INCLUSION & DIVERSITY

World Unite! is for everyone!

Multiculturalism is a cornerstone of World Unite!, and improving understanding between different cultures is the stated goal of World Unite!, as our organization name suggests.

Our team consists of members from 16 nationalities who collectively speak 23 different languages. Our participants come from all over the world.

Women's Empowerment

Approximately 65% of our team is female, including in decision-making positions and in countries with a more patriarchal culture. We strive to mentor women from a young age into responsible roles, allowing them to develop their leadership qualities.

Testimonial Scholastica:

I am a 28-year-old woman, born in Kilimanjaro, northern Tanzania. I began working with World Unite! when I was 23 years old, initially hired as a cook. However, World Unite! didn't hesitate to provide me with the opportunity to study at the Mweka Wildlife College while working—a privilege that is often challenging for most employers in Tanzania. World Unite! has supported my professional and personal growth and I am now working as an environmental program coordinator, which is my passion. As a young woman, I express my gratitude to the entire World Unite! team for their care and for enabling my professional development.

How old are World Unite! participants?

We have participants of all ages, from children traveling with their guardians to high school graduates, college students, working professionals, and retirees.

Testimonial Alwyn Friedersdorff:

My one week sojourn with the team on Sado Island, Japan gave me the best supportive introduction to Japanese life. I shared the time with some amazing young people from around the world contributing to worthwhile environmental projects. Weeding rice paddies and building a reed boat was hard work; listening to Gen Z music was sometimes harder! But the experiences and friendships for an older person were utterly worthwhile!

Alwyn Friedersdorff, aged 81, Australia

Participation with Special Needs

You are welcome to participate in our programs even if you have special needs such as limited mobility. Please inform us of your needs in advance so that we can advise you on the most suitable activities and accommodations.

Testimonial Máxima:

When I started deciding on organizations, I was extremely worried that my wheelchair alone would be seen as a criterion for not allowing me to travel with you, so it was great that that never posed a problem for you.

You can read the entire report from Máxima, who did a hospital internship in Zanzibar, here.

Relatively Affordable Program Costs

Through relatively affordable program costs, we aim to be accessible to participants with lower incomes. This also contributes to the diversity of nationalities we attract, including participants from lower-income countries.

LGBTQIA+

We welcome members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

If you are specifically interested in an LGBTQIA+ related placement, please ask us what we can offer. One example is the Garima project in Jodhpur, India, which is aimed at gender minorities in Rajasthan.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Our non-discrimination policy states that no person shall be denied access to our programs, be subject to advantages or disadvantages, based on ethnicity, skin color, belief, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, ancestry, physical and mental condition, or marital status.

Unfortunately, there are still some limitations beyond our control. These include:

• Visa Restrictions: Some visas are not available to all nationalities and age groups, and/or they may have specific requirements related to health, education, and financial status.

• For liability reasons, the minimum age for unaccompanied minors traveling for most of our programs is 16 years.

• Internship and Working Holiday Job Profiles: Some internship and Working Holiday positions into which we place participants have restrictions regarding age, required educational levels, and/or health conditions.

• Applicants are advised against participating in some programs if their participation poses a safety risk due to local cultural attitudes or if the physical environment and/or program activities are considered unsuitable based on the information they provide.

• Participants with mental health conditions agree that their participation in the program may be terminated by World Unite! if their mental condition poses a risk or substantial disruption to the program for themselves, other participants, or/and World Unite! team members and partners.

World Unite! participants commit to not discriminate against other participants during their program participation and accept that any form of discrimination will result in immediate dismissal from the program without a refund.