Program Reviews

This program was an all inclusive experience. I was able to not only volunteer but be directly submerged in the culture, and get hands on experience of the histories and root of the culture. This is truly a once in a life time experience, rarely do you get the opportunity to take part in a program that gives you the best of everything - from learning of the maroons, to historic cites such as Castelton Gardens, to experiencing the beautiful and diverse cuisine that Jamaica has to offer and finally giving back to the future generation.

My partner and I spent a short seven days at Smokey vale, experiencing real Jamaican food and culture.
The experience at the school and orphanage was second to none and we really felt valued and appreciated in both settings. We also chose to do the Dunn's River Falls excursion and this was an absolute highlight with the natural beauty and challenge of climbing the falls it was a stand out. Maureen and all the staff went above and beyond to help us and make us a part of their family. An incredible experience that we could not have had by ourselves in this fantastic country.
I would highly recommend this program to anyone wishing to volunteer and have a real feel for Jamaica.

Coming in on the first day, I didn't really know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming everyone was. We were able to be with Maureen and her family as she celebrated a very significant milestone in her marriage and life. In America, people aren't like that so it was a nice change from where we're from. Right off the bat you know that Jamaica and more specifically this home is something special and I treasure and will remember my time her forever.

My favorite part of the trip was interacting with the family and staff at the manor. Learning about their food, culture and experiences was the highlight of the trip. Specifically I was impressed at how they embraced us right from the beginning by inviting us to be a part of a family celebration. I felt taken care of and safe on all of our excursions and the staff kept a keen eye on us and made sure we learned as much about the culture as possible.

During this trip my group and I went to a primary school in Kingston. This was an amazing experience because it truly immersed us into the culture, as we are students ourselves. I was really cool to hang out with kids who don't really know anything else other than what they see, so when I walked into the room, one little girl said, "Are you okay?! you shouldn't be this white, you're too white!" She as never seen a Caucasian before. It was really interesting!

Coming on a study abroad trip I wasn't sure where we would be staying and how we would culturally be immersed in the place we were in. The first day walking in and immediately trying new food that was apart of the cuisine and being surrounded by Jamaican people showed me that this experience would be more valuable to what I originally thought. Being able to share the celebration Maureen and her family had for her anniversary was very special and we got to see more of how social scenes are here and i got compare it to my family (indian) and to America as well.

My family is from Jamaica but I grew up in the United States and the purpose of taking this trip was to reconnect with my roots. I feel that this program gave me an authentic Jamaican experience and I feel that this program accurately portrays the Jamaican culture. I like that this program is a mix of work and play with volunteering at the school, visiting the beach, the resort, and the Blue Mountain coffee. I like how flexible the program was and that we were also able to socialize with the other guests staying here.

I chose to come on this trip because I thought it would be a great way to broaden my perspective of the business world. This trip definitely helped me achieve my goal. We had to opportunity to speak with Maureen Evans about her business. It was a great way to see how big of an impact tourism has in Jamaica. Also she presented us with a problem and asked us to come up with some solutions. Over this trip was a great learning experience.

My favorite experience on this trip was being able to volunteer at one of the local schools. It was a very fulfilling opportunity. The children were extremely welcoming and lovable. Making crafts with the children and being able to interact with them was awesome. I grew attached to the children in the short two hours we were with them. Overall, I highly recommend visiting a local school and experiencing the Jamaica culture through the eyes of the young children.

This is my first time doing a study abroad program in college and I had a fantastic experience. I learned a lot about the culture here, which was a goal for me because I love learning about different cultures. The food was really good, which is important to me because I am vegan so usually I have limited options. This was a nice break from the cold weather where I am from and I will definitely come back to Jamaica in the future.

I am blown away with the respect, care, and dedication the program has for making the volunteers comfortable. Everyone showed such love for me and I truly felt like an adopted family member. This trip was my first time travelling on my own and I felt I had my time and space for personal growth but appreciated the moments with the staff greatly. The connections here with everyone made this trip so much more special. I am truly grateful!