Program Reviews

This was my first trip with OG back in July of 2017, lasting for 2.5 weeks. Words do not do justice to how amazing and experiential this program was, making wonderful and deep friendships along the way and creating an impact with the locals that has changed my travel mindset today. We got out hands dirty and volunteered for reforestation with local organizations, met with political activists and learned more about the struggled the people of Guatemala face today politically, as well as enjoying nights bon firing, dancing, eating diverse foods, and just creating memories that'll leave you hungry for more. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to backpack remote parts of the world and gain something from it as well!

My six weeks in Guatemala were definitely a challenge. Not only because you spend SIX NON STOP WEEKS with the same people (kinda tricky for an introverted person), but also because the experiences themselves were stretching. Living in isolated rural villages, facing a fear of water and going white water rafting, trekking three days over the mountains with an injured knee, climbing a volcano right after getting the stomach flu, shopping in a local market with a language barrier ... I could go on. Every day was challenging in a new way, and I GREW more than I thought I could! I became more courageous, more trusting, and more open as a person.

I don't even know where to begin here, but I'll start by saying that this trip was absolutely incredible and has definitely had a huge impact on my life, not just for the views, for the things I've seen and done or for the friends I'm still in contact with, but for the lessons I've learned through it (which sounds really cheesy but just go and I promise you'll understand). I could go on for days about the program, but will try to cover the most important parts for anybody reading this curious about it.

It can be terrifying, thinking of going to a foreign country where you may not speak the language at all (like myself), to meet up with a group of strangers and do some very out-of-the-box things. This is not a holiday at a five star resort in the Bahamas, nor is it a cookie cutter Euro-trip. There are times that can push you, for various reasons (whether this may be the load of insects, the humidity in the jungle, the hiking, the physical labour, or even just trying to recover from drinking too much berry moonshine the night before). Regardless of these, there were moments on this trip that absolutely outweigh any and all of the negatives: sitting around a table as a group eating the feast you've prepared from fresh ingredients bought at the market that morning (bought using the Spanish you've learned), hiking up the last few steps to an incredible lookout (or a waterfall to stop and swim at), having a cold beer watching the sunset from the roof of a ferry boat driving up the Amazon river, having deep and meaningful candlelit conversations in the evenings with people closer to you than friends you've had for years, etc.

Operation Groundswell's programs are different in the way that they make you more self-aware, and really make you step back and look at your place in the program and in the world as a whole. The reflective group exercises make the program so much different from others, and the entire experience being as local as possible (food, transportation, accommodation, and the work itself) really allows you to experience something so different than you would be able to individually.

Small tip, a bug net shirt was a huge help to me to stay cool(er) and avoid some bites. Would also recommend a sleeping bag that compressed very small (vs the bulky one I brought).

Trust me on this one, this is a program you won't regret.

This was my second program with Operation Groundswell and it was just as amazing as my first experience. This trip was speical to me because my friend and I had met on our previous OG trip and actually planned to apply for this program together. There is something about these programs that opens up so many opportunitities for each participant. Whether that be by learning new things in the country, such as how bee farming works, gaining an understanding about indigenous cultures and an appreciation for your life back home; or by creating memories and new friendships that will continue after your step onto your plane back home. As this was my second trip I kind of knew what I was I walking into. It was nice to be able to explain and help out the other group members with what we had learned in our previous experiences - such as sharing to pack lists on the Facebook group before departure. Operation Groundswell is a very diverse company and the fact that they try to have one of their program leaders be a citizen of the country you are visiting really improves your trip. For example, I find that when one of your leaders is from the area, familiar with the customs etc. you get a much more intimate experience and take much more from the trip.

This trip was one of the most memorable trips I have ever been on. I learned a lot about the history of Guatemala, and experienced aspects of the country that I wouldn't have been able to as a normal vacationer such as staying with Guatemalan families, working with the locals, and eating local foods. Within my group, I made really great friends, and felt that the trip leaders were really invested in what they were doing, and in inspiring us to be more curious about the culture and more conscientious of our travel experience. I would love to do another trip with Operation Groundswell.

I absolutely LOVED my trip with OG in Spring 2017- Mayan Roots. Had an absolute blast and became instant friends with the entire group. Our leaders were awesome and it was so nice having one of our Program Leaders actually be someone from Guatemala who could not only give us good tips on the cities but also provided some amazing and personal insight on the theme of our trip. Love the values of the company and that participants are able to choose where the community contribution goes at the end. Homestays are definitely interesting when your Spanish is mediocre, but an incredible experience nonetheless. The Hub is AMAZING! So happy I got to experience such a beautiful country with some amazing, inspiring people! Would 10000% recommend Guatemala and OG time and time again!

Participating in this program gave me a whole new worldview. Discovering new things about the world, other people and cultures, and yourself, will inspire you and fuel the fire towards creating a better world! All while making incredible friends and connections that will last a lifetime. Being abroad alone is scary, especially when the culture is so different and you don’t speak the language. Being able to immerse yourself in a group of people that are going through the same things helps, because not only is their support there and vice-verca, but each person can provide a varied perspective on different matters, and the sharing of ideas between each other further broadens your mind and enriches the experience. The level of awareness we gained while in India is phenomenal, and the encounters we had are exactly why we all want to travel. This program made me feel like I can do anything, it brought out qualities in myself that I hoped I had but had never had the chance to put into action! The best thing about it was getting to spend 6 weeks with 13 people from all around the world, from different backgrounds and feeling like you couldn’t live without them (awfully bittersweet).

I went on this trip with Operation Groundswell (OG) this past December (December 2017)! I loved every moment of this trip. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the days planned by the OG team and I loved meeting their members at their Guatemala Hub. I love getting to meet new people from all over the world as well! My favorite experience was climbing volcanoes with the group and then relaxing in the hot springs :) Overall, I recommend this trip to anyone looking to travel and meet new friends!

Anybody can travel to a location all you need to do is book a flight and had over to another country. But what's not easy to do is immerse yourself with local cultures stay at a home in a rural Village, do a community service project, and have the inside scoop of the best food, coolest places and the funniest hostels to stay around the country ( to a whole different level than a lonely planet book can offer). You also have team leaders who know the area, history, people and places that can help guide you mentally emotionally and physically in the area. That's what makes operation Groundswell trip so great you get the immediate in to a country and are able to enjoy an experience of a lifetime.

The program allowed us to get to know the culture of Ecuador within the first few days. Leaving the main city to explore other communities and connect with locals on a "family like" level really made the trip. Also there is a lot of hands on work here so you are able to get even more out of the sustainable farming experience. This trip is fast paced and gives you a local experience right down to transportation. The partners that OG connects with have a solid foundation and have been working in their respected communities for a long time. So it makes the work you do while you visit more meaningful because the organizations carry the projects on after you leave.