Program Reviews

It was hot. It was my first time in Africa and I was nervous when I stepped off of the plane. The weather was not helping. I very quickly realized that my worries were for nothing and the heat would be a fun part of the experience because the staff, the students I worked with, the people of Hohoe that I met and my fellow volunteers provided me with such an immediate sense of family that I can't even remember any negative feelings creeping in during my week there.
This trip really showed me how people with common goals and positive attitudes can get great things done together. We all came home from placement exhausted every day but after our delicious meals we found new energy to play outside with the kids in the neighborhood. Teaching the students and being in Ghana gave me so much that it almost seems unfair. I thought I went to help others. Maybe I needed their help more.

Traveling to another country - especially one that speaks a language that you, I, no... we aren't familiar with - feels scary. This is the beauty of a voluntourism organization; voluntourism allowed me to get a sense of what it is like to be in a foreign land, while still remaining in a (semi) familiar community. At the end of the day, my experience in Costa Rica reflects something much different than what an actual Tican goes through day to day. Which is fine; even a small exposure to a new way of doing things profoundly affected me. And that is what the "Cross - Cultural Solutions" is all about: taking people who know one way of existing and baring them to some other people who know another way of existing. Cross - Cultural Solutions facilitated this interaction between different modes of existence as well as a non-profit organization could/would/should. Which is to say they did fine. Even, great! The all inclusive room and board was comfy and authentically delicious. The climate of the house that I lived in felt safe - both physically and socially. Advertised as "cross cultural lessons," the Spanish and dance lessons felt more like after school specials for a middle schooler than life altering cultural exchanges - but whatever, I still knew Spanish a whole hell of a lot better by the time I got back stateside. For around $5,000, it was worth it. Will I ever do a month of voluntourism again? Doubtful; I think a more DIY approach is for me. All of that said, Cross-Cultural Solutions, establishing structure, rules, and presence in the local community, gave me the courage to consider a more DIY travel option in the future; CCS (and other voluntourism entities by extension) is like travel training wheels - so, so helpful.

I learned so much about the Peruvian culture, their love of family and love for the simple things in life. They make use of every thing that the land has to offer. I felt very safe in the compound where we stayed. The food that we ate was from the Peruvian cultural and very delicious. On the trip, I was able to help others in so many ways plus go on excursions that were provided to us. I wished that I could speak Spanish to communicate better but most Peruvians speak English. The whole experience was very rewarding, meaningful, and enlightening. I didn't realize that most of Peru is desert except for the lush rain forests. Everywhere I went, I could see evidence of their ancient culture and how it is used today. Would love to return and volunteer.

This was a dream come true. CCS offered a safe way to enter the world, the world of India. It is another world. I was my life-long dream and happened in India in 1997.

This was the land of my dreams from age six to fifty when I went.
I will never forget the opportunity to be immersed in the culture. I felt useful and learned daily from the experience.

The Cross-Cultural Solutions staff mage everything possible, if you were open to the experience to a new culture.

I am forever changed and empowered by this experience.

I have worked daily to change the world since my first CCS experience.

Working at the orphanages Madre Teresa and Lar da Criança, and English language school in downtown Bahia, Salvador, Brazil, opened my eyes to the social, economic and political injustices that plague the country and deeply affect the people. The children are the ones I worked with closely.
My job at the orphanages was mainly to play with the children and hold the babies. Though these children face so many hardships, their resilience and happiness empowered me and showed me that no matter how bad things may seem, there is always hope - hope that tomorrow will be a better day and that, as long as we have each other today, that's all that matters.
Through my volunteer work in Brazil with Cross-Cultural Solutions, I made a lot of friends from all over the world, and together we learned how to Samba, do Capoeria, learn about the rich history of the City we were in and experience the live music bands and Samba Schools in Pelorinho. We also got to go to some very beautiful beaches and explore the picturesque town of Lençois.
This trip ignited a fire within my soul to continue to travel and volunteer abroad, but to continue to volunteer with purpose.

This was the best three weeks of my life. The host staff was very friendly, the food was delicious, and the house was very well kept and clean. Volunteering with the children was very rewarding. I will go back as soon as I can!

I volunteered with CCS at Brazil for one week and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience! The staff at Home Base was very friendly and fun to be around, the faculty provided excellent advise and expertise about our assignments, and the actual volunteering was truly the highlight. Although I wished we spent more time at our volunteer sites during the day (four hours), I still had the opportunity to meet and socialize with the wonderful people of Brazil.

While volunteering abroad, I had the chance to experience another country on a deep and personal level. To be immersed in another culture changes your perspective on life. My time spent there allowed me the opportunity to utilize my previous experience teaching children. I returned with an increases appreciation and gratitude for life. On a personal note, my sister passed away 5 years ago. Her dream was to travel to Machu Picchu. When my volunteer week ended, I traveled to Lima to Cusco Peru with a crematory locket which contained a pinch of my sister's ashes. I felt her presence with me as I released her ashes and made her dream come true as part of my special journey.

Each monrnig I woke up to the uniques sounds birds chriping in Salvador Brazil. I was filled with excitement of the day. I washed up and and went down stairs of the guest house to be greeted by the friendly house staff. I looked forward the my high energy breakfast served of eggs fruit and butter bread.
The morning rush to get breakfast and get on the bus by 8am to go to my volunteer site was very exciting for me. Each day I greeted the the children with love. though there was a language barrier, we sang songs and dance. It did not matter that the children understood everything I was saying because they understood the sincerity of my heart. I looked forward to each day teaching the children their shapre and colors in Portuguese, as well as singing songs in English and playing games.
In my spare time I explored the culture, through music art and dance lessons, and visired nearby cities and interacted with the locals of Salvador.
It is an experience that I will never forget. I am glad I had my first volunteer abroad experience with Cross Cultrual Solutions.

I thought that CCS provides excellent services to individuals searching for a short time in a voluntourism setting. There was a solid mix of time in placement and 'cultural activities' for fun. Mornings were spent at placement, and afternoons were spent exploring and participating in cultural activities to teach us more about the country and culture we were living in.