Program Reviews

Going to Peru with the operation groundswell team was the best decision I have made in a long time! It was definitely a life changer for me not only in what I physically experienced but also my perspectives and ideas about the world and how I should live in it.

It was so FUN! I have not laughed so much in years, and even just sitting here writing this I am smiling widely just remembering the excursions we had.

Spending the afternoon swimming/rafting down the river while in El Chino ranks near the top of the fun list along with fishing for piranhas in "sinking" mud in Puerto Prado!!

Working on the moloka's (thatched roof houses) was incredible. I loved getting dirty and involved, helping out in any way that I could, even if it was uncomfortable at times.

Getting food from the markets was one of my favorite things. There was fruit, veggies, nuts and pretty much a bit of everything in between. It was nice-especially on a budget! While in Iquitos I loved getting up early in the mornings and enjoying the market as it came alive while sipping my fruit smoothie.

The independent travel time to do what we wanted at the end was awesome! All of the things that we had been doing up until this time really helped to prepare us to be on our own.

So...go on this trip!! The only complaint that I would have is that I did not want to come home, it should have been longer than 6 weeks!

The time I spent in volunteering and traveling in Israel with Operation Groundswell is one of the best times I have ever spent abroad. I was forced to face difficult situations emotionally and physically in our work there and even in our travel there. I grew so much for it, and it has inspired me to go back. It made me realize that there's also so much that can and should be done over there, and that if more people were willing, we'd be able to relay a bigger impact on the communities over there.

You definitely get comfortable with being uncomfortable while meeting the most incredible people as you journey across this country.

It is a great program with approachable and knowledgable staff and there is so much to learn in such a short period of time that you feel like you have been there forever but also for no time at all.

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I went to Israel for 6 weeks with this group! It was a great time. I met some amazing people, and the leaders were very helpful! We were able to volunteer and to travel which made the program very unique!

It was definitely a journey that doesn't compare to any other volunteer trip I've ever done before. Things happened that you never think will happen to you but OG was there every step along the way. It was an eye opening experience for sure. It made me more educated about different issues I had no idea even existed.

Going on this trip was one of the best decisions I have made thus far. The balance of work and play was optimal: we volunteered at established and reputable NGO's that were inspiring and fun to be around. I feel that my knowledge of Cambodian culture was especially improved and I felt culturally immersed. Travelling in groups can be difficult but our OG leaders were talented at creating a positive and conscientious group dynamic. The itinerary was jam packed with unforgettable experiences but if I had to pick a favorite part of the trip it would be when we were in Mondulkiri, Cambodia at the Elephant Valley Project. We learned about everything from elephant behavior to deforestation in Cambodia. This stop, including others like the Sikkha Foundation in Bangkok and Tiny Toones in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, were representative of "Backpacking with a Purpose" (OG's slogan). This experience has altered my way of thinking about travel and has provided me with a refreshed perspective on life and an inspiration to analyze my decision-making abroad and at home. (Also my trip was from January 3-Feb 12, 2015 so the info is wrong here)

This is an amazing way to explore the region. There's lots of travel so you get a good sense of a variety of cities, while still having a home base in Jerusalem. The program leaders are experienced and know how to navigate the area. I think this is the best and most unbiased way to really get behind the scenes and try to understand the complicated history while visiting Israel. I can't recommend it enough!

For years, I had wanted to travel to Cambodia and OG did not disappoint in any way! The program was perfectly balanced between rural, cut-off-from-everything projects and big city experiences. As soon as you started missing having running water or electricity, you headed to the big city! And as soon as you started yearning for the quiet solitude and kind people of the rural countryside, that's where we went.
I felt that every project we partnered with was actually impactful on everyone involved, unlike some volunteer experiences I've seen. Travelling with a group of people is bound to bring about some complications but overall, it brings the group closer together and adds immensely to the overall trip.
I'm planning a second trip with OG and would not recommend anyone else but them for anyone looking to travel ethically, and have fun while doing it!

One of my biggest fears of backpacking was going on a trip and coming back with the same or similar stories as the thousands of tourists that travel to SEA each year. Its not hard to do, see some beaches, party on Khao san rd, get to a full moon party and see Angkor wat. However this trip gave me none of those typical stories, yes they were a sight to see but being able to go beyond that is what makes this a especially special. Spending nights in the middle of nowhere Cambodia under the brightest stars I've ever seen, with the nearest electrical outlet hours away after planting 300 trees that day at the local school and farm is not something many people can say they did. It was clear when I was given the opportunity at the end of the trip to travel on my own (part of the trip, how awesome it that!?) that I was the envy of many other backpackers I met. The truth is we all travel to figure out ourselves and see whats out there, but truly we all want those experiences that people look at you and go 'wow you did what? you did that, really?' its the best feeling in the world and OG and Cities and Sanctuaries gives you those opportunities, truly being able to see the country for what it is and how you can help. The lessons and tips that I learned while there help me be a more explorative and adventurous backpacker on my own and i will be forever grateful for the experience and i know anyone else would as well.

I went on this program less than a month after graduating college, and my only regret is that I did not stay in India longer! This program taught me so much, not only about India, different cultures, religion, and gender issues, but also about myself. The six weeks flew by too quickly and going on this trip was such an amazing experience I would recommend to anyone. Traveling could be hard at times and I would not suggest India to the faint of heart, but that being said I felt extremely safe traveling with my two amazing program leaders, Claire and James, and even during our independent travel time when we broke off into smaller groups and were without our program leaders. I loved every second of this program and am so grateful that my first time in India was with such an amazing group. That is one thing that really made the trip, was the group and the discussions we would have during our puelas (group activities/discussions). The group we traveled with got to know each other on a deeper level and we were all able to support one another through the hard parts of traveling. I will never forget waiting for a train for at least 3 hours in the heat, which would have normally been an awful experience but the group turned it into a memory I will never forget that included singing, storytelling, and lots of laughs! This program was amazing and I would chose to go on it again!