Program Reviews

My friend and I were the only Americans in the group; a perfect environment for practicing my Spanish. We made friendships that last to this day (2015). We did river cleanup projects. We also has lots of time exploring the magical province of Asturias in N. Spain. We were in a parade through town for a holiday. Explored ancient caves. The local coordinator was the neatest guy, so funny and friendly. Difficulties? Not really, but I live for the challenge of finding my way on my own...that is a huge part of the fun and sense of accomplishment. I am so glad I did this...it was summer after my college freshman year. Do it! Life gives fewer easy opportunities for this type of thing later on...and it might just change your life.
(The earliest date I could select below was 1995, but I did it in 1986, when VFP was young !)

My trip to Haiti was spur of the moment, and I don't regret for a day of stepping foot on this 'hidden gem'. During the service learning project, I participated in a Christmas party for the elderly, building "tippy taps" and bio-sand water filters at a local school, hosting a 2-day camp for the school children during their vacation week, helping set up the Festikap, painting a mural, cooked a Haitian meal, and many other cultural exchange activities. "Men anpil, chay pa lou" is a Haitian proverb that translates to "Many hands make the load lighter". I was most impressed with the relationship that VFP has with Haitian communities. It made the trip meaningful because we were gracefully welcomed and we were worked alongside the residents of La Vallee de Jacmel on projects they were already working on in their communities. A highlight from my trip was celebrating Festikap, the festival of creativity and ideas, where people of all corners paraded to a hilltop and flew handmade kites, danced, ate, and were joyous. One thing I forgot to bring was a soccer ball- Haiti loves their futbol :)

I seriously don't know why you wouldn't go on a trip to Mexico through Volunteers for Peace! This was a life changing and eye opening experience for me. I met a ton of like minded individuals from Meixco and all over the world. I believe it is very important for US citizens especially to see the beauty of the people and culture of Mexico. HIGHLY recommended! <3

Overall, I had a fantastic adventure in Leucate. The work camp consisted of everyday living with internationals on a campground from all around the world. It was amazing to learn about people and their cultures from the following places: Russia, South Korea, Hungary, France, Spain, Holland and Denmark. It was fascinating to experience the country and city side of France. Our goal was to come together and learn about each other. It was a wonderful balance of working and leisure. I didn't expect all of the marvelous activities which were planned besides the work. It is a unique experience which is invaluable for personal growth and global awareness. There were difficult moments which included the time zone difference, the acclimation and the attempt to assimilate everyone which was humorous. The Russians were so frank and hysterical. The South Korean was very sensitive to others. The Hungarian was able to relate to all, being the leader. The French girl was able to mediate on our behalf. The Spanish person suffered the most from the linguistic barrier. The Dutch and Danish people were very proud of their cultures. As an American I related well with the Russians, because of their communication style which was the most similar to mine. On a personal level, I was most interested in the South Korean person, since I am half Chinese. One of my favorite moments was when we would rotate cooking duty which caused us to taste each person's country. I was immensely happy that each person was able to reflect their particular country and wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

Although I volunteered through VFP three years ago, I distinctly remember being surprised at how helpful the staff was, how quickly they responded to my questions via email, and how much information they provided before I left. My interactions with the staff were beneficial and friendly and obviously left a great impression on me, seeing as how I remember it three years later.

Their partner in India, FSL, was also helpful during orientation week, and very welcoming to the country. I and the other six volunteers were in constant communication with staff about our living situation, projects, and other travel information. There were definitely some kinks that needed to be worked out, but things happen much slower in India, and I fully believe the staff was dedicated to making us as comfortable as possible. For example, we were told we'd have a volunteer house to live in upon arrival to our project site. It kept getting pushed back, leaving us volunteers in a shabby hotel for around 6 weeks. Ultimately, though, the staff pulled through and placed us in a wonderful house which hopefully is still in use today.

Though I have no doubt the staff did the best they could, unfortunately there was a breakdown between FSL and the Nisarga Foundation, the specific project I was placed in, for which I taught English to ethnic tribal children. There was not a structured method of conducting classes, and I was often left just playing with the kids. It was frustrating, because I felt I didn't really contribute due to lack of supplies, minimal communication with teachers, and no set goals to accomplish. I am not sure of FSL still sends volunteers to work with the Nisarga Foundation, and if so there has been ample time for improvement, but my experience with them was less than satisfactory.

That being said, I have plenty of friends who loved their placements which were provided by FSL. And I still highly valued my time in India - I learned a lot about the country and myself. I would absolutely recommend using VFP, and would use them myself in the future.

This summer was the second experience for my 16 year old son with VFP. In 2013, he went to a youth program in Estonia of all places and wound up having a fantastic time, connecting with kids from all over Europe and had wonderful experiences, in what was actually in hindsight a fairly spartan environment.
For 2014, we chose a project in a tiny town on a river in the Bordeaux region of France and this was a truly wonderful experience. They took fantastic side trips to parks or to towns, seemed to have a really good balance of work / play, really got to know this charming town of only 600 people, and was personally thanked with a handshake by the town's mayor. The photographs were beautiful and as a parent I just felt that all the targets were hit in terms of cultural exposure, working really hard and having a blast.
The program offered an amazing value. Airfare aside, the 2-weeks cost just a few hundred dollars. These programs are not fancy, but are well-organized and well-run. My son slept in a large tent, but surrounded by vineyards. They had to shop and prepare their own meals, but that was obviously part of the fun. It seems that some of the programs are easier to get to than others, and if you're sending a teen you should speak with the VFP office before choosing a trip.
The people in the VFP office are extremely helpful as well as knowledgable. They made good recommendations and helped fill-in blanks when needed. I can only speak of these 2 programs of theirs, but we've had wonderful experiences that were much more affordable than most of the programs our friend's kids went on.

My two weeks volunteering in Germany was amazing. The group of international participants were very interesting to meet and by the end we felt like a big family. It was sad to leave everybody. Working in the town of Kell was great, because it was within walking distance from the house we were staying at. We had an entire area of beautiful scenery within our grasp, and it was all at our disposal. Working with Helge, the groundskeeper at the house, was great. He was one of the most hardworking and kind men I have ever met. And sharing our different cultures but still realizing we all had a lot in common was the best part. My mind and worldview is forever changed because of this experience and I would love to do it again!

This project has allowed me to get immersed in the culture here in England. I have met wonderful families, with whom I work with, and they have welcomed me into their homes like I'm family. It has been very rewarding working with volcare and people with various types of illnesses /diseases. I have been able to explore the beautiful county of Kent, while living in historic Canterbury. There has been tremendous support and training from Volcare to feel comfortable and confident to do this project to the best of my ability. Best decision I've ever made to do this volunteer project.

I met various families from day to day, dealing with many different illnesses and had to form trusting bonds with these people. Every family dynamic was unique. I gave home based respite care for people caring for their loved ones. I did everything from medication administration and personal care, to cooking and companionship. Each family needed me for 1 day up to 2 weeks at a time. I was able to be immersed in the culture and formed lasting friendships with some families. Some difficulties were getting acclimated to my surroundings and taking busses or trains to the clients homes. I have kept in touch with some people and will be life long friends with my fellow volunteer housemates from around the world.

My only (so far) volunteer project was this past Nov. 2013, in Nicaragua/FInca Esperanza Verde. This was such an amazing experience. We stayed a week long in one of the most elevated mountains I’ve ever been to, reaching 4,000 feet high. From the initial beautiful welcoming by Vivann and staff, followed by a candlelight dinner for all. Our three times a day meals consisted of mostly organic foods from the Finca. We even learned about the different plants/tress and picked out our fresh vegetables to be consumed. Including mint leaves for fresh mojitos!

Our missionary tasks consisted of putting up a fence, digging holes, reforestation of coffee, oaks, and cedar plants. We became educated on the entire coffee process from picking out the coffee beans up to the required standards of the organic farm guidelines, putting them through the mill, selecting and pealing the ones that actually turned out acceptable, drying these beans to prepare them to get transferred to another farm for additional steps of preparation.

One of my most highlighted experiences was having the opportunity to interact and play with the kids of a school of six different grades located in the Finca. The kids were so well disciplined, receptive, and full of life. Even with such a high demand of need from clothing to essential nutrition they posses a strong drive and determination in both academics and even sports. I wish I had more time dedicated to the children.

Although our stay in the finca was pretty booked all day with a full itinerary of things to do, we also had our breaks to enjoy learning about one another and soak all the beauty of this amazing paradise. There are five awesome trails that we explored along with the wild birds/animals. To put it all in a nutshell… Mornings practicing yoga, afternoon breaks lying on a hammock getting a tan while reading a book, attended mass in the local church, one full day in the city of Matagalpa (shopping and site seeing), lessons of how to cook tortillas, making recycled paper as well as our own jewelry out of organic beads.

We stayed in a group bunk bed cabin with a choice of washing with an invigorating cold shower! Believe it or not I actually looked forward to this. It just came with the territory. I would certainly do this all over in a heartbeat. I’m very grateful for this humbling experience and described in one word for me would be purity of simple life;-)

In September 2013 I volunteered with Workamp Switzerland through Volunteer's for Peace. The work camp was an amazing cultural experience. We stayed in a cabin on the Jura Mountains in Switzerland, we hosted an Art Gallery and worked with local children around the Solothurn area. It was truly a remarkable experience.