Program Reviews

My time Ghana was incredible!
As part of the medical placement, I had the opportunity to work in a hospital and learn & see things I would have never had the chance to otherwise!
Seth, the country coordinator, was fantastic! He really did everything in his power to help maximize our experience!
I had always dreamed of going to Africa and being immersed in a different culture and reality.. Plan My Gap Year allowed me to do this in the best and safest way possible!
I feel that Seth helped us to truly live and see the real Ghana.. It's a trip I will never forget!

My time there was transformative.. I will never forget the things I learnt or the friends I made!

And thus, I would full heartedly recommend it to anybody with an open mind and spirit!

I have now returned from my 3 week English Teaching Placement in Kumasi, Ghana and I must say that it has been one of the most enjoyable and eye-opening experiences of my life so far. A big part of this is purely down to the support, kindness and welcoming attitude of the local team at PMGY Ghana. All of the team there are so focussed on making sure you have an enjoyable and productive time in Ghana, as in the words of Seth Mensah (PMGY Ghana Coordinator) they want to "make sure you make every moment count". This support that Seth and his team offers expands over so many different areas, from simple things such as buying people biscuits and putting on films to keep people entertained and happy, or taking care of you when ill even if it means driving to the pharmacy for you, as well as going to your placement with you and sorting out any issues if you are unhappy with what you're doing there or how you're treated. The list can go on for ages, however, the main point that I'm trying to put across is that you'll never feel alone or unsupported when at PMGY Ghana.
The placements are also a great experience, despite only having done the teaching placement, I have heard great and interesting things about them all. The one thing which can most likely be said for all of them, as well as Ghana as a whole, is that it's all quite a big culture shock, however with an open mind and the concept of "this is how they do things in Ghana" you can manage to benefit quite a lot from it all. In my own case with the school, you realise how education is a lot more appreciated, as the children are required to pay school fees. Yes, the conditions of the school, classrooms and resources are not the best, however, they manage to make it work which is a great thing that I admire. At the end of the day, I found my entire placement at the school great, seeing the kids smiling faces as we walked into the classroom each day, introducing them to a new style of lessons which didn't just revolve around writing and got them more practically involved. But the best thing was when you realised that students were getting an understanding of your lesson and the information which you had taught them, seeing the happiness on their faces when they understood and would explain to their friends to help them when struggling. To me that was one of the best parts about it, knowing I had actually contributed to their lives and that this experience has benefitted more than just myself.
As a whole, these last 3 weeks volunteering teaching English in Ghana with PMGY has been a truly unforgettable experience and one that I hope to replicate with PMGY again in the future, either at one of their other destinations or possibly Ghana again. From start to end PMGY have been so helpful and supportive, both the UK and Ghana team. You can see they are doing great things, managing to make a difference whilst providing great experiences for people, allowing them to open their eyes to the world and provide the means to give something back. I will definitely be volunteering with them again at some point in the future and I can only hope that they manage to continue to grow as an organisation so that they can continue to make the change which you can see occurring at the various projects.

In August 2014 I spent 2 weeks volunteering in Ghana with PMGY on the orphanage programme. It was honestly the best thing I have ever done! It is absolutely amazing. Before I left for Ghana, I had contacted two other volunteers who were travelling to Ghana on the same day as me, and we ended up meeting at Heathrow Airport and seating next to each other on the plane. PMGY had created a Facebook group, which allowed all the volunteers to ask questions and find other people who would be out in Ghana at the same time. I found this very helpful. When we arrived at the airport, two members of the local team were there to meet us. They were both very welcoming and friendly. That evening we stayed in a hotel in Accra before travelling to Kumasi by coach the next day. The drive took around 5 hours but this gave you time to get to know all the volunteers and the local team.

The volunteer house is lovely. There is lots of space, each bedroom sleeps 6. This allows you to get to know the people you are sharing with well. There is a big living room and a nice kitchen and dining room. Having all the volunteers living together allows everyone to become friends very quickly.

The next day you have an orientation day where you get to experience the amazing culture Ghana has. It also allows you to see how kind and welcoming the Ghanaians are. The majority of the locals speak a little bit of English as well as the local language of Twi. Back at the house the guy will teach you a little bit of Twi and you will have an African drumming and dancing lesson.

The next day we started our volunteering. At first it was hard because you don’t know what they expect you to do, but as the week goes on you soon learn. The orphanage is very eye opening but also fun, the children are great and very energetic. The mothers are great as well. At first they seem rather unfriendly towards you but remember to introduce yourself, offer to help and tell them what you are planning on doing before just doing it and they will open up to you. I am sure most people would be the same; they have new people coming in regularly to help them do their job. These people have been working there for years so just make sure you respect them and appreciate that their job is hard work. You work alongside the staff to assist in teaching the children and the daily running of the orphanage. It was an amazing experience and the work was incredibly rewarding.

I also spent two afternoons working in the hospital. It was a very interesting experience. Obviously they are tremendously different from Western hospitals. I spent a few hours in immunisations, however this does get a little repetitive after a while. All the staff in this ward of the hospital are very busy so they don’t have much time to talk to you. I then spent a few hours in X-ray. The people who work in this ward are very friendly. As they have fewer patients they have more time to explain everything to you and show you how everything is done. I also spend a few hours in A&E and the ENT wards. Overall I enjoyed spending two afternoons in the hospital, I found it very informative and helpful.

At the weekend we went to Mole National Park, where you get to go on two safaris and hopefully see elephants. You also stop off at a beautiful waterfall to go for a swim and go to a monkey sanctuary. Although it was a long drive there it was definitely worth it as it was an incredible experience, and I would definitely recommend going.

In the evenings the guys would come back to the house to see you and find out how your day went, we usually ended up watching films or playing card games. Another man also stayed in the house all the time. He was very friendly and funny. He would; go to Internet cafes with you or go to get some money out with you, he was very helpful. There was never a point where I felt scared or worried about being alone in a new country. There was always lots of support from all the local team, who I miss lots! The only problem I had in Ghana was with the food. I wasn’t a fan of plantain or yams, but all the other volunteers liked it. However, there were always plenty of things you could eat so you never went hungry.

Overall I would highly recommend travelling to Ghana with PMGY, they are a fantastic company! I really hope I can go back soon.

My 4 weeks in Sri Lanka was the greatest, most mind-opening experience I have ever had. Along with the colourful vibrancy of Sri Lanka itself, the variety of programs available and the welcoming nature of all Sri Lankan people I met, my first Gap Year trip was one I will never forget. The coordinators were not only so friendly and easy to get along with, but ensured our safety throughout the time we spent there. Travelling alone can be something daunting, yet from the minute I arrived at New House in Sri Lanka, the organisation (despite the typical Sri Lankan lateness of course!) of the whole scheme made me feel confident that the trip would be a success. I cannot stress enough how influential this trip has been for me. The projects are so rewarding and you are able to not only have an impact on the life of others, yet also change yours for the better. For me, teaching children from the orphanage, made me realise how we take our Western education system for granted. Their flare for learning and their desire to succeed and aspire to greatness, was one of the most wonderful and inspiring things I have ever witnessed.
Looking back on my time in Sri Lanka now, I wish I had better savoured my time there: the affectionate thanks from the children at the orphanage; the constant laughter, and of course the time I spent with the other volunteers, who I now talk to and see regularly! Thank you PMGY and of course the Sri Lanka coordinators.

Ghana was the first African state I travelled to. Prior to the trip, I was full of awe and wonder at the same time somewhat nervous to embark on this life changing trip to the peaceful African country. All PMGY staff in Ghana was extremely helpful. The programme coordinator Seth made me feel incredibly welcomed even before I arrived! Whenever you need someone to speak to or are caught in a difficult situation Seth will respond to Facebook messages and phone calls at an instant. Other PMGY staffs, Kwame and Sofia are both very friendly, they made you feel very comfortable while living in the house. I recommend you to eat the red red beans and Plantin made by Sofia, they are delicious! My trip was cut short because of family commitments however, this did not stop me enjoy my short time in Ghana. Even with the short time in Ghana, it was a sad and difficult goodbye.
The orphanage experience was amazing! it was made me appreciate how good my life was and made me notice that it is the smallest and unnoticeable things in our life that is in fact the most important in theirs. Helping out at the orphanage has been an unforgettable and worth every second of my life experience.
Christmas in Ghana! Christmas in Ghana is not celebrated in the same manner to the UK, nevertheless, the PMGY staffs try their hardest to make you feel at home during Christmas, such as, putting up Christmas trees, decoration around the house, watching Christmas movies and sing songs.

Ghana was the first African state I travelled to. Prior to the trip, I was full of awe and wonder at the same time somewhat nervous to embark on this life changing trip to the peaceful African country. All PMGY staff in Ghana was extremely helpful. The programme coordinator Seth made me feel incredibly welcomed even before I arrived! Whenever you need someone to speak to or are caught in a difficult situation Seth will respond to Facebook messages and phone calls at an instant. Other PMGY staffs, Kwame and Sofia are both very friendly, they made you feel very comfortable while living in the house. I recommend you to eat the red red beans and Plantin made by Sofia, they are delicious! My trip was cut short because of family commitments however, this did not stop me enjoy my short time in Ghana. Even with the short time in Ghana, it was a sad and difficult goodbye.

The orphanage experience was amazing! it was made me appreciate how good my life was and made me notice that it is the smallest and unnoticeable things in our life that is in fact the most important in theirs. Helping out at the orphanage has been an unforgettable and worth every second of my life experience.

Christmas in Ghana! Christmas in Ghana is not celebrated in the same manner to the UK, nevertheless, the PMGY staffs try their hardest to make you feel at home during Christmas, such as, putting up Christmas trees, decoration around the house, watching Christmas movies and sing songs.

Originally I was going to do 4 weeks in the elephant project and then 4 weeks on the turtle programme. I really enjoyed the elephant project, you're able to get up close and personal with the elephants and create a bond with them. I would definitely recommend this to any animal lover. Although this project is really fun its quite repetitive as in you do exactly the same thing every day and that's why I decided to change my project after just 2 weeks. It was very easy to do this through the local coordinators and was not a problem at all. I feel like 2 weeks was the perfect amount of time to spend with the elephants, long enough to bond with them and enjoy your time but not too long that you get bored. I loved the turtle project as soon as I started, 6 weeks there flew by! I enjoyed everything from feeding to cleaning the turtles and it was the highlight of my trip, it was very well organised and varied day to day. Ash and all of the coordinators were such brilliant people. They were very professional but also very friendly. they would go out of their way to make you feel comfortable or help you in any way that they could. I couldn't have asked for better people to spend time with over my 2 months there. The whole trip was very organised and I would recommend it to everyone!!

The PMGY trip was nothing like I've ever done, it was my first time travelling alone and my first time in Sri Lanka and being with the program definitely was a memorable experience. Departure support and preparation for the trip was convenient and informative with the web seminars and sharing profiles on facebook so we could easily socialise. When I arrived the PMGY coordinators were very welcoming and helpful. The accommodation was well maintained by Sister and a very friendly environment. I would've liked more freedom with exercise activities as being in the house in between projects and at night and especially those just doing one project can get quite boring just sitting around. There were activities such as watching movies and playing card games available as well although which were great. Another useful recommendation would be to have just one computer or laptop lying around for volunteer use as many of us needed to check emails or skype family or send through university applications or like me, pay for the extra weekend trip which was difficult to do through the phone. I loved meeting new people, it was difficult to mix with those already there though I made some great bonds and made two very close friends! I worked on the elephant project, teaching kids English and did a day pass of turtle conservation. It was great that they allowed me to do the afternoon project on top of the initially booked elephant project as I would rather fulfil the experience and be busy all day. The projects were shorter than expected and to be truthful, the elephant project was a little beneath what I had expected. We cleaned the resting area, walked with the elephant and scrubbed the elephant clean in the lake. I was looking forward to the veterinary check up but that wasn't included and the project can get quite mundane for two weeks, although I understand with such great creatures it is difficult for young volunteers to contribute and interact too much. The teaching project was my favourite, it definitely felt like I was making an impact on the children and their education. I love that it was driven and dependent on the volunteers to organise and teach the class. It was heartbreaking to say goodbye to the children and I miss them all very much! The turtle experience was also amazing. We cut up fish, fed them, washed them and cleaned their water tanks. It was more hands on than elephants, more participation and chores to do which was great! The drive there was short and you could easily see the benefit the conservation program was doing for turtle populations and species. I did two weeks of the program and then did two weeks of travelling Sri Lanka which I think was a really good mix of volunteering and being able to see Sri Lanka. My advice to new volunteers would to definitely get in touch with ex-volunteers or even set up a list where ex-volunteers could put down their name to help out others on facebook as this is the most valuable source of advice you could get. Although the handbook was very detailed and helpful, there were a few tips, opinions and advice I would have liked to have known before I started for example what each project was like on a personal level, things to pack, things you don't need etc. The program is perfect for first-time travellers especially younger people in their 17, 18 and 19s. Overall, the experience was an incredible and unforgettable experience that I will treasure for life. The result of volunteering for worthwhile causes broadened my understanding of a different culture and lifestyle to my own and gives you a new perspective and appreciation of different worlds. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

I have recently spent three weeks volunteering and working in Vietnam with PMGY - I would say it was the best experience ever but I have also volunteered twice before with PMGY Sri Lanka which were equally as amazing!!!

Starting with an efficient and welcoming airport pick up after a long flight, i was welcomed so warmly by all the local team in Vietnam to the volunteer house. The house was always a fun place to be round and kept clean throughout with great local Vietnamese (and the odd western) food included throughout!

A neighbourhood tour, Vietnamese lesson within orientation and a breathtaking city tour around Hanoi all in my first couple days meant I was familiar with my surroundings instantly and got to know my fellow volunteers and workers and superb local team straight away!

My project itself was one of the most rewarding things I have done to date! Teaching English to children with learning disabilities was so rewarding and inspiring to see the children's willingness to learn. Although a bit daunting and challenging at first to me, a local co-ordinator was on hand to help with any translation issues and I really grew into the project as we even taught the children a dance performance routine to perform to the whole centre where the project was based!

Of course the social side was immense too - from karaoke nights, embracing football matches with the local people, too chilling at jazz bars or drinking "5 dong" beer as well as a simple game of cards or 'spoons' in the house - it had it all.

And when it comes to weekends, Vietnam has it all too - chilling and partying in Hanoi / trekking in sapa / visiting one of the wonder worlds in Halong ba - I did this all in three weeks as well as much more!!!

And lastly, before I left for Vietnam the support I got from the UK office was brilliant (as it had been for my last two times volunteering with PMGY Sri Lanka) They respond so quick and personally to any concerns or issues I have and are always keen to hear from volunteer experience so they can help enhance the programme for future volunteers. The Facebook groups they maintain provide a great forum for volunteers to share concerns and network
amongst each other and even forge friendships before embarking on travels!

PMGY Vietnam was unbelievable, unforgettable and unmissable - but I didn't expect anything less after PMGY Sri Lanka was all of the above too!

During the lunchtime, when I used to feed the children, there was this specific TV series that used to come on television every day. Although the drama was in Arabic and I could not understand a word of it, I figured out that it was about a love triangle, betrayal, revenge and it included all the elements that make up for an interesting story. When I watched it for the first time, what really caught my attention was how good looking each characters were and also, the melodramatic music at the background certainly did it for me. So, one of the things that I used to always look forward to when I volunteered at the orphanage was definitely watching the drama during the lunch feeding time!