Program Reviews

My adventure this summer was one only a few get to experience, I was lucky enough to spend 7 weeks in Costa Rica. Being seventeen I had no idea what to expect since I’d never really traveled out of the country, let alone by myself. Also being a student my budget was tight, thankfully global crossroads helped with that. Coming home I’ve now realized how much an impact this trip made on me. I spent the majority of my day in the orphanage I was volunteering in and my heart will forever lie with them. My Spanish wasn’t near great but quickly I found out love speaks beyond language. All these kids want is a friend and someone to laugh with. I would recommend that everyone does something like this at sometime in their life. It’s always said that you can find yourself while giving of yourself, and I can say from experience that if you give all of yourself you will indeed find yourself.

I had an awesome experience with Global Crossroad. Both the US based operations and the Ghana field staff were outstanding. Country Coordinator and The Field Liaison were both responsive and efficient! They went out of their way to ensure the volunteers had a great overall experience and no complaints. They even went above and beyond. I participated in the Easter Convention and visited Richard's farm house. Franklin also helped to coordinate the hotel options for me after my volunteering program. I was travelling around Ghana after my program; both Franklin and Richard would call me every few days to ensure everything was okay with me and to make sure if I made my way back home, safely. The attention to details and ensuring I had a complete experience was overwhelming.

I had a great time at Al Gadhir Medically Clinic. It was a great experience and despite the location, the transport was easy and not once did I feel unsafe. Practicing medicine had it’s challenges, but I was able to educate the medical staff on evidence based medicine guidelines and spent a lot time discussing lab interpretation and antibiotic use. They were keen and were very eager to learn. I also learned a lot myself from them on conditions I haven’t seen before. There were times that were heartbreaking (people unable to afford treatment) and difficult times, explaining to patients why they don’t IV medication for a sore throat. The house was great and close to a lot of sites and really experience the city. Knowing what I do now, bring old textbooks if you decide on this journey!

I had an amazing experience during my time in Guatemala. Our host family was very kind and accommodated us well, and the global crossroad staff helped us tremendously with logistics and helping us get familiar with the city. The staff helped us find good locations where we were able to work and help out the community with physical therapy. The global cross roads team assisted us with communication and making sure that we arrived safely to our destinations for providing services. The city itself was beautiful; there are plenty of restaurants and shops to visit which are in safe locations. Xela was also a very scenic city, there are plenty of places in or around the city where we were able to walk and hike up trails to further explore the city as well as finding great views. I would highly recommend for anyone looking to help out the community while also being able to do fun activities as well!

Last Summer I spend three weeks in Indonesia at Bali Kindergarten. This volunteering experience really made me feel that I was needed. During the program I was wishing I could spend a whole year with these children. Global Crossroad I can say is a company committed to providing volunteers a quality service. Pre-departure process was very smooth due to the staffs in USA. The Ground Coordinator was also always available to answer all my questions. The accommodation at the hostel was primitive. Everything was well organized right from the start. The food was good and was always on time. I was really impressed to see the classroom with many smiling children. The owner of the Kindergarten expressed his sincere thanks to Global Crossroad for their immense help over the years. This made me very happy because I knew I was also a part of the good work. After having traveled with other companies I can confidently say that Global Crossroad gives you your money's worth. I will strongly recommend this company to all the Philanthropists we would want to make this world a better place. This is the only way to ensure that your money gets to the people who deserve it. I have already told my mother of my experience and we have agreed to visit Bali once again and we will definitely do this again through Global Crossroad.

Having been to several service trips in the past, this was my first ever medical service trip I took part in with my physical therapy group, and I was not sure what to expect from this trip. It was a truly amazing experience working with the people of Xela, Guatemala, and I gained so much from this trip. Despite our language barriers, the patients expressed so much appreciation for our services, and it helped me rekindle my purpose of why I chose to pursue physical therapy. Guatemala is such a beautiful country, and I would love to go back someday!

I would highly recommend other physical therapy programs to take part in this program. It is a great way to get immersed in Latin American culture and beauty, and we really appreciated the staff for making our inaugural service trip possible!

Our physical therapy group had a great time volunteering in Xela. It was very rewarding treating patients that otherwise wouldn't have access to these services. The support of the staff in Guatemala was fantastic and there were many fun excursion activities around Xela. I'd recommend the hot springs, Lake Atitlan, and zip lining.

I would recommend this program to future students. As with any international service program, be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone. You will be immersed in a different culture. Staying with a host family was a unique experience. We were able to live and share meals with a Guatemalan family. We are very happy with our experience and the work the staff did to make everything possible. Enjoy your trip!

I have been here only 1 week and have already been welcomed warmly and made to feel at home. The language course was helpful and Pratima ( my teacher) was very patient and knowledgeable. It might be helpful to get tested a few times on what you know to keep you accountable and challenge students more. The food is delicious and you will be well taken care of at the hostel by a lady named Bikani. I wish that there had been more volunteers here as I took the language course alone and was the only one in the hostel but now I am with my host family and one other volunteer. They will take you around the city to see a few temples and teach a little but about the culture which sets you up nicely for the adventures to come ! Nepal is beautiful, the people and food are great. As long as you are self motivated and ok with spending some time alone you will love this program! Savour every minute of it.

I had a rewarding and unforgettable time volunteering with Global Crossroad in India. The accommodations were much nicer than I had expected. During my “Cultural Immersion” week I stayed in a very comfortable apartment in Delhi after that I stayed with a very loving family in Jaipur. There was a separate room and bathroom for me. I always received continuous support and advice from my hosts. The meal was offered three times a day.

I had at first applied to volunteer in a Teaching English Program however, due to the festival season in India most of the schools were closed therefore the organization arranged for me to volunteer with a project that appealed to me even more- working with a network of HIV positive women. There were very less number of volunteers in this project, it provided me with a very great opportunity to contribute more. Throughout the seven weeks that followed, Global Crossroad representative checked in on me regularly to make sure that both my volunteering experience and home stay both were going well and meeting my expectations. The level of support I received from the Global Crossroad representative, the family I lived with, and the organization I volunteered with was exceptional.

I strongly feel that if you approach this trip with an open mind, flexibility, and a determination to contribute you will not be disappointed. Along the way you will meet new people, learn their culture and open yourself to lasting relationships.

I truly enjoyed my time volunteering at Al Gadhir Medical Clinic through Global Crossroads. The staff was friendly, approachable and willing to answer any questions you may have. The staff and patients primarily speak Swahili so it was helpful to learn certain words or phrases to help guide/understand the context of the conversations. Public transportation was easy to navigate to and from the clinic. One observation is that hygiene practices at the clinic could be a lot better. But overall, the clinic staff and my time there was enjoyable.

I had contact with the program staff throughout the entire process. There were able to answer any questions or address any concern I had in a timely and efficient manner. Through Global Crossroad, I stayed with a host family during my time in Kenya. The family was very welcoming to having guests in their house. Living arrangement was pretty basic. A room with a bed and the bathroom. Volunteers had access to the living/dining room and kitchen as well.

Transportation was provided during the first few days through the program. Transport was also arranged for the safari which was a definite plus. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner was provided by the host family.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience through Global Crossroad. I have gained a greater understanding about Kenyan culture and tradition through this immersion. If anything, that would be my greatest appreciation from this experience.