Program Reviews

I had a great time working in France in 2010. VFP was very helpful in setting me up with a project and making sure I had the information I needed. I was given information regarding what to bring and what to expect when I got there.
The fees were very reasonable compared to other programs I looked considered. I had to purchase my own ticket, but fees covered all accommodations (camping in a campground with bathrooms and showers), food for the three weeks, and all sorts of other activities we did. I loved getting to know people from all over the world, most of whom I still keep in touch with over a year later. The community we were in was extremely welcoming and helped us in any way they could.
I wasn't able to do another volunteer project this past summer, but look forward to next summer when I will definitely sign up with VFP and do another project or two!

I can't begin to list what I enjoyed most of all, the people I worked with, the food or the country side. We were a total of 20 volunteers between the ages of 16 to 25 and with the exception of myself all from different parts of Europe.
The reception was well planned as we played games to get better acquainted and had a good review of what was expected of us, the kind of work and the purpose of it. Sounded so simple, raking hay all day and getting rid of invasive plants. Since we worked in the midst of vine yards, there was no more life stock for grazing and keeping the meadows in check. Weeds had taken over and we were to curb their growth. Work on sometimes steep slopes was demanding, the weather hot, thorns unforgiving and the wasps made a nuisance of themselves. What made the job so tolerable was the team work. Imagine 20 people (not counting some of the locals) who had never met before, all with various cultural backgrounds, trying to communicate in a foreign language, brought together on the slopes of Austria to rake mountainous rows of hay in one line. We came together as one team which was truly overwhelming. At the end of the day, as we looked back on our accomplishments, a smooth meadow and tons of hay scattered in the woods, we had made an impact on the country side, a difference we were proud of and all our daily mishaps faded away. (Farmers can't feed the hay to the animals since it contained Herbstzeitlose, a poisonous plant).
Work was a total of 4 days per week and the rest of the time was filled with various trips, all sponsored, to show us the beauty of the country plus a glimpse into its rich history. For example swimming in the Danube and a boat ride, visit to an ancient castle and even a private tour in a monastery. There were also the simple fun things like trying unsuccessfully to play an alphorn we had found hanging in a hut, stuffing ourselves with berries we picked along the way, having a mud fight and building sand castles on the shore of the Danube or a night hike with torches. There was something for everybody. The local people, some came at times to work and mingle with us, were very appreciative of us.
Our stay was in a local B&B, packed lunch and supper in a restaurant. Food was outstanding and plentiful. Back here in the States I still miss the warm rolls for breakfast. There were 4 vegetarians among us and consideration was well taken.
As for safety, we were told ahead of times to bring boots and were issued gloves. In addition we had safety instructions about the brush cutters. However, I will never get used to their driving, the narrow roads and the speed in which they zoom about. One driver even took photos while driving, with a steep slope on one side.
All good things come to an end, we had to say good bye. There was lots of hugging with promises to write. I will always look back with plenty of good memories, especially the camaraderie I experienced and I am already thinking about my next volunteer trip.

The program I participated in was focused on cultural exchange and that is probably what it did best. In terms of volunteering and the work camp that was set up, it felt like we were only involved in unnecessary make-work projects. It felt like the organization hosted us more for the financial contribution than anything else. That being said, they did trek us around to a number of places in the back of a truck to try out hot springs, see waterfalls, climb a hill and go ride elephants that looked very sad. If you are happy to be a tourist and have lots of time sitting around visiting in a foreign language, this may be a good fit for you.

I spent 2 weeks in the east Fjords of Iceland. The project was a mix between "nature works" and "visual arts works". We were 18 peoples from all around the world.

That's the best aspect of this "workcamp". Living during 15 days with 18 peoples with different culture, 24/7 , is a wonderful experience.

I was a little bit disappoint about the nature work because we were just cutting flowers in the next town. Cleaning area, beach, etc...
I expected something more close to the nature ( making path for hike, help farmers, helps fisherman,...)

The visual part was also a little bit confuse. It was difficult to start because no ideas were already propose by the lead. So we took a while to share our ideas and find a way.

We had free time ( weekend) and went in the surrounding areas. We met some Icelandic people. Icelandic are fantastic people. So kind. Only 300.000 Icelandic in a huge country as Iceland! The sharing adventure with all those 18 peoples from all around the world was the most exciting experience I had.

You learn a lot about the different culture. We make a short movie about our work camp with a time lapse technique. Nice result! One more nice thing : To get there ( our work camp), a mini bus drove on the north road and make some stop to show us some great spots in Iceland. For the return we make the same but on the south road! Great idea!

After the work camp, I spent 1 more week to see more about the country. Hope this review will help you and the next volunteers :)

Olivier ( Belgium)

I have traveled to 27 countries and made friends from all over the world. My experience in Iceland was one of the best to date. The group of friends I made was great. The people is what make the project.

All volunteers were surprised about the work we ended up doing, but our friendships is what made it worth while.

After work we would go to the town swimming pool, we walked together to and from planning dinner and laughing. On the wkends we went hiking and fishing. One night we played football with the local kids.

On the wkends we had group parties, there was always laughing and joking around. Truly one of the best experiences...

Incredible program, like nothing you've ever done in your life. Living as closely to the stone age life style as possible in the north of Finland. Absolutely beautiful wilderness. Not for the faint-hearted.
VFP made everything extremely easy in working with the Finnish organization. They have many fascinating programs that are well worth looking into.

The work of the 13-person team was to do landscaping and restoration of an old chapel that had been abandoned after WWII. The work was fun and satisfying, and the local community was outstanding. We were in a tiny village and they treated us very well, hosting dinner parties and taking us on a castle tour. We also happened to be there during the World Cup being held in Berlin. The country was positively abuzz with excitement and even national pride. The local community group paid for us to take a weekend trip to Berlin for the final, but for the games that occurred prior to that, we dragged the couch outside through a window, set up a television, and enjoyed some beers and friendly rivalries under the evening sky. It was an amazing experience in a part of Germany I would never have visited otherwise, and I couldn't have been happier.

The international volunteers met on the first day of the program in Dublin to learn more about the organization and an overview of what camp would be like. We then spent the night in a hostel before taking the bus to camp the next morning.

We met the Irish staff and volunteers at camp and were given a tour while awaiting the arrival of campers. Camp was a long work day, up at 6am to help campers dress etc then off to breakfast before morning activities, ending about 10pm when campers were put to sleep.

I had a wonderful time and found the staff to be professional and very helpful

I had wonderful time during my volunteer expereince. VFP was very helpful with arranging my placement. I look forward to doing more volunteer work in the future.

I volunteered as part of VFP summer camp for kids in LaVallee Haiti. We often forget there are places in the world, lots of them, where people don't have electricity, running water, TV, newspapers... In these places the local people only know what they see. It was amazing for me to experience this first hand. To slow down and live in the moment with Haitians. To enjoy being close to the earth and to my food. To take time to have true personal interactions and to know the value of them, for myself and the Haitians, was very high because they were the news and the world and the future. I went to one of the poorest places I have ever been and I found some of the richest people in the world. CODEHA (VFP's partner) is located in the middle of a lush, agricultural region but it is really remote. It is very safe there because everyone knows CODEHA and VFP and wants to meet them and take care of them. The children are beautiful, inquisitive, friendly and want to know everything about the world outside of their little region. We played, sang songs, did art projects, and just hung out together. At CODEHA there was opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen or the garden and really understand what life is like there. Do you know how long it takes to clean corn, or sort beans, or make cocoa from scratch? The area is green. It is very noisy but mostly animal sounds. It is completely peaceful and the perfect place to rejuvenate and reflect while giving back. It was amazing and I eagerly await my next visit.