Program Reviews

Felipe, who runs this programme with his heart and soul, is incredible and inspiring. From the moment we first enquired about volunteering, right through to our departure, he answered all our questions, looked after our every need and was totally there to give us the best possible experience. There aren't many options for one week volunteering but he was able to create a programme that fitted each of us perfectly, (from football to capoiera on the sports programme to childcare and community support) and made sure that we got what we wanted out of each day. We are under no illusions about having changed the world, but he did enable us and those that we met and worked with, to have some meaningful and beneficial encounters that will certainly stay with us, long after our trip is over.
And it was also good to know, that the fees go directly to those locally on the ground, not to some large international organisation.

I spent summer 20018 with this program. This is an amazing project to be part of in every sense.

The accommodation was fantastic, and all the logistics, such as airport pick-up and so on were seamless. The orientation was fantastic - learning about the city, getting around, as well as receiving excellent training. The staff at the school were very supportive and friendly. And, the teaching was a lot of fun as well as rewarding. You really felt like you were helping. I was really well supported throughout my time in Rio, and felt so welcomed by the organization. There is a great atmosphere between the volunteers, and it was great socialise and learn about their projects too. Also, Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful city.

The program is excellent value for money and I would definitely recommend this project to anyone.

Ghana is a rich and colourful place, humming with culture and rhythm. If you are in search of an authentic experience, Ghana would be an excellent choice. Experience the Ghanaian society and everyday life whilst making a difference and working along with the local people on their terms.
On many aspects Ghana has been through a lot of development and is a country in progress. On other aspects; the education system, the division of power and the structure of the society - it is a country with some major problems that needs a lot of work and focus. You will have the challenge of a lifetime whilst everyday is a life changing experience that will stay with you forever. You will never find the gatitude and welcoming people elsewhere, and you will make friends for life. Definitely recommendable!

Since I started the preparation for the program, I had all the help that I needed from Iko Poran and their partner Foundation. Everything was made with time and carefully explained to me so that there would be no pressure or mistakes on my trip to Ghana.
From moment one, when the organization picked me up at the airport, I felt extremely safe. From then on, everything about Ghana and its culture was amazing to me: everyone is so friendly and caring for my health and safety. The staff of the organization were very helpful before and during the program and I was given anything I needed. I had good food, good living conditions and tons of fun with them! I was also given as much protection and independence as I needed which is something I truly valued.
The experience with the kids was the best part! Some of them are eager to learn, it is beautiful and makes me want to be the best teacher they've ever had! I don't know if it is like that in every African country (it certainly is not like that in Portugal, where I live in), but the kids in the orphanage made me feel like I was meant to be a kid again and do all the crazy and innocent things that we kids do! I was in such a peaceful state of mind and having so much fun at the same time! I absolutely loved it! Besides, the relationships created with the staff and the kids are so meaningful that it became difficult for me to imagine my life going on without them around. I hold Ghana very dearly in my heart, I don't think I could have felt more like home being alone in a completely different reality from the one I've always lived in! I am definitely coming back.

Following the dream I had one night and after having some conversation with Felipe from Iko Poran, I got convinced to go and I could finally decide to take this project in action. Be in South Africa was amazing, be with the kids in Masi was unforgettable! You think you will only give something to them, but you receive so much more that cannot be measured or priced. I have no words to describe my love, my happiness after doing this social project!
Just plan and go! The kids will love you and thank you for your presence and attention when you are there with them. Just save your energy to play games a lot, sing with them and teach new good lessons. Masiphumelele is a township that will impact you strongly when you get there, but people are friendly and will treat you very well.

Iko Poran opened us the door for an amazing volunteering experience. Through this institution we met AII Group that is a local volunteering institution in India.

Our volunteering experience was remarkable. We had the opportunity to teach English to children from 4 to 13 years old. They were very kind and interested in learning new contents and games. Despite we have previously planned in detail our classes, we had huge support from the AII Group in regard to teaching contents and translations. Also, the school Director and teachers were very kind and supportive. In our last day at school, both the school Director and AII group were so lovely in surprising us with a delicious farewell cake! Here we learned that it is important to teach children new English contents but also play and enjoy time with them, because they love the experience of knowing someone from a different culture.

During our journey in India (Jaipur), we stayed in a host family house, which allowed us to be even closer to the Indian culture.

The food in Jaipur is very tasty but highly spicy. When we ate in local restaurants we carefully selected less spicy food. At home, spicy quantity was carefully adapted, since we were not used to it.

AII Group provided us with a Hindi basics class that was really helpful during our stay, both to interact with locals and students.

We would like to thank Iko Poran for providing us access to this amazing experience and total support during the planning phase.

Last but not least, we would like to thank AII Group for supporting us during our stay in India and for having made its best efforts to providing us with the most amazing experiences.

Patrícia de Oliveira & Rui Falhas
Lisbon, Portugal

Volunteering with Iko Poran in Rio was a great decision - I had a fantastic 12 weeks in this amazing city. I helped the Grande Rio samba school with carnival preparations and taught English in a community in the west of the city. I met some fantastic people and made many new friends. I found that being a volunteer enabled me to discover more of the real Rio and its people in a way that I couldn’t have done as a tourist.

The organiser, Felipe, is incredibly helpful and does everything he can to ensure you have a great time. He’s also a big Botafogo fan and I watched two matches with him at the Olympic Stadium, which was brilliant. The support offered by Iko Poran in general is very high quality and the programme was brilliant value for money. I’m thinking of doing more volunteering and I will definitely go with Iko Poran again.

Fui voluntária em uma creche com crianças de 0 a 6 anos em Masiphumelele, um subúrbio em Fish Hoek - Cape Town. A maior parte do tempo trabalhei com as crianças de 5 a 6 anos, as quais em casa foram alfabetizadas no idioma Khosa, e na escola aprendem inglês. Então, nós voluntários ensinamos elas as formas, as cores, os números, e entre outras coisas básicas em inglês. Além da alfabetização brincamos muitos, damos abraços, colo, carinho, dançamos e cantamos. É muito divertido e gratificante, uma experiência única e difícil de explicar apenas com palavras. Meu coração se multiplicou!
Morei em uma casa com mais vários voluntários do mundo todo, conheci e fiz muitos amigos. Além disso, a região é lindíssima e possui muitos lugares para visitar, aventuras e comidas para experimentar.
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I volunteered in a creche with children of 0 to 6 years old in Masiphumelele, a Township in Fish Hoek - Cape Town. Most of the time I worked with children from 5 to 6 years old, who at home would speak a language called Khosa, and at school they learn English. So, the volunteers teach them the shapes, colors, numbers, and among other basic things in English. In addition to literacy we play a lot, give hugs, lap, care, dance and sing. It is very fun and rewarding, a unique experience and difficult to explain with just words. My heart has multiplied!
I lived in a house with more volunteers from all over the world, I met and made many friends. Moreover, the region is beautiful and has many places to visit, adventures and food to try.

I had a great experience volunteering and working with children of the Ethiopian Education Foundation (EEF). It was a grand experience coaching the youths on the basics of health and wellbeing lifestyle initiatives. Everyone involved learnt and practiced basic CPR and resuscitation techniques to save lives in emergency situations where there is no doctor. The students learned how to handle and respond to various forms of first aid treatments for common accidents. It was also a pleasant experience as various groups explored how to recognize and manage signs of worms, diarrhoea and dehydration in children. The youths loved it as much as I did as they also helped in showing me around the local places of relaxation at the weekends. Would relish an opportunity to work with the staff and organising team again as they made my experience a fantastic one.

I would recommend Iko Poran and EEF to anyone who would like to consider volunteering in Ethiopia.

I spent 6 weeks on Cusco,, in Perou, as a volunteer in a college with down syndrom children. All they were aged between 15 and 17years old.
The experience was very special, challenging, and so interesting and valuable.
At the beginning, it deals more to obtain credibility and confidence from students, who can be distant when they dont know you.
After, it deals with managing the spécial needs of each of them, at the same Time. I have a 10children class, and all of them had very different level of handicap. It was so constructive and passioning to do that !!! Adapt to each children to make it improve and feel good.
They were very happy and artistic children, always speaking, or laughing, playing, or for some others singing and dancing. I laughed so much with them 🤗😂

And meeting familles, mums of my students, I really met amazing persons!

I was living with a family in Cusco, which allowed me to become bilingual, speaking spanish all time. You need to speak some spanish at least in this kind of volunteering, its as useful in the family as well as at work.
My family was so lovely, always helping and advising me about my trips, and telling me stories. You will eat all the Amazing peruvian dishes like cevicheeee !
I shared a lot with them, I definitely had the feeling to have a second family. Its a way to be perfectly immerged in the peruvian culture, it's the best one!!!!
Thank you very much for all the persons I met which fully marked my volunteering.