Program Reviews

So you’re probably on here right now as you’re feeling a bit skeptical about this whole thing, don’t worry I was the exact same. Checking the ins and outs to make sure this is all legit. It is and I can tell you that this was the greatest decision of my entire life. I spent a little over 2 weeks volunteering in Sri Lanka and I could talk for hours about the experience I had, the people I met and my overall experience. One thing I wish I had when I was making my decision to go travelling was a post like the one I am about to write.

I got talking to a girl I worked with about going volunteering abroad, I just wanted to try travel and I mean why not do it with a little bit more purpose. I started to google absolutely every company and country to volunteer in, I then came across Sri Lanka and immediately I knew that’s where I wanted to go. I found plan my gap year and I started to look deeper into it. I thought it was all too good to be true with the price and the photos. I took to Instagram and trustpilot to help make my decision. After realising it was definitely real I just booked straight away, I didn’t even care how much my flights were going to be. Eventually I revived a handbook from PMGY and I actually think I read the whole thing as I found it interesting and it told me everything I needed about my trip. I also got added onto the Facebook group and I found people I would be volunteering with, I never looked too much but it gave me a sense of comfort knowing I wouldn’t be alone on my journey.

As you might only be here for the advice rather than my personal experience I’ll list off my top 5 travel tips for volunteering in Sri Lanka:
Don’t be scared to do it, just do it. I can promise it will be the greatest thing you’ll ever do.
Use your time wisely; enjoy every second of it because you will look back on it and think about how incredible it was. There’s a few things I regret not doing, try fit in as much as possible.
Be ready to try new things, it might seem scary but again it’ll be worth it. Try all the food you can, try surfing if you have the time and interest, Try meditation, try anything you get the opportunity to.
Learn their culture, be a little prepared before you go. There are 4 main religions in Sri Lanka so be prepared to respect them all (i.e take respectable clothing).
Most importantly you will be learning so many new things but HAVE FUN. You will feel so good about yourself after volunteering, that little extra help you’re giving might be small but it will have a big impact.

I also have a list of 10 things I wish I knew before volunteering in Sri Lanka:
I wish I knew how incredible PMGY were before going, they will literally do anything to make sure you have the greatest time.
It’s not just volunteering. It’s making new friends, new experiences, new feelings.
I couldn’t believe how cheap everything was out in Sri Lanka, I came prepared with a bit of money saved and I never even spent £300 on my entire 2 weeks there and that included a lot of food and drink. Not everyone will be in the same boat and might be budgeting but if you get the chance to tip a little more in the markets or that then it does go a long way and will be appreciated so much.
Although you’re staying in a safe place, be careful and trust everything Ash and the other guys tell you, they are only looking out for you.
Prepare yourself to see a different world, it is nothing like being back at home.
It really isn’t scary to travel alone. I’m still friends with the people I met out in Sri Lanka.
Try as much of their cuisine as you can, it is amazing.
Make sure to try their beer too, it’s also extremely cheap so try not get too drunk.
If you can, do the weekend trips. We done the organised one and it was amazing. We also planned our own one and I think it cost maybe £80 max including transport, food, and accommodation (we dined well).
Sri Lanka is still recovering from the Easter attacks and lost a lot of tourism due to it, when they see tourists you will be treated very well as they appreciate everything. Sri Lankan’s are some of the nicest people I have ever met so don’t be scared (still be cautious too of course)

A day in the life of a volunteer is different everyday, you’d wake up and get ready for project, have some breakfast made by the sisters. I liked to wake up that little bit earlier so I could sit out on the balcony and have my morning coffee whilst talking to a couple volunteers every morning. After project you’d come back and have lunch, it’s different everyday but it’s always delicious. After that you’d be free to do whatever you wanted. Some days we’d go to the beach, sometimes the pool house, others we’d visit the little town. You get the choice to have dinner back at the house or to go out and try new places. In the evenings the volunteers and I would go to the pool house where we’d sit and get to know each other and have a few drinks. Sometimes we’d just stay in and watch a film. Everyday was different but everyday was amazing.

I challenged myself to a lot since I wasn’t spending too long out in Sri Lanka and I overcame it all:
Visiting a new country and travelling alone.
Meeting new people, people I now call my friends.
Becoming an independent person, I now love doing everything alone, company is nice at times but I don’t feel the anxiety of doing things alone anymore.

I know this is a rather long sum up of my time in Sri Lanka but trust me I done so much I haven’t even wrote half of it down. I will leave my Instagram underneath for anyone who wants to see my pictures from my time in Sri Lanka

My experience
On October 4th I boarded my flight to Sri Lanka, 14 hours I think it was going to be. Eventually after a long and draining flight, I arrived in Colombo. I have never been to Asia before so this experience was so new and exciting to me. I did panic thinking “omg what if no ones here to get me” but it was all good and I was picked up along with another girl from London and we drove a couple hours to our house in Ambalangoda. After arriving we met everyone and got settled in straight away. Luckily we had a few days to try get used to the time difference and to meet all these new people. On the Sunday we had our induction and we got to visit a few local places (longest sleeping Buddha in Southeast Asia, moonstone mine, the pool house). Monday comes around and that was the day we all started our project, I chose to volunteer with the girls at the childcare. It was a lovely 40 minute drive in a tuk tuk (for someone who’s never been in a tuk tuk I loved it every single journey), the girls I met were absolutely amazing. The people of Sri Lanka were always so cheerful and happy to see someone new, it really made you feel good about being there. I continued my week volunteering with the girls, playing games, doing spelling tests, and just getting to know them whilst having the most fun. Getting your weekends off to be free to do whatever you want was a massive bonus too.

On the first weekend I signed up for the adventure and safari trip. There were around 12 of us that went on this trip so it was perfect time to relax and get to know everyone. It was the busiest and most productive weekend of my life. We visited an old fortress down in Galle, stopping for lunch right next to a beautiful beach in Mirissa. That evening we visited a giant temple and walked the entire place (it was huge). We got up early on the Saturday morning and went to Yala National Park for a sunrise safari, definitely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. We even got to see elephants rather close up. We then made the journey up the mountains, a total different side to the lovely palm beaches on the coast. It was proper rainforest and absolutely beautiful. Before arriving at our hotel we made a stop to the Nine Arch Bridge, this was definekty one of my highlights (wear comfy walking shoes) although it was monsoon season and we were all walking down a mountain in the pouring rain, its an experience I’ll never forget. We stayed in the most beautiful little town called Ella, we had the evening to ourselves and went for the most amazing food (it’s been 6 months and I’m still thinking about this place). Sunday morning we had another early start, the thought of a 5am hike up little Adams peak might put you off but it was another amazing experience for me. A little time to reflect my first week in Sri Lanka and enjoy this experience that will become amazing memories. It was a nice bus journey home to chill out and prepare for my second week volunteering.

After my last week of volunteering, the friends I had made and I decided we were going to plan our own weekend away. We managed to get a minibus, organised by PMGY so it was safe from Ambalangoda to Ella. We just had to go back to Ella as it was such a beautiful little town and we wanted to discover more of it. We stayed in Ella for 2 days just chilling, eating, drinking and walking around. One of the things you must absolutely do in Sri Lanka is travel by train. Sri Lanka is famous for their trains. We booked one from Ella up to Kandy, a city in the mountains. The journey was 7 hours long and the only seats we had available were third class. I did panic about third class thinking it would be something like slum dog millionaire. Luckily it wasn't bad at all and for £1.50 I couldn’t complain. Yes that’s right it cost us £1.50 to travel 7 hours on a train, pretty amazing. After arriving in Kandy we managed to find the hostel we had booked, it was called ‘bunk’ and whatever you do, do not stay there. We arrived and literally found bed bugs in the bed. For £7.50 a night we couldn’t really say much as we weren’t that surprised. Instead we found another hotel up the road for just £10 a night and it had an infinity pool up on the roof terrace. We found a really cool British bar that evening a got a drink there before going for food. After we dined we got a tuk tuk up to the giant Buddha situated on top of a hill. As our lovely weekend came to an end it was time to say goodbye to the lovely people I met. Im shocked to say how emotional it was. I really did make friends for life there. To this day I still speak every few days to a few of the people I volunteered with. I actually think I cried my whole journey back to Scotland. I definitely had such an eye opening experience in Sri Lanka and it’s a country I would love to visit again. To anyone thinking about it, just do it.

Instagram: @laurenmcintosh_
If you need advice on places to try follow @reviewswithreb on Instagram too.

Sorry for the length of this post but I hope it may help with your decision for volunteering.

What an incredible trip. I have nothing bad to say about Bali. Booking is a simple process. The pre departure help was fine, if not slightly unorganised (being asked for documents I had already sent). Apart from that, they were helpful and relatively quick at responding to emails. Josh was very helpful and provided the Volunteer Handbook which is brilliant. It's a book of helpful tips regarding the region you are travelling to, what to expect regarding culture differences, dress codes, meals, details of the project and more. Very thorough guide which helps when you're travelling alone for the first time. Once I arrived in Denpasar airport, I was greeted and taken straight to the volunteer house where I was shown my room. I wasn't told what was going to happen the following day by anyone official, but the other volunteers had the information.However, I do believe this was because I arrived before the PMGY co-ordinators had arrived however, but I met them halfway through my trip. Steph is lovely, really helpful and always works hard to ensure you are happy as much as she can, very positive and dependable. She now works in the PMGY UK office and has still been as great and positive as always. Adriana was really lovely too, bur I believe the co-ordinators in Bali change yearly. Ketut, Indra, Rush and Krishna (the family you will be staying with, at the volunteer house) are so welcoming and so so lovely. Ketut was known to everyone as the Balinese Mum because she was always there to offer some great advice, comforting words and a bright smile. For a lot of the volunteers, this is the first time being away from home, and being in such a different place, so far and in a different time zone with a hugely different culture than the Westernised one, having Ketut there was wonderful. She really makes the personal difference from just being another volunteer to family. The accommodation is really great, lots of common areas to socialise, the rooms are nice and do frequently have warm water (but not constantly). Some rooms are nicer than others, but even the "lower ranked' rooms are cosy and nice. Rush (Ketut's husband) builds the rooms himself and if there are any issues is there to help. The food is really good, but if you don't like rice, I would reconsider! Tabanan is the area in which rice seems to be mass produced and it will essentially be your entire diet. The rice is usually served with some kind of meat, vegetables and sometimes potatoes or pasta, and occasional noodles. I know there were a lot of good options for vegetarians too. I was on the wildlife project, where I worked with various monkeys, crocodiles in a range of sizes, birds such as cockatoos, macaques and horn bills (my favourite) and also a friendly sun bear named Balou. You will be on project Monday-Thursday and will either work from 8-11am or 2-4pm. Sometimes you get the opportunity to go to a turtle or cat sanctuary if there are a lot of volunteers. Typical work would be to cut fruit for the animals, feed them and then clean their cages when they are finished. A lot of the work may be thinking on your feet and using your initiative as there may seem like little work, but there is always something to do. On the weekends (Friday-Sunday) you are free to do as you please. Whilst Bali is a small island there is an ENORMOUS range of things to do, whether you head up north and do some adrenaline filled activities such as waterfall jumping or paragliding in Lovina, or if you want to head down south and go to Asias largest waterpark, WATERBOM, or head to the Gili Islands to the east of Bali. There is a huge amount to do and a wonderful mix between traditional Balinese culture, and the growing tourism market where Westernised culture is being implemented.

For anyone coming here, I would say come with no expectations, and you will have an amazing time. You will be blown away by the friendliness of the family, making new friends and the work you contribute to the projects. Don't even think before booking, just book it. With an open mind, you will have the most incredible experience.

I volunteered on a turtle conservation farm in Sri Lanka for 3 weeks with Plan My Gap Year and it was the most incredible experience. The staff involved in the program were all so lovely, welcoming and were a treat to be around. Ash, the country coordinator, went above and beyond to make sure the volunteers were all happy and comfortable at all times. He also organised many events that we could participate in when we weren’t volunteering to give us better insight into Sri Lankan culture.

The volunteer house had all the amenities you would need and also a pool. At the time that I went, the pool was under maintenance, so we had the choice to go to a pool house 5 minutes away from the main house which was really sociable and fun. There were also custom PMGY taxis which we could hire if we wanted to go anywhere which gave us really easy access to transport and was also very safe and cheap.

The volunteers themselves were such a great bunch and I have definitely made friends for life. The turtles in the farm were very endearing and feisty and we got to witness first-hand the devastating effects of pollution in the ocean on the turtles.

PMGY also organised weekend trips around the country which were very smoothly run. We always had someone from PMGY accompany us, so the trips were also really informative.

I would wholeheartedly recommend volunteering on this project as it was an amazing opportunity that I would love to take part in again.

I decided to spend a summer month volunteering because it’s something I had been wanting to do for a long time but, because of various engagements, I had never had the chance. I had no doubts that south-east Asia would be my destination since it’s an area I’ve been in love with since I spent a year in Hong Kong as an exchange student. I surfed the internet, looking at various options, but PMGY caught my eye because of the comprehensive, well structured, interesting programs it offers. When I made contact with them, I immediately felt they could be trusted, and I was absolutely right! I chose PMGY Bali English Teaching Program and I had the time of my life. Nothing has ever made me as happy as helping those lovely and loving children. They are so willing, dedicated and warm that they really changed my life! The program is perfectly organised, you are briefed as soon as you get there, assisted in getting settled and shown around time. There is private transport to take you to the schools and you are joined by local teachers there, but you are free to plan your own work. Don’t think you are not up to it, because all you need is energy and a smile on your face! I didn’t have any experience teaching and English is not my first language, but I managed perfectly and I took back home a suitcase full of thank you letters and drawings my beloved children made for me! The volunteer house is clean, cool and comfortable, the meals are traditional delicious recipes and always abundant. You have a supervisor living right next to you who is always available not only for emergencies, but also to give you advice and help you out with your work as well as with your free time activities. Working week is Monday through Thursday which leaves you with a long weekend to go on trips and explore the amazing island of Bali and beyond. Life is very cheap, therefore, expecially travelling as a group, I was able to afford doing and seeing everything even on my limited budget. You don’t have any expenses while on the program, so you can spend your money on travelling. I would end up writing a book if I told you about everything I saw, from fascinating waterfalls, to jungle hills to pristine beaches and crystal clear waters…….go and see it all with your own eyes! PMGY Bali is a full immersion in a totally different lifestyle which will make you broaden your horizons. But I have left for last the best part about volunteering with PMGY: the volunteers! A bunch of varied, multinational, multicultural, eclectic, fun young people who share two basic goals: making a difference and exploring the world! You will meet the most interesting people and make life long friendships with PMGY. You can leave on your own, but you will never be alone there: you will have staff to support you and tens of volunteers to share your days and your trips with. You will feel you are part of a community who is giving a positive, if small, contribution to a better world.

In Bali I spent most of my days at the rehabilitation Centre helping with whatever needed to be done, whether that was feeding the animals, cleaning the cages, spraying the alligators and hawks, or shovelling earth. Helping the Balinese people kept a smile on my face and theirs.

In the mornings we would usually do a beach clean for about two hours. Our ocean has a lot of garbage and the tide brings it up onto the beach everyday. Cleaning the beach was very nice, people started to join us so obviously we brought attention to making the beach clean. I enjoyed this as I felt I was doing a good thing for their community, as well as the environment.

Beside a beach a Balinese man has a turtle conservation hut. He goes everyday, this is his job. He catches and releases large Sea turtles for mating. He hatches the turtles and eventually releases them. We went there a few different days to help him feed and clean the turtles. I really took interest in him because he’s trying to keep the turtle population going. Volunteers are always visiting him and offering to help him. I loved helping the turtles as many are killed by fisherman and plastic.

A forest native to Bali that they call a “man groove” recently got clear cut by the government to put in a freeway. The man groove tree takes years to grow, it provides fruit and a home for many species. I spent two days planting trees to help regrow the forest. Trees are a very important factor to our world and every contribution helps.

Staying in a Balinese town was amazing, everyone was so friendly, and I always felt safe. The volunteer house was beautiful, the main level had a covered kitchen area and picnic tables for everyone to sit and eat. The pool was beautiful, there was 4 levels with rooms and space to relax. The family that lives at the volunteer house are absolutely amazing and make every meal! Everyone was put Into groups based on what program you are in. I was in a group of six and each day there was a schedule of two activities for us. I had a lot more free time then I thought I would so I’m glad I brought a book and journal to record my experiences.
I recommend taking jam, peanut butter or something for toast. Also something to put on white rice!

PMGY Ghana has been my favorite adventure so far. I Traveled to Ghana in May of 2019 alone at 21, It was scary but rewarding to all ends. I participated in the Medical program hoping to gain experience from the hospitals and from day one i was allowed to get hands on. An outreach program was set up and we tested a local school group for malaria. I spent 30 days in the country with the most amazing staff and a great group of volunteers that I can now call lifelong friends. Thorough every challenge I faced in the country the support of the staff was there, the nightly activities are so much fun from dance parties with the local kiddos, learning to balance objects on your head, game night , etc. The food adjustments was the hardest thing I faced, The food is all good but proportions are smaller than usual and if you are staying for a long time the meal change on a daily basis but not weekly so be prepared for that. Everything else was transparent in the handbook so read that clearly! Take the leap to ghana!

Living in Ghana has been the most incredible experience of my life. One I will never forget.

I planned on going to Ghana for two months but after two weeks I knew I wanted to stay. With assistance from the UK team they made everything so easy and I ended up staying for five months (If I had the money I would have stayed another 5!)

As soon as I got there I felt so welcome. The staff make you feel like part of the family and they go above and beyond to do everything they can for you. Especially Flo, Dennis, Ruby, Rosemary and Mercy.

I felt confident enough to travel to and from placement on my own. Working at Kumasi Children’s home was amazing. I loved being able to make a small difference in the children’s lives everyday.

I would recommend this trip to everyone. Go into it with an open mind, embrace the culture and the differences, talk to people, try the food and learn the language.

I feel so lucky to have had this experience. Ghana made my heart so full and I miss it every day. I had so many opportunities and made friends for life.
I can’t wait to go back.

If you're wondering whether you should take part in a PMGY Program, then wonder no more, just do it. While I was looking through different websites and a ton of possibilities for what to do in my gap year, PMGY stood out from the others because of all the good reviews I had read, saying that it was a great company, well worth the money you pay for their programs. Of course, I was still a little skeptical, but after contacting them directly and eliminating any worries I had, I knew that they had a great costumer service and that I would be fine when I departed to Bali, Indonesia, where I would be taking part in the Wildlife and Childcare programs for 8 weeks. Before departure, most of the questions you may have will be answered in the in-depth volunteer handbook they send you after you book a program with them. It is a long guide, covering everything from pre-departure preparation, to packing tips, and in-country experience, including about all the programs offered in that country. When I finally got to my chosen location, Bali, the drivers were waiting for me at the airport, just as it was mentioned in both the volunteer handbook and the pre-departure webinar. In terms of in-country support, it couldn't be better in my opinion. The family you stay with is incredibly nice and welcomes you as if you were part of their family as well. Th new in-country coordinators, Jo and Manouk, for Bali arrived the day right after I arrived, and I am glad to say that they never felt like coordinators, but instead like great friends who were always willing to help you. They organized games, movie nights, karaoke, and everything else, from day trips to night outs. We even had a Disney Quiz night, and a Disney week. So, if you're ever worried about something just go to your coordinators and they will do the best they can to help you out. That's the other great thing, you spend so much time with your coordinators, and other volunteers, and after just 2 weeks, or even 1, you already know each other much better than you would ever expect. In my case, I can say that I have made friends for life during my time there, and I am already planning other trips with them.
When it comes to programs, I had the chance to participate in two of them. In wildlife, there was a lot of manual labor involved, we cut down trees, we fed the animals, we built toys and cages for them, and we cleaned, a lot. For childcare, you play with the children, you teach English to the older ones and you help the staff from both Bumblebee and Lotus, the two childcare locations, feed the kids and dressing up the smaller ones as well. It's a great experience and that's all I can say about it. You only work from Mondays to Thursdays, so there is many opportunities to get to know the rest of Indonesia, including some trips organized by PMGY themselves.
To sum up, if you're questioning whether to do it or not, because you're too young or old compared to everyone else, trust me, you won't regret going. I was 17 at the time of my program, back in October of 2018, while mostly everyone else was 20 or above, and I never felt excluded. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

I can't even begin to explain the incredible time I had in Bali with PMGY. Everything was amazing; the team looking after me. I couldn't fault them in any way. I was always made to feel safe and welcome, and could find the support needed. The accommodation was lovely, always clean and there was always yummy meals to eat. I found the handbook very helpful especially before my departure, particularly the packing list. I was on the medical project, I loved going to the hospital and volunteering there. However at times I found myself lacking things to do due to the project being mainly an observational role, I understood this when applying although thought there would be more participation. This didn't take away from my experience and my favourite thing was being able to see a natural birth.
I would defiantly recommend going on the trips and exploring Bali in your free time. I originally booked to go on the Gili T and Ubud trips, but due to the earthquake while I was there unfortunately the Gili trip was cancelled. I really enjoyed the Ubud it was filled with fun activities and a great chance to go on one of the famous Bali swings.
My advice for future volunteers would be to enjoy every minute! This was my first time solo traveling and I love it so much I’ve been looking at projects in other countries.