Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) Reviews

Such an amazing experience and company to volunteer with. I went to Thailand this summer (2013) with GLA and was really impressed by the home base as well as the American and Thai staff members. The volunteer sights were really nice and for the most part it did not feel like you were volunteering because you were just having fun with the people you were helping. Once you arrive at the actual base with all the other 29 kids you might be nervous but by the second day you will have already begun to make friends and memories. I cannot wait to volunteer abroad again with GLA during the summer of 2014 because it honestly did change my life. The hardest thing to get used to is probably the humidity in Thailand. The second you walk outside you are all sweaty and your clothes will stick to you all day. Other than that its all fun and games.

The GLA trip has made me so much more confident as a person! I highly recommend it to all!
The staff were professional and kept our safety as a first priority all the time! Everyone had an amazing time and I feel privileged having gone on such an amazing trip!

If you like man-eating spiders, this trip is the place for you! Don't get me wrong, the galapagos is one of the most beautiful place in the world, i loved the the animals! but GLA made my experience more miserable then it had to be. Going to equador, you have to go with the mind set that you will NOT under any circumstances stay in a somewhat nice place, but i did not know it was going to be THIS bad. our first night on the galapagos was on san cristobal and the accomodations were the most horrific and discusting thing i have ever seen. the floor was just rocky concrete, and 6 people to a TINY room. there were no sheets, and only one person could move between the broken bunkbeds at a time. there were "ventilation systems" which were spaces between the tin roof and rotting walls, which the GIANT spiders would crawl in. there were only 3 DISCUSTING bathrooms to share between the kids, concealers, guides, and the family that lived there. the people who we stayed with did not take care of there dogs and did not feed them at all. i had to sneak my food into zip log bags to keep the dogs alive. (if you do go, please make sure to feed the dogs!). and mud EVERYWHERE!!! Also, when we were supposed to be painting schools and taking care of the turtles (like they advertised) we had to walk 2 miles up a muddy hill to help a farmer get rid of his plants. they gave us machetes and cutting down the things were fun, but then we had to build a path of rocks, shoveling the rocks into potato sacks, and carrying them up the mile long mountain on our backs. also, the kids were not nice but that cannot be helped and can change with every trip. during the boat ride between islands we got DRENCHED since it was going so fast and the back was open. it was a 2 hour ride. we had to push our suitcases to the front so not all of our stuff would get wet. the guides were FANTASTIC!!! it is a really beautiful place, but until GLA fixes their program, i would not recomend it.

My Tanzanian experience was indescribable. Each day we would wake up to the smell of fresh coffee, bread, and fruit then set out to a workday at the primary school. Teaching the children English was the by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done. To know that you have made an impact on someone's future is a feeling that stays with you for the rest of your life. Not only do we teach them, but they taught us. The children were so content, despite what I had anticipated. I am thankful for each moment I had in Tanzania and try my best to follow their lead in finding joy in little things. We also got to adventure on safari to Tarangire National Park and the Ngorogoro Crater, where we saw beautiful animals and landscapes. We were also fortunate enough to stay for a weekend under the stars with the Maasai, where we were immersed into a culture completely foreign to us. Staying with the Maasai challenged me in a way that truly made me accept everyone's differences. We also got to climb around the base of Kilimanjaro--which was amazing and beautiful. When I think back to Africa, I become lost; the stress in everyday life disappears and I feel an inexplicable sense of peace and joy for the blessings I have been given.

While in Tanzania, I was able to experience a new culture and lifestyle while building lifetime relationships with those in my group and also my mentors and teachers. Each day the group would have breakfast together, and then go on to either help out at Patandi primary school, or explore the Arusha/Kilimanjaro area. The scene itself is breathtaking, the company is heart warming, and everyone makes you feel welcome. I found another family while in Tanzania and grew through each lesson along with my peers and shared the workload of giving the children of Patandi a new classroom, as we chiseled away at the old concrete to lay a new flooring. We would go on hikes, play soccer, go to museums to learn the history of tanzania, and each night reflect on what we can take from these experiences. In having a leadership seminar to challenge our abilities as leaders and also help build better leaders, I was able to learn how to better communicate and work within groups to complete a task. If there is any question in your mind about whether this trip is for you, then know that there is no education like adversity!

The highlight of my trip was visiting Fathers House. Fathers House is a house that houses 8 rescued child slaves off of Lake Volta. The "Great 8" are my favorite boys in the whole world. The fun and love they brought to my life was so inspiring. I am going back to Ghana, I'm going back, first and foremost, to see those boys.

The welcome we received from all of the GLA staff and Tanzania locals was absolutely amazing. The environment enabled us to fully enjoy our experience to the best of our ability and learn all their was to learn about ourselves and the surrounding community. I have never come back from any trip quite so educated or opinionated before and it was refreshing to have had the opportunity to do so.

I went to the Galapagos for two and in this period of time GLA did an amazing job of providing education, service, adventure, and self-growth. Everything we did on the trip was absolutely amazing. Some of my favorite memories include painting a school for the children, snokeling a the famous breath-taking spot called Kicker Rock where we swam with sharks, fish, rays, and sea lions, and visiting the tortoise breeding center. One thing I am most grateful for is that I made so many strong friendships with kids all of the US that I still maintain months later. GLA successfully helped me develop into a more independent, confident, mature, educated young adult and I have no regrets or complaints about my trip!

The GLA Tanzania trip was truly incredible. The staff were friendly and nice and the community service was very enjoyable and fulfilling.
An absolutely amazing trip.

This was my first trip abroad without my parents and it has taught me a lot about being independent and cautious of the money I spend. I thought the price of the trip itself was a little pricey but I think it was worth every penny when I experienced the events we were doing day to day. The hotels were amazing and clean, the food at the places we ate at were delicious and we could even order a second serving (which is the best!), and the places we went to were fascinating. I took lots of pictures and hope to visit China again.