Program Reviews

I was planning for some time to fit an overseas volunteer trip during my sabbatical leave period over the last quarter of 2022 and came across Volunteer Solutions, an organization that undertake projects around the world including English teaching programs.

After browsing through the many programs and destinations, I eventually chose to go to Tianyar for one full month in Bali to teach English to children with basic to no level of proficiency on the language. The accommodation and meals will be provided for in Tianyar with the school just a three-minute walk away.

Tianyar is a small coastal village which is three hours from Denpasar and away from the bright lights and night life of some their more illustrious neighbors Kuta and Seminyak. It is extremely quiet, and volunteers get to stay in ecological attap houses with bathroom that are outdoors. The sea is also across the lodging area. Amenities are quite modest, and you get to experience the following in the village;

- No air-conditioning
- No hot water for shower
- Intermittent wi-fi connection
- Water supply gets cut certain times of the day
- Sharing a bunk with three other guys in double decker beds

Not for a moment did I miss any of the comforts because in replacement, I got;

- The sound of the waves when I wake up in the morning
- The wonderful sunrise in from my lodging area
- The smell of the sea breeze all day
- Fresh and varied food cooked by a brilliant chef we call “Ibu”
- A chance to follow the fishermen to sea
- Interact with different volunteers from different background, mostly Europe
- Throwback to memories of camping trips in the rural outdoors

Most importantly, I got to teach these students at this school Yayasan Widya Sari who otherwise will not be able to afford an education in English. These students come with so much enthusiasm after their own school day to learn the subject and as a volunteer teaching them English, I made an extra effort to come up with lesson plans as well as activities to engage and impart basic English to my two classes of between 9-11 year olds.

Other than that I also got to immersing myself in the Balinese culture which is a different form of Hinduism and even taking time to dress up in a full Balinese ceremonial costume with accessories. I managed to also take lull time to get my PADI certification and dived at the sea in Tianyar in clear waters to see the marine life as well as the nearby Tulambeng to see the World War 2 shipwreck.

My purpose from this experience was to extend service to the less privileged which is more a duty call than being optional or done at one’s convenience. I believe that I made a positive difference to the lives of the students that I taught.

My sincere thanks and appreciation to the Volunteer Solutions team including Sahil Sabharwal whom I corresponded with and made my journey to Tianyar from Singapore a seamless one.

Look forward to my next volunteer trip with Volunteer Solutions.

I spent 2 months in Sri Lanka in the Women Empowerment Program. It was an amazing experience. I really recommend this program, it is amazing how you can get close to these women and how much you learn about their muslim comunity and culture. During the weekdays, apart from working in the program, during your free time there are many activities to do: surfing, going to the beach, going to local shops, going to the swimming pool, doing some sports at the house... and during the evenings we used to get a beer in the beach restaurants, stayed at home watching films...
And also, in the weekends you have the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka, either with trips organized by the house or on your own.
I really recommend this experience, and Volunteering Solutions were available in case I had any trouble, but luckly I didnt have many.

I had an amazing time in Cusco volunteering in the Escuela Católica del Pacifico. I had a wonderful relationship with the English teacher and it was such a rewarding experience. The students were so sweet and we had such a good time using our English.

In addition to having a wonderful time teaching, I had an amazing family who treated me like one of their own. My mother was an amazing cook! I will always have a second family in Cusco.

I also had time to visit many of the historic areas, two fun zoos/animal sanctuaries, Machu Picchu and more. It was amazing!

My volunteer work took place in a local community clinic in downtown Cape Town called Green Point Clinic. The clinic staff there were very welcoming and kind, and they guided me and very fun to work with. It was a fun experience and 2 weeks flew past so fast and I wished I could have spent more time and do more to help them. I live with a local host family in Cape Town with 4 other volunteers. Faaidah and her family welcomed me and treated me as if I was their family members. I'm sure all other volunteers in the house also felt the same. I will definitely miss all her delicious foods she cooked for us and the laughter we had every time we sat down together. I went to Cape Town trying to experience something new, and surely I got that and then some. I have met new family and friends that I will treasure forever. If I ever have the chance to do it again, I will!

My two sons - 15 years old and 17 years old went volunteering in Cape Town from Volunteering Solutions. I can't say enough how wonderful and life changing experience they have obtained! It was a great opportunity for boys at Ellerton Primary School to see the world from different prospective and feel the vibes of different continent! I strongly believe that these kind of life experiences build their their root memories and will definitely shape them as compassionate and caring people in their future lives.

The Summer Volunteer Program in India was an amazing experience. I highly recommend this program because it will give you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children while also introducing you to the fascinating culture and history of India.

One of the most heart-warming aspects of the trip was being able to work with children in Delhi and Palampur. As volunteers, we were left with the impression that the children genuinely appreciated us and benefited from the work we were doing. We were able to make a lot of children happy by giving them the attention they deserve.

Additionally, my experience in this program was very well-rounded. I was able to visit famous sites such as the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, the Amber Palace, and more. My experience took me from the bustling and noisy streets of Delhi to the quiet rural areas of Himachal Pradesh where one can observe a lot of natural beauty. My experience was also very special because it showed me the rich history of India and the country’s religious, cultural, and linguistic diversity.

I hope anyone who visits India will enjoy exploring this ancient country as much as I did!

It was the first time in my life that I volunteered away from home! It was a wonderful and very enriching experience. My goal was to teach children in need but they are the ones who taught me a lot. I enjoyed visiting other parts of India during weekends. The program organized them and I had no problems! Everything was perfectly organized according to my requests! I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to have an impact on humanity.
Debora Costa Serigado - 27 years old
From Switzerland

Fiquei 1 mês e 3 semanas viajando. Desse tempo, 6 semanas foram no Peru, e 4 pelo programa. Então posso dizer que pude conhecer a fundo a cultura e a cidade. Também posso dizer que do tempo que estive viajando por conta e de quando iniciou o programa, mudou muito minha experiência. Com o programa tive a oportunidade de conhecer muitas pessoas, amigos e a querida host family. Conhecer culturas e pessoas diferentes de todo mundo foi mágico. Temos tempo de sobra para turistar. Com relação ao programa médico, posso dizer que depende muito da si mesmo, sua força de vontade, interesse, conhecer o idioma e o serviço/médico com quem trabalha. No início me senti um pouco perdida, mas aos poucos fui conversando e procurando pessoas do serviço que estivessem disponíveis e interessados para eu acompanhá-los.
No geral, posso dizer que foi memorável conhecer outra cultura tão próxima e ao mesmo tempo tão diferente da minha.

Foram 4 semanas muito proveitosas, conhecer uma nova cultura e praticar o espanhol foram os pontos fortes da viagem.
As pessoas aqui são muito amáveis e gentis. A host family foi incrível, sempre muito atenciosos e dispostos a ajudar, também sempre nos receberam com comidas deliciosas, sentirei falta.
Outro ponto positivo foi fazer amizade com outros voluntários de todo o mundo, os quais manterei o contato.
O programa médico em si foi um pouco bagunçado no início, pois não havia uma escala de trabalho a qual deveríamos seguir, então ficávamos perdidos. Depois de um tempo, quando descobrimos os médicos que gostariam de serem acompanhados, a experiência foi melhor...
Temos muito tempo livre para explorar a cidade e os arredores nos finais de semana.
Recomendo a experiência! Com certeza levarei para a vida (:

Overall, I had a great time in Cusco. There certainly were highs and lows during the trip (which I expected) but I made some great memories and met some fantastic people from all over the world. The staff for Volunteering Solutions are very communicative and trustworthy. My host family was amazing and made some fantastic food. The excursions we did were so fun and had some breathtaking views! The health center I worked at had some really friendly nurses and doctors who really wanted to help me learn and gain medical experience. However, there was some slight disorganization and some doctors preferred to not work with the volunteers