Program Reviews

This was my first experience volunteering in an overseas location and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've voyaged as a tourist before and found this experience of volunteering to be as good, if not even better. I feel I connected with the locals in a positvely more genuine manner. They saw me more as somebody who cared, not as somebody in transit through their nation. I participated to teach English in a public school with primary students. The level was more basic than what I expected but the students made up for it with their enthusiasm. The local teachers meant well (though they could use English classes) and I appreciated the support from Ubelong. I think the cultural tips they gave were excellent and their focus on volunteers being there to work and be of service to the community, as opposed to the other way around, was important in preparing me. Knowing somebody knew my name and wanted me to do well was a very nice feeling. We lived in a perfectly basic but fine volunteer house. English was the spoken language so it did not feel so immersive from that perspective. There were Vietnamese staff people who were wonderful and I cherish the relationships we had. I found their curiosity about me and my country to be eye opening and I enjoyed their companionship. They went out of the way to make us feel at home.

My trip to Cuzco was absolutely incredible, and looking back, I doubt it would have been as enjoyable without UBELONG and my mentor. From day one, UBELONG provided me with resources and information for nearly every aspect of the trip planning process. From back and forth emails, to brief phone calls and updates, all of my questions were answered in a timely manner. Prior to my departure, I felt equipped with the skills and knowledge that would make me an excellent volunteer. This eased a lot of nervousness I originally felt and replaced it with the confidence I needed to travel abroad for 6 weeks.

My placement at the Club C.o.r.a.s.o.n. after-school center was equally incredible and inspiring. I couldn't have asked for a better project, I feel like my responsibilities at the club were perfectly tailored to the vision I had prior to volunteering. During my volunteer project, my mentor was kind enough to check in with me and share my experiences through UBELONG's social media handles. It was nice to know that I had somebody to turn to if I had any issues or urgent questions. After a successful adventure and an awe-inspiring project, I feel truly honored to be a member of the UBELONG community.

After working with UBELONG in Ghana this summer, I can honestly say that the organization is forth right and always strives to help those that are suffering. Raul did a great job in creating a web of families within the international community. It was clear to me during my stay that the bonds that Raul had fostered while traveling abroad were still strong today. It is with this kind of leadership, UBELONG has promoted prosperity in every community that they have reached out to, and with the help of the volunteers will continue to help impoverished communities all around the world.

I had a remarkable Ubelong experience. Living in Cusco, Peru with warm and welcoming Peruvian family in the city center was a great way to settle in and to practice my Spanish. My volunteer coordinator, Martina, was very helpful and we had some meetings to touch-base about the project so that I could receive advice but also provide feedback. The schedule allowed me to get to know the city and travel on weekends, which was certainly an added perk! Peru is a fantastic country to explore and I would go back at the drop of hat.

I worked in a shelter that was a safe haven for girls who were victims of abuse and spent the month teaching them English, discussing pop-music, sometimes playing sports or doing crafts. It took a few days to find my footing and gain the trust of the girls, but once that was achieved and I was able to establish a relationship with the staff at the shelter, I really enjoyed the work and it broke my heart to leave. I have thought about my experience and the girls often since my return. I recommend Ubelong to anyone looking to get out and away, and try to make a small difference.

I had an amazing time in Ghana and I definitely miss the place! It is hard to describe everything in a brief note, but I will always cherish the unbelievable experience that I had. In a nutshell, I really appreciated the PEOPLE I met during my journey to Ghana. The volunteering project was awesome, no doubt, and I definitely learned a lot from teaching in different schools and from working at the clinic. Still, the experience would not have been the same if I had not met all the volunteers and friendly Ghanaians that taught me about myself as much as my project did. Thank you for working with me and for providing support throughout the whole process. UBELONG is a great organization, and I am grateful that I have gotten the chance to go on this journey through this organization. I am happy to be a part of the UBELONG community.

Review:
My trip to Phnom, Penh, Cambodia wouldn’t have been successful if it wasn’t for UBELONG Volunteer Organization. UBELONG offered amazing, helpful guidance throughout every step of my trip, starting with meetings before hand to talk about any concerns or questions I had, what to expect from the trip, safety, and even packing details. Traveling across the world, alone, at 19 years young can be a little scary, and frightening, I didn’t know what to expect and was a bit confused on what to do once I arrived in the city. Through UBELONG though all my worries vanished, I arrived at 1am and there was a UBELONG Worker waiting for me at the airport who then transported me to my volunteer stay home, on the way there he informed me of some Cambodian facts, and told me a little bit about the place. I felt so safe, and relieved once I met him and he made me feel so comfortable. The next day I met all the other volunteers and started my journey. UBELONG checked in with me constantly, asking how I was doing, how I liked my project, and if I had any questions throughout the whole trip. They even did a follow up after my trip as well. UBELONG really showed me that they care about their volunteers and that they are passionate about what a UBELONG Volunteer is, they are such caring, positive people and they really helped open my eyes, and take chances on my trip. My trip would not have been the same without the support from UBELONG that I received. Their passion for wanting to be a positive change, help others, and educate other people on their mission really makes volunteering for them all worth it. They have inspired me to want to continue to be a part of the UBELONG community, as I have decided to go on another trip next fall and to stay motivated to be a part of their impact on this world of ours.

I always knew I wanted to volunteer abroad, but I never knew how I would get there. I looked into many different programs before finally discovering UBELONG. After a quick glance at the website, I knew I had found exactly what I was searching for.

My experience volunteering in Ghana felt personalized and “custom-made” because of the one-on-one communication I had with my UBELONG mentor. Prior to my trip, I was able to ask questions, express concerns, and video chat with my mentor to discuss day-to-day life and safety in Ghana. UBELONG went above and beyond to help me feel comfortable and prepared to embark on my life-changing journey!

An aspect of UBELONG that particularly impressed me was the affordability. I could tell right from the beginning that this was a program truly interested in giving volunteers the best cultural experience imaginable. My expectations were exceeded in every way.

UBELONG became much more to me than just a volunteer abroad program; it became a community. I have been welcomed into a community that stretches over three continents, nine countries, and seventeen different cities, each of which contains its own little UBELONG home.

UBELONG provided me with an amazing experience that I will never forget. They made my stay in Cape Town, South Africa very comfortable and problem free. Without having to worry about problems with my safety or host family, I was able to fully enjoy and learn a lot form my project. I will definitely go through UBELONG again!

UBELONG is a wonderful organization that truly values individual volunteers and does everything that it can to enable them to succeed and help people in the world. I was seeking out an opportunity to contribute to a developing economy and found the perfect outlet in Hanoi, Vietnam through UBELONG. I was very happy to work with Raul and the partner organizations UBELONG worked with in Vietnam. All of them truly cared about my happiness and fulfillment in the field. For anyone who has some time and really want to make an impact firsthand across the world, I would strongly recommend UBELONG.

UBELONG sets the standard for nonprofits. My experience with UBELONG was seamless. I traveled with a group of eleven other people, and we were all taken care of in every aspect, before, during and even after our trip. Raul and the other members of the UBELONG team made sure we were accounted for on our trip, and even took the extra measures to follow up with us afterwards. Prior to our, Raul briefed us extensively on what our experience would’ve been like and gave us many helpful tips as well. It definitely helped ease the transition, and we were able to truly focus on our service. I can only imagine how significantly different my experience would have been if we hadn’t traveled with them.