Program Reviews

The time I spent volunteering in Delhi was unforgettable and Volunteering Solutions did an amazing job to make sure that my experience was safe, fun, and enjoyable. The program I chose to participate in was the Special Needs program in Delhi. As a teacher of children with special needs, I was able to use my knowledge to help others, as well as learn new things and work with many different individuals and students. The staff was very hospitable, and everyone made me feel as if I was at home. I also participated in 2 weekend trips, to Varanasi, as well as the Golden Triangle tour (Jaipur and Agra). Both trips were planned very well and everything was as expected and more. The Volunteering Solutions staff in Delhi made me feel welcomed and comfortable, especially while being in a different country. Shankar did a fabulous job making sure that all volunteers were taken care of and went out of his way several times to help me and others. His caring and friendly personality represents Volunteering Solutions very well. Overall, everything went great. I would highly recommend Volunteering Solutions to others, and will be looking into trips for the future!

This is an important project that will play a bigger role in creating a stronger community, helping global warming, helping the planet, helping the amazon, and preserving a community of awareness in Padre Coche.
The hostel is clean, safe, accessible and comfortable. The host is very clear, approachable and allows for a comfortable stay. She makes sure you are comfortable, she listens to your requests and concerns and she lays out clearly what to expect and what is expected of you.
The agenda as layed out in the program, was true and clear.
Although, I sometimes questioned if I was able to truly help in this project, I ultimately did feel like I contributed to something worthwhile, that my time was valuable and appreciative. Because I feel this is an important project that leads to a bigger picture and adds to a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this project. It is unique, yet it shows how in order to make big changes in the world, you need to start small, and you need to start at home.
I also enjoyed taking part and witnessing the anccestral communities and cultural practices that also contribute to the bigger picture of the importance of preserving land, communities and cultural practices in these smaller villages and provinces along the Amazon.

I was in Delhi for a week and then in Palampur for a week working at schools and I had an incredible experience, I loved being with the kids. Everyone was very nice and helpful, all the coordinators made the experience great. I always felt safe and cared for. The food was always very delicious and a good amount. The week that we were traveling was amazing, we had no problems at all. The hotels were incredibly nice, the meals were good, all our transportation was included and we saw a lot of beautiful sites and had good experiences. In Delhi, we were with the slums children and I felt like I was making a great impact, I absolutely loved it. Palampur was a school where we felt like we were not really needed so sometimes it got a little boring.

I have been volunteering in India for 4 weeks in the Medical Internship Program and couldn't have had a better experience. The program is incredibly well organized, as well as informative and hands-on for Pre-Med students. The accommodation provided by Volunteering Solution is very nice and in a safe neighborhood, and the food is absolutely delicious! Similarly, all of the weekend trips that I booked through Volunteering Solutions are comfortable and a great way to visit India. Each of the tour guides provided helped to understand the culture and made each trip more enjoyable and informative. I have met some of the best people, including other volunteers, Volunteering Solutions staff, and doctors and nurses in the hospital. I would definitely suggest this program to anyone who wants to travel abroad in a meaningful way!

This was my first time volunteering and I really enjoyed the experience. My house home was so sweet, considerate and like a real family. They cared about my experience and we sat for every meal. They also were accomadating with my sleep schedule. Volunteering at Pronoei was also a great experience. I wish I was a little more prepared because we were left with the class on our own without the teacher. I would have prepared lessons - or if there were options for lessons that would have been great.
Although, I felt taking care of and supported, leading up to it I wasn’t totally sure what I was getting to. There were times when information conflicted each other. I just have a sense hat it is maybe a lack of staff and the amount of work but the staff works hard and are sincere with supporting us. It just felt slightly last minute or disorganized at times.

It was a great experience living so closely with the family. We learned about the authenticity of the food and culture of Peru. The family was welcoming and made the program that much more amazing. Be prepared to have the best Peruvian food! We were able to visit a school for students with special needs which was a great experience. I may come back to volunteer there next summer. Along with the great class experiences, we got to visit many great places on our excursions. We got to see many natural wonders like Rainbow mountain, which was beautiful, along with historical sites like Machu Picchu which was amazing to see and walk around in person. These great experiences were in addition to the amazing hospitality from our host family and the interactions with the wonderful Peruvian community.

Minha experiência no Peru foi maravilhosa! Em todos os aspectos... Meu projeto foi muito engrandecedor, pois cada dia tive a oportunidade de trabalhar em uma área da Medicina: pude aprender na Pediatria, na Clínica Médica/Medicina Interna, na Saúde da Família. E sempre havia alguém que estava responsável por mim; nunca me senti sozinha em meu trabalho. Além disso, a Volunteering Solutions estava sempre em contato comigo, perguntando se estava gostando, se tinha algum problema... Já em relação à minha família, não poderia ter ficado em uma casa melhor. Minha “mãe” e minha “irmã” eram muito atenciosas e carinhosas, e estavam sempre dispostas para fazer tudo. Cozinharam as melhores comidas peruanas e me proporcionaram os melhores momentos e memórias!

The program was amazing. The kids were great to work with and the sights we were able to explore over the two weeks were incredible. The staff was amazing and the host family was even better. I would highly recommend this program. The kids were a handful at first but you really need to get used to them. They’re used to new volunteers every so often so breaking the ice can be a little rough at first. The teach is super kind and clearly loves her job and the kids. Having some sort of lesson planned for them as far as colors and possibly numbers for them helps a great deal to keep their attention throughout the day. Aside from the kids we had plenty of free time to explore Cusco and neighboring areas as well as program planned excursions on the weekend. The things we were able to do in such a short period was incredible.

I have the best memories of my volunteer program in Valencia. The whole process with Volunteering Solutions ( including the team in Spain) from start to finish - was easy and well executed .The project with children was an eye opener and The time I spent with the children and the other teachers will always be etched in my heart . I’m still amazed at the amazing work they do and the impact it has on the lives of these kids and on society, at large . My host family were the most loving and warmest people ever ! They looked after me so well and supported me with everything and went out of their way to make my stay so wonderful ! They are my family for life ! Thank you Sahil , Marta and team for one of the best experiences in my life ! It has made such a difference to it . Always grateful !

Working in the clinic in Cusco was interesting and opened my eyes to how other communities live and get their care. Leaned a lot about what it means to be a doctor and the importance of going into medicine. Host family was very nice, made me feel at home. Homestay allowed me to experience life in a way that I am not used to so that I could see how other people have to live. Cusco is a great city with much to offer from history to culture. Very safe, never felt afraid. Very affordable city. Not too hard to acclimate even at the very high altitudes the city is at. Transportation is very good and affordable both by taxi and bus. Many chances to travel to places such as Machu Picchu. Support staff was very responsive to any problems such as sickness.