Program Reviews

I spent four weeks in Sri Lanka on the real Sri Lanka experience, for two weeks we travelled around the country seeing and taking part in all the different places and experiences Sri Lanka has to offer. The next two weeks I volunteered on the turtle and English teaching projects. The projects were well organised and interesting and there was still plenty of time to go to the beach or do activities like kayaking or even tuktuk driving lessons, as well as activities the coordinators organised for volunteers to try like cooking classes, beach bonfires and so many more. The coordinators were always available if you had any issues or needed recommendations for the best places to go/see. This was the experience of a lifetime with the most amazing friendships and memories made, I’m already planning my next trip with PMGY.

PMGY Sri Lanka is an amazing organisation all the staff go above and beyond to help you and are super accommodating to any requests you might have and always organise fun evenings activities for volunteers. I always felt safe while I was there and there are many things put in place to keep volunteers safe for example the PMGY tuk tuk taxi service. The food is freshly prepared and tasty. The weekend trips and real Sri Lankan experience are a great way to be able to explore the country and the culture.

I had a fantastic time on the 12-week South America Encounter with PMGY. Spending 4 weeks in each country (Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru) gave me plenty of time to explore. I volunteered at different projects (childcare, English teaching and wildlife rescue), so was able to experience many new things.
I made lots of new friends and together we planned weekend trips such as a weekend in Puerto Viejo (Costa Rica) and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Travelling with PMGY gave me the gap year experience I was looking for - I was able to meet new people, gain new skills from the projects, learn Spanish, and explore 3 amazing countries with diverse cultures.
The PMGY team were on-hand throughout my trip, helping me when I had any doubts and providing information for each country-specific programme.
I highly recommend Plan My Gap Year and the South America Encounter!

Absolutely amazing experience i would recommend it to anyone. The coordinators in the volunteer house and all the people there make you feel so at home and put you at so much ease doing anything they can to help you out. The projects are really insightful, the childcare programme was amazing, the kids at the school are the best. Also, I definitely recommend the weekend trips, they were such a fun part of the experience, i made so many memories. Overall its a really rewarding experience and definitely worthwhile.

I loved my time in Ghana, i felt like I was able to see the country well with PMGY. The weekend trips are amazing and 100% worth doing. Be aware that you will need to pay the taxi drivers any time you want to go somewhere, which can add up. The workers at the house are all lovely and welcoming! The accommodation is very basic but secure and safe with the guard by the gate. The food is traditional Ghanaian food, which is lovely to try and adds to the experience. The afternoons are free for you to do what you like, but I was always exhausted from placement so used the time to rest.

PMGY is a very trustable company with assistance available at all times. I did two projects in Southeast Asia and had the best time. I started with the medical program in Vietnam; it was nice to experience the way of working in the hospital there, but I think this program would be better for students at the beginning of their study. There is not a lot to do and the doctors do not always have time to explain what is going on with patients or to answer your questions. After this project, I went to Bali to do the English teaching program which was the best thing I have done so far! The people were amazing, the weekend trips well organized but most importantly: the project definitely made a difference for the community. The kids were really happy to see you and they were eager to learn. I am thankful that I got to experience this!

If you’re considering going to Sri Lanka, definetely do it! I had the best 9 weeks of my life there, and have made so many amazing friends and had so many amazing experiences.
I was supposed to stay with PlanMyGapYear in Sri Lanka for six weeks, but ended up extending for three more weeks because I found it so amazing there. And if I hadn’t already made plans after that, I would have extended for even longer.

Everyone comes to PMGY with an open mind and is ready to make new friends and experiences. Not to say that the local team in Sri Lanka is amazing. They do everything in their power to make you feel welcome and happy, from several afternoon activities during the week to checking if you’re okay if they sense that something is wrong. The local team practically becomes family while you’re there, and they do so much to let you into their culture and everyday life.

The projects in Sri Lanka are very well-organised, and I woke up and really wanted to go to project every day. I can especially recommend the turtle project, but from what I have heard from everyone else who was there during my nine weeks, all of the projects are amazing. PMGY Sri Lanka also has a lot of different projects to offer, so if you’re not loving the project that you originally chose, you can always switch to another volunteering project.

I am definitely gonna go back to my second home in Sri Lanka, and I would recommend everyone to go and get an experience of a lifetime with PMGY Sri Lanka.

The India trip with PMGY was an unforgettable experience. The people, food, and places we saw were incredible, and I gained valuable experience working in a different healthcare system which will truly serve me well as a physician in the future. It was super convenient being picked up from the aiport for free. Every day during the week we would be given a placement and spend a few hours at a different site working with the patient population alongside the doctor who would help us perform different skills and communicate. Drivers for PMGY made it super convenient getting around the city. On weekends, when we were not working, we had the opportunity to travel to and explore different parts of India. Vishy, the coordinator for the India program, was super nice and helped make planning these trips super easy. The volunteer home was next to a school, and during our free time we also had the opportunity to work with young schoolchildren in an academic setting. Sometimes in the evenings, the kids would be playing in the park next door, and we would set up football matches. Aside from the work, the other volunteers and coordinators in India were amazing and I was able to form lasting relationships with so many people. Aside from the experience I gained from working in India, I think the people I met will be what I miss the most. I will never forget this experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking to travel, explore a new culture, or gain medical experience!

I had a wonderful time in Ghana with PMGY. The projects were interesting, the weekend trips were amazing and the people are the best. The people in the house, the drivers and the people in the projects are wonderful. They help in every situation and are always there for you. Also in the projects are people who help you and explain a lot of things to the volunteers. Also at the volunteering house you have always a great time with the people who are working or living there.
I went to both of the weekend trips. They are awesome. The cape coast trip is perfect to relax and the one to Mole Nationalpark gives so much new experiences.
Also I had a look at 3 projects. At the medical one I had a great time and saw 4 births. At the school project I met a lot of wonderful children and also in the orphanage it is great and a lot of fun with the children there.
Kumasi (the city where the volunteer house is) is a wonderful city. Not to big and not to small. The people there are so wonderful, everyone wants to talk to you and they are very interested. Also I felt very safe there. You can do nice things in Kumasi. I enjoyed my time in Kumasi very much.
I would like to go to Ghana with PMGY again and I can just recommend to do it.
I am so thankful for my perfect time in Ghana.

Staff were friendly and the experience was absolutely insane. Seeing the big 5 in their natural habitat was an unforgettable experience and the weekends allowed for you to personalise your trip. Accommodation is modest but more than worth the money you are paying. I felt safe throughout on the reserve and when travelling during the weekends staff provide transport for you and can organise activities (e.g. quad biking, horse riding, skydiving, bungee jump, swimming with seals). Mama Africa (Faith), Ali G and Felix were absolutely amazing and made us all feel at home straight away. You will meet amazing people and see incredible things. The only slight criticism I would give was the tasks at the Game Reserve were usually the same each week so became slightly repetitive. I would recommend going for 3-4 weeks.