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Camps International

Why choose Camps International?

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Reviews

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Sammy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

1 month ecuador

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What would you improve about this program?
Make sure that the advertised trip is closer to what is actually completed whilst out there
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Ewa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So good I would go back

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What would you improve about this program?
Provide more vegetables at mealtime
Read my full story
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Danielle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Kenya Experience

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Eleanor
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved it !

I loved Peru as a country and with camps you get to really immerse yourselfs in the community life of the indeginous people and truly be a part of these special communities . The people on camps with me became like a family to me over the 3months couldn't have had more fun. The great thing is you get to be part and help these communities but also get to see the amazing cities in Peru on the weekends and have the freedom to explore . I would 100% recommend you do worth while long lasting work and get to enjoy this amazing country at the same time .

What would you improve about this program?
I would add more time in Cuzco because it's such an amazing city and you need time to appreciate it . Also maybe try and add a bit more variety in the work I did a lot of plastering work .
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Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome experience

I had an amazing time - we only had a small team but Camp Cambodia told me in advance and gave me the opportunity to change it or stick as it was.

The two support staff were lovely. It was such a great thing to have people who live in the village to help with the project who wanted to help! They even let me go meet their family which was lovely. I really felt I was making a difference.

The second part of the trip was in the city with a tour guide - was fantastic and so flexible (probably because we had such a small group!) but it was incredible to have such a plan!

I would definitely recommend it.

What would you improve about this program?
I wasn't 100% keen on the food - be prepared for lots of rice and fried potato.

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

The answer is very simple. The more I thought about participating in a volunteering program, the more I wanted to give it a shot. One day in class, I was talking to a friend about our summer plans. She told me that she had just booked a volunteering experience in Tanzania. I asked her to send me the link, and the next day I simply said: 'Anna, I'm going with you'. It didn't take much convincing.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Camps International is the agency that organized the trip. They took care of a lot of things - transport, accommodation, food, activities, projects for us to get involved in. They also provided us with very useful information about what to expect, culture differences, what to bring, recommended vaccines etc.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Use your weekends wisely. Do something every single weekend. Save up as much money as possible so you can spend your weekends doing extra activities like climbing Kilimanjaro, scuba diving, snorkeling, going on a safari etc.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

An average weekday (Monday-Friday) we would have breakfast at 8am. By the time everybody was ready to leave, it was about 9am. We walked to the local school where all of the projects we were doing were - building the mama's house, making toilets for the school, refurbishing classrooms and the walls of the school. We got to work at 9:30-10am.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Honestly, I was more excited than scared. I have a lot of trust in people so I don't usually get scared, other than the fear of getting scammed as a new fresh-off-the-plane tourist.

I think my biggest shock was the first day. We got into our truck at the airport, and the driver kept saying 'one dollar, one dollar' so we would tip him for helping us with our bags. Important to note: tipping is expected. When we drove to the hotel where we would be spending the first night. We drove through villages and saw extreme poverty all around us. The culture and scenery was VERY different to western Europe. On top of that, we (the volunteers) didn't know each other yet and everybody was a little scared.

Do you have any last tips for future volunteers going to Tanzania?

Why of course I do.

  • 1. Bring enough sunscreen. It is quite expensive there as tourists are the only ones who buy and use it.
  • 2. If you like to travel, stay for more than a month - your time will fly by. I have to say, I was not at all home sick. I just occasionally missed my friends and family.
  • 3. Book return flights for a later date so you have time to travel a little more after the end of the program.
  • 4. Get used to Tanzanian time - 6 am can mean 6:05 am or 9 am.
  • 5. When entering someone's property, it is considered rude if you don't greet every single person there.
  • 6. Write a travel journal - write down the funny stories, the little details that you want to keep with you forever, and people's names and contact information!! You'd be surprised how easy it is to forget someone's name after just a few years.
  • 7. For more details about housing, food, extra activities and my thoughts on how we really impacted the community...check out my review 'So good I would go back' https://www.gooverseas.com/organization/camps-international-reviews

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Jimena Alexandra Quimbita Collaguazo

Job Title
Operations Leader Ecuador
Jimena is a young Ecuadorian woman who is willing to always learn and become an improved version of herself. Jimena has been speaking English for the last 12 years and has been always dedicated to learn more languages. She has also studied International Business. She is always willing to learn about culture, music and anything related to work with people. She has an ability to have a big smile on her face and always treat people with respect. She likes a lot the outdoors and enjoys a new challenge.

woman in children in ecuador

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is back to April 2015 and I had the opportunity to visit my Camps colleagues in Borneo. This was amazing from the beginning as it was a complete different culture that I am used to, but I felt welcomed since the beginning. It was like seeing family in the other side of the world. We shared good times when talking, visiting places, doing project work, and what was more wonderful is when in Camp Bongkud I decided to cook some traditional Ecuadorian food and the crew also made very Malay traditional food, everyone was doing something while we were singing along and then suddenly we started dancing in the kitchen. It was indeed one truly magical moment when the gaps between culture got forgotten and we just all shared the fact of being together and being happy.

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

I like my country a lot and tourism has developed more in the last decade although it is not as good as it should be yet, it has come to a moment when every person who visits Ecuador gets truly amazed by the fact that in a such small country you can find variety only in few hours distance. As underrated I'd say the highlands of Ecuador in provinces like Cotopaxi should be explored more as it gives gorgeous scenery due to its landscape, mountains, hills surrounded by hardworking people who have learnt to leave with Cotopaxi volcano in the background. By the other hand, The Galapagos Island is "overrated", hundreds or even thousands of people visit it every year, but different shouldn't be expected as this place is magical everywhere you see around.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Nowadays people have become less humans, most companies around the world focus on generating income, but this just brings happiness to the pocket but not to the hearts, and being part of Camps have shown me the other side of companies, because the social awareness is what is worthier in a world where the vision has changed. Helping others in need brings retribution to the own company standards and this can lead to a more successful company.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

When I joined Camps, I wasn't quite sure what adventure would arise in my life, before, I was more of a city woman living the city life with not so much outdoors activities, but then my life suddenly changed one day and I saw myself leading a group of your adult volunteers doing project work in a rural community in an amazing place that I never knew its existence and it was in my own country. I've discovered skills I didn't know I had like independence, decision making, risk avoiding, being friendly and welcoming but with respect, appreciate the innocence of children and even do my own laundry in the river.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Working for Camps has being a good place to develop myself as a professional and one the biggest quality I'd name is the trust and confidence we are given in our roles in the company because in this way (with consultancy with the bosses), we are always free to give ideas and make decisions.

Camps is a place that shapes leaders in the most complete way because the situations never are the same and the challenges create a stronger character.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team.

I feel proud of be part of Camps because I believe our product (the projects) are extremely worthy and can generate a very positive change in the life of the people of the communities where work, and especially the children live as they can get inspired by the intercultural exchange achieved with the presence of our volunteer and in a future these children can be motivated to study more, dream more and aspire more in life rather than only becoming a very young mother or father.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

In the years I have worked for Camps, I have heard many different stories, for some even when they are still in Ecuador, many value more what they have at home and create a more social awareness. I think it would be unfair to just name one as there are many stories from our young volunteers whose studies after volunteering in Ecuador, have decided to study Medicine or Nutrition in order to come back to less developed countries and help people is poor communities.

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