Program Reviews

This program was super fun and educational! The program coordinator, Joe, went out of his way to make sure our volunteer group was having a great time. The homestay was in a nice area with friendly neighbors, and the accomodations provided were very nice. The food was great as well and the transportation provided got us everywhere we needed to go in a timely manner. The doctors and nurses at the hospital were also very friendly and accommodating! They all took the time to translate from Swahili to English for us to be able to understand what was happening, teaching us some Swahili along the way. Some of the doctors even took selfies with us and added us on Facebook. It was such a wonderful experience to shadow these medical professionals and gain insight into how the healthcare system works in Kenya.

This experience was absolutely life changing! I learned so much about the healthcare system in Kenya through observing and conversing with healthcare providers in the Tigoni hospital. The communication between the hospital and Volunteering Solutions could have been better executed. I do not think that the hospital was well informed on the skill level of students that would be working with them. Even so, I could not have asked for better accommodations, guidance, and support. The way that Joe and Paul organized and provided for our group was perfect. This trip exceeded my expectations. I did not know that visiting a country with a completely different culture could be so comfortable and eye opening. I would absolutely recommend that anyone who wishes to experience Kenya in a unique way to visit through Volunteering Solutions. Thank you so much to everyone who made this trip possible.

Amazing experience shadowing and learning from doctors and other staff members of tigoni hospital. Our group of pre medical students from the United States had an incredible time observing medicine in a different country and were taken in immediately by the staff. They were very hands on and wanted to involve us in any way they could. Not only did we get to lend a hand at the hospital but we got to explore the rest of the beautiful country of Kenya. From the local “downtown” scene to the safari in the Masai mara we were always amazed. Our program coordinator and homestay host took care of us so well. They did everything they could to make our experience comfortable and enjoyable. Incredible food, culture, and people. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to learn and have fun!

The only problems I ran into were regarding the lack of lunch being provided and that the police officers in Kenya made me feel less safe than they should but that is not something that can be changed by Volunteering solutions. I did not understand why our buses were pulled over 4-5/6 days when our driver was seemingly doing nothing wrong in the eyes of the law.

Me pareció muy bien el proyecto y mi experiencia con los niños fue muy buena. Me voy muy contenta de haber podido servir un poco en la guardería y ojalá muchos más puedan venir y vivir esta experiencia, que me confirma que es mejor dar que recibir, porque todo lo que te dejan los niños es muy bonito y sobre todo agradecer el poder participar en este proyecto. También estoy muy agradecida con la familia que nos ha recibido por todas sus atenciones y también el poder aprender un poco de ellos. La atención por parte de los coordinadores fue muy buena, la orientación que nos dieron fue muy clara y siempre estuvieron muy pendientes de todas nuestras necesidades. Además fue una gran oportunidad para conocer este país del cual me llevo experiencias muy buenas.

Fue una muy grata experiencia el poder participar en este proyecto, es una buena forma de llegar a conocer otras culturas. El staff es maravilloso, nuestra host family siempre fue muy amable, la convivencia fue muy buena y logramos crear unos bonitos lazos con ellos, en cuanto a los coordinadores locales no tengo más que agradecerles, su atención ha sido maravillosa y han sido muy comprensibles en cuanto los problemas que se nos han presentado. Definitivamente lo volvería a hacer, han sido dos semanas llenas de grandes experiencias, en todos los aspectos, hemos conocido mucha gente de otros países que también han estado como voluntarios y algunos otros en los tours que hemos tomado, además de poder conocer lugares hermosos aquí en Perú.

At first it was really strange to work with handicapped kids. But after a few hours everything was perfect. It got easier every day and you get to know how to handle it. To say goodbye was probably the hardest thing on that trip. I really enjoyed the host family aswell. At Edith's place you feel like your part of the family from the first day. All the other shorttrips to Rainbow Mountain, Michu Picchu etc. were good organized. It was amazing to see some of the most beautiful places on earth. The views were just incredible, outstanding and beautiful. The weather in Machu Picchu wasn't good but it was still totally worth it. The only thing I regret on this trip is, that I lost my phone in a taxi. But that is totally my fault. I might come back some day to look how the kids are doing, they are so adorable. I will definetly never forget this expirience.

We were able to work with dissabled children at the house „Kusi Wasi“.
You need some patience but it‘s wunderful to see the joy in the kids eyes when you arrive and threw the hole day. The programm was free, there are some people that work there and help you in every case. We played, painted, played again, went to parks and played there, showed them some games. They‘re happy about everything you do with them and that gives them attention.
We usally worked 3-5 hours a day. Either in the morning or in the afternoon.
Bring some „work cloths“ with you. Around 2 shirts and 1 pants that can get dirty and painted.
We stud at a host family (3 Persons) and they were so kind and he food was really good too. We had diffrent room/apartment witch gave us some privacy. The center is reached in around 20 minutes by bus. They show you exactly how the bus and taxi systems work. So you don‘t have to be scared that you get lost somewhere.

I went to the dental program in Palampur, India on January 2019.
The experience is amazing.
The program was from 4th - 11th of January, each day we drove for half an hour in between the Himalays mountains to reach a village to provide basic dental treatment and dental checkups.
The local coordinators were very helpful, providing us with the dental instruments needed and translating what the patients were saying. The local team was very welcoming and made us feel right at home!
We had enough free time where we explored Palampur, went up the Hiamlayas and took a small hike where it snows, we also visited Mcleogjan the city of buddist monks and we took a walk through the tea gardens and took a tour through the tea factory!
This experience was very beneficial on both academic and personal level. Being in such enviroment helped us maximize our abilities and learn to provide medical care with whatever we have.
Working and treating patients in villages taught us alot on how to manage whateber situation we are put in.
Honestly, this trip was far more beneficial than most hands on workshops I ever did.
I highly encourage anyone who is looking for a life changing experience to sign up for the next mission.

When I decided to come to Cusco, Peru, my expectations were very low in terms of the city, its environment and its people because it is not a place that according to what I found in google was very developed, that's why when I arrived and started Living the experience I realized that I was TOTALLY WRONG. From the second day, when I went with Kelly to the city tour, I realized that I was in a dream place, full of colors, kind people, affordable economy and above all history. I started spending days with Mama Edidth and I realized that this place had become my second home, the attention, the permanent assistance of her at all times made me feel at home ... the taste of their food is inexplicable, His human warmth is incredible and his way of treating people made me feel happy in Cusco. In the school where I was, I met many children of different personalities, stories and characteristics, but each of them left me a teaching, I leave a memory and a photograph full of love. Each one of the people that made part of this trip made me feel at home, made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON It made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as a woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON It made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as a woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON

Original review:
Cuando decidí venir a Cusco, perú, mis expectativas eran muy bajas en cuanto a la ciudad, a su ambiente y sus personas debido a que no es un lugar que según lo que encontré en google fuera muy desarrollado, por eso cuando llegue y empecé a vivir la experiencia me di cuenta que estaba TOTALMENTE EQUIVOCADA. A partir del segundo día, cuando fui con Kelly a dar el tour por la ciudad me di cuenta que estaba en un lugar de sueño, lleno de colores, de personas amables, de economía accesible y sobretodo de historia. Empecé a pasar días con Mamá Edidth y me di cuenta que este lugar de había convertido en mi segundo hogar, la atención, la permanente asistencia de ella en todo momento me hizo sentir como en casa... el sabor de su comida es inexplicable , su calor humano es increíble y su manera de tratar a las personas me hizo sentir feliz en Cusco. En la escuela donde estuve conocí muchos niños de diferentes personalidades, historias y características, pero cada uno de ellos me dejó una enseñanza, me dejo un recuerdo y una fotografía llena de amor. Cada una de las personas que hizo parte de este viaje me hizo sentir como en casa, me hizo entender una realidad diferente pero increíble, me hizo sentir que lo que vine a hacer valió muchísimo la pena y sobretodo me ayudaron a crecer como persona y como mujer. GRACIAS a todos por hacer de este viaje el mejor de mi vida. ESPERO VERLOS PRONTO