Program Reviews

It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed the exposure to a new culture, that was further intensified by the timing of the experience. My trip happened to fall during Ramadan. i was able to see the intricacies of the holiday's effects on people's lives. I witnessed a mix of culture, religion, and, of course, a bit of sightseeing in the process. The volunteering experience was equally rewarding. I fell in love with those adorable children at the orphanage. I did not want to leave them. Everything I saw from the trips to the everyday life as I walk through each city created great memories and expanded my worldview.

It's a great opportunity to contribuye our time and skill to get to achieve a better quality of lifes for Many who need our serviles. This is an invaluable emocional return that help us to be better every day people. This is a great opportunity to meet other volunteers from differents countries who the same desires, dreams and aspirations that i have. No matter the potencial barriers of lenguage, culture or traditions. In the world there are many people willing to give the Best of each to help tose in need. This revitalizes and helps us to keep hope to achieve trough the action one more dignified, more caring, more just world for all. A world getting better.

CCS Delhi focuses on complete cultural immersion. Outside of our volunteer assignments we had Hindi lessons, visited various places of religious worship and explored different parts on India on the weekend. From beginning to end it was a huge learning opportunity. We shared meals together like a family and had a chance to try dishes representing every part of India. My volunteer assignment was to collaborate and assist a teacher through the NGO Vidya Munirka. I had the opportunity to work hands-on with the students in my class as we learned and reviewed letters in English and Hindi, practiced numbers and understanding number values and learning shapes. We would follow up each lesson with a worksheet which allowed the children a chance to re-enforce the material! Outside of my volunteer assignment I spent weekends exploring Jaipur, Agra, Rishikesh and Hardiwar. During the week the staff would give us advice about places we should go and things we should do for our weekend trips. It was extremely helpful! Also, CCS has planned activities during the week! Some of my favorites were: visiting a Sikh Temple, visiting a Hindu temple, Hindi lessons, attending a classical dance performance, going to see a movie in theaters. Also while I was there I had a chance to attend Sufi singing, learned how to bargain and became completely comfortable navigating our surrounding community in Delhi!

The program was so good that I just want to go back!
I helped in the Manos de Jesus Nursery with the elderly.
A day to day experience was to help in the kitchen or in the laundry or the theraphists to let people feel better.
Just smiling make others smile!!

The CCS Lima staff was fantastic. The people were so welcoming and friendly and I felt very comfortable. I never felt unsafe during my time there. My volunteer placement was a ton of fun and I they really needed my help. All of the volunteer placements in Lima need as much help as they can get. I strongly encourage others to go on CCS Lima, it will change your life!

Shantytown in Moshi Tanzania will forever be in my heart. From my kindergarten class to my babies at Upendo children's home the experience was incredible. CCS is an expensive organization by they do take good care of their volunteers.
My second week there I was in a horrible safari truck accident resulting in the death of a fellow volunteer. I decided to stay my remaining 6 weeks to share myself & love w the children of Tanzania. I was there to save the children yet they ended up saving me.
I went to Upendo in the afternoon each day. We fed them grain cereal several times a day & played w them outside a lot. Bath time was my favorite! Getting them all clean & ready for bed and in their pajamas was so fun!
Kindergarten at Rau primary school was equally rewarding. I was teaching English to them in simple form such as alphabet, animals, colors etc. The little stinkers got good at memorization so I got to mix it up so they actually learned separate letters not just the alphabet A-Z. I loved the teacher I taught with & got to be a special guest at her wedding!
I could write pages on my time in Tanzania! For the most part I felt safe & often walked to many places. Such a simple humble place & way of life. I made lifelong friends with other volunteers. Due to my circumstances 5 girls I was in the accident with and also the family of our friend who passed are a big part of my life to this day.
The landscape, the people, the children are all so incredible and will forever be in my heart & mind.

I had an amazing experience in Lima, Peru. The CCS family in Lima was amazing to work with. They were very welcoming, the food was awesome, and they all had amazing fun personalities. My placement was at INABIF. I got to spend my days with 3 and 4 year olds. I think in the end they helped me more than I helped them. It was so amazing getting to see their bright smiling faces everyday. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of them. There were days I got frustrated because I felt like I was more of a distraction to the kids than help. My director Kique reassured me that I was making a difference which was nice to hear. My only advice is to stay longer than 2 weeks. I was just barely getting into the swing of things at my placement. Also take the time to learn the native language. You will be able to help so much more if you do.

I had an great time in Costa Rica with them, truly. I just think that this program could have a bit more you know? I would really love more volunteer hours because in my opinion we just didn't get enough! however the advent was great and i had an amaze time.

My favorite part of the trip was a toss up between meeting and getting to know a Buddhist monk living in Dharamsala to escape the unjust in Tibet and watching the student I had been working with all summer sing the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" to their families during the end of the semester program. India is an amazing land and culture and the experience facilitated by CCS allowed you to immerse yourself in India to the fullest.

I loved my time with CCS Ghana! The staff was incredible, the community was safe and friendly and I met life long volunteer friends in the home base. I would suggest staying as long as possible to have the most time to adjust and really learn about the culture/have the most impact and build the most relationships.