Program Reviews

The program is fantastic. Yes, it's in a very rural area, and the living conditions and standards are not equal to those at home. However, once you adjust to the school, you'll absolutely love the program. I met some amazing Chinese volunteers as well as foreign ones, and my students were simply fantastic. They spoke better English than I had expected, were attentive, and very welcoming. Many of them talked to me outside of class and I bonded with them even if I didn't speak much Chinese. You could tell that the program really has had an impact on the community, and that you, too, are making an impact as you volunteer in the school.

United Planet was very organized and reliable; the program coordinator was extremely nice; both the foreign and the Chinese volunteers bonded with each other. At night, we would all go out and play Chinese mafia and look at the stars. For the first time in my life I've seen shooting stars, and there are more stars than one can count (not a hyperbole). It's a very serene, quiet environment, but with the students it becomes a very lively and robust. The program is great for anyone that wants to immerse themselves in the Chinese culture and especially those who want to become a teacher. It really is quite life-changing, so if you're thinking about doing it, my advice is to just do it - you wont' regret it.

The day to day experiences were great. I had numerous spanish lessons where I learned a bunch. I also volunteered at a project where the kids were amazing and inspirational. My host family was very welcoming as well.

However, the organization itself is a mess. The volunteer coordinator parked his truck in the space where we held the kids, so every day we had to rearrange the tables to make room for his vehicle. In addition, the truck left oil leaks on the tile which the volunteers were expected to clean up. Numerous times we were locked out of the project and were unable to let the kids or ourselves into the actually classroom.

The organization also made numerous last minute changes and cancellations. My host family was changed just two days before I left my house in the US and we were only notified by email. Had I already bought gifts for the family, this would have been a problem, as the ages and genders of the children were very different. On multiple occasions the scheduled cultural activities were cancelled, usually only after the scheduled (and paid) teacher or mentor didn't show up.

Then there's the intern. Not only is she rude and rather snobby, but she is also extremely unprofessional. On numerous occasions she failed to keep confidentiality when other volunteers made mistakes or broke their contract. In addition, she showed underage volunteers the local clubs and bars, giving her personal opinion on which ones to go to. She failed to act as an authority figure unless her internship was on the line. Only when a higher authority figure stepped in would she properly assume her position.

Throughout my quest, I had an amazing experience. I was able to not only volunteer and strengthen my abilities in the healthcare field, but also grow culturally. I had the ability to cooperate in several cultural activities and learn much about the Peruvian culture. My coordinator was amazing. She gave me a full tour of Cusco, and explained safe places to be and some to stay away from. The amount of exploring I was able to do comfortably was great. I hiked up several places in Peru and got explanations on all sites. I also took cooking classes, salsa classes and many spanish classes ... Overall, this trip changed me a lot and has changed my perspective on many things. I had an amazing time.

I went on the United Planet Teaching Quest in Santiago, Chile. The pre-departure support was incredible, they provided me with all the information I needed for a successful trip. I was fully emerged into Chilean culture from the moment I arrived, and had the most wonderful host mother. I constantly reflect upon my volunteer trip to Chile, and am incredibly thankful that I chose to travel there with United Planet.

A Taste of the Middle East

Working with United Planet to be placed in Jordan's Development through the Arts was a great experience. After the initial online application, I was directly in contact via telephone with a representative from United Planet so I always had a personal contact with the program provider. They provided me with correct information regarding what to to expect in Jordan. Jordan is a country full of beautiful people and places. Living with a local host family who was the director of the school was a great experience, because as volunteers we learned a lot about the history of the organization House of Tales and Music. During the volunteer day, there are a variety of tasks to be done such as teaching music and art to the children as well as assisting teachers and guests who come to work with the children. There are also many opportunities to visit Jordan during the stay including a trip to Petra, Wadi Rum (the dessert) and the Dead Sea. There are many locals who make the volunteers feel at home and each volunteer is welcomed. This is a great program for those who want to experience a taste of the beautiful culture of the Middle East.

Never believe you are too old to do something and go someplace you've never been before.
I already shared my experience through your blog and again I will never forget my trip to Jordan.
I developed a love for the country and people that are mostly unknown in my area of the United States.
Most of the publicity of the Middle East is very negative and I think people are afraid of those countries and the people who live there.
I learned they are just like me, and have many of the same problems I face in the USA.
We have to stop hating and start caring about countries we know little about except through the media.
Volunteering is a great way to get away from those beliefs.
I shared a lot of photos with my facebook friends and family even though I know that some still don't understand that while they have different beliefs/religion they are all GOD'S Children.

I find it difficult to express in words the amazing experience I had volunteering with United Planet in Peru. I took a short, 10 day trip, and had the time of my life. Everything about the program met or exceeded my expectations, and I can confidently say that I made an impact in the local community there.

Working with the United Planet coordinators was easy and took all the stress out of planning my trip. They were responsive to my questions, and followed up with me in a timely manner. They also provided virtual trainings online for me before my trip that answered many questions that I didn't even know I had!

My host family in Cuzco was very sweet and they had two young daughters that were a joy to interact with and practice my Spanish with (and help them with their English). They provided me with three very good, authentic meals per day, but I did get the chance to experience the local restaurants and nightlife in the city as well.

Mafred, the United Planet coordinator in Peru is the owner of a Spanish school in Cuzco. Here, I got the chance to make friends with volunteers from all around the world. This was super interesting and not something I was expecting. Manfred and Niko, who worked with Manfred, were so much fun and helped me in so many ways during my time there. Oh, and the Spanish lessons were top notch too.

I had the chance to volunteer at an all girls orphanage that was just a short bus ride from my host family and the Spanish school. The conditions were pretty bad, but that's why they need volunteers, right? All of the kids were so sweet. United Planet advised us to bring along activities for them to do, so I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of school supplies, educational workbooks, and some games. We had a blast and I could really tell that the girls enjoyed having someone there to care about them and interact with them in a meaningful way.

Along with volunteering, United Planet provides excursions to sites around your destination. I got to see all of the Inca ruins around Cuzco, museums, churches, and...oh yeah...Machu Picchu!!! Riding the train through the Andes to Aguas Calientes at the base of MP was like something out of a movie. Actually exploring MP and climbing Huana Picchu was just indescribably incredible. Easily one of the best days of my life.

I would highly recommend United Planet for anyone who is looking to travel and make a difference in the world. I plan on taking another trip this year with United Planet.

Oh, and if you do go to Peru, make sure to order Cuy. ;)

I work at McLaren Falls Park which is 20km from Tauranga, NZ in the Bay of Plenty. While each day is different I spend a couple of days each week cleaning toilets and BBQs. The other three days I am string trimming, mowing, maintaining walking tracks, picking up sticks, completing construction projects, and other general park maintenance tasks. Each morning I drive around and collect fees from the campers in the park. This is one of my favorite tasks as it allows me to meet people from all over the world. Since I work in a park I am learning about the native plants, trees, and birds of New Zealand as well as the challenges of combating exotic pests. Even though I work outside every day in all sorts of weather this allows me to experience and enjoy the many beautiful facets of the breathtaking nature that is New Zealand.
The environment is a major part of what makes New Zealand and my time here as a participant of the United Planet, ICYE, and ACVE programmes so incredible. The many lovely places I have visited by taking advantage of the excellently organized Department of Conservation tracks and visitor centres has definitely been one of the biggest highlights of my time here. In movies you see gorgeous vistas, but learn that the editors had to digitally remove a town or highway in the distance. In New Zealand such places of unimaginable beauty actual exist, no special effects required.
I am so grateful to United Planet, ICYE, and ACVE for existing and allowing me to have this awesome as experience in such an amazing place. During my time here I have learned so much, not only at work, but in my travels throughout the country. It has allowed me to see the world through a non-American focused lens. This has given me the gift of being able to more objectively see the unpleasant and great aspects of living in America. To understand big and little things that I take for granted and to put my worries into perspective; I am blessed.

I sent United Planet $9680 dollars for a full year to volunteer abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. They put me in a muslim home in a muslim neighborhood where nobody was even remotely the same age as me (26). It was very difficult to experience all the cultural immersion I was hoping for, because my host family basically had no concerns for me whatsoever, and I was really just a paycheck to them each month (later I realized it was about $200 per month). I asked my program rep to move so I could better my experience, but before I could even state my case she was already cutting me off in mid sentence and wouldnt let me even finish my case. Even the lady who was my immediate supervisor
was shocked at how this lady treated me. I then emailed United Planet my concerns, and presented my case to maximize my experience in South Africa. I waited for weeks with no reply. I then resent the email and waited, they eventually got back to me in a short email and said that I was to stay in the Muslim household. I told them that according to their website the majority of my $9680 was allocated to housing, they informed me that in my case that is not correct, and I later figured out that they sent the organization in South Africa about $4000 for my whole year, and they pocketed the rest. Once I sent them the money and left they basically cut off contact completely. As far as the pre departure training they offer, it is just a bunch of nonsense and not helpful. As far as the insurance, it is completely useless as my friend came over on United Planet program and got into a motorcycle accident, and the insurance didn't do anything he was stuck in a givernment hospital in South Africa, given horrible treatment, and the contat organization didn't even help him in any way with his accident or insurance. I was fortunate enough to take out a 1 million dollar insurance policy from a company called Four Corners, and it provided me with private hospital stay in necessary, helicopter airlifts, and the best doctors in South Africa, and the best part is it only cost $55 a month. United Planet made it sound like I was getting great care and help from them, when in reality they just wanted my money. Several of my friends came over as indepedants and saved lots of money, had a great time, and even stayed longer.

Cape Town as a city is beautiful, the people are great, the nightlife incredible, and the traveling in South Africa is unbelievable. As a matter of fact, I have been here for 2 years now and love it, but I really was taken advantage of by United Planet and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

My friends and I were looking at combining our shared interests in travel, volunteering, and learning. Our recent trip to Cusco, Peru organized through United Planet was almost custom tailored to fit what we were looking for!

Ours was a party of four. My friends were travelling with their 3 year old son. Our trip happened to coincide with another family traveling with children, which turned out to have been a great bonus and a new friendship born from this experience.

A typical day consisted of a breakfast made by our host family who ran a guest house. We would walk to our Spanish language class at the San Blas Spanish school, followed lunch back at the guest house. This was our biggest meal of the day and was a great way to fuel for the energy required at the volunteer project. Our afternoon was spent at the Las Molinas Kids Club afterschool program in San Jeronimo. A 30 minute bus ride to this neighborhood brought us to the project where our short walk through the neighborhood where the kids lived. Our walk would be accompanied by kids shouting out greetings and following in tow.

Due to our participation during the school break, our time at the afterschool program was less structured than usual as this was designed to provide an alternative to just playing all day while on break. We would have an hour of instruction consisting of English review or craft projects, followed by an hour of play time.

On the weekend, United Planet had given us the option of booking a tour of Machu Picchu, which we went on with the other family we met. It was a fun and beautiful trip. At the beginning and end of our stay, we were treated to a nice dinner. Our final sight-seeing event was a short walking tour of Cusco and a drive to neighboring sights.