Location
  • Ethiopia
    • Addis Ababa

Program Details

Language
English
Housing
Host Family Hostel

Pricing

Price Details
Love Volunteers registration fee, plus program fees starting at just US$400 for 2 weeks.
Program fees cover airport pickup, orientation, accommodation, and food (see website for specific program details).
The Love Volunteers registration fee covers any placements you undertake for twelve months from the start of your first placement.
This fee is refundable if you choose not to volunteer more than three months prior to the start of your initial placement.
Sep 20, 2023
Mar 13, 2013
5 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Love Volunteers needs volunteers like you to help in Ethiopia! Explore this interesting country, gain a broader perspective on life, and help those who live in poverty. Love Volunteers offers volunteer options working with children and in the medical field.

Those who decide to work with the children, ages 3 to 10, will teach a variety of subjects including English, information technology, sports development, and life skills for those who are disabled. No teaching experience is required.

Volunteers can also choose to work with health care at hospitals and clinics in Ethiopia. This project is great experience for those who are interested in working in the medical field anywhere in the world. There is a need for volunteers in all areas of medical work. Check out the Love Volunteers website for more information!

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how Love Volunteers is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Reviews

4.50 Rating
based on 6 reviews
  • 5 rating 66.67%
  • 4 rating 16.67%
  • 3 rating 16.67%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.35
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.5
  • Value 4.5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Default avatar
DCgirl
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

10 weeks in Ethiopia - and loved it.

I volunteered in Ethiopia for 10 weeks over the summer through love volunteers. Love volunteers was absolutely wonderful. They are affordable, and answered all my questions and concerns quickly! I was really impressed with them.

I had the most wonderful time both in Ethiopia and volunteering with the organization there. I was placed in a hospice program, but also spent time with the teaching program and I really enjoyed both. The members of the organization were welcoming, wonderful, and a lot of fun. They made it an easy adjustment to a very different culture. They also were really great at helping with anything that was needed.

I did the hospice program in the morning, and then went back to the house for lunch, and then would do the after school program in the afternoon. Sometimes on fridays I would go with the teaching volunteers to the school because I wanted to see what that was like!

The country is very religious, and so are the members in the organization. I am not religious, but they were very respectful of my beliefs. Of course they asked a lot of questions, but so did I because we both wanted to understand our cultures, and they were always respectful of it. I never felt that they were pressuring me. Religion is also a big part of working with the kids and hospice program, but that is because religion is a big part of their culture. I was not off-put by it, but instead found it inspiring how rich in beliefs and culture it was.

There was a lot of freedom to explore the city, and I even ventured to other parts of Ethiopia, which was absolutely amazing. The food is so good, and the people are so kind and friendly. There is a lot to do in the city! Or even to just relax for some downtown at home! It was such a great experience!

54 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Hi there,
We love reading reviews like this and knowing we played a small part in sending such an amazing person to needy areas to make a difference in peoples lives.
Your open-mindedness with regards to religion is to be commended and we're pleased to hear the locals were as accepting of your beliefs.
What a fantastic volunteer!
The Team @ Love Volunteers.

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Default avatar
Ayasha
3/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Volunteering in Addis Ababa

I have to separate this in two parties: one is the love volunteers part which what ok and the other was the project in Addis where I went working.
Actually, I was very warmly welcomed and the responsible people took good care of me. But as they told me, they haven't had yet a great experience with volunteers and so the whole thing was not really organised. I had a lot of "empty" time I wasn't able to fill with something because there were no possibilities to do so, or at least it was difficult. Also I think I could have done more important things, which means things they couldn't to themselves easily like teaching english f.ex. So I passed most of my time in the kitchen helping the cook, not really a very big thing. Of course, the cook was very happy for the help, but she could have managed that also without my help.
For me personally, the biggest problem I had there was that I found out after some time that probably all the people working for this community are members of a evangelical church and evangelising strongly. I attended many scenes who where just too much for me. I can't say they don't take care of the kids in the program or that they are bad people or anything like this, but they do kind of brainwash everyone educating them strongly in their very narrow view of the world.
It took me some time to realise all this and the impact it has on the society of this country and what kind of problems that arises.
I have to underline that nevertheless I had a good time with the people there, apart of this problems.

56 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Dear Ayasha,
Thanks so much for your comments, it's always beneficial for us to hear first-hand how the volunteers feel about their placements.
Whilst we no longer work with this particular local partner, volunteers should be aware that the beliefs and values of the local people are bound to be different from their own. It's still possible to - as you did - be of help to those in need whether you agree with their doctrines or not.
While it's best for everyone if volunteers can work in the areas they choose; sometimes the local situation requires that volunteers be flexible and take the initiative, as you did, to work wherever required. These are attributes we and the local team value highly in our volunteers.
Thanks again for taking the time to give to others.
The Team @ Love Volunteers

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Default avatar
Marayca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

FERENGI in ETHIOPIA

“Ferengi ferengi!” I cannot say how many times I heard that while walking down the street in Addis. Hundreds! Ferengi means foreigner but I never felt like one. Way at the contrary, the warm reception of Ethiopians and their tremendous sense of hospitality made me feel like a very special guest.
I was volunteering with Love Volunteers for two weeks, teaching "English with an accent" to 3 to 5 year-old kids, and the experience was priceless!
It definitely was a life changing experience, once that brought me back in touch with this World's reality and that made me really reconsider the value of life and appreciate things that we often take for granted as citizens of the First World. These two weeks were for me a lesson I received on humanity, humility, good principles, and manners.
Amesege'nallo' Ethiopians!!!!

55 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Dear Marayca,
We love volunteers like you! Not only did you enrich the lives of the children you were working with but you took life lessons from the experience that will enrich those around you in your daily life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to give of yourself to those in need. We hope to have you back on the LV team again in the future!
All the best,
The Team @ Love Volunteers

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Default avatar
lettie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Love Volunteers Ethiopia program

I spent two weeks last summer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I signed up for the Teaching Program and have not regretted it since. I was nervous about going during this time because of teh rainy season but the weather was great, with an occasional rainy night or day. As told by others who lived there, I was lucky to have experienced not so many rainy days.
I was picked up from the airport by Tamrat, one of the partners with LV and Dundee, the head of the school I volunteered. Both are such nice, generous, friendly and very funny guys. They picked me and another volunteer up. We went to the guesthouse where we would be spending the next two weeks living and sleeping. The guesthouse is pretty decent. There is a wonderful woman there who washed clothes, cooked and greeted you each morning with a great smile. Some rooms you had to share but there were a couple where you were able to be single in teh room. I was lucky again and got a decent sized room with my own bathroom. Everyone else had to share.
Ethiopia is a third world country so you will experience things such as water outages or power outtages. That happened a number of times during my stay. The great thing is someone always brings you a bucket of water ( May be cold water) so you can wash up.
The teaching program was a little different since we came during the summer. School was out so we were pretty much teaching in like a summer school. The children are AWESOME! They are so willing to learn and excited to have volunteers and just too CUTE! They just want you to play with them and show them attention. They ranged from 3 -7 in the mornings and in the afternoon, there was a program for older children..some teenagers.I think teh most difficult is the beginning when you are just thrown into teaching the FIRST time you are at the school. It can be a bit overwhelming and also you don't have alot of resources so we just made alot of our own ( Flashcards, etc)
We were given a tour of Addis by a great and friendly guy named Eyasu. Also we went to various restaurants and shopping venues on our days off. Some of us traveled to other places in Ethiopia for weekend trips. Tamrat, Eyasu and Dundee are very informative and supportive in helping you go where you need to go.
I felt fully immersed into the culture and enjoyed every aspect of it. I am glad I went with LV because they were definitely a great price and quite affordable for people who would love to volunteer but just don't have the finances that sme of these other programs charge. Julian and Kelly were always prompt with answering my questions and getting me in touch with the right people. Very happy with my experience with them and would definitely do another program with them in the future.

55 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Dear Lettie,
Thanks for your review, it's great to hear that you dealt with the rewards and trials of volunteering in equal measure with a positive attitude and were able to make the most of your experience. As you say the children are just glad you're there! Regardless of what's being taught or the resources available, the kids are eager to learn.
We really appreciate the difference you have made and hope to welcome you back on the LV team in the future.
All the best,
The Team @ Love Volunteers

Default avatar
kpcs2002
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ethiopia!

I spent 3 months in Ethiopia, and had the best time. I did have a rough time with culture shock, but overall had a great experience. The people are all amazing, and loving as a whole. The staff at the guest house could not be better. I built some lifelong relationships, and cannot wait to return!

47 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Hi there,
We're so pleased to hear that you had a memorable experience in Ethiopia. Volunteering abroad can be a culture shock for many people and it's fantastic to hear that you were able to deal with this and make your experience a rewarding one - that's what it's all about!
We look forward to having you on-board with us again soon.
Best regards,
The Team @ Love Volunteers

Default avatar
Paul
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is very different to what I expected and I can't recommend it enough. The people are friendly and positive and the volunteer team I worked with were very inspirational people.

Volunteers should expect a religious environment in Ethiopia because it is a very religious country. However, I am non-religious and still had an incredible time.

Certainly some aspects of the program could have been organised better, but I think that is typical of life in a developing countries. The small concerns I did have with organising lessons were quickly addressed and I always felt the local team were striving to improve and learn from volunteers.

I am really pleased I chose to volunteer with Love Volunteers in Ethiopia and hope I'll return some day soon :)

57 people found this review helpful.
Response from Love Volunteers

Hi Paul,
Great to hear that you had a positive experience and were able to make a difference volunteering in Ethiopia!
We love that you were open and tolerant of the local culture and customs. Some of the most valuable attributes volunteers can have are understanding, patience and flexibility when working in the areas of greatest need.
We hope to have you work with us again soon!
All the best,
The Team @ Love Volunteers

Questions & Answers