Program Reviews

I had a wonderful two weeks with UBelong. My average day consisted of teaching kids english, which was a lot of fun. The place we stayed at has a great view, and the added bonus of great food is hard to beat. I really feel like they go out of their ways to make us feel comfortable.

UBelong was great! The organization is extremely organized and everything from the pre-trip all the way through the post-trip was awesome. Our Alternative Break trip (with University of Maryland) was focused on poverty and education in an indigenous Quechua community. The on-site contact in Cuzco, was pretty incredible. She connected us with all the on-site partners and helped accommodate our group's need. We ended-up volunteering in several different areas - a girls home, teaching English, a center for students with disabilities, and a sports camp in either pairs or groups of four. UBelong also arranged a group project for us so in the evenings we painted a a school together (there were 11 of us in total). The accommodations were really good too and the food was amazing!

I highly recommend working with UBelong, especially if you students are planning a trip from scratch. They also have a mission that fits right in with Break Away's mission and the founders have a background on International Development which added a lot to the program (moving away from volentourism to actual service-learning). The only catch is the organization recommends the service to extend to two weeks, which is what we did and what I highly recommend for future groups. The cost was super reasonable as well.

I volunteered for a local NGO in Hanoi, Vietnam for a month this past December and it was undoubtedly the best learning experience of my life thus far! Not only did I get an opportunity to see how NGOs in Asian countries function but I also got the chance to go out into the field - the beautiful Khe Ro forest in the outskirts of Hanoi - and explore this site's ecotourism potential.

I picked UBELONG because of its affordability and the wealth of precise and detailed information that they provide about their programs. Additionally, my volunteer mentor, Raul, was exceptionally helpful and made sure to answer any query and concern that I may have had. The Safety Meeting that Raul conducted over the phone with me made me absolutely sure about my choice of organization! In UBELONG, you can find a support system that is constantly there, no matter which country in the world you may be volunteering in.

Volunteering in Vietnam through UBELONG was the best decision that I have ever made and I look forward to volunteering this summer again… perhaps in South Africa! Thank you, UBELONG, for a fantastic experience!

In a nutshell the trip was one of the most inspiring, life-changing, eye-opening, and fun experiences of my life! Martina and the rest of the staff were so friendly, answered all of our questions, and made us feel very prepared and comfortable. Everything was so well organized from landing in Cusco to departing for back home. The meals were also extremely delicious, and they were very accommodating for the 5 vegetarians in our group. I am so happy that we had the opportunity to volunteer at 3 different sites to get a broader perspective of Peru. I had a wonderful experience and would recommend Ubelong to anyone in a heartbeat.

I spent two amazing week in Cuzco and involved in an after-school program. I learned a lot from this trip. I think UBELONG did pretty well in everything inclding food, hostels and orgnizing activities. And the local staff provided us many useful guidences and suggestions. I am sure I will go back to Cuzco one day to meet children there. I miss them all!

Volunteering in Vietnam through UBELONG was a life-changing experience for me. For years I had wanted to participate in some sort of international volunteer work, but none of the programs that I looked at quite matched what I wanted. Some wanted a lengthy time commitment, some were too expensive, and most of them didn't have the types of projects I was looking for - which was anything health or HIV related. Raul solved that problem when he found ME and suggested that I check out his organization.

At first I was skeptical of the complete stranger suggesting that I should send him money and then fly to a foreign country, but I decided to start by looking at the website, and I became progressively more and more secure about what UBELONG was offering. Each of my concerns about other organizations were addressed quickly by the website - great flexibility for length of stay, the most affordable option for volunteering that I've found, and most importantly, a wide variety of projects, with details up front about what was expected by the organization and what could be expected by the volunteers.

I quickly found a project that I found incredibly appealing - public health volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam. I had just applied to Master of Public Health programs for the following fall, and I was looking for an opportunity to get some experience in my new field before diving into my studies. I applied to the UBELONG program called "Promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness", but my application went in right around the time of Tet in Vietnam and UBELONG was having trouble getting through to the host organization. UBELONG responded by preemptively talking to the organization hosting the other public health project in Hanoi and finding a place for me there, and when they called me a couple days later, I was given the option to keep waiting for the HIV project or accept the one that was already happy to take me on, and I chose to do just that.

Over the next couple months, while I was making all of the necessary preparations for the trip, I was in regular contact with Raul. UBELONG has a set of several standard emails and skype conversations that they have with every volunteer, but Raul quickly responded to all of my additional emails, answering in detail every question I could think to ask. He even found time to meet with me in Washington, DC while I was there for an unrelated trip. By the time I left for Vietnam, although I was still nervous, I felt like Raul had prepared me incredibly well.

Throughout the trip, Raul was in contact with me to see how things were going. I received check-in emails from him immediately before and after my flight to Vietnam and approximately every two weeks after that. We also had a phone/Skype conversation while I was there and he has listened to all of my concerns and suggestions and has quickly made appropriate changes, as necessary. I am incredibly grateful for his work as my mentor, and his support made the experience of traveling to a completely foreign country where I didn't know the language at all much easier. I would highly recommend UBELONG to anyone else considering international volunteering (and I have suggested it for a few friends already).

We used to go to a clinic to help out inside the service for disabled children. We basically played with them during the mornings and helped at lunch especially the youngest ones. This experience has been really fulfilling in terms of human contact. I was afraid about being of very little help but I realized there are a lot of things one can do by just being with the children and doing the to amost basic games or activities, like drawing or dancing, even wandering around the clinic!
The local culture was also very interesting : great contrast between the place we stayed at (touristic = clean and rich) and the suburban areas in which we operated (poorer). And I was amazed by the importance of the "extra-legal" system overthere : one might think of this as anarchy, but I found it amazing how people try to abide by extralegal-but more reasonable and fair rules. This way, people can go around state rules without running into wild anarchy.
I would highly recommend this program to every one that is interested about embracing another culture and about bringing happiness to a bunch of lovely people :)

Our Alternative Break trip to Cusco with UBELONG was the most amazing experience, and 'amazing' doesn't even do the memory justice. I really miss the children and all the time with my group in Peru. I believe that I gained so much more than I was able to contribute. Coming back from Peru, I have learned so much about greater compassion, the larger issues in life, and the capabilities of a good heart. My group and I have been inspired to do more volunteering back in San Diego as well. Thank you so much for your constant support!

I volunteered for three weeks as an English teacher in Hanoi, Vietnam through UBELONG. What initially attracted me to UBELONG was the organization’s genuine philosophy and passion regarding international volunteering and the outstanding affordability of their programs. I continued to be impressed by how thoroughly they prepare volunteers beforehand and how quickly Raul (co-founder and my volunteer mentor) responded to all of my questions and concerns.

The pre-departure Skype interview with Raul also provided a wonderful opportunity to better familiarize myself with UBELONG and the people behind the organization. I felt like I really got to know Raul and he took a genuine interest in getting to know me and my motivations for volunteering in Vietnam. The entire process confirmed to me that I had definitely chosen the BEST organization and program for my international volunteering experience.

Overall, I had am amazing time in Hanoi and I can’t say enough about how pleased I am with UBELONG. If you are looking into volunteering abroad, my advice would be to take this opportunity right now in your life and DO IT! You will gain friends, memories, and skills that will last you a lifetime. And in choosing a program through UBELONG, you definitely will not be disappointed with the quality of their organization and the support you will have along the way!

I couldn't be happier with my decision of volunteering in Cambodia through UBELONG. When you decide to undertake such a journey, you want to feel you're dealing with people who know what they are doing. And UBELONG does. They provided me with the necessary support, advice and enthusiasm during both pre- and post-departure process, allowing me to make the most of my volunteer experience. Before departure, I received a comprehensive Preparation Briefing and had a safety meeting with my mentor, which really helped me prepare for the trip. None of the volunteers from other organizations I met had anything remotely similar to that. I especially like the fact that UBELONG has a philosophy behind its programs. They talk not only about helping others, but also about stepping out of your comfort zone, building emotional strength and achieving personal growth. I think that helped me keep my mind always open and watch out for the changes that this volunteer experience was operating in myself -- when maybe the natural reaction would be staying on the defensive side.