Program Reviews

I participated in the 3 week childcare project in Vietnam, Hanoi and it was everything I wished for and more.

The support prior to arrival and whilst you’re in the country is incredible. This was my first trip long haul trip alone and because PMGY made it so easy, the whole process was stress-free.

The volunteer house was not what I expected, it was much better! It is a very large house and the CSDS team are located on the bottom floor so there are always staff to help us out if we needed it. They took the time to go through our projects with us so we had a chance to have any questions we had answered.

In regards to food at the house - I was very impressed. It is varied food choices each night and the sesame seed tofu was my absolute favourite, I miss it now I’m back home!

My project was amazing and I feel so grateful and lucky I was able to participate in this experience. I worked alongside children with special needs and practiced specific methods in helping them to train fine motor skills. I learnt so much whilst I was there and the staff (even though they didn’t speak English) were so patient and kind the whole time.

The country is beautiful and there is so much to do on your weekends off! I wish I stayed longer as we only got a chance to do a few things but everything I done I have loved - Sapa being my favourite and a must see. The local people are wonderful and kind and I have never felt so safe in a country before.

My advice, if you are hesitant, is to just do it, I promise you will not regret it. I met the most amazing people, had wonderful food, an incredible placement and some memories I will never forget and hold in my heart for a lifetime. I can’t wait to book another trip with PMGY for next year.

This summer I spent 5 weeks in India and 4 in Sri Lanka with Pmgy. In India I’ve participated on the orphanage program, but was also lucky enough to participate on disable children program in slums and special needs center. I absolutely loved programs there. Usually half of the time we studied with the kids (math, alphabet, vocabulary), the second part spent playing their favourite games and learning Indian dances.

Tuk Tuks what were arranged to bring us to the orphanage and back home again, so there was no problem with a transport. Also drivers were so lovely.
The food in the accommodation was basic - rice, vegetable curry, bread, some days samosas and another traditional things. The accommodation was basic as well, but exactly there we could feel the real voluntary work (but I wish they could change matresses🙏🏻). I’ve did 2 weekend trips, what were nicely organised as well. Very glad to know Vishy and Kranti. They helped a lot, even in some personal issues (like shopping😋). Also another coordinator Jon helped a lot in our work, cheered us up with country conditions! Definitely I would like to repeat my voluntary experience in India!

In Sri Lanka I was involved in the renovation program - we worked in the monastery (painted the walls). I loved this place and this program! Very quiet and peaceful.
The accommodation where I lived was called River House - a big and nice place near the water. The food was nice, we had the timetable with a menu for every day.
The transport also had a timetable, so we could go to the town easily. I had one weekend trip with Pmgy. It was organised very well. I would like to say thanks to coordinators there, because they helped me a lot in some personal and professional issues.

Thank you, Philip, for all this profesional organization.

I volunteered in Sri Lanka for two weeks during April 2017. It was an invaluable experience and one that I’d recommend to anyone. Ash and the PMGY team work so hard to ensure that everyone is safe, comfortable and is having the best possible experience. London House is fabulous! Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with an incredible culture which you can fully immerse yourself into by staying in Ambalangoda with Ash and his lovely family. Two weeks really wasn’t long enough, I wish I could’ve stayed longer and I was so sad to say goodbye. I would recommend staying at least 4-6 weeks, it won’t be regretted. I volunteered for the Orphanage Project where I practiced English with two girls aged 7 and 8, this one-to-one experience meant that you could build a bond with the children. They spoke very good English which is a direct result of the efforts put in by PMGY. I also bought a day pass for the elephants and turtle conservation, this is highly recommended! If you have no plans for the weekend, I went on the adventure, hill country and safari weekend trip. This was a brilliant way to travel to places which would otherwise be difficult to get to. The views were incredible when we were driving through the hill country and Yala Safari is so much fun! As a trainee Primary School teacher I would strongly recommend volunteering with PMGY, I gained so much more than teaching practice from this experience!

Thank you Ash, your family and PMGY for offering the experience of a life time! I wish I could’ve stayed longer! I will definitely return to Sri Lanka in the future and use PMGY again.

I had an amazing experience in Sri Lanka, the pre-departure information was really useful, the handbook was really informative and helped me feel prepared for starting the volunteer programs and for what it would be like living in Sri Lanka. I worked at the elephant project for 2 weeks which was an incredible experience to be so up close to the elephants every day. On the project we would clean out the elephants areas, walk the elephants to the river, bathe the elephants and then give them some fruit. It could get a bit repetitive which is why I think 2 weeks was a good amount of time to spend on the project. They also take you on an elephant safari which is really exciting and a great way to break up the week. I also spent a week on the turtle project, It was a lot of cutting up fish and feeding them to the turtles but the baby turtles are adorable and it was amazing to get to release them into the sea. The weekend trips are worth going on, they can seem quite expensive but they are well organised and you get to see a lot more of Sri Lanka. I would definitely recommend volunteering with PMGY.

I've had the most amazing 4 weeks in Sri Lanka with PMGY! I've met some incredible people, worked with some lovely kids and made the best memories! All the pre departure information is great, helping you feel more prepared for when you arrive. I volunteered on the teaching project, working with children aged 9-14 and I loved it! It was so much fun as the kids are so willing to learn and everyday is different! Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and there's so many places to explore at the weekends including beaches, national parks and temples.

A big thank you to Ash and all the coordinators in Sri Lanka. They really are fantastic and always willing to help you out with anything you need. They are also great at making you feel welcome from the moment you first arrive in the country. This was my second brilliant trip with PMGY, so also thank you to the UK team 😊 I can definitely recommend PMGY and Sri Lanka to anyone wanting to volunteer abroad and my biggest tip would be to just book it! I would love to do another trip in the future, to another PMGY destination and also back to Sri Lanka! I've never felt so at home in a country as I did in Sri Lanka and I miss it so much, even after being home for a month!

At the beginning of September I spend 2 weeks doing the Thailand childcare programme. I would 100% recommend this programme to anyone, I had the best time making so many unforgettable memories! The months leading up to our departure were a breeze, you are sent all the information you need to know in the volunteer handbook and if you have any questions big or small the PMGY team are great at replying to your emails.

When in Thailand we stayed with our volunteer leader Sopida and her family, who made us feel more than welcome. We had everything we needed comfy beds, hot showers, our own locked draw for valuables and WIFI! Honestly I couldn't fault anything and that's thanks to Sopida, herself and her husband Darryl went out of their way to make us all feel welcome. They even bought me an early birthday cake and arranged for me to get one on my actual birthday while we were off exploring in Chiang Mai! They always asked what we fancied for tea and if we wanted to try any specific Thai food while we were there. They helped us book and organise flights, taxi's and were to go after we finished the programme.

Each morning we would walk to the school with Sopida ( if it was raining Darryl would give us a lift there and back in the car). Sopida made sure before we went to the school that we all felt confident enough to go into the classroom and teach. She provided us with lots a useful resources and activities to do with the children and was always on hand to help us translate with the teachers. However, there isn't lot of teaching time on the child care programme as the children take a nap during the day. But in the short time we spent with the children they picked up the song 'wind the bobbing up' pretty easily, that has to be one of my most favourite memories! On our last 2 days of the programme Sopida took us to another school in a more deprived area to take part in English Camp. This was such a rewarding but challenging experience I will never forget. We were with children ages 7-16 who were all eager to learn and truly grateful we were there!
Overall this trip was one I will never forget and that's all down to Sopida! I can not thank her ( and Darryl) enough for making my first experience of Thailand so memorable, I don't think there was a day we weren't all in stitches laughing! Now I just can't wait to book another one :) #honey #dazzle #gossipgirl #pmgythailand

I was initially sceptical about what the placement would be like with being introduced this year, but I found it a once in a lifetime experience. By producing a two-week timetable meant that no two days would be the same. Each placement varied, meaning that you could experience the cultural differences. The people I met there were incredible, both the other volunteers and the staff. I’d definitely want to visit the beautiful country again.

I have just returned from the best 2 months in Bali.
Before leaving the pre departure support was amazing! I read the hand book thoroughly before i left and it prepared me massively for the trip. Any extra questions i had were answered immediately by either josh or philip, reassuring me that i would love the trip.

While there i took part in two projects, both the childcare and teaching. Both projects were incredible. The child care consisted of looking after children from 6months-6 years, carrying out general care, including feeding, washing, play and teaching english for a short 45 minute lesson. The children are a dream to teach and care for, they are the liveliest of kids and you will instantly fall in love with their cheeky/playful personalities. The childcare centre is based in a nunnery meaning you get to work along side the nuns and carers. Please do speak to them, their english is basic but they are the sweetest of people and really appreciate your help and attempts at learning the language.
The teaching project is equally as good. Volunteers are expected to plan lessons for the week, this requires creativity however once you get going it's super easy! In the mornings you teach at a different school every day allowing you do meet all kinds of children. Indra comes along to help translate, he is externally helpful and very talented at his job making the volunteers job much easier. In the afternoon you teach at akasa, here you teach the same children every day. These kids are the sweetest, they are forever writing you notes and asking for hugs and signatures. It is a really enjoyable class and the part i loved most about teaching.

Now for my favourite part of the trip! The family! The family you stay with are the nicest group of people i have ever met. Ketut, Rush, Indra, Krisna, Go Ni Ni and the rest of the family are all amazing, every single person made me feel so welcome. The family pride themselves on making every single person feel like part of the family, it's such a lovely part of their culture and was one of the reasons why my trip was so successful! Nothing was too much for them, anything you needed was attended to immediately. At first Krisna( the youngest son) was so shy, but after many attempts at speaking to him he really came out of his shell. Please do make an effort to speak to him, he is the sweetest person and listening to his music is truly magical. Indra is such a key part to the team, he takes you on your induction day, on the pmgy weekend trips and organises all transport for you. He is always there for the volunteers and does such an amazing job at making everyone feel welcome.
The accomodation is beyond anything i could imagine, you are provided with mosquito nets and bedding and each room has an ensuite. The water in the shower is cold however after a day in the heat it was well needed. Rush and the team are currently in the mist of building a new part to the home which will eventually mean that all volunteers are in the same house! They are consistently trying to improve their destination in order to ensure all volunteers are happy with their stay!

My only advice to volunteers would be to go for it! Don't hesitate, get involved in as much as you can, embrace as much culture as you can and enjoy your self, you won't regret it!

I had the most amazing time in Bali and met the most incredible people. Thank you so much to my balinese family, without you my trip wouldn't have been as amazing as it was! Aku cinta kamu💛

At the beginning of September I spent two weeks on the PMGY Childcare programme in Thailand, where I have learnt so many skills, gained memories and been inspired for the future.
Before arriving PMGY sent a handbook with information and any questions I had they were reliable for answering in no time!
Our accommodation was in the house of our volunteer leader and her family! The accommodation catered for all needs as had everything us young people needed to be happy - WiFi, hot showers and a clean environment. Sopida and Darryl are a lovely couple who made us 6 feel comfortable and we became a little family for the 2 weeks we shared together. They supported us with weekend trips, taxis and flights. Sopida came with us to the school and supported us within the classrooms and translated any language we needed help with. We were hands on and never felt like we were unsure on what to do; as Sopida would prepare useful resources to support us if we needed it.
I recommend double checking the programme in the handbook for the difference between Childcare and Teaching. As our group are all trainee teachers we were happy to step in and teach more English without any preperarion with the younger children, however the ‘childcare’ programme doesn’t specify full on teaching. Also within the preschool the children have a large nap time and therefore we had a large break in the middle of the day (due to their age), if you are unsure if this would suit you, I would recommend double checking the programme you are going to be volunteering on. On the final 2 days of our programme, Sopida took us to a deprived school on the outskirts of Pathum Thani, here the children were aged 7-15 years old. This was a challenge for us all but the most rewarding as we saw how simple English lessons were appreciated and how the pupils were grateful for the small things in life. I feel lucky to have met such humble and respectful children in both schools.

Overall, I enjoyed spending time with Sopida and Darryl and can’t thank them enough for their hospitality. Sopida was always there to support us with any questions and to make our experience in Thailand the best! To say this was your first year, it was bloody brilliant! Keep at it guys and will see you soon! #pmgythailand

The wild life project in Bali was an amazing experience! Ketut and her family made me feel very welcome in their home. Everything was well organised. The project was on mon-thu and we had a lot of free time. Animal keepers at the project gave us a lot of information about the animals in the centre and their stories. I really recommend this project. The food was amazing and veggie option always available. I would go again and for longer this time, 2 weeks don’t seem to be enough :)