Program Reviews

For our project we were based in a rural village which took 2 hours from the nearest road to walk there - it was one of the most remote places I have been and staying with local families in their homes was truly amazing. Despite the fact that we didn't share a common language we formed a close bond with our family as we got by on a mixture of Nepali and English words and a large amount of miming!

Being able to be part of the water and sanitation project which Raleigh was carrying out there was such a privilege. The village had limited access to water and the construction of a new water system meant that they had a more reliable source of water. The construction of new tap stands and toilets also meant better access to facilities in the village.

Choosing to volunteer with Raleigh 3 years ago was one of the best decisions of my life. No other programme pushes you to grow and develop in the way Raleigh does. Not only do you learn key skills (project management, leadership, resilience etc) but you learn so much about yourself and what you're capable of, both individually and as part of a truly diverse and international team. Going through the highs, lows & challenges together is what makes it so special, all while making real, positive change through sustainable projects.

If you're thinking about volunteering on a Raleigh Expedition, don't hesitate! I gained friends for life, connections all over the world, and an outlook that has brought so much fulfilment and focus into everything I do.

Beyond just giving me the chance to experience an absolutely amazing part of the world, and work on projects I knew were bringing about real positive change, my Raleigh Expedition completely transformed me in so many ways.

It developed huge new confidence and willingness in me to try new things and confront challenges, at a time when I had never done anything remotely like it before. Through it, I've made such a wealth of friends around the world who I'm still in touch with, and it's led to opportunities in my career that I never could have anticipated, for which I'm still so grateful for.

No matter where you're at, if you want to make a really fantastic change not just to others but to yourself, or if you want to start exploring the world or get actively involved in charitable work but you just don't know where to start, I can't recommend Raleigh enough. It is an awesome experience.

I had an amazing time with Raleigh in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The in-country team were fantastic - really motivated to make sure that everybody on the programme was well supported and inspired to challenge themselves and make a difference. The whole experience was unique - we got to live and work with real local people to address real challenges.

Working with the indigenous people of Costa Rica was inspiring - the communities were really remote, walking several hours through the rainforest to get to the village where we lived. We got to support the Cabecar people to get a basis education - previously they got their classes in falling down builiding or sometimes under a tree. Now we helped the community to build a new school, set up a parents group and inspire the children to go to school. Its an experience I'll never forget.

I had a gorgeous time in Nepal, living with a host family, trekking across amazing living landscapes and pushing myself every day. Appreciation and gratitude became a daily occurrence. I think about the experience regularly, miss all the great food and miss being able to appreciate living in such a meaningful way. It was all about people and the landscapes - focussing on the important things in life instead of the shallow day to day bits we get caught up in at home.

Being able to spend an elongated period of time in such a beautiful country surrounded by wonderful people (both volunteers and locals) was, for me, what made the experience so special. I only wish I could have been there longer, working on more projects - two/three months didn't feel like long enough for me!

I cannot recommend it enough. A wonderful organisation - it's nice to trust the company you work for truly has the best in mind. This is the real deal, not some shallow, voluntourism experience.

It was a great experience!

Getting to visit a country that is completely new to me. Immersing myself with the culture and lifestyle.

Pushes you to the limit with each phase of the expedition. Each phase there is something to take away.

Community Phase: this is where I practised my language skills it was fun learning Spanish to use for my daily conversation.

Trek Phase: Personal Favourite one of the most amazing and breathtaking sceneries I have come across. Always

Environment: This project was relaying and creating a new pathway so that tourist are able to visit the park and encourage ecotourism in the future so that it becomes more sustainable for the future.

People: This is the best of all, you meet different people from all over the world and you make new friends then continue it on to be a long-lasting friendship.

I cannot believe that it has been over a year since I was in Tanzania. My expedition with Raleigh International was one of the best choices I ever made!!

I spent 12 weeks in a beautiful country working on a community development project while learning about the Tanzanian culture, learning Swahili and making lifelong friends. This is so cheesy, but I really did learn a lot about myself and my expedition really strengthened my passion for working in the international development sector.

After my time in Tanzania I worked for an international development organisation and now in a couple of months I am actually off another expedition with Raleigh but this time in Nepal and I am so excited!!

I would recommend Raleigh to anyone and everyone. Whatever your passion is, a Raleigh expedition allows you to see places you might never have the opportunity to see, meet people you might never have the opportunity to meet and work on projects that have a long-lasting impact on both the communities that you work in as well as the volunteers themselves.

Before I signed up with Raleigh International, I wasn't really sure where Nicaragua is and the only thing I knew about Costa Rica was #PuraVida. The last time I had slept in a tent was before puberty and my Spanish skills were pretty much non-existent. So it's safe to say that I had absolutely no idea what to expect!
During our 2-week induction training someone said that during the phases we will experience our "highest highs and lowest lows" and boy, were they right!
I did the 260-km Trek in Nicaragua and it was one of the best experiences in my life. Yes, mentally and physically challenging, but walking through the breathtaking landscape of Nicaragua and getting to know locals on the way was truly humbling. In the evenings we'd ask in the community if there was a nearby plain in which we could camp and most of the nights we then ended up sleeping in someone's garden or even house, just because they loved to share!
My second and third phase were Natural Resource Management in the Rincon de la Vieja National park and it was there where I learned what it means to be connected to Nature.
We helped the Park Rangers with their day-to-day work and also improved the infrastructure in the park and my favourite project was turning some forgotten Hot Springs into a nice-looking Tourist Destination.
One of my favourite aspects was spending time and getting to know the In-Country Volunteers, who were more than willing to share about their lives, their countries and their language.
13 weeks later I feel like I am a new person! I am more self-aware, more confident, can put on a 20-kg backpack in less than 10 seconds and can comfortably have a whole conversation in Spanish!
To anyone who wants to challenge themselves, have an impact on the lives of young people and experience new cultures - Sign up!

I am a qualified Nurse and volunteered for 3 months in Borneo as a project manager/medic. This means I was leading a group of younger volunteers (17-25 year olds) on their trekking and environmental projects, and was also there to look after them if they became unwell. For most of the time I was in Imbak cannon. This was an incredibly special place. I have never before or since been to a place that was so pristine and untouched by humans. We where in ancient rainforest- sleeping in hammocks, being woken up by gibbons in the morning, working hard on our conservation project.

I think it was probably the best 3 months of my life! I learnt to much- both personally and professionally. My eyes were opened to the value of protecting the worlds most precious places. And perhaps most importantly, I had SO MUCH FUN! The kind of wholesome, silly fun you can only have when you are with a bunch of amazing people and cut off from the rest of the world. There was no internet, no phones, no alcohol - our only contact with the outside world was via radio to feildbase twice a day.

Somehow Raleigh managed to make the expedition felt both really adventurous, and really safe. We where going to quite extreme places, but had incredible training and support I got from the Raleigh feildbase team meant that I always felt prepared and supported.

Going on Expedition with Raleigh in 2016 was the most fulfilling time of my life so far. I have felt passionate about international development for a long time and studied this at university, so this was the perfect opportunity to use the knowledge I gained, and experience this in a real world context.
The 250km trek through Iringa was hands-down the most physically and mentally challenging thing I have ever experienced, but it was an incredible achievement for me personally. Having never even been camping before it was definitely a shock at first! But I quickly got used to it; enjoying being outdoors so much and away from social media/the 9-5 routine. Within the first couple of days I had already gained such strong bonds with my fellow volunteers, and we are still friends to this day. I also gained valuable leadership skills which massively helped to build my confidence. By leading the group twice during the trek and delegating tasks, I was able to learn more about myself and accept that you don't necessarily need to be an extrovert to be a good leader.
The second and last phase for me in Tanzania was the SWASH (School Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) project, in a rural village called Peluhanda. As a part of this project, we contributed to the construction of a toilet block for the female students at the local primary school, in collaboration with a local NGO, Southern Highlands Participatory Organization (SHIPO). We also carried out awareness raising activities and action days, centred around improving hygiene practices for the students as well as the wider community. This was one of my favourite aspects of the expedition as it was inspiring seeing how enthusiastic the children were to learn. Knowing that even just a small difference was being made in their lives was humbling. I also really enjoyed living in a homestay and immersing myself in the Tanzanian culture - the people are so friendly and welcoming!
One year on from starting my expediton, I was lucky enough to get a job at Raleigh's head office in London, and I have been working here for just over 6 months. Overall, my experience with Raleigh has impacted me more than I can really put into words. I would recommend it to anyone!