Program Reviews

Volunteering for Childcare this week in Morocco has truly been an enriching and fulfilling experience. Separated by culture, tradition, country and language but united by joy, smile, inner kid and unconditional love. These kids send a reminder that it takes very little to be happy and just a hug to spread it all around.
Here's what I learnt from these less privileged yet more happy kids:
- We all have struggles, embrace them, they help us grow.
- We all have that 1 thing that makes us a child again, do that more.
- Its in our DNA to love every color and race, don't be otherwise told.
- We all throw a fit for what we don’t have, find another toy or another joy, let it go.
- We are all in a race not with each other but with ourselves, so if you fall down, dust it off, get up and try once more!
‪#‎BeYourOwnHero‬

I don't even know where to begin. I'm home for two weeks now and my heart literally has been aching for Cape Town and everything that came with it. First of all there is the city itself. It was incredibly beautiful, every day there was something new to discover. Every time again another breathtaking view. Second, there are the people I met. The other volunteers and travellers were all great, they gave me the time of my life. So many memories and adventures I will never forget. But most important. My kids. In the beginning I tried to keep my distance because I know I get attached easily to kids. So yes, you read it right, I tried. Of course after a couple hours I already blew it. Big time. Those sweet little babies with there endless smiles, crazy talk, big hugs, wet kisses, sparkling eyes, cutest laughs,... They stole my heart since day one. Since that day one they got into my heart every day a little more. I knew some of them had been through a lot and didn't have much at home. But seeing them smile and looking into those beautiful eyes and see some happiness... It got to me a few times. While we keep thinking about the bad things, they let go and live in the moment. They choose happiness. Every day over and over again. Because they have to. They have to fight every day for what they want, and sometimes even to survive. They're the bravest of all mankind. And that's what I will never forget. That's what changed my life and my point of view. They choose happiness, so I will choose happiness too. With my kids in my heart, I will try to choose happiness every day over and over again.

In Februar 2016 I had the great pleasure to teach a class of 14-years old students (the majority female) english.
When I arrived Ali, who is one of the coordinators for the project, help es me a lot to give me an orientation where the school is located, how to go there from the host family, where I can find the most beautiful places in Rabat and so on.
I really enjoyed the teaching project because I had to use all my creativity to prepare the lessons. Fortunately, I was able to teach bilingual (english and french), this helped me a lot for the first communication with the students because my class were really just beginners in english.
I can really advise you to make the Experiences of teaching self-responsible and free of any teaching plan you have to follow.
More over the program is much more than just the teaching itself.
It is also about learning a lot about the Islam, about the moroccan culture and way of living. In my adorable host family I e.g. learned to eat by hands, I was able to learn a lot about the procedures on the Pray-Fridays and a lot more..
Thank you very much VS that you offered me to have this great time in Morocco!

I had an amazing time in Morocco. Living in the volunteer house Riad which was very great. I went on a trip with other volunteers where we became good friends and enjoye the time together.
The teaching project was hard but an incredible experience because I had the chance to see how a student develops.
I can also say that Volunteering Solutions was very helpful when it came to questions either via email or when we met their team in Morocco.

While in Nepal I got to work in a big children's hospital in Kathmandu. It was a great experience for me because I got to work alongside Nepalese doctors and residents. They took me in and taught me so much in the short time I was there. I got to see some very interesting and complex cases that I wouldn't otherwise see in the United States. I also got to see how doctors in Nepal practice medicine and compare and contrast my knowledge and experiences from America.

My volunteer visit to Nepal was amazing! The people were friendly and welcoming, and the diverse landscape was amazing. The day I started my Language and Culture class, I looked out the window and asked my instructor if the mountains I saw in the distance got snow. She giggled and told me those weren't mountains, they were hills. She promised I'd see real mountains when we went into Kathmandu later in the day. As I walked over a bridge to get to Kathmandu Dubar Square, I looked towards the "hills" and saw beautiful white peaks behind them. I was amazed to see the mighty Himalayas!! Now, THOSE were mountains!
Everywhere you look in Nepal is another treasure for the senses. The beautiful, ancient architecture marries beautifully with the chaos of the city. The hustle and bustle of everyday life contrasts sharply with the shrines that seem to be everywhere, yet at any given moment, one can hear the chiming of a bell that signifies someone has uttered a prayer. The spiritual and the corporal intertwine in a beautiful dance.
If Kathmandu is the center of city life, then Pokhara is its quieter, gentler sister. The 8 hour bus ride to Pokhara treats the traveler to amazing agricultural landscapes. The road also follows a river, which is serene in some places and has tumbling rapids in others. Once in Pokhara, the lake is the main attraction. Calm and quiet, it gently beckons the traveler to take a boat ride and explore its many outlets. The highlight of my time there was seeing the rays of the rising sun shine on the snow capped peaks of the Anapurana mountain range. I am not eloquent enough to fully describe the beauty of that moment.
Once back in Kathmandu, I spent a week at my assigned orphanage. The girls were wonderful! I learned so much from them! I only hope I made at least a small difference in their lives. These were sweet, beautiful girls with inquisitive minds. It was my privilege to serve them.
I miss many things about my time in Nepal. I miss the chaos of the city, the beauty of the scenery, and the depth of the culture. However, the thing I miss the most is the warm and welcoming people.My life perception has been changed by the people I have met and by the extraordinary children I served. Friendships were made and sealed by fun and laughter. The world has become smaller and my mind has become broader by this amazing experience. NAMASTE!!

Volunteering in Morocco has been an amazing experience. Volunteering solutions/MCAS have been ensured that my self and my friend have been well looked after and teaching English to young children has not only developed me personally, but has inspired future adventures.

Volunteering Solutions have been supportive from the moment I decided to participate in a programme with them. They were more than happy for me to ask questions and always responded quickly. The pre departure guide aided my preparation for the programme, giving me advice on everything from what to take and what happens on my arrival in Morocco. Ali, our programme director in Rabat has been there to ensure our experience has been unforgettable. From meeting us at the airport, advising us on how to keep ourselves safe to recommending places to visit that match our interests, he ensures that every volunteer wants to return in the future.

Living with a Moroccan family has to be one of the highlights of the programme. It means that you are able to absorb yourself in Moroccan culture and understand their importance of family values. It also gives you the opportunity to meet other volunteers and learn about their home countries.

Teaching in a local school has been a valuable experience, for myself, the children and the teachers. It has even challenging at times, as the children understand very little English, but watching them develop over the past 2 weeks has been amazing. Even if they can't say the word, but can perform the action that represents that word, you know that they still understand and that you have taught them something. The children have enjoyed listening and getting involved with the story books myself and my friend brought from England, playing bingo and having the opportunity to experience a more creative approach to learning English. The teachers have also been supportive, helping us with behaviour management and they sit at the back and observe. Hopefully they will try some of our techniques in their own lessons.

Having the opportunity to explore Morocco whilst volunteering has been extremely exciting. Rabat is an ideal destination because there are so many interesting places to visit. It is also close to other cities such as Casablanca and with our free weekend we visited Marrakech, so we were able to immerse ourselves in much more than just the local area. If only we were here for longer so we could see more!

Overall, participating on a programme with Volunteering Solutions has been unforgettable.

I spent one month in Phnom Penh as a volunteer in an orphanage (MOC). I loved both the country/city and the mission: Phnom Pemh is a really nice place to live, Cambodian people are adorable and the weather there is very pleasant. The mission in the orphanage was great, 20 kids from 4 months to 4 years old, all cute, nice and gentle. It was a real pleasure to work with them. We had to play with them, feed them, dress them up and make them go to bed. There is a lot of love in this place, and the kids are happy to see volunteers. I would totally do it again if I could!!

In April 2015 my adventure started. I was really ecxited to go to South Africa to make new experiences with a different culture and living standard.

I worked in a kindergarden for nine weeks. It was such an amazing time I never wanna miss.

On my first day when I came into class all the kids came to me and said 'teacher, teacher!', 'Hello, who are?' It was a great feeling to see how open-hearted the children are.

But there was one child who was withdrawn and quiet. So I decided to spend her more attention. After a while she talked much more and played with other kids, too. Her insecurity and and all her worries were reduced. To see such a development is still a unique experience for me.

-Volunteering in Southafrica, cape town -
My dream at the age of sixteen girl, being in southafrica and teaching there.

Seven years later, I couldnt believe it. I am in South Africa :D
Its is so beautiful- people, food, sun, landscape..everything.
-LIVING-
In my volunteerhouse, there were amazing people from everywhere. We spend breakfast and evening together. Noel, our father in our volunteer house, he is an amazing man. I learn about life so much. He is inspiring me for my life. I am so glad that I met him in my life.

-WORK-
My work at the ellerton primary school, it was a amazing experience. It change my view of life completly. How?
Me as a eritrean- german girl, who raised up in germany and who is origin from eritrea, could understand my life in germany over there.
Seeing girls at the age of twelve or thirteen and they doing their hair each other, my heart flourished!
Back in the days, I always wish that black girls like me are in my school. But I didnt get that. Seeing 10 years later, in southafrica, it was an amazing feeling. THIS IS WHAT I LOOKED FOR :D
At the same time, I saw that children have many problems for getting education. School money, money for studying at the university, money for themselves- the oppurtunity what I have in germany, its incomprehensibly.

Another beautiful experience is, how beautiful the kidz are. One situation, I will never forget in my life.
I : What you write it down?
The boy: I write NIKE.
I: Oh, nike. cool. Do you like Adidas, Puma, too?
THE WHOLE CLASS LAUGHING.
I: What is wrong?
Girl : We call it PuuuuMa. Not Puma. Beacuse puma means, go away.
ThEn, I Laughed.
After two weeks, one of the girls give me a cut out paper like a shoe and write abouve it: Puma.
Miss, this is your gift from our class.
I laughed the whole time. They steal my heart <3

I loved it teaching in this class. Being there. And I really appreciated everyone. People in the volunteer house and People in the school.

SOUTH AFRICA- CAPE TOWN- I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU <3