Program Reviews

I had the most incredible experience as my first time solo traveling! Volunteering solutions planned everything out and there was always someone available to ask questions so I never felt lost. I was able to fit in so many activities in just 2 weeks! The kids at the school were so cute and sweet and I’m so glad I was able to help in any way I could. My host family and the coordinators were all so helpful and kind and made sure I was happy and comfortable. They even made me a cake for my birthday:) Pilpintuwasi was the highlight of the trip I got a hands on experience with all the animals and had so much fun! I can’t wait to book my next adventure!

My time in India was one of the most valuable experiences of my life, in terms of academic, intellectual, personal, and interpersonal growth. As an intern I was received with open arms in the accommodation, in the hospital and by the staff of volunteering solutions. India is a beautiful and amazing country but still a challenge, so it was so valuable to have the support of such an incredible team throughout the entire process (before and during my stay) with everything I needed. I want to give a special thanks to Shankar (the member of the VolSol team who stays with us, drives us, prepares our food, and is our friend), who not only made me truly feel at home, but made me find a new family during my time here. I would recommend this program to any aspiring doctor at any stage of their studying career, the experiences and interactions I had here will truly define the kind of doctor I will be and certainly give me a huge advantage as a student. Thank you Volunteering Solutions for the opportunity and the support!

I loved the experience I had with the elephants, hearing the sad stories of each individual elephant and then knowing I was helping them was very empowering. Happy elephant home is a great place to go for volunteer experience, the people there are so nice and are so fun! They care for their elephants and want the best for them! The people in Thailand are some of the nicest you will meet. The food was very yummy. All the adventures we went on were very fun. I would highly recommend going to Thailand and this program.

This camp is ran extremely well, the staff is extremely kind and accommodating, the food was fantastic however this is mainly a tourist attraction. The camp is advertised as a sanctuary where elephants run free and are given the best care and life possible given the circumstance that they can never be taken out of captivity. We signed up for this volunteer program under the impression of helping maintain and giving these elephants the best quality of life. There are multiple tour groups that come during the day, where they take the elephants on walks, feed them and bathe them. Some of the Mohouts (elephants trainers) are kind and caring towards the elephants and some are not. I do not agree with forcing animals to perform tricks simply for just the entertainment of humans. I question whether the elephants would get the same amount of exercise and care had we not been here or the countless vans full of tourists. On the count of them being chained up when the Mohouts are taking a break or busy working on the rice fields. On our final day we witnessed one of the Mohouts using a bull hook on an elephant continuously and the reason being unclear. I noticed the elephants ankles bleeding and asked what had happened and I was told they get hurt sometimes in the jungle…. This was a lie. Another concern was the behavior of one of the elephants that constantly rocks back and forth when she is chained up, this is a sign of distress. I was told that she’s young and has a lot of energy and “likes to dance”. Im sad to say I’m disappointed, I had higher hopes for this camp with low expectations and realize now that I should have set my expectations lower. Do your research throughly before you come and volunteer for modern day circus.

Vacanza bellissima che consiglierei.
La famiglia mi ha fatta sentire a casa dal primo giorno e mi ha aiutata a migliorare il mio spagnolo.
Il progetto con i bambini mi ha insegnato molto, lasciando comunque tempo libero per esplorare la città e fare nuove amicizie.
Nel weekend ho visitato la laguna blu, valle sacra e machupicchu. Tour completi e divertenti.
Le organizzatrici di volsol sono sempre state disponibili e gentili per qualsiasi dubbio o domanda.
Un viaggio che ricorderò per tutta la vita!

My host family was absolutely amazing, they were so accommodating and made sure I was very safe and looked after. I truly felt at home while living with them.
I did not enjoy the volunteering part of the programme so I dropped it. The staff at the kindergarten couldn’t speak English - which wasn’t mentioned before I signed up, making communication very difficult.

On one of my tours the tour guide was also very rude and was not organised.

Overall I had a great time here, mostly thanks to my host family.

I really enjoyed staying two weeks with a local family. I had everything that I needed, the food was delicious and they r ally cared about me and helped me, if necessary.
For sure the two weeks were running and I only got a little inside, however it was great. The kids in the kindergarten were very curious and handsome. The activities at the weekends were amazing and well organised. If I had questions, I could contact the organisators at any time. If you want to have a short inside, what volunteering means, this programm is perfect.

I volunteered at this project in Chiang Mai for one week. This was a short trip which was preceded by a much longer one in Cambodia. The Friends for Asia staff located in Chiang Mai are very well-organized and keep the volunteer house in Chiang Mai very tidy for us. The house itself is well-located in the city. The staff at Changland (the official name of the camp) are very kind to all visitors and are intent on giving the volunteers a variety of tasks that will enhance the experience while also contributing to the operations. The food provided at the camp is truly exemplary also. The experience was slightly marred by COVID-19, considering that the number of volunteers is still low - but I would expect that to change in the coming months. Every visitor and volunteer is a contribution to these communities, so I strongly encourage all travelers to participate in this program.

I volunteered at the Elephant Camp (Changland) program in Chiang Mai for one week. The staff are very polite and they are very careful to give you work that they believe might enhance the experience while also arranging fun activities outside of work. The chance to work with the elephants and interact with the many foreign visitors is unforgettable.
Since I was the only volunteer staying there at the time, the volunteer house itself was a bit empty - although I would expect that to change soon as Thailand continues to reopen to foreign travelers. This program is very good for anyone seeking an introduction to Thailand as a whole.

I volunteered at this project in Chiang Mai for one week. This was a short trip which was preceded by a much longer one in Cambodia. The Friends for Asia staff located in Chiang Mai are very well-organized and keep the volunteer house in Chiang Mai very tidy for us. The house itself is well-located in the city. The staff at Changland (the official name of the camp) are very kind to all visitors and are intent on giving the volunteers a variety of tasks that will enhance the experience while also contributing to the operations. The food provided at the camp is truly exemplary also. The experience was slightly marred by COVID-19, considering that the number of volunteers is still low - but I would expect that to change in the coming months. Every visitor and volunteer is a contribution to these communities, so I strongly encourage all travelers to participate in this program.