Program Reviews

We were well looked after with a lovely group of other volunteers of mixed ages, great for us as slightly older volunteers. Teaching children in their rural community, as well as working with orphan boys and disabled kids was challenging but rewarding and they were delightful. A life-changing experience. Ravi and Gaurav looked after us so well, with trips organised at weekends, and the food was amazing!

I joined Gaurav, Ravi and Neha in 2016 and stayed for two months. As an older solo traveller I was slightly nervous about landing in Udaipur but I honestly shouldn’t have worried. From the moment we met at the airport until the day we said goodbye I was supported, looked after, and cared for by the selfless staff at STEP.
This opportunity was amazing and the experiences I had will never be forgotten. Good friends were made on that trip, friends I am still in contact with now.
It was a priveledge to become part of the Indian community and learn about their culture and volunteering gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in their lives. Teaching in the school, day care and rag pickers makes you realise how lucky we are to have the things that generally we take for granted. But however sorry you initially feel for the children this quickly melts away as they respond to you with the best smiley faces you will ever encounter!
Along with the included excursions trips to other cities are also offered at a minimal extra cost. These are great to experience life outside Udaipur and further your experience of the Indian culture.
If you have any doubts or nerves about trying volunteering out, don’t! The experience will honestly change your life forever.

I have been to this Volunteer project twice now....my plan is to return each year
The work done by this project is outstanding....that is down to the vision and effort made by the organisations founders Ravi & Gaurav. The improvements made to the lives of the poorest of children where they live is amazing. The organisation works with Orphans,Disabled children,The 'rag picking' community and the local children, ensuring, through the work of the Volunteers , that education and learning is available to these children who would otherwise have none.
As a Volunteer this is deeply satisfying work....the children and the community welcome you. There is no greater pleasure than working with these enthusiastic children....it is the most rewarding venture i have ever undertaken in my 59 years.
Ravi & Gaurav support and guide us through the process.
They along with Neha(Ravis wife) care for us excellently back at the Volunteer house
You are given the opportunity to enjoy the local culture and the beautiful city of Udaipur.....to travel further afield with Ravi & Gauravs support....you will make friends from all over the world and tgere is akways fun back at the Volunteer house
For any one who wants an adventure....to help support children who clearly benefit and improve their life chances because of your effort....to meet fantastic people and enrichen your own experience then go to Udaipur...to this project and enjoy every moment and experience.
It will stay with you for always.

My time spent teaching in India exceeded my expectations on so many levels. The housing, the support we received, the enthusiam of the kids with whom we worked, the professionalism and guidance of my fellow volunteers, the directors dedication to the community and the extra activities were all excellent. All of that with the stunning city of Udaipur as a backdrop. It made for a worthwhile and wonderful experience.

So much credit needs to be given to program directors Ravi and Gaurav (along with Ravi's wife Neeha) for their dedication to improving the lives of the less fortunate in their area. This dedication is apparent in the support, education and guidance they give volunteers.

This well equipped program is lucky to have a group of dedicated volunteers. They are of all ages and all walks of life. It creates a nice balance of strengths and weaknesses. And other volunteers are also around to answer questions and provide guidance.

The city of Udaipur, a few kilometres from our "home", is absolutely stunning.

Volunteering at the animal rescue project was an incredibly rewarding experience that left me with long-lasting memories and a new perspective on compassion and empathy for other living beings. It is an inspiring place to be, and the efforts of the owners to provide a sanctuary for the city's injured animals is humbling.

The host family were wonderfully accommodating and not once did I ever feel homesick. They were eager to help me make the most of my short two weeks in India and their hospitality was above and beyond what I could have expected.

If you are an animal lover then don't think twice about taking on this program! You will be greatly rewarded with memories and impressions that stay with you long after your trip ends.

I spent a couple of weeks last September on the childcare programme in Udaipur Rajasthan India.
I cant recommend it highly enough and if you are thinking you would like to see some of India and immerse yourself in the culture, aswell as volunteering and working with children , this is the project for you . You would definetly gain more than you give.
The programme is diverse as you are involved with many differing children with many differing needs .
The charity workers out there Ravi and Gaurav are so enthusiatic about the empowerment and education of the local children , and there compassion and zest are infectious.
I am planning my next trip to return to Udaipur in the spring and cant wait to see the children , the family that run the charity and meet some more volunteers.
you are made to feel so welcome and the atmosphere is happy and homely . The memories you take from this trip will last a lifetime.

I had such an amazing time. Everyone was so helpful and friendly- made me feel very at home.

Alongside volunterring we visited different sites of India, saw a bollywood film at the cinema and took an overnight train to see the Taj Mahal. It was a fantastic experince and one I would thoroughly recommend!

It was lovely to learn how to cook Indian dishes and traditional Henna, and we were able to play volleyball and cricket with the children in the area too.

My time in India was indescribable, in only positive ways. As an individual who has not traveled as much or as far, this opportunity changed my life in many ways. From the cultural immersion, beautiful sights, and extremely amiable people, to teaching such grateful, eager, and absolutely adorable children, I could never be more thankful for this experience in every way. Everyday you arrive and the children are thrilled to see you and touch your heart. I went to India with no expectations, no certainity, and feeling nervous for what I would encounter, but left a new person. Somehow in such a short time, I fell in love with India, the children, and the culture. And I hope to return in the future, for this experience has taught me so much about the world, people, culture, and myself. If I could give one tip to people headed with any POD program it would be to let yourself whole heartedly participate, grow, experience, and be apart of wherever you go in the world. Let yourself experience the emic side of traveling and really divulge into what your doing with no hesitation. For it will be the most profound experience of your lifetime, as it has been for me. I cannot fathom enough my love, appreciation, and thankfulness for POD, the local accommodations and people, the kids, and India itself.

I spent 2 weeks volunteering for TIDE in Punta Gorda, Belize. They do a lot for conservation and education in Belize. They work together with scientists and the community to come up with solutions that benefit the environment and the people. We spent a lot of time using machetes to clear trails and land for reforestation. We also planted trees, painted signs, did roost counts of endangered Yellow-headed Parrots and checked a crocodile nest.

The work can be challenging in the heat and humidity. Drink LOTS of water! There was a good balance of physical work and other activities like helping to monitor birds, paint signs, etc. I LOVED all of the birds that we saw and the level of expertise of the rangers and guides is amazing.

There is very little to do in Punta Gorda. Many of the places are closed a lot of the time. One of the best things to do was relax and eat some local food. However, my homestay overfed me so I found myself not very hungry much of the time. I had fun wandering around and talking to some of the local people too.

I was surprised that even though the national language of Belize is English, almost everybody speaks Creole with each other. By the end of the 2 weeks I was starting to understand what people were saying. Otherwise I could not easily engage in conversation with others.

For me Payne's Creek National Park was the most amazing part of the trip. The habitat is so varied, and the location in remote. I love that! The wildlife was incredible! Even though it was very hot, the cabins had fans and good ventilation, so it was very tolerable.

The only issue I had was the availability of doing activities on my free time. Since I was the only volunteer I was first told that they could not do any tours for me. They needed a minimum of 2 people on tours. It was also not possible to snorkel from our location. I ended up paying extra to do private tours, and had to fly to Placencia to snorkel. The tours were great, but if I had know ahead of time I would have slightly changed my plans a little to accommodate time on my own to explore the country a little more.

Overall this was a fantastic trip!

My time in Nepal was wonderful. POD were amazing throughout the entire experience, from the booking, the duration of my trip and for some time after. They made it easier for me to be confident as their support was constant. The local team, in particularly Janice, was so amazing and any questions I had she would be happy to answer and it's lovely to still be in touch with her and the Millers family I stayed with in Pokhara. The Nepali landscape, the kids I worked with and the overall cultural experience has been the most valuable of my life.