Program Reviews

My favorite part of the trip was working with the children and teacher in my classroom everyday. The teacher was so warm, friendly, and kind – in general the whole school was welcoming including the teachers and especially the students.
The most difficult thing I experienced was the constant staring from locals because they weren't used to seeing African Americans. Everyday there was someone looking and talking with a friend to figure out things about me or they would ask me where I was from constantly.
I packed two weeks worth of clothing for my month stay because I planned to donate my clothes so I could have more room for souvenirs to bring back home, so I bought older clothes with me so I wouldn't worry about them getting ruined. If you’re going to a country in the Eastern part of the world just be prepared for the long flights and the different airplane culture. Make sure you read over the list for things you might need for staying in that country and make sure to buy most of it. I would recommend waiting to buy stuff for donations until you know exactly what your volunteer site will need so you know that your donations will really be used. While sightseeing be respectful of the countries customs and if you are going to a religious sight ask what you should do before you go.
ABV is a wonderful program to work with if you want to get an experience that will change your life forever. The many volunteer programs in different countries can be appealing to anyone who wants that experience. Going to volunteer in Nepal has changed my life forever and I am so appreciative of that. I’ve learned more about myself during my one month stay than my entire life.

I am so thankful for finding this ABV program. Everything went according to plan and was even better than I hoped. I was able to help the children, meet wonderful new people, and learned a lot. The dance classes , i have been giving dance classes everyday and now every time I go back to my playlist and listen to the music i can’t help myself but tear and wish I was still there with the most wonderful children I have ever met. I suggest take as least clothes as possible for you and as most as possible to give away because almost everyone is in need and giving things away to random people might sounds weird but seeing the smile on each and everyone’s face when receiving something from you is in-describable. I grew to appreciate, and although I spent days with no electricity days with no hot water it was a great way for me to wake up and thank god for where I am today.

From the minute I began to plan this work with my first emails to ABV to my time at the Reserve, I will say that the whole experience was very enjoyable and exciting. I have spoken to those at home about my experience at the Reserve and with ABV and I hope I have generated the interest of others here at home to do what I did. I would love to do this work again. Thanks

I could not have asked for any better customer service from Sarah Ehlers. She was very prompt and provided all of the accurate documentation whether it was receipts or information regarding our trip. Even after the trip, she made sure I was able to finalize last minute business between myself and the ABV Coordinator in Ghana.
I think the reason why this trip went so well was because we went into it with a very adventurous and flexible attitude. Only one of us had traveled internationally before traveling to Ghana. We honestly had no idea what we were getting ourselves into in regards to travel, culture, food and medical circumstances. We didn’t really know what specific type of medical supplies we needed to take. We weren’t told what we should wear until we got there…and by that point, there was very little about what we could do. For example, we all brought blue scrubs, because that is what we wear in the States. However, in Ghana, white is the color of healthcare providers. Also, I wish I was better prepared for the extreme heat.
Given I had never traveled outside of the United States, traveling to Ghana proved to be a major culture shock in more ways than one. The heat was incredible, the people were unbelievable. Everyone there exuded a relaxed nature, and everyone on my team agrees that the Ghanaians exhibited a level of generous hospitality unmatched by anyone anywhere. Traveling as a student, I was uncertain as to what sort of cases we would be seeing, and what type of circumstances we would find ourselves facing. However, through the guidance of Edem and his family, that skepticism quickly fell away as we dove into learning about the culture, meeting the locals, and providing care and education to those who would not otherwise have had the chance to learn about health and their bodies. As a students, I felt empowered to then return the education I was receiving overseas to the beautiful people of Ghana. We encountered many obstacles, such as limited supplies, and spiritual traditions that greatly minimized our ability to apply the necessary care. We were all able to take home a different aspect of learning, teaching and culture by the end of the week. My only regret was that this trip was in fact so short in length. Should there be a next time, I would aim for at least two weeks. Between the hospitality of Edem and his family, the helpfulness of the ABV staff in the States, and my team, I don’t see why we wouldn’t return in the near future.

Abroaderview is a great program, especially for first time travelers like myself. Traveling alone, it was very important that I always felt safe and abroaderview was able to ensure that for me. I could not ever imagine a more perfect way to spend my time. Truly life changing.
The project coordinator was fantastic. He showed us all around, made sure we always felt safe, and always kept checking in. He was very personable and easy to talk to. He perfectly integrated the volunteer work and getting to know the culture and history of the city.
Take your time to fully enjoy all parts of the city of Cartagena. If you get the chance, a nice weekend trip is a four hour bus ride to Santa Marta, with incredible beaches, restaurants, and a great hostel.

Laura was AMAZING! I was greeted in the airport by Laura and her husband Vicente and although my Spanish wasn’t very good when I arrived, they explained everything clearly to me and made sure I felt comfortable. The following day, Laura took me to her office where I talked with Karen about the project I would be working in. Karen speaks great English and I could understand everything she was explaining to me. The purpose of my trip was to do a medical mission/Spanish immersion, and after hearing about the project I was supposed to volunteer in, it wasn’t what I was expecting. I shared my feelings and concerns with Karen and she immediately looked into other projects that I would be more interested in volunteering in. Great service! I thought Quito would be a lot warmer than in was! I went in May and needed a sweatshirt or raincoat almost everyday. Also, I HIGHLY recommend taking weekend trips whenever you can! Ask your host family about what buses to take (very easy and super cheap), and stay at a local hostel (also easy, cheap, and I felt very safe). While I was in Quito, I took weekend trips to Banos, Otavalo, and Mindo and loved them all! Also, honestly, the first week is hard if you don’t speak a lot of Spanish, but it honestly gets easier every day. I took my dictionary with me everywhere I went and tried to write down new words or phrases that I didn’t know whenever I heard them. My best advice is: Do NOT be afraid to make mistakes when it comes to Spanish…just put yourself out there and go for it! I will be forever grateful for my experience in Ecuador. A Broader View and the director of the volunteer program in Quito (Laura) were extremely helpful and I really appreciated the fact that ABV took the time to check in with me after I arrived there. My host family was centrally located, making it extremely easy to take the bus or walk to anywhere in the city. They also advised me on safety measures I needed to take, made sure I enjoyed the food they were preparing for me in the house, and were very patient and instrumental in helping me learn Spanish. ABV is a great Non Profit and they will go out of their way to make sure you have the experience you hoped for!

My experience working with ABV staff in the USA was very positive. They were very thorough and professional in answering questions and timely in their responses. I sent many emails on the weekends and received a response from the emails the same day. There was no question too ridiculous. I had questions answered ranging from the needed documentation to the specific types of disabilities I would encounter at the job site. There were so many “favorite” memories; it is hard to narrow it down to just one. However, working with the students on a daily basis was by far the best part of the trip. I am a special education teacher by trade. Being able to work with special needs students in another part of the world and seeing that their needs are the same as the needs of the students where I work was humbling. The reality is that kids are kids regardless of the continent or language. Be flexible and willing to become a part of the culture. Embrace what’s happening around you. Get out and see the sights (Machu Picchu, Saqsaywaman, Sacred Valley, etc…). Eat the food, not on the streets but in the restaurants and at your home. Bring sunscreen with a high SPF and wear it every day regardless. The sun is very close in Cusco. If you bring donations, make sure to know which age group the donations are for and give them directly to the teacher. June, July, and August are winter in Cusco. It’s around 65-73 degrees during the day and 40-50′s in the evenings. There is not central heating in the houses so bring a jacket. Being in ABV in Cusco, Peru was an amazing experience. Being fully submerged into another culture while volunteering in a classroom with special needs students was something I will never forget. It was humbling for me, as an American who basically has everything at her fingertips, to see how another culture survives with so little and they are so happy. The kids are amazing! Their disabilities limit them so much but they continuously press on and continue on their journey. They laugh loudly. They have next to nothing but live like they have everything. I am hoping to adopt some of their perspectives on life. This experience has made me more grateful for what I have, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

I had the best time at this orphanage. I helped the older kids with their daily chores including bringing water to their cows and goats, and milking them. I also helped them wash their bedroom floors by dumping buckets of water onto the floor and using old clothes/rags to drag the water outside. I helped the staff cook their traditional food as well, like chapati (pancake like). Playing with the kids was also really fun; we played volleyball and soccer. In the end, I wished I stayed longer. You will not regret this trip!

Volunteering with Abroader View was an amazing experience! I loved interacting with special needs kids in a different country. On a day to day basis, I would walk to my work site, transport kids from the clinic to the school, work on fine and gross motor skills (putting together puzzles, reading stories, playing with toys, listening to music), and complete the tasks requested of the teacher. I found that interacting with the students and helping them with their projects assigned by the teacher was by far the best part of my experience.
It was amazing being able to see progress in the few short weeks I was there. At the base level though, seeing how these students with life-altering disabilities were able to function and find joy and hope was life changing for me. It brought me hope seeing their hope. It brought me joy seeing their joy. There were also difficulties at times only because of the communication issue for me. I speak very limited Spanish. It was difficult to know how to help at times because I wasn't sure what the need was. Also, outside of the work site, the communication issue arose. On occasion, a taxi driver would take me to the wrong place because I had not given instruction in Spanish well enough. It always turned ok but was humorous often.
Other highlights of the trip were interacting with other volunteers and the ABV host family and staff. They were very pleasant to be around and also extremely helpful. I knew that if I needed anything, I could talk to the Cusco coordinator or the host family and they would do the best they could meet my needs.
It was an extremely positive experience, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

This was my first time ever traveling out of my home country. I truly loved visiting Costa Rica – it has the most natural beauty of any place I have ever been, and people dedication to conservation and eco-awareness are inspiring. I definitely want to see more of Costa Rica and other countries now.