Program Reviews

I travelled to Cape Town, SA with Projects Abroad in 2019. One of the best uses of a summer where I had loads of fun working on legal cases, experiencing Cape Town’s culture and attraction, and met friends from all over the world that I’m still in contact with. Projects Abroad managed the trip brilliantly, organising daily activities outside of our volunteering work, so there was never a dull moment and I always felt safe and considered. The volunteering work felt both impactful within the community, and impactful on my own ambitions and prospects going in to the future.

Projects Abroad Ghana was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I did the medical project where I would volunteer at a nearby hospital as well has do outreaches at local schools. Everyone involved with projects abroad looked after me so well, made me feel extremely welcome and allowed me to volunteer and gain experiences I wouldnt have been able to otherwise. I was given the opportunity to help clean wounds, take vitals, assist midwives during deliveries and so much more. The medical professionals I works with conoketky took me under their wing and encouraged me to get involved and learn as much as possible. It was also great to be able to explore Ghana during weekends which the help of Chief. I would definitely volunteer with them again and if you are thinking about it I would definitely say go for it! You will not regret it.

Shuan and everyone else at the academy are very welcoming and very passionate about their work. They have a great group of kids into whom they have instilled a real passion for surfing. Shane’s mentoring also seems to really help them learn how to live healthily and productively.

From a volunteers perspective, you get out of the project what you out in. You aren’t forced to do anything, but even if you aren’t good enough to teach the kids to surf there’s still lots you can do to help according to your strengths.

Through their reggae night (every Thursday, to help raise funds for the project) there’s also the opportunity to meet lots of local surfers who are very nice and generally very happy to go out and have fun with the volunteers.

I visited Guadalajara for the medical internship and it was amazing! I managed to be in surgery and see 2-3 surgeries a day and I also shadowed a cardiologist. The staff at the hospital are so lovely and it has been the best medical internship I have ever done. The staff talk you through what they're doing and why, so you're not just sat in the corner observing all the time. If you want a hands on experience, this is for you. You also have a choice of loads of wards- from maternity to emergency medicine. I stayed with a lovely family and met some friends that I'll keep forever. The accommodation is really nice and the host family was lovely. You're provided with three meals a day and everything you'll need for your stay. You have loads of support during your stay and there's a lot of activities that are arranged to get involved in. I loved every second of my project and will defo be visiting Mexico again!

I had an amazing experience in Peru! It was incredible to work in a foreign country and serve the local people. I learned so much about health care and public health while having lots of fun. Experiencing a new culture, working hands-on at the clinic and health campaigning, and meeting the Peruvian people and host family was the highlight of my summer. I met great people from all over the US who were part of my team and became lasting friends. I had an awesome experience exploring the country especially Machu Picchu. I really wish I could have stayed longer and it is has lead me to apply to college in the medical field concentrating in public health. Thank you!

Projects Abroad truly gave me an opportunity like no other. I was placed in the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua. I worked in both the Pediatric and Maternity units, abs I had the opportunity to work very closely with doctors, nurses, and patients. I also participated in outreach twice a week; on these days we would make house calls and go to schools. We consistently made a house call for a woman who had a massive cellulitis, but could not afford to get treatment in the hospital. Someone went to check on her and change her dressings just about everyday, but the two days of the week we had outreach we would go as well. Then, after that we would set up a station at the school and treat kids for ringworm, and clean and bandage their wounds. One of the days I participated we treated 100 kids all of whom had more than one wound. This was truly a great experience and the staff was amazing in helping with placement or if I ever had any questions.

The medical project for high school students was one of the best experiences of my life. I made some awesome friends on this trip and met amazing people, and that along with seeing surgeries and being in a medical setting was life-changing. I don't have a bad thing to say about the staff and host family, everyone was so sweet and made my experience so warm. The only thing that sucked a little was the covid situation - what we could do was definitely limited, in both an academic and social setting (but that's no one's fault!).

I made possibly the first group of proper friends on this trip. I was never a loner, but i would consider every single one of the 20 or so people with me in the Galapagos as part of my family, the vibes we had were immense! Our projects advisor was very open to suggestions and improvements that we had for the Project, which really made you feel a valued part of the team and allows you to have a more lasting impact while you are out there. It was the perfect mix between work and play. The ability to structure our free time as we saw fit and take a week or two off gave us the opportunity to visit a ton of different islands. It allowed me to do meaningful work, broaden my cultural horizons and have a great time.

My experience in Tanzania with Projects Abroad was definitely an eye opener! I discovered the Swahili culture and learnt a lot from the Tanzanian people I met who shared their experience with me. Besides, I must say I also learnt a lot about myself and how to step out of my comfort zone.
During my project I taught Maths, English and hygiene to children aged from 2 to 6 years old. It was challenging as well as rewarding to see them making progress.
Besides, my Tanzanian host family was adorable and made me feel like their daughter. The two other volunteers and I really felt at home: whenever we left on the weekends (for a safari or to go to Zanzibar), we joked about being so excited to get "home"!
Also the Projects Abroad staff was very nice and went out of their way to help me whenever needed and I am grateful for that.
It was an incredible adventure that I would definitely recommend!

My month in Vietnam with ProjectsAbroad was honestly one of the most enlightening and rewarding experiences of my life so far. I volunteered on the Care Project at Vietnam's K3 National Cancer Hospital, where I worked in the playroom on the children's ward. My role mainly consisted of keeping the children entertained during the hours of free time that they had between treatment. Most of the kids mainly enjoyed playing jigsaws and drawing with me, but there was also plenty of physical activities to participate in (toy cars, building blocks etc.) Obviously there was a slight language barrier here but luckily I had an amazing translator who did an excellent job of interpreting conversations between the children and I. I also took the opportunity to learn some rudimentary Vietnamese beforehand so that I could verbally communicate on some level with both children and adults alike - the Vietnamese people REALLY appreciated my efforts to speak their language, so I would absolutely recommend doing some learning beforehand!
The children in the hospital really enjoyed having me working in their playroom for 4 weeks. Initially, they were slightly suspicious of me and quite apprehensive to approach me - especially because of my blue eyes! - but soon enough we had formed relationships and had so much fun together as they took a break from hospital life and focused on enjoying and playing.

I stayed with a host family during my time in Hanoi - again, another amazing experience. The family I stayed with lived in a small village in the south of Hanoi which was pretty close to the hospital I worked in which made it easy for me to get to work every day. The mother of my host family actually worked for ProjectsAbroad as the cook in the volunteer house, which was great as it allowed me an opportunity to get to know and socialise with many more volunteers. I cannot begin to describe how amazing my host mum was - she was so hospitable and was always making sure that I was comfortable, safe, and enjoying myself in her house. And as you can imagine - she was an excellent cook! We spent so many nights watching football together (the World Cup was on at this point) and doing karaoke at the top of our lungs. I still keep in contact with her regularly and I am hoping to return to Hanoi in a year or so to visit her.
My host parents also had two young children aged 11 and 15 who I loved spending time with! Their English was really good and the little boy especially loved teaching me Vietnamese words and walking with me to the local shop for snacks. Staying with a host family made my experience all the more authentic and it was so cool to be completely immersed in another culture.

In terms of tourist attractions/food/nightlife, Hanoi genuinely has it all. Vietnam is enriched in fascinating history and there are so many interesting landmarks and museums to check out in the city. Make sure that you spend plenty of time in the Old Quarter! There are also so many wonderful locations not too far from Hanoi where you can spend your weekend - places like Ha Long Bay (an absolute must) Sa Pa, Ninh Binh etc. Make sure that you cram as much as you can into your free time - you will not regret it.

As well as the Vietnamese host family I lived with, I also made so many other friends during my time with ProjectsAbroad. It was such a great opportunity to connect with people from all over the world. I now have friends in several parts of Australia, Switzerland, France and across the UK - not to mention the staff at ProjectsAbroad that I networked with in Hanoi and many other Vietnamese friends I made during my project.

This project was rewarding in so many different ways. It is such an excellent opportunity to do something worthwhile in another part of the world, to make new friends and to immerse yourself in a different culture. Vietnam has such a special place in my heart and I cannot wait to return one day.