Program Reviews

I did a three week stint with A Broader View in Colombia. Overall the experience was incredible and I love the idea of splicing volunteering with vacation. I hope that I made a small difference in the lives of the children at the Hogar and I met some wonderful people during my travels. Colombia is a beautiful country. My host family really welcomed me in like a member of the family and it was great to experience another culture through a home rather than through hotels and all the touristy things to do. Everyone should do something like this at least once in their lives to really gain a different perspective on the world.

+/-

+ the people are so kind & you get a lot of interaction with them
+ it's relatively inexpensive, out of pocket, once you're there
+ everyone was so accommodating & worked hard to make sure we were comfortable
+ relaxed, not concerned with time or schedule = a lot of freedom to explore and do different things
+ genuine experience, you get to live like a local (as close as we can get, anyway)!
- not a ton to do (socially/adventure-wise), but see above... it all makes sense
- the food isn't the greatest, but they give you the best they have
- the timing (or lack there-of) was tricky for me (I'm American...)

I loved it... I can't quite explain it without going in-depth, but it was exactly what I was looking for and it opened my eyes in so many ways.

Volunteering (via ABV) in Lusaka, Zambia was by far one of the most valuable, meaningful, and insightful international experiences thus far. From the moment I initially starting talking with ABV, until my last day in Lusaka, I was repeatedly affirmed of my decision to participate in the program.

The 8 weeks I spent volunteering with Advocacy for Juvenile Justice Drop-In Centre have greatly impacted and shaped the legal work I do in the States. When I initially signed up for the program, I (so wrongly) thought I would be training, educating, and implementing my ideas and knowledge of juvenile advocacy and restorative justice programs into the prison system, schools, and outreach programs in Lusaka. Instead, I was the one who learned a tremendous amount- from professionals, field-workers, NGO workers, and the Zambian people- regarding this area. I finished those 8 weeks with a changed heart and perspective.

In addition to the work, I fell in love with Zambia and her people. They were beyond curious what a "muzungu" was doing in Lusaka, but those stares, questions, etc opened the doors to wonderful friendships, cultural exchanges, and a richer understanding of how small our world really is. While the work was tiring at times, I had such a fun time in Zambia and traveling throughout neighboring countries.

While my experience was out-of-this world, it is super important to be the right person for the program. You have to know yourself on this one. I went alone, and at first was taken back by how little support you get on the ground to figure everything out (from transportation, cultural norms, language barriers, social things, etc.) If you're comfortable with figuring out things on your own, navigating a new city solo, and not having anyone to hold your hand, go for it 100%. I personally think this immerses you in the life and culture so much more. But if you aren't quite comfortable with essentially moving there and creating your own life from scratch, do some more research and really evaluate if the trip is right for you.

The program is really difficult in the sense that, if you are from any developed and/or thriving country, you will be out of your comfort zone 100% of the time. But that place is usually where you meet unbelievable friends, see spectacular places, make the largest impact, and have your life be transformed. If you land in Lusaka with an open heart and mind, I can guarantee that you won't look back. You will learn an amazing amount about Zambia, Africa, and yourself in the process of making a huge impact in lives of the beautiful Zambian people.

I highly recommend this program to everyone. Rwanda in itself is the most beautiful country I can imagine, both in terms of landscaping and most of all, the people. Innocent, the on-site coordinator for this project, met me at the airport and immediately made me feel extremely welcomed. All of the leaders of this program are caring, respectful, fun, and kind. I still keep in touch with everyone I met in Rwanda, and consider them dear friends for life. I am even currently looking into returning after I graduate in May so that I may help run the school. Whether or not this happens, it is a testimony to how much this experience impacted my life.

On an average day I would wake up to the sound of children laughing and sun streaming through my window. After some morning porridge and listening to the Rwandan national anthem at morning assemble, my teaching day would begin. The school day was very long, from about 7:30 am to 5 pm, but there was a break for morning tea and a two hour lunch break so this helped greatly. I taught English, Reading and Writing, and Mathematics to some beautiful (and sometimes naughty!) first and second graders. The children are eager to learn and value education greatly, and this made every moment rewarding. During my lunch break I would catch up on grading or lesson planning, enjoy the company of the other teachers, or play with the children outdoors. Then back to teaching until evening assemble when the majority of the children go home, except for about a dozen boarding students. At this point, it was time for fetching some water, my favorite part of the day. I would grab my jerry cans and make the breath taking walk down to the watering hole, the social gathering place, as the sun was setting golden in the sky. Then I took a little personal time before supper, which was eaten around 7 or 8 pm. After supper pretty much everyone goes to bed because it is dark outside and we must wake up early the next day. On weekends, I usually went into Rwamagana, the nearest town, and went to some internet cafes to email friends or go to the market to buy food and socialize. Within two weeks of being in Rwanda, I couldn't go anywhere without running into someone I knew. Even the language barrier didn't prevent friendships, partly because many people know a little English, and partly because I knew a little Kinyarwanda.

As a side note for people worried about safety, I never felt even a little unsafe in this country. I walked around by myself and talked to total strangers all the time and didn't bother taking my malaria pills after the first week seeing like one mosquito the whole time I was there. Not everyone will feel exactly like I do, and I am not suggesting that anyone not take health or safety precautions, but I would say just don't let any kind of safety factor deter you from visiting Rwanda.

One of the most difficult moments I encountered dealt with having very limited resources, often times I felt frustrated that I couldn't do more to really make a difference. On the other hand, the greatest highlight was being able to help the children as much as I possibly could even though I was frustrated at times I didn't let that deter me from the present moment and helping as best I could. I remember specifically one child who was often looked over because he wasn't able to concentrate for long periods of time so I would take a little more time to help him out with his schoolwork, his appreciation was all worth it in the end.

Volunteering in Ghana has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to bike to nearby villages and provide wound care to our patients at their homes. This experience encouraged me to exercise critical thinking and problem solving skills, because it was our goal to determine what treatments would be most conducive for the patient's health, and their available resources. The kindness, welcoming hearts, and appreciation that each of our patients offered each volunteer, can not be described in words.

In the evenings, I spent my time either working with the drama club assisting local teens in creating drama programs for community outreach on various health topics, or working with the children and program directors of the orphanage. The youth of this community amazed me with their desire for life, and willingness to help others.

Walking into this experience, I heeded to the advice of volunteer alumni, and avoided any expectations. This was the best advice I could have received. Although I was very apprehensive prior to, and upon arrival, the nature of the Ghanian culture was to accept and treat visitors as family, which is how I felt my entire journey.

I expected that my biggest struggle would be the drastically different living accommodations than those of what we are accustomed to in America, however it wasn't. I chose to approach this experience respecting the cultural differences, and in a very short time I grew to appreciate them. I have taken more from this experience than I could have ever imagined, and pray that others will have the courage to do the same.

I would highly recommend A Boarder View for anyone looking to volunteer and abroad. During my initial research finding a reputable company seemed to be overwhelming. I finally found and decided to sign on with A Boarder View and after speaking with Sarah (who is awesome) I knew I made the right decision.

They have great selection of projects and the fees are very reasonable.

I volunteered in Tanzania at a children’s orphanage and HIV hospice for 4 weeks and before I made my trip, Sarah had great communication and answered any questions I had in a timely manner. Sarah also made sure I was well prepared before my trip with material on important information and to prepare me before and during my stay in Tanzania.

From the moment I set foot in Tanzania I was welcomed and well taken care from the A Broader View coordinator in Tanzania to my host family.

My duties at the orphanage included, playing with the children, preparing meals, general care of the children, sometimes escorting them to doctor's appointments. Volunteering with the kids was a truly an amazing experience and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. (I miss them to this day)

When I do decide to volunteer abroad again, I would only sign on again with A Broader View.

Natalie

A broader View Volunteers was absolutely amazing. They were great to work with and were so helpful with any questions I had while I was getting ready to make the leap to foreign country and while I was there and when I returned. The experience has carried with me throughout my life as a returned. My host family was an absolute dream and they became my home away from home. I would definitely recommend them for any volunteer experience.

I had a great time with my volunteer experience. My daily activities varied per my request and I am so glad I did. I enjoyed the children at the orphanage but felt I made a bigger impact walking to the smaller villages and visiting with people with HIV. I would meet a non-skilled local who visits 5 to 10 people a day in a given village. We would go to the villages and check on known HIV patients. I purchased multivitamins and Acetaminophen, divided them into 2 week portions and distributed them to the many patients we rounded on. In some cases we intervened on behalf of the patients and bought mattresses for a paraplegic, took a sick patient to the hospital, bought food, distributed food and medications, bought dressing supplies, coordinated care with locals and village leaders. I also took photos of the patients we saw as to assist with condition tracking. I was a role model for the non skilled worker, assisting him to learn what to look for in patients and types of questions to ask.

My experience with my host was not as great. I did not get an orientation regarding the rules of the house. I also had 3 days of cold showers before anyone told me there was a switch for the hot water heater. A family member of the host, an orphan, kept asking me for all the things I had brought for the children at my center. It put me in a difficult spot. The house we stayed in was way outside of town and I did not have much of a chance to sight see or get to know the local area. I did take a local bus but had to walk 20 to 30 minutes to get to it. I did like the people I stayed with, they were very nice and made meals that I could eat. I developed gastro-intestinal issues every time I ate the local meet, my host cooked all vegetarian meals for me.

I felt pressured into using a company for my safari and was disappointed in the experience. We saw may animals but the guides did not know facts and info about plants and animals. I found a company on my own to continue my sigh seeing after my volunteering.

I loved my experience in Makuyu. When deciding on a program, Sarah Ehlers was very helpful. Any question I had she would explain in great detail and had a lot of helpful hints on what to bring and what to expect. From the minute I got off the airplane Geoffrey, the orphanage director, was waiting for me, which was comforting because I was alone. When I arrived at the orphanage, lots of little hands and big smiles were there to show me around and help me get settled in. The staff on site was very friendly, offering guidance when I wasn't quite sure what to do for the day. A typical day started with morning chores, sweeping the compound, gathering clothes and washing them in a wheel barrow, and having lunch. When the kids would come home from school, they did their chores and then we would play and do homework. For me, the language barrier with the kids was really hard at first, but when I picked up some Kikuyu-their tribal language- it got better. The staff speaks English well, and are eager to listen and learn about where we come from and how things are different from Kenya. Because things are so different, I felt isolated at times and very lonely. Being an American, I stuck out a lot and sometimes that got to be difficult. I also struggled with the fact that I couldn't change everything. Somethings I saw I didn't like, but those customs have been around for generations and I had to accept I couldn't change that overnight. The food is also hard to adjust to. We ate a lot of beans which my diet wasn't accustomed to. Keeping snacks and fruit in my room was really important because we ate every eight hours and I wasn't used to that.It's hard not to fall in love with the kids and the culture in Makuyu. Everyone is so friendly, kind and willing to help that it's hard to leave. The one thing I wish I had done differently was buy my items to donate in Kenya rather than bringing them from home. I think that the money would have been better used once I got there and saw what they really needed. Overall, my experience was really wonderful and I think about and miss the kids everyday.