Program Reviews

I had an incredible experience volunteering through UBELONG in Quito, Ecuador for four weeks this summer. It was my first time out of the country, but all of the information and assistance along the way helped to prepare me ahead of time. The family at the volunteer house was so welcoming and really made me feel like I as at home in Ecuador, and the other volunteers I met were fantastic. I would highly recommend UBELONG to anyone wanting to volunteer in another country because I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Thanks to UBELONG's organization and help, my humanitarian trip to Ecuador was a complete sucsess. I cannot express my gratitude towards Cedric and the rest of the staff for sticking through and helping me finalize my trip plans amidst all the chaos of my summer this year. I am thankful for all the information they provided to tell me how to properly prepare for the jungle, what to expect, and how to behave as a responsible advocate for volunteering work. UBELONG gave me the sense of security I had so that I was able to truly enjoy Ecuador, meeting locals and volunteers and doing work that taught me so many things that a classroom couldn't. Already my family and I are planning the UBELONG trip for next year. I sincerely recommend this organization over any other because it addresses humanitarian work with the volunteering aspect first, unlike so many of the more expensive sites.

Again, I want to thank you so much for helping to plan this trip. My brother and sister and I are already all planning to do another UBELONG trip to Vietnam next summer, in Hanoi, and my parents are considering teaching english in South-East Asia too (we just moved to Singapore). We want to become more active than before, so almost definitely we will be in contact again sometime later this year.

Volunteering through UBELONG was a rewarding experience. Every detail was organized and planned out from the beginning to end. I was nervous before leaving to Cusco, but the preparation materials and briefing helped me feel more comfortable. My volunteer placement at Club Corason was amazing and it was such a joy to work with the children every day. This experience would not have been possible and as fantastic if it weren't for the help and support of UBELONG.

Working with UBELONG provided me with a life-changing experience as I worked to make a difference in the world. As researched different organizations, I chose UBELONG because of their dynamic program offerings that include HIV education, a cause I am passionate about. From my application to my departing flight from Vietnam, UBELONG staff made themselves accessible at all times. I was both impressed and motivated by how hard co-founder Raul Roman worked to make sure that my skills were used in a way so as to have the greatest impact at my project site in Hanoi. From hosting a workshop on HIV/AIDS prevention to spending a day helping children affected by Agent Orange, UBELONG encouraged me to seek out all the opportunities I could to help others. The chance to do this work in Vietnam has meant the world to me; I can only hope that I did as much for the Vietnamese as they did for me.

UBELONG is an amazing program and I'm so glad I was introduced to them when I decided I wanted to volunteer abroad. Since it was my first time leaving the United States, and I was going alone, I had no idea what to expect or how to prepare. UBELONG helped me every step of the way. I felt so comfortable and confident. Towards the end of my trip I got really sick and everyone in the field, and outside of the field, was on my side trying to figure out what was wrong and how to get me better. They really care about you and that's something that makes the experience priceless. UBELONG gave me the experience of a lifetime.

Through UBelong I was granted the opportunity to travel to Cusco, Peru to work on a public health campaign for three weeks. Being able to volunteer and educate the youth of Cusco about important health and wellness topics was not only fulfilling but also eye-opening. The people I met and the experiences I had made such a large impact on my outlook on life and what I would like to do in the future. I learned so much more about myself and what it truly means to serve from my placement in Cusco, and I have UBelong to thank for that. I look forward to continuing a life of service and volunteering abroad again with this amazing organization.

Ubelong enabled me to have such a great experience volunteering in Peru and I really respect their business and approach to supporting communities. There are several organizations that can facilitate volunteering abroad, but Ubelong it not only just that, it is also a community of like-minded volunteers and non-profits who collaborate together. Ubelong took care of a lot of the leg work and logistics so that I could just focus on my experience volunteering and focus on that. While in the field, you really see how Ubelong's bottom up approach works with the people from the local communities to empower them.

My experience with UBELONG was fantastic. I could not have found a more well-organized or better prepared organization through which to volunteer and I'm incredibly appreciative of the support, guidance and encouragement I received along the way.

I chose UBELONG in large part because the organization's mission resonated with me and throughout my time in Phnom Penh, I found that both the UBELONG team and their local partners in Cambodia adhered to the values and practices they promoted in all of their online and printed materials. They encouraged us to be open-minded and gracious at all times and they reminded us of the importance of being volunteers and visitors rather than tourists. UBELONG promotes cultural sensitivity and encourages people to participate who are truly interested in making a positive difference in the world around them. Not only did I enjoy meeting the locals with whom I lived and worked in Phnom Penh, but I also felt a connection right away to the other UBELONG volunteers.

In addition to promoting the type of atmosphere I was seeking in an international volunteer experience, the UBELONG team also provides excellence service to its volunteers. Whenever I had a question or concern, Cedric responded promptly with a thorough response or explanation. Whether I reached out before, during or after my time overseas, I knew who to contact and I trusted that I would be acknowledged, supported and cared for as part of the UBELONG extended family and volunteer team.

Thank you, UBELONG - I could not have asked for a better experience and I look forward to participating again in the future and encouraging others to do the same!

My experience with UBELONG was fantastic from start to finish. The application process was swift, the feedback did not take long and once I was accepted, I felt prepared and comfortable for my trip. The interactions with my mentor, Adriana, were very helpful as was the Preparation Booklet which did an excellent job of addressing almost all of my questions and concerns ahead of the trip. Anything that wasn't in the booklet, Adriana answered quickly and thoroughly.

The living situation in Quito is a home-stay which houses many volunteers, allowing you an intimate view into Ecuadorian life while also being in the company of other volunteers. Many volunteers stop in Quito for a few days on their way to the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon so I was able to meet many different people from all over the world, a very cool experience. The opportunity to get to know an Ecuadorian family while also making new friends with the other volunteers could not have been better.

Teaching English to Ecuadorian children was really fun and rewarding and it was a great way to get exposure to Ecuadorian society. The kids are incredibly cute and so good-natured, and it was amazing to see how quickly they warmed up to the volunteers. I felt a strong bond with the students and I was very sad to leave them on my last day. My UBELONG experience was an amazing way to really get to know a new place and I plan on traveling to other parts of the world with them in the future.

UBELONG was recommended to me by a friend, and I am so thankful that I took her advice to travel with this incredible non-profit. And now I am thrilled to tell anyone and everyone who is thinking of taking a service trip abroad that UBELONG is the ONLY company to go through. With incredible, kind, and qualified staff, I was able to plan the perfect trip for my summer project abroad. They are so flexible and willing to cater to your needs, I've never been so pleased with a group of people. They were so interested in making the trip fit my wants and needs, and they even took the time to train me and give me plenty of information about Peru and Cusco before I made my trip. Without their expertise, I would have never had as successful or safe of a trip as I had. They even spent time speaking to my parents, making them feel comfortable with my travel plans. I can't recommend UBELONG enough, for anyone looking for a trip that will change their life- and change the world- choose UBELONG. Affordable, grass roots service and community work, is what is going to make a difference in this world for future generations, and UBELONG is busy pioneering just that.