Program Reviews

My trip to Costa Rica with this group was hands down one of the best weeks of my life. I was able to experience so many new things from making new friends around the country to learning about a whole new way of life to helping out in the community and speaking the little Spanish I know to the locals. The fact that I was able to experience a whole other way of living at this young age really made an impact on me. Going on this trip opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. I've realized that we should not take anything at all for granted any day of the week because we don't realize how good we have it and how much we ave. I've become a lot more appreciative and also a lot more accepting. With that, I learned through the people in the villages and how they go about their way of life that you should always extend a helping hand and make sure everyone is accepted. Other than my learning experiences, I had such a blast everyday with anything we did - especially the surfing and the late night talks with my group. We were all able to get really close with each other since we were such a small group and it really meant the world to me. This trip was truly such an amazing experience and I would definitely do it again, or something like it, in a heartbeat.

Anyone who wants to see the world outside of a five star hotel should consider coming on this trip. It will challenge you, inspire you, and teach you, all against the beautiful backdrop of Nicaragua. Whether you chose the Pre-Med/Public Health trip because you want to be a doctor, you wanted to experience the culture of South America, or you just needed some community service to graduate, there is something in this experience for you! Once you arrive in country, you will be surrounded by great group members who hail from across the country. You will be immersed in environments ranging from the bustling, dynamic, art-filled city to the agriculturally rich, home-y feeling mountains. And all along the way, you will encounter warm, friendly locals who are guaranteed to inspire you with their work ethics, resiliency, and genuine hospitality.
I came home from this Global Works trip with a new understanding and sensitivity to the issues facing Nicaragua and its neighbors today. I had a sense of confidence in my ability to adapt to new environments. And I felt more inspired to promote cultural appreciation and social change back in my U.S. community. I hope you'll feel the same. Then again, the only way to find out is to experience this wonderful country for yourself.

I've done a fair bit of traveling with my family, and while those experiences were enjoyable, this program was the most memorable trip I've ever taken. From the trip leaders- who were supportive, relaxed, and pretty good with dealing with twenty teenagers- to the activities we did, the entire program was incredible. I met wonderful people just like me from all around the country (and abroad!) who I made lasting friendships and memories with. The trip was a perfect balance of education, service, and fun- from the incredible snorkeling to building a community garden. My only regret about this trip was not taking another sooner!

This was the best thing that could ever happen to me. The memories and friends that I have are lifelong. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity of going on a trip like this and doing something bigger than myself. I laughed, cried (happy tears), and smiled throughout this trip and I wish I could live it again. The community service days made me feel like I had a purpose and made me realize that this is definitely what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Go out and help people around the world and meet incredible individuals in the process. This trip was life changing.

Travelling with Global Works to France was an immensely gratifying and enjoyable experience that introduced me to French culture and helped me to improve my conversational skills. I couldn't have asked for better group leaders; both of them were responsible, very fun to be around, and genuinely cared about our well being. In the beginning of the trip, when nobody knew each other, their activities allowed us to quickly acclimate to each other and the language. When a few of the students unfortunately stepped on sea urchins at the beach, the leaders responded professionally and made sure the injured were well taken care of.

The volunteer opportunities, which included the restoration of the ancient canals of Cabrespine during our home stay and working with children in Versailles, were very fruitful experiences. They reminded me that the purpose of the trip was not just a selfish one; that we were helping the community in a way that could not have happened if it weren't for volunteer groups such as ours.

Probably the best part of the trip was the home stay. Our family was very caring and considerate of the challenges of an immersion environment; they knew to speak more slowly and clearly so that we could understand and helped us if we were having trouble finding the right word. Our family made an effort to make the stay exiting and comfortable, with many sight-seeing trips to the town, and a memorable soccer match between France and Portugal. Through the home stay, I was able to practice French with real French people and further my comprehension and learn language skills that cannot be learned in a classroom.

This trip was a once in a life time opportunity. The reason I chose this program was because of the public health and medicine focus. We observed doctors in clinics and laboratories in the city, to installing water pipes in small communities, to water clean projects in the mountains. We also meet with NGOs to learn more about the history of Nicaragua. It was interesting to learn how different communities adapted to their situations. For example in places with low literacy rates, we helped paint murals that gave instructions on how to avoid getting Dengue Fever. It was the most rewarding to collaborate with communities and help them achieve their goals, as well as learn about their culture, different cuisines, and even dances. The staff, students, and locals I worked with were all immensely welcoming and hardworking.

Through the four weeks our group spent traveling through France, I never stopped learning. Whether it was about French culture, language, or about myself, I am confident I now know more than I did before embarking on the trip. The entire group of students and leaders were excellent at supporting each other and making even the most difficult of unexpected times on the trip amazing. Although I was upset for the trip to end, I am excited to apply what I have learned at home.

I was very nervous coming in. I had signed up alone and although I thought community service was important, I did not always enjoy it because I did not get to see what an impact it made. This trip changed everything! It started off by getting to know everybody and getting a walking tour of Old San Juan. The next few days we went into a community where they didn't know English and we mixed cement to make floors, walls, roofs and stairs for various houses. I'm not going to lie... If I never have to mix cement again, I will be very happy. My favorite part was hearing the stories of the people we were helping and getting to see the way it would change their lives forever. After that we got to zip lining on our way to the next location. That was a great view and a nice break from the hard work. At our next location we flattened rocks and dirt to make at flat road for the people to receive supplies for their forest preservation group. We also weeded out a huge area to create a tree nursery. This location was not my favorite of living quarters but I dealt with it. One night we got to go to the bioluminescent bay. It was one of the coolest things you will ever see! At night the water appears to glow from creatures in it. While you can't swim in it, it was still cool to dip hands and feet. I don't why this isn't one of the 7 wonders of the world. In our final location we got a trolley tour of a different city that had a lot of history. I'm not a huge history person but it was so cool to realize how old and strong the buildings are. Plus in both tour locations there is an opportunity to shop! For our final service project we reprinted some houses with chipped paint. Everybody had a blast doing it! For the last couple of days we stayed on a catamaran. It was soooooo much fun and a great time to bond with people! I became friends with every single person on the trip and we all cried when we had to leave. :( we still keep in touch and have had reunions to see each other. It was great forming bonds with all of these people and I came out with a new group of friends. Two weeks may seem like a long time but it was the shortest two weeks of my life in Puerto Rico. I loved this trip and would highly recommend it to anybody who likes to have fun and help others!

The service work done was surprisingly fun - lifting rocks and building walls with people you met two days ago is a great bonding experience! - and I really felt like I was making a difference, not just doing stuff to do stuff.
The hike up the mountain was definitely not the most enjoyable part of the trip, because I'm not terribly athletic, but the mountain guides were understanding and let us stop when necessary to catch our breath/refill water bottle/etc.
The food at all three hostels was fantastic - typically, the meals reflected the region we were in and were always delicious, without exception. They were also all very accommodating in terms of dietary issues.
The best part of the entire trip, however, was the homestay - my family had three kids (a 16-year-old, an 11-year-old, and an 8-year-old) and we all got on very well. My French definitely improved, and my mère d'acceuil taught me how to make crêpes one morning, which was really fun.

I loved everyday of the trip through Peru and Ecuador! This was my second trip with Global Works and I waited all year to see what I would learn this time.

The service work was fun and sometimes challenging. But I experienced the difference our group was making first hand and that was exciting.

I will never forget my home stay family. They welcomed me into their daily lives and I learned so much about the culture. I also enjoyed answering their questions about my life and the United States as well.

The other volunteers and group leaders were fun to get to know. Our group was pretty diverse and that made for some lively conversations! Our leaders were always ready to help and kept us on the ball.

The sightseeing was really beautiful! The downtime trips and cultural exchanges were so interesting. The market trips were so colorful. I enjoyed my trip this summer and want to try another Global Works trip next summer.