Program Reviews

Since my first visit, I have since returned to Kenya and the Love Volunteers program 2 more times. I believe my actions can be more powerful than words. I took the time, energy and money to return because the program is well run, and the work you do makes a difference. When I first arrived at the IDP camps (that is the program I chose) almost 3 years ago there was no hope whatsoever. Families were going hungry, kids were not at school, and these families had little hope. Visiting the camps today you will see a stark difference. Children are in school, crops are planted, families are employed, and there is a new sense of life. Without the organization and wonderful people involved, none of this would have been possible . I recommend this placement to anyone who is willing to bring ideas and make a difference.

The best experience ever, it really opens the eyes but also makes you aware that even as an individual you can contribute and make a difference. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I was met at the airport by the Love Volunteers representative and stayed the first night with his family. After that I was in the volunteer house with several others and a wonderful house mum. I was given several options for work but for me caring for the very young children in the orphanage was best. This was an experience that will stay with me for life and will make sure I do it again. Love Volunteers were really good with their organisation and communications and I felt supported and safe all the time.

Like most people I was nervous about signing up to volunteer. I felt like a big leap of faith, but I'm so glad I chose Love Volunteers. They were helpful throughout the process - answering questions before I signed-up, checking up on me after I'd arrived and getting my feedback throughout.

The local team are super helpful and friendly and I felt that there was real need on the projects.

There are obviously some tough issues to deal with, but largely that is the same when doing any kind of travelling in any developing country.

Overall the experience was enlightening and incredibly rewarding and I would recommend it to anyone :)

I spent this summer teaching English at a language center in Rabat, Morocco. It was the most meaningful summer I have ever had. The students I worked with were so bright and so eager to learn. The diverse range of ages and abilities present in the classes was a challenge. However, with a little creativity and flexibility, this was easily overcome. I was given so much freedom to create and carry out lessons. I quickly learned what worked and didn’t work, and was able to develop my personal skills on top of helping out the students. I enjoyed going to work everyday, because it was fun, engaging, and meaningful. It’s such an incredible feeling to be striving and working for positive change in a community – amongst so many hardworking and inspiring people who are doing the same. And to be embraced as a member within that community in return is even more of a blessing. Through the experiences I had and the relationships that were built, I was able to learn a lot about myself and to develop new skills that will help me in the future.

The home stay was a huge component of the program. It is such a quick and powerful way to be integrated into the community. You grow attached to your family and begin to realize that this is really a home away from home. The families are incredible – so friendly and open to embracing you as a part of their family. You learn about the local culture and customs as well as receive useful tips and advice for navigating life in Morocco. And Rabat, a small but lively capital, was a great place to live. Some of the city's highlights are its beaches, parks, cybercafes, traditional restaurants and several museums.

Love Volunteers was definitely the right choice for me. The placement was perfect, the prices affordable and the experience one that I will never forget. The staff at Love Volunteers was invaluable throughout the entire process – providing resources, support, and advice. I never felt unsafe or overwhelmed; in fact I couldn’t believe just how easy it was to adjust to such a completely new experience. I absolutely recommend volunteering in Morocco. It is a beautiful and open place – and you have many volunteer options to choose from. Be sure to participate in the community, be flexible and open, put passion and patience into your work, and of course, remember to have fun, make friends, and travel!

Through the great help and support of Love Volunteers, I went to Ecuador to do my volunteering service at a children daycare/rehabilitation clinic. I enjoyed my site, because I had hands-on experiences with the children and I felt that my service was needed/appreciated. Everyday, three-times a day, I helped with the feeding of the children (breakfast, snack and lunch). Some of the children need help being fed (example - spoon feeding). I also helped the teachers with teaching and helped the children play with toys and other activities. I had an worthwhile experience with my volunteering. I had an amazing time at my site and at Ecuador.

Ecuador is an amazing and fun place. I honestly felt safe and taken care of over there. The people are very friendly. There are many things that you can do over there such as shopping. My sister and I did a lot of shopping. During the weekend, I had the opportunity to make trips to other exciting places (i.e. the Equator line, Banos, the Beach, Mindo-Cloud Forest, Otavalo the indigenous market, Cotopaxi Volcano) at affordable prices.

Overall Ecuador was amazing. My experience was great due to the help of Love Volunteers. I recommend using Love Volunteers if anyone wants to volunteering, because they will make sure that wherever you go volunteer, you will be take care of.

I volunteered in a Medical placement in Cusco, Peru for one month through Love Volunteers. My family stay was an excellent experience and my "family" was very experienced in taking in travelers. That said, the cooking was all authentic Peruvian food and Spanish was the principal language throughout my stay. While my family members were accommodating, they also encouraged me to speak Spanish and helped me immensely with my knowledge of the local culture. My work schedule in the clinic was very flexible (though I had heard of some that were less flexible) and I was able to work mornings or afternoons or both, if I wanted. I also took Spanish classes for two weeks during my stay, which added immensely to the value of my experience. I had time on evenings and weekends to travel about, visit ruins, meander through the markets, and even see some of the nightlife. As for safety, I only gave an 8/10 because I had two friends whose passports and bags were stolen in the town of Cusco, but personally I did not have any trouble with my things. I would highly recommend this organization - they are relatively cheap by comparison, AND your money goes to the families who take you in, with very little (if any) going to the organization. Your experience will be what you make of it, but Love Volunteers gives you all of the tools you need to enjoy your trip. I have not had one regret about my choice to go with them!

The daily work was kind of hard some of the days but this is something I expected since working in the nature it is hard for the environment itself. Other days the work was easier but always rewarding after finishing my day. As well, I had the chance of seeing other parts of the island where the conservation project was run several years ago and I can say that the result is rewarding.
The social environment was fantastic. Everybody said the same about the social environment. Everybody has a good time at the station, no doubt.
Furthermore the islands are a place marvelous to be visited sometime, and what a better chance than the volunteer period.
My summary is: awesome!

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.