Volunteering In France | Interning in France

Following on from our previous post at the end of March concerning the 2020 volunteers and interns season at La Giraudiere.

In France we are still in a lock down but there is some light starting to appear in these dark times. During April the president of France addressed the nation and announcing the extension of the confinement in France until May 11. at which time a gradual relaxing of the lock down would start. This is providing the population continue to be civic, responsible, obey the rules and only if the spread of the virus has actually slowed down.

French President Emmanuel Macron further warned in April that the end of the national lock down on May 11 would only be a first step as France looks to pull out of the crisis created by the corona virus pandemic.

In a recent newspaper article French officials announced that Britons and those from European Union member states will not be placed in 14 days mandatory quarantine if they travel to France, as suggested by the country’s health minister.

The French embassy in London tweeted that the measure would not be imposed on those arriving in France from the UK or Schengen area.

Flights to and from France during coronavirus epidemic

Flights to and from France are still taking off, but airlines across the board are cancelling services due to a huge drop off in the demand, and the French government has announced that international flights are to be reduced, so it’s important to check before you make your way to the airport.

There are lots of restrictions as individual countries close their borders, and the EU has restricted all travel into the Schengen zone from non Schengen countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron had recently predicted that normal travel into France might not happen until at least September. But, the statement was criticized for being too optimistic and, at the same time, ignorant of the seriousness of the pandemic. Ministers of Italy and Spain have both expressed a realistic prediction that international travel wouldn’t likely return in 2020 at all.
It is estimated that the European airline industry might recover by the second quarter of 2021.

When will La Giraudiere be accepting volunteers & interns?.

We will await the relaxing of the lock down on May 11th at which time we can decide if to prolong our closure or start opening up to volunteers and interns.

Our region Nouvelle Aquitaine and in particular our department of The Charente are in the green zone at present and for sure La Giraudiere is not keen to be the reception, or exchange point, of the coronavirus in south west France.

Rest assured that preparation and maintenance of La Giraudiere continues in preparation for our first volunteers and interns.

Travel Insurance claims & coronavirus in France

Remember to use your travel insurance to make good any losses you have incurred as regards accommodation, hotel and of course any deposit you paid to us to reserve your place.

All Balances of stay will be repaid and thank you to those of you who have donated to the La Giraudiere project.

In all probability deposit will not be repaid but remember our offer to use this deposit at a later date even next year is open and will continue to be so. Even if you accept this offer you should still include the deposit within your travel insurance claim.

Remember to keep all your travel invoices and receipts to help the claims process go smoothly, Insurers may take a different view on when you can put in a claim. Some will look at it within 28 days of your planned departure. But others will ask you to wait until 48 hours before, in case government advice on travel changes.

If you are offered a voucher, or a free rescheduled booking instead of cash, you can accept or refuse it. But if the airline later folds, the voucher will probably become invalid. And if you re-book but later decide against going on a flight that has not been cancelled, you will have lost your right to a refund and may not be covered by your travel insurance.

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