Sign up to volunteer for the WOW vacations

You can sign up at www.rodekruis.be/vrijwilligeropvakantie. If you are joining us as a volunteer for the first time, we ask you to register as a volunteer at Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. How to do that will be explained to you when you confirm your registration.

As soon as we receive your application, we will review the options, and let you know which vacation you will accompany. We will take into account the wishes you specify. Sometimes the position you applied for is no longer available. That is why it is best to register for several positions that interest you. If all volunteer positions are already filled, we will put you on the reserve list.

Sometimes it happens that illness or unforeseen circumstances prevent you from going on vacation. In that case, please warn us as soon as possible. Then we can more easily arrange for another volunteer, so that the vacation for the guests is not compromised. Fewer volunteers means less time, care and attention for the guests. You can contact us at wowvakanties@rodekruis.be.

The minimum age for our volunteers is 18. Students 18 years of age or older are definitely allowed. Guiding a WOW vacation is a unique experience and definitely an added value on your resume, especially if you want to work in the social sector later. Are you a nursing student or taking another healthcare course? Then be sure to ask about the internship opportunities.

As a Red Cross volunteer, you are fully insured. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders has collective accident and liability insurance for all volunteers. With the liability insurance you are also insured for damage to third parties during the vacation. Your personal belongings are also insured.

There is additional damage insurance for your car if you use it at the request of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders during the vacation week. Your car and its occupants are covered by this insurance. For more information, please visit www.mijnrodekruis.be.

Yes, of course. The professional risk for nurses and doctors (for so-called "reserved actions") is covered by liability insurance at Belgian Red Cross-Flanders.

About four weeks before the start of the vacation you will receive all practical info such as the place of appointment. You can arrange to carpool. We reimburse your transportation costs (for car, train, bus). If you carpool, only the driver can be reimbursed for his travel expenses. So the mileage reimbursement is independent of the number of people the driver takes. We do not reimburse travel expenses to students participating in a WOW vacation as part of their internship.

You don't have to wear a uniform, even if you perform caregiving duties. Vacation rentals are a place where guests are on vacation. Therefore, all volunteers wear ordinary clothing.

You don't need special clothing. We do expect you to dress well. After all, you are the signboard of Red Cross Flanders.

As a volunteer, your stay is free. The entrance fee during the trips is also paid by us. Extras (such as gifts, refreshments on trips) are at your own expense.

As a volunteer, you simply eat with the guests. You join them at the table. These meals are free for you. We also offer you a number of free refreshments per week. If you want more refreshments, you pay for them yourself.

No. The restaurant's cooking is low-fat and low-salt. If you follow a diet or are allergic to certain food ingredients, please indicate this on the registration form. That way we can take this into account.

Yes. If you eat vegetarian, please indicate this when registering.

Both Hotel Middelpunt and Hotel Domein Polderwind and their courtyards are non-smoking. However, smoking areas are provided.

During the day, you will not consume alcohol as a volunteer. When your day job is finished, you are allowed to consume a few alcoholic beverages (maximum 2). It is important that the guests you accompany do not need any further help. In the evenings there will always be someone available who does not drink alcohol (zero tolerance), so that in case of any problems someone is always available for a safe transfer of guests and/or volunteers. At the start of the vacation, a rotation will be made.

You will share your room with another volunteer. If you would like to share a room with someone you know, please let us know when you register. We will take this into account as much as possible when assigning rooms.

In Hotel Middelpunt, you share a bathroom + toilet with four people.

In Hotel Domain Polderwind, you share a bathroom + toilet with two people.

The vacation only lasts a week. Therefore, we ask not to invite visitors. In exceptional situations, we may still allow them, but only after consultation with the vacation leader.

Volunteers are not allowed to bring pets. However, guests may bring a service dog, after consultation. If you are allergic to animals, please mention this when registering. Then we will take it into account.

If you are dissatisfied with the course of events during the vacation, raise this with the vacation leader. Do not wait until you are back home to do this! If you want to comment on a particular situation afterwards, you can do so by emailing wowvakanties@rodekruis.be. 

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders will not tolerate any form of unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct with sexual connotations that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive, humiliating or offensive environment.