Program Reviews

I've been in the program for 2 weeks. The accomodation is basic but it really makes you feel in Thailand :). It was nice to be in a house with all the other people volunteering. The schools were amazing. The children where nice. The teaching was a great experience. You really try to connect with the children and make them pronounce the words. The older classes can speak and read Englisch very well. You get an inside look in the culture of Thailand. How children are raised. We did al lot of activities with the group like exploring the Island, beachparty,half moon party, BBQ etc.

I just want to start by saying that my 4 weeks here in Bangkok flew by so fast, I did not want to leave! The friendships and interactions that you experience on a trip like this are those that will stay with you forever! Seeing the people of Thailand live their lives was absolutely amazing. The medical Internship definitely left me with more knowledge and it was sweet to see the differences and similarities between here and America in the health care field. The staff was so welcoming and everyday their faces lit uo when we would walk through the door! They always welcomed up with drinks and snacks, very caring and giving! My whole time here I've felt so happy, I can't help but constantly smile! The staff here at volunteering solutions who set up my whole trip did a fantastic job and I would recommend going through this company to anyone! Every day I would get emails from the staff at volsol checking in on me and they still continue to do so even though my program has ended. They honestly made sure my trip was perfect and all of my expectations have been met and I can not thank them enough! This is an amazing program not only to volunteer but to experience life in a new culture, this journey has opened my eyes and has given me a great appreciation, these memories that have been made will stay with me forever and I would not trade that for anything!
Lindsey Cignarale

If you are considering doing this program in Thailand, my advice to you would be to stop thinking and do it! When I initially signed up, I was nervous because I was going as a solo traveler. However, as soon as I arrived at the airport, I was met with a coordinator and 3 of the 19 volunteers I would be sharing this month with. This particular program was a great mix of volunteering experience and free time to explore on your own. The volunteering part included teaching English in a temple and in an orphanage, doing renovation work (planting, painting murals, making a concrete garbage pit), and, my favorite part, caring for elephants in a truly unique setting. The itinerary gives a great, basic outline with what you will be doing everyday but the wonderful program leaders planned so many voluntary excursions for us that enriched this program so much more. We were constantly on the go and saw so much in the month abroad. Whether you are going solo, or with a group of friends, this is an experience you will love!

I didn't know what to expected coming here in Morocco. I've been volunteering before in schools but I've never be a volunteer in a NGO and I was a little bit scared cause I don't know arabic and I speak just a little bit of french. Thank to our coordinator and my colleagues I did it, I enjoined my experience and I'm bringing back home so many memories. It was interesting working in Rabat and it was amazing travelling during the weekends with the other volunteers, wonderful people that shared with me this experience.
Thank you for this experience, for having helped me when the things were hard and for having shared with me those beautiful moments.

Two weeks already since I came back to my country from Thailand. I knew it was going to be a great experience, but honest truth, was much better than I expected.
At the beginning, I was quite concerned about the security over there, if I was going to have problems, because I was travelling on my own. Finally I booked it and I can not be happier. We got the best guides, they helped us any time.
I have no doubt that it was the best experencie ever. I already miss it! I am looking forward to coming back again.
I leave behind me amazing people, stunning places, an incredible country. A culture and traditions completly different to our life-style, which makes this program so special.
I strongly recommend it, it will change your life and mindset for ever. Go for it!

I was in Cambodia for a month on summer and those were the best weeks in my life so far. I was teaching English to children in a school located in Phnom Penh. I chose to stay at a guesthouse and it was really fun there: I shared room with 5 other volunteers who were in different programs so it was great to come back home from the school and hear about the other volunteers' stories. The first day we got the Orientation day, where the staff explained some History, Religion and Cultural information about Cambodia to us and we also got to know the other new volunteers, which was great. Also we had a meeting dinner and we discovered khmer cuisine! The second day there was a City tour, where you visit the highlights of Phnom Penh in a bus and with a guide who can answer your questions. The first day at your placement a person from the local staff comes with you to help you through the first minutes and then you will feel home there, because cambodian people are very helpful and will make your mission there so much enjoyable. On weekends you have plenty of time to explore rural Cambodia and have a bath with elephants in Mundulkiri Province, discover the beaches of Sihanoukville or see the sunrise in Angkor Wat. Be careful with the monkeys there, one of them stole my breakfast! :) It's easy to get around Cambodia with buses and tuk-tuks in the cities, and by staying in the guesthouse you will always find someone to travel with if you want! Also the local staff are always there to help you if you have some problem and sometimes they set weekend trips to some places in Cambodia.

This volunteer program well exceeded my expectations. The staff were very reliant and enthusiastic. Not only did I enjoy working at my volunteer site, but I also was able to immerse myself with the culture and beauty of South Africa, all in just 2 weeks! My biggest regret is that I could not stay longer.

The sisters at the Goodwood clinic taught me a lot about how health care is run in that part of the world. They trusted me work with patients alone, so I really felt like my help went a long way. I stayed with a host family that lived near the clinic and in turn was able to get a better insight on the lifestyles of South Africans, yet I was a little distant from town. I still had time after project and on the weekends to explore...there is so much to do.

The rewards of this experience are difficult to put into words for others, but easy to reflect upon once you've experienced it for yourself. Nothing compares to waking up every day in a different country and being able to explore all it has to offer, while giving back at the same time. Not only do you learn from the places you visit, but each person you meet seems to have their own story that sticks with you. This was a huge learning experience and eye opener for me and I cannot wait to come back one day.

During the summer of 2016 I went on a volunteering trip to India. It was an inspiring experience, full of learning and culture. It was amazing to see people with so much less than me but still be just as happy and just as willing to succeed as I am. I met children who had dreams of becoming pilots and soldiers. The love for their own country is immense and how proud they are of what they have become and what the country has achieved is beautiful.

India was the place I wanted to go to most in the world. Taj Mahal was the site I wanted to see the most but my favorite memory was from Akshardham. When I was there I was first in aw from the beauty and detail of each individual piece of the temple. Then actually looking around beyond the architecture my mind was subdued by the teachings and study of the Hindu religion. In the end I was confused. I was as confused as my friends from the UK were when I said "yall". I just kept reafinh everything to hope to understand but in the end I couldn't. Just as I was ready to give up a local man came up to me and greeted me with namaste. He continued on by asking my name and where I was from after a brief conversation he asked "Are you Hindu?" and I replied "No". He then choose to take his own time to explain to me so much of the religion. Not in a way to convert me but to teach me. He explained the stories and prayer I witnessed. Back where I'm from people don't go out of their way to help random tourists. This made such an impression on me that that's the first thing I think of for India.

The summer program trip was amazing, and I'm glad I went on it. I met incredible people from all around the world, and made some great friends along the way. This trip will forever change how I view myself, my world, and my opportunities. It offered me new ways of challenging my views, and my abilities. I would definitely say that this trip was the journey of a life time, that empowered me to believe in the good in the world, and the strength in me. It tested my heart, mind and body, only to strengthen my values in life. I started the trip hoping to make a difference in the world, and came home having the trip make a difference in my life. India gave me so much more than I anticipated. She gave me a love for life, health, adventure, and personal growth.