Love Volunteers Reviews

It was really nice to volunteer at the kanamyer primary school in South Africa. We assisted the teachers with the Lessons and therfore there was more attention for the kids and possibilities for arts and crafts. When we left we got letters from all the kids, they were all so sweet! The social scene among the volunteers was also really nice.

My trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico was amazing because it was a volunteer abroad program that specialized in alternative health and medicine. I had the chance to meet and stay with a host family that treated me like their own family member. My volunteer experience allowed me to be immersed in the Mexican culture and promote a healthy lifestyle in the community. My host family took me around the city to visit historical cathedrals, see beautiful architecture, shop, and try delicious Mexican food. I also participated in many other exciting sight-seeing adventures such as; walking through breathtaking underground caves (Grutas de Cacahuamilpa), swimming in the natural hot springs, hiking through the breathtaking Tepoztlan city, and roaming through ancient archaeological ruins (Xochicalco).

I spent my volunteer time working at a Natural Health Center where I was instantly greeted by a friendly staff that made me feel comfortable and welcomed. The natural health center helped the community enhance their health by selling healthy foods, supplements, and vitamins. The center also provided spa services and vegetarian cooking classes. The natural health center is important to the community because they offer health seminars and yoga classes. These services support a healthy lifestyle, health prevention remedies, and alternative health/medicine. My NGO also introduced me to an Aztec healer that gave massages, read my pulse, and gave me insight about my health and personal life. One of my fondest memories was being able to go into a sweat lodge it was remarkable to experience Mexican tradition, spirituality, and medicine.

A typical day started off with me being greeted by my host mother then I would join everyone downstairs to eat breakfast. The food was so delicious and my host mother made me something new and fresh every single day! Then I would walk through the town about two blocks always with a host family member to make sure I arrived safely at the house of my NGO. Then, I would take a taxi to the health center and begin my volunteer activities. I would do yard work, pass out flyers, assist customers, help cook, file papers, or clean the center. Sometimes there was extra time and I got the chance to take advantage of the spa treatments with an excellent discounted rate. Next, I would usually either travel to the city of Cuernavaca with my host mother or my NGO. I will never forget riding in the car through a small country town in Mexico and seeing the farm animals, clothes, stone buildings, and happy people mingling in the roads. We stopped in this town and spent 20 pesos to do a zip-line over a gorgeous canyon, it was absolutely amazing. I also loved being in another culture it is so exciting to walk through the busy markets, eat another culture’s food, and interact with local community members.
Being a part of a great cause is a rewarding and meaningful experience. Love Volunteers is different from other volunteer abroad programs because they personally make sure you are safe and allow flexibility within their program. One advantage of LV is that all of the profit goes to the host family so the money can directly support the community. This is a special life changing trip that serves as a personal growth opportunity and also builds international friendships. My host family were generous, hospitable, kind, and very accommodating people, not once did I feel unsafe with them. Although, we did not speak the same language we seemed to bond and care for each other. Mexico was a self-fulfilling experience because I helped a community and at the same time got to travel to a beautiful country.

I can honestly say I loved almost every minute of this experience. Everyone involved with the program was extremely helpful and kind with all of my questions, needs, and concerns, as were the staff on-site at the station on San Cristobal. Come to think of it, almost everyone I dealt with in Ecuador was helpful and kind, from hostel managers, to tour guides, to doctors that I and others (unfortunately) had to get help from. The support staff from Love Volunteers and their partner were excellent at addressing any safety concerns I had, so I never felt once that I was in any danger or put in a situation involving any extreme safety risks.

The shared accommodations at the station were rustic and rugged as advertised, so I wasn't surprised there at all. While a few others complained a little about the food, I found it to be quite good and a good way to experience some authentic Ecuadorian cooking. I think living in a much simpler way was a great character-building experience, and it was always nice to know that on weekends we could go into town to get a hot shower, some A/C, and enjoy the fantastic animal life and landscapes that the Galapagos islands have to offer. This combination of experiences made it a most unique, and most enjoyable way to spend time away from home.

The work itself was also quite rewarding. At first I thought I would be spending all day, every day cutting down invasive species, but that was far from the case. The staff at the station have a variety of activities that they vary for the volunteers, and doing so gives the volunteers a number of ways to actually contribute to the local community. This also provided a number of ways to experience the islands and see things in ways that other tourists may not get a chance to.

Socially, this experience was excellent. Everyone I met at the station (including staff were positive, generous, helpful, fun, and interesting people. I met a few people that I'm sure will become life-long contacts, if not friends. I regret that my Spanish skills weren't all that strong since it would have been nice to get to know the staff better, but enough people there spoke enough Spanish that we were always able to communicate well. My only other tiny regret was packing and bringing rubber boots: this particular station has a room full of them that other volunteers have left behind, but I suppose it would be risky to assume that the station would definitely have a fitting pair.

All-in-all this was an awesome experience for me, and I would recommend it to many of my friends... or at least the ones who are willing to be tough enough to live with the very basics while at the station.

I have had an absolutely wonderful and amazing time on my volunteer trip! Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. I've felt like I've actually been able to make a difference in people's lives and have learned so much on this trip!
I definitely will be doing this again!

My 4 weeks volunteering in Zambia was by far the most rewarding experience of my life. I worked at Maramba clinic in Livingstone and stayed in a guesthouse not far from the clinic. Livingstone is very accessible via the Airport and there are several flights to Livingstone from Johannesburg. I flew with One Time airlines, a budget airline company, and I found the flight to be comfortable. Ivor, who is the volunteer co-ordinator in Zambia, is very welcoming and insures that all the relevant arrangements was done.

Work: Maramba clinic is a very busy clinic and help is always needed. The clinic offers a wide range of services and thus you never get bored of working at the clinic. The personnel at the clinic are very friendly and the patients really appreciate the help provided by volunteers.

Accommodation: There are numerous types of accommodation ranging from a hotel or staying with a host family. I stayed in a guesthouse that provided 3 meals a day. The manager of the guesthouse is very friendly and helpful.

Livingstone: With a rich history and the Victoria Falls near by, you will not run out of things to do over the weekends. The town is very clean and restaurants serve the most amazing meals. If you are in Livingstone you must try a drop scone at Wonderbake and the local Nshima dishes at food place. There is a shopping complex that sells everything you need and the prices are reasonable. Bungee jumping is also a must. Oh and don't forget the Livingstone museum.

Getting around: Taxis are the best way to get around. These taxis are blue in color with red number plates. Just make sure you do not get over charged (Ivor can help with this). There are also a list of tariffs in the taxi, so just ask the driver.

I found Livingstone to be very save, but I do not recommend that you walk around alone at night.

All in all this was by far the best way to have spent my holiday. I made
allot of friends and learned great life lessons. If you want to make a difference in someones life while having allot of fun... Zambia is the place to go!!!

From the half dozen or so volunteer placements offered, I chose to work at a domestic violence shelter in Quito. Once there, the shelter staff decided to have me work with the children because of my teaching experience. It was frequently difficult work, but it wasn't hard to see how valuable it was for the children and the shelter as a whole. I really formed some relationships with the kids there. It was hard to leave.

The local volunteer foundation in Ecuador also offers a lot of fun opportunities to the volunteers, e.g. salsa classes (free), weekend excursions to different cities (reasonable fee), etc.

Quito is dangerous if you don't take sensible precautions, but it's a great city. And Ecuador as a whole is a beautiful country.

I went alone to mexico in january 2011 , i had an amazing experience helping out in a local community with estela, being my host . The city was a three hour bus ride from Mexico,cuernavaca. Each day i worked along side Estela in providing health care and learning for the children of the city. I helped teach english during the evenings as well as playing with the children . Each day a task was set out, from painting and making the centre look inviting . Estela used her home as a visiting centre for the children of the locality as well as tours from all over the usa.As well as having a degree in natural medicine Estela would cook for the local children , teach them english , use her home as a safe environment for the children. I was welcomed as one of her own family and on my days off i would get to visit the breautiful scenery , volcnoes, pyramids, natural springs.

During this stay i forgot about all my stress in western europe, and i returned a more relaxed person, i will return in the next year , i had a wonderful experience.

I had a wonderful time while volunteering in Nepal for 4 weeks. I was involved in the medical program while I was there. The local team was very supportive, knowlegable and helpful in adjusting to day to day life in Nepal. However, the hospital that I was placed in was very quiet while I was there and there felt like was no real need for me to volunteer there. Due to this I was placed at a different hospital which was slightly busier.

The local team was very passionate about what they want to achieve in Nepal with the schools and orphanages that they support and the health clinic that they want to set up.

My time in Senegal was amazing. Through the organization, Love Volunteers, I stayed for two months (July and August 2011) with a host family and volunteered at an orphanage 5 days a week for three hours where I helped feed, play with, clean babies. My host family was extremely generous and friendly which made my experience in Senegal even greater. Senegalese people in general are very friendly and the country is known for its hospitality (Pays de la Teranga). I met people from around the world and immersed myself into Senegalese culture by eating the delicious food, learning some basic Wolof phrases, attending a Senegalese Wedding wearing a traditional dress,getting a Senegalese name, and fasting for a day during Ramadan to show solidarity with my host family during my stay in Senegal. The programs coordinator, Binetou, was extremely helpful in showing me around Dakar and the orphanage where I volunteered to help me integrate into my surroundings. All of the staff at Love Volunteers responded quickly to my questions and were extremely helpful and honest. Not only did I volunteer in Senegal, I was able to explore this beautiful country, and practice and speak French outside of a classroom setting. Overall a memorable, exciting, and enlightening experience!

Well, I dont have anything bad to say about the program, because I loved every minute, every person I met. I never imagened I could find so much love and tenderness behind the Tailand people. I remember their smiles, there careness, the way they looked at me with so much care and happiness. This feelings are more greatness than any richness in the world.
There is a song whicha name is, The time of my live and I didnt get the chance to say it loud, but I do it now:

Now I've had the time of my life
No, I've never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you

Thank you from the deep of my heart.
Cristina