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Projects Abroad

Why choose Projects Abroad?

Discover what you are capable of with Projects Abroad!

Projects Abroad is a global organization formed in 1992 around the need for gap year programs abroad designed for students taking a break from studying. We have since expanded to offer high school volunteer programs and a vast variety of other programs geared towards people of any age and background who are looking to lend a helping hand.

Our programs are built on sustainability, long-term impact, strengthening communities, and making lasting connections.

Visit the Projects Abroad website to speak with a Project Expert today!

Reviews

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Liv
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Highly recommend!

The time I spent with Projects Abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much, gained so much experience in the field of human rights, met the most amazing people and was lucky to see the beauty of Ghana. Despite coming alone, I made great friends who I travelled with and I stayed with an amazing host family who looked after me so well. I cannot recommend this experience enough, it helped me grow as a person and in my career, thank you Projects Abroad for making it so memorable.

Pros
  • Met the most amazing people and lifelong friends.
  • Learnt so much about my career path.
  • Explored Ghana and its culture.
Cons
  • It is daunting to solo travel.
  • The days can be quite long and tiring.
  • It takes time to adjust.
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Nolan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer trip in Kenya for transition year

I went on a projects abroad trip to Kenya with my school during transition year. We went for three weeks. We worked on conservancy, worked with the kids and painted in the school, and climbed Mt Kenya. The communication before and during the trip really put my mind at ease. I had an amazing time and projects abroad made the whole process easy and worry-free. Myself and my classmates enjoyed the time we had together. I had an incredible, life- changing experience! I would definitely recommend projects abroad (and already have)!

Pros
  • Working with the kids
  • Collecting the traps that put the animals in danger
  • The safari
Cons
  • Climbing Mt Kenya was difficult
Response from Projects Abroad

Thanks for taking the time to review Projects Abroad, Nolan. Really great to read about your experience. We're glad you enjoyed it - and thanks so much for recommending us too!

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Annabel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Giraffe conservation in Kenya

I had an amazing time. The team - Tony, Enoch, Peter, Dalvin and Phyllis were wonderful and looked after us all so well. The conservation work was really interesting and fulfilling - I genuinely felt I was making a difference and I learned a huge amount. The house was lovely and the food cooked by Phyllis was plentiful and delicious. I didn't expect to see so many giraffes so close up. The landscape was magical especially the lake which was full of flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills etc. There were zebras everywhere - so beautiful. I'd go again if I could!

Pros
  • The wildlife
  • The staff
  • The people
Cons
  • Sometimes not many other volunteers there so would recommend taking a friend or two
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Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once in a lifetime experience!

From the moment that I was picked up from the airport by the Projects Abroad staff I always felt safe and welcomed throughout the whole program. After a few days doing the care project I took up the offer to change projects as the girl I was doing the care one had fallen sick. The staff did anything that they could to make sure I was comfortable and having fun so they offered for me to switch to the medical program with people my own age. They organised all the transport and accommodation for me to move to the other group. From there on I had the best week and a half of my life getting to experience things that I would never have seen at home alongside some amazing people who I have built long- term friendships with. We got assess to hospitals to observe doctors and procedures, lectures by medical professionals and opportunity to go to the medical college. We got to go on a weekend trip to the local national park where we went on a safari and went to museums and watch cultural dancing. We were always able to go shopping and the staff were always happy to take us. All our meals were provided and there was always a wide range of options. I came away from this experience with memories and friends that will last a lifetime and a longing to do it all again.

Pros
  • Support from the staff
  • Cultural experience
  • Building friendships with people of the same interests
Cons
  • Having to change programs (but still loved the medical one)
Default avatar
H
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The most incredible experience of my life

I volunteered in Ghana on the High School Special Medical Internship Programme in July 2022 with Projects Abroad. It was the most amazing, incredible experience of my life, and Projects Abroad were fantastic, from pre-departure to the very end.
The medical experience provided by Projects Abroad was beyond anything I could have imagined and provided absolutely life-changing and invaluable experiences and access I don't think I could really get anywhere else. It 100% confirmed my passion for medicine and desire to pursue this in the future.
I was there with 10 other volunteers, we all stayed together with our amazing host family, which was such a brilliant part of the experience, being able to live and share so many things with other people of the same age and interests as you from all around the world. We all built life-long friendships and a love for our host mother’s delicious food!
The Projects Abroad co-ordinators who looked after us were extremely friendly, welcoming and supportive in every way and we built such an amazing relationship in the short time we were there. Meda w'ase!!
It was certainly all the people that made it the experience it was.
Not only that, but I was extremely impressed with the number of cultural activities and trips Projects Abroad fitted in alongside the medical experience in just the short two weeks I was there. We were able to properly experience a lot of the Ghanian lifestyle too.
I can't have asked for anything more, and highly recommend Projects Abroad to anyone looking for an experience of a lifetime whilst also being able to make a real difference by giving back through volunteering!

Pros
  • Invaluable medical experience you certainly could not get in the UK or many other places
  • Build life-long friendships
  • Experience a completely different culture and lifestyle to your own

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you choose this program?

I had some free time and I decided to use it volunteering for conservation. I did it twice, once in Costa Rica for three months and once in Galapagos for three weeks. I think that working hard in nature helps clear your mind and gives you a different perspective on life. And it worked very well.

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

As I am not a young person, I did everything by myself: looking for the program, choosing it, organising the flights and some of my traveling accommodations. I managed with Project Abroad about my fist night when I landed in the countries. And, of course, the lifts to my final destinations.

Everything worked very well.

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

When you go volunteering, bring always with you patience, smiles, curiosity and flexibility. Be open-minded - there are new cultures, foods, lifestyles that you’ll meet and you have the opportunity to share yours with local people. Don’t be scared to experience, but respect and follow the behaviours of your guests. You might have problems only if you insist to behave as in your country.

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

Days with Project Abroad in Galapagos are very well scheduled. You have the opportunity to see many different aspects of local life, nature, animals. You can also organise tours and short trips to other islands of the archipelago. It’s a never-ending adventure.

You work for 5 hours per day (average) and then you can enjoy surroundings, pubs, restaurants.

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

After the PA experience, I’m more confident in problem-solving and I know that a different lifestyle can be fun and definitely ‘change your eyes’. Things that seemed so important at home, take the right place in life.

I was scared not to find friends, but I was wrong. I found a lot of friends...

Any last pieces of advice?

The side goal of this experience in Galapagos (but also the one in Costa Rica) is that you really create a net of friends all over the world. You meet different people, different ages, different cultures. And it’s really interesting. I met Australian, Chinese, New Zealand, Canadian, European. When you share life, you learn a lot about other people.

Staff Interviews

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

Natalia Raquel Gomez

Job Title
Volunteer Advisor
Natalia was born in Argentina; she studied tourism and worked as a travel agent, receptionist and in customer service both in Argentina and abroad (Ecuador, Colombia and Panama). She is currently living and working in Mexico.
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What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory was having the chance to visit the coffee farmers in the central jungle in Peru. I got to see the entire process of coffee farming and the realities and life stories of the families working there.

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

I was able to grow both personally and professionally by traveling abroad and experiencing different ways of life. I was taught the importance of working as a part of a team and getting to know the different staff members, personally or via email or Skype.

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

Hearing the experience that one of our medical volunteers had when given the chance to witness a birth.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would choose one of the marine conservation projects that are a great help to communities by contributing both with cleaning beaches and species research, and teaching children the importance of the environment.

Another project that I would be interested in joining is the nomad project in Mongolia. It will give you an amazing chance to experience a different culture first hand and learn a lot about their traditions.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I am very proud to be a part of this excellent team. I feel that we offer a great opportunity to people that wish to travel and make a difference, as an alternative to just tourism.

Projects like the Disaster Relief in Nepal after the earthquake, Teacher´s Training in Peru, Building in Ghana, Marine Conservation in several locations, and working with refugees in Italy are only a few examples of the different things that make me proud about Projects Abroad.

Professional Associations

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