectfully towards other Program participants, Amizade personnel (including employees, site directors or their staff, representatives and/or similar) as well as members of the community, or anyone else I interact with on the Program. I will treat all of these individuals with dignity and respect. I will raise any concerns I have about other participants’ behavior to the Amizade Facilitator and/or Amizade’s Director of Health, Safety & Security.

● I understand that harassment/bullying (including sexual harassment)and assault of other Program participants, Amizade personnel (including employees, site directors or their staff, representatives and/or similar) as well as members of the community, and/or anyone else I interact with during the Program is strictly prohibited. This includes unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate and/or explicit comments or jokes, stalking, dating or intimate partner violence as well as cyber harassment.

● I am responsible for my conduct online during the Program and will not engage in any activities that may bring harm or injury to other Program participants, Amizade and its personnel (including employees, site directors, and/or their staff, representatives and/or similar) and/or members of the community.

Typical sanctions for violations of Amizade’s Code of Conduct and/or any of the aforementioned commitments set above may include (but are not necessarily limited to) verbal and/or written warning, loss of Program privileges, restitution, probation and dismissal from the Program without refund. Some offenses, including but not limited to the use and/or possession of drugs, physical or sexual assault and harassment, may result in immediate dismissal from the Program without refund. Sanctions will be determined by Amizade staff in consultation with the Director of Health, Safety & Security and the Amizade Executive Director based on the type, nature, repetition, and severity of the incident. Information concerning disciplinary actions may be shared with a student’s home school and/or parents/guardians, based on the type and severity of the incident.

Participant Responsibilities: By joining an Amizade program, regardless of platform (VSL or otherwise) participants assume a certain obligation and commitment to Amizade, Ltd. & the other participants and community partners. As a VSL participant, you are responsible for adhering to the Code of Conduct as outlined above, in addition to the following, but not necessarily limited to:

● Preparing for the Program by familiarizing yourself with the materials provided by Amizade, Ltd.

● All participants are required to practice respectful and legal digital citizenship while engaging in Program activities.

● Abiding by any and all rules and guidelines provided to the Code of Conduct agreement and liability form as well as any (additional or supplemental) rules and/or guidelines pertaining to a Program, experience, and/or any individual trip or location. Amizade, its staff, site directors, or other authorized representative, reserve the right to implement additional rules and/or guidelines for each Program at anytime to ensure the safety and security of Program participants, Amizade staff and employees, site directors, and/or other contractors and personnel involved in administering a Program/site visit.

● Familiarizing yourself with the requisite online platform and/or technology and taking appropriate steps to ensure the protection of confidential and/or private information of Amizade, the other Program participants, Program facilitator, etc.

PLEASE READ THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CAREFULLY; YOUR SIGNATURE, OR THE SIGNATURE OF A PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN, REPRESENTS AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

By agreeing to participate in this Amizade VSL Program designated on this Reservation Form (hereinafter the “Program”), each participant is fully aware of, understands and assumes that there are inherent risks associated with online learning, internships and participation in this Program. These risks may include, but are not necessarily limited to: unwanted data sharing, breach of privacy associated with online learning platforms and other cyber-crime and/or related activities. Program activities may also include in-home activities such as cooking, art projects, and other activities that may require participants to use their own materials and/or resources which may include inherent risks.

The Program may also be provided in connection with third-party services and content, including without limitation teleconferencing services such as Zoom. Amizade does not control those third-party services and content.

Each participant voluntarily participates in the Program with full knowledge that such activities may involve risks, including those described above, and that such activities may be hazardous to the participant and/or his or her property as well as others and their property in certain instances.

Each participant understands and voluntarily assumes these risks and thereby agree to release, waive, discharge, hold harmless, and indemnify Amizade, including any of its staff, employees, officers, directors, board members, independent contractors, representatives, site directors, and/or other affiliated personnel/entities (hereinafter “Releasees”) from any liability claims, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of any loss, damage, injury (including death or dismemberment) sustained by the participant and/or any of the property belonging to him or her whether caused by negligence of the Releasees, or otherwise, while participating in any Amizade related travel, programs, and/or activities.

Each participant further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees from claims, liabilities, losses, injuries, damages, costs or expenses incurred by Amizade arising out of or resulting from any claim of a third party relating to his or her participation in the Program, whether caused by negligence of the Releasees, or otherwise, while participating in any Amizade related travel, programs, and/or activities.

HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE that I have voluntarily applied to participate on the program designated on this Reservation Form. I am aware that during my participation in an Amizade, Ltd. VSL program, tour or expedition certain risks and dangers may arise, including, but not limited to:

Disclosure of personal and/or private information (despite my and other participants’ obligations set forth above).

Each participant understands that he or she may come into contact with hazardous conditions during travel, including viruses (e.g., SARS, Coronavirus and/or COVID-19, Ebola, influenza, yellow fever, malaria), sickness, bacteria, pathogens, and likewise or similar that could cause the participant to become ill or sick or suffer any damage or injury.

Each participant assumes this risk of coming into contact with and/or falling ill from and/or suffering damage or loss from any of the aforementioned viruses, sickness, illness, bacteria, pathogen, and/or similar or likewise and releases Amizade and the Releasees from any damage, injury, loss, and/or death to the participant that may result from any such illness, virus, bacteria, pathogen, ailments, or similar/likewise.

Amizade, Ltd. reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any of their trips, and may use any such records, without trip members consent, exclusively for Amizade promotional and/or commercial purposes. Specifically, the participant grants Amizade the right to use (royalty fee) the use of his/her image, likeness in photograph, video, or digital format for promotional, educational, marketing, or commercial use.

I understand that Amizade has the right to make cancellations, substitutions and/or changes in case of emergency, safety concerns, and/or other changed conditions and/or otherwise in the interest of the Program, and that any such cancellations, substitutions or changes to the Program do not constitute grounds for any refund of Program fees.

I understand that Amizade has the right to communicate with my home college or university and/or my emergency contact regarding any issue while I am a participant in a Amizade Program, including, but not limited to, academic concerns, disciplinary issues and/or Code of Conduct concerns.

I agree to release, waive, discharge any and all Releasees from any liability, claims, or actions whatsoever, whether current or future, known at the time of participation and/or involved activity, that arise out of any loss, damage, injury (including death or dismemberment) sustained by me or any of my property caused by negligence of the Releasees, and/or otherwise while participating in this Program or related travel and activities.

Any dispute arising from this agreement and/or related travel or activities shall be resolved in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and subject to Pennsylvania law.

I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE that I have voluntarily applied to participate in an Amizade VSL program. I have read carefully this agreement and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Amizade, Ltd. and I sign it of my own free will and voluntarily and without consideration of any oral statements or representations regarding liability or similar.

I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED AND HEREBY AGREE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN WELFARE AND ASSUME ANY AND ALL RISKS OF ILLNESS, INJURY, EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, AND DEATH AND HEREBY RELEASE AND DISCHARGE AMIZADE, LTD. AND ITS AGENTS OR ASSOCIATES OR OTHER RELEASEES (DEFINED ABOVE) FROM ALL ACTIONS, CLAIMS, OR DEMANDS FOR DAMAGES RESULTING IN MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.

I agree that the foregoing obligation shall be binding upon me personally, as well as upon my heirs, executors and administrators, assigns, successors, representatives, and all members of my family, including my spouse and/or any minors accompanying me. Moreover, I agree to release and discharge any and all Releasees from claims, whether current or future, that may arise from my participation in this travel Program and related activities.