Program Reviews

My time at the Greenway school has been truly amazing, it was quite hard to leave from there because there's such a beautiful environment. The relationships with the other volunteers and with the children have made it a deep experience, and the quiet Cambodian lifestyle surrounded by smiling people has made me feeling really good. I really hope i can get there again in the future. Thank you so much for everything.

This program was absolutely amazing. This was the best thing in my life so far! I met so many amazing people, learn a lot from them what is really important. Teaching program was perfect! I love kids from the school, they are adorable. Also, school's principal was really nice. He was always helpful and kind to all of us, we could have asked him for help with all difficulties. Thank you for helping me with participating in this program!

I had a fantastic experience in the project of Goa.
My highlights are :
1. The coordinators are very good people and totally helpful. I had a very nice friendship with the staff, they are very good persons and allways taking care of us (coordinators, kitchen, drivers etc.).
2. I liked very much the projects too. I have been in kindergarden and slam.
Kindergarden has been specially interesting to me because I had the chance to assist the teacher and see how well she do the work. She allways give the total control of the class to the volunteers (last hour and a half). Despite we use diferent methodology she never correct us. She was totally open to our job, I learn a lot watching how she teach to kids.
In general all the projects I have visited are well organized and do an outstanding job in the area.
Thank you very, very much for the chance to go. I hope some day I could repeat.
Mercè

I had an awesome time! The coordinator Monica looked after me very well and we always cooked together or bought street food and she made sure I knew what I would be doing each day as well showing me around Mandalay and teaching me lots about the culture and customs. Everyone at the school was very welcoming and eager to interact and learn. I spent some time on projects and some time teaching depending on each day but this worked out very well. I stayed in a dorm at the monastery that was quite comfortable. I really enjoyed my experience and can't wait to do something similar again and for longer next time!

If you are still wandering whether Bali is the best choice for your volunteering project I tell you: YES!
First of all the project is located in the heart of the island, Ubud , famous as the artist village this means you will never get bored there as there is a lot to see and do, because of its position it’s easy to travel north and south during the weekends.
Secondly the house is a typical Balinese one, we were hosted by a lovely family and this is amazing as you are in contact with the people of the place and you can see their traditions and customs. The house was clean, there was a cleaning lady who provided clean sheets and who took care of the house while the food was good but not very abundant.
I really liked the introduction week, as without it I would have felt like a fish in the ocean. Balinese culture is very different from everything I knew and I am used to .. therefore to better understand the local people including the kids at school it was very useful and a lot of fun.
The taxi service to the school was always in time and the people in the office were very kind and nice. The coordinators that were supposed to help us in class had a low level of English but they tried to help as well. The school where I taught my program Environmental were decent ( there were desks and boards) and the kids were amazing. They were very enthusiastic and playful, their English level was good enough to introduce the problems of the environment and how to save the world.
To make everything better were the people I met thanks to this project, in my house we were 10 and very united therefore we travelled together during the weekends and we had a lot of fun. Also Balinese people were very kind and open ..so it was easy to make a lot of friends.
I really recommend this experience to everybody.

Teaching English to Monks, Elephant Camp and Orphanage was the absolute highlight of my travels and life experience. Thailand is not impacted by the Coup as I had thought and safe. People are so peaceful and felt safer in Chiang Mai than here in Australia. I was initially concerned and as soon as I arrived, it was unnoticed, and people are living in harmony as usual.
Ms Prachit, the Coordinator is such a wonderful person who is friendly, informative and flexible in her approach to assist throughout the volunteer project. She shared her passion and insights towards culture and lifestyle of Thai people and the magnificent Country that Thailand is.
This volunteer experience was the pivotal and memorable event of my life as there is so much to gain and thrive from. Chiang Mai is a humble place, where people are accepting, giving and full of fun opportunities.
I recommend this Project to all who wish for further personal development or wish to embrace Buddhist culture and traditions. The picturesque temples and views are just breathe taking.
I will be returning ASAP to further such experience and contribute to such worthy and appreciate projects and the warmth of those people involved.

I came here with my daughter who is volunteering in Chiang Mai for 2 weeks. I let my daughter to write her own review, but I wanted to say that Khun Prachit is taking good care of them. The hotel is nice, the experience is too. We are here for 2 weeks and enjoying it. I would highly recommend it to other people.

Volunteering in Bali was one of the best experience in my live. If you want to visit a country and to really know what it looks like, it is the best way to do it, even more if you can help a little bit once there. As soon as I arrived there, I felt at home. Everyone is friendly, the host family is great and the coordinators are always here to help you. The island itself was amazing with its gorgeous landscapes, so different from Western countries. And of course, I can’t forget the awesome group of volunteers we were. Thank you!

What's a pleasure for me to help at the Buddhist Orphanage ! Disabled children are so kind, they are so happy to see volunteers. Before coming, I was afraid not to be comfortable with these kids but it was just the opposite ! I loved to be with them.
I tried to give them a lot and they gave me so much !!
Don't hesitate to do it, you will never regret it :-)

My daughter, Demi, and her friend Amy and I travelled to Ho Chi Minh to spend two weeks volunteering with WLS. We had the most wonderful young girls who work with organizer Ms. Hang, as our guides to our volunteer sites. They are recent college grads, as were my girls. Ms. Trang and Ms. Ngoc were fun, knowledgeable and flexible. After two weeks we were sharing dinners together, and hoping to meet again, having become friends. The volunteering was mind expanding, and rewarding. We met dozens of Vietnamese men and women,who were volunteers as well, at our various stops. Very few spoke English, but language wasn't necessary, as we were all there for the same reason. We wanted to make a difference for those not so fortunate and in need of compassion and caring. We spoke through our eyes and with laughter. The Vietnamese are very welcoming and friendly.
Most rewarding was our time spent at the Ky Quang Orphanage. The experiences we had with these special children was unlike anything we had ever undertaken in our lives. We arrived at 9:30 in the morning, and played with the children, then fed them lunch, and put them down for naps. We would play with them again after nap time, and walk them outside. They loved being out in the courtyard, and having a one on one. We would feed them dinner, and put them to bed. Our day would end at about 5:30. After our first few days there, we became very comfortable interacting with many, looking beyond their disabilities, and finding pure joy in being together.
We also spent two days at a school for the Deaf, were we interacted with a group of about 15 teens. Again, no language, but we communicated in creative ways, through games and gestures.
This was an incredible time in our lives, and to have shared these experiences with my daughter and Amy was amazing. We will cherish our memories. Thank you WLS, and Trang and Ngoc!
Lynn Gagliardi