Program Reviews

I think about this trip on the daily- best, most rewarding, most eye-opening experience of my life. There is so much to experience and learn from Ghana and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it through OG. Our group flourished as team through the guidance of our trip leaders and because of this we were able to talk about, understand, and internalize all of our adventures. This encouragement to grow made every experience all the richer.

The structure of volunteering in Sandema was very open- we could choose where we wanted to spend each day. Amoung other opportunities, some people went to Horizons, some people helped with building the new center, and some people offered tutorials to folks at the computer lab. This choice-based structure worked out really well for me. While in Sandema I met a local man who teaches high school (secondary) art. I teach art back here in the States and I was pumped to get to see how the job is done in Ghana. Due to the flexibility of OG's program I was able to work with him for a few days and experience Ghanaian life in a way that was deeply meaningful to me. I'm very grateful for the freedom and autonomy we were given that made experiences like this possible.

I wish I could spend every summer this way!

This trip was a most rewarding experience of my life. The group was very tight knit thanks to the great facilitation of the organizers. Due to this the adventure was marvelous and integrating. We shared everything we saw in group discussions and critically analyzed our volunteer work and how it could be better. Overall, I feel much more involved and aware of the world around me after my trip with Operation Groundswell.

I've been fortunate to travel the world with multiple programs. However, I have never experienced one like Operation Groundswell. OG truly cares about the country that you visit and the people you meet. Wherever you go, you will travel, eat, sleep and party like a local. OG enabled me to absorb all that Ghana had to offer and helped me learn more about myself.

In just 6 amazing weeks, we traveled all over hiking through unbelievable mountains, chilling at the beach, and hanging out with some of the most incredible boys you'll ever meet. However, what I found most unique about OG and what I felt made it such a great trip, was the autonomy and responsibility that you're given. I wasn't held back by a program that only sees one way of doing things. It's up to you to push yourself and to try explore, but there will always be amazing trip leaders and mentors to help you along the way.

All in all, an incredible journey that I wouldn't hesitate to do again. I still don't know what propelled me go to Ghana, but I'm so glad I did!

This trip was amazing! I have no criticism at all. I thought it was a great trip for people looking to explore a new region, but did not want to do it alone. The leaders were so knowledgeable local customs and activities.

Overall I learned a great deal about sustainable travel including how you dress and act really make an impact. Trip leaders were extremely knowledgeable and gave excellent advice about where to go, how to get around, what experiences were worth while. The volunteer experiences were incredibly meaningful and enjoyable. I was pushed out of my comfort zone which was really rewarding. The cost of the trip was reasonable and fair and I found the experiences to be worth well more than what I paid which shows how well organized and thought out the program is.

Thousands of tourists visit SEA every year, but none of them are going to get to see Thailand and Cambodia the way we did! We eased our way into the chaos of Bangkok, mellowed out with monks and "ethical" elephants. We wandered into the countryside of Cambodia long enough to make friends, explore ancient ruins without a tourist in sight and learn about land grabbing or water shortage issues, instead of just getting a great facebook photo of a stilt house by a rice field. We partied with Cambodians in Cambodia (crazy?!?!) and were envied by all the backpackers hanging out with backpacker's when we told the tale. We sang karaoke, took the broken down bus with the locals and fit 13 people into one tuk tuk instead of four! We made unforgettable friendships and memories with the amazing break dancing leaders of Tiny Toones on the beautiful beaches of Shianoukville. When traveling with OG, I was able to experience the local side and the tourist side. We went off the beaten track, but enjoyed all the intricacies of the well-worn path too! Both sides have their perks! This trip, especially Cambodia and the smiling, resilient people, rocked my world and opened my eyes to another world - a world strikingly different at first glance, but with far more similarities than i'd imagined. A life changing trip.

I was nervous about traveling by myself to a different country, but the minute I stepped off the plane I felted welcomed and secure. I got to meet amazing people, both in the program and along our travels.

Some of my favourite experiences where meeting different groups in the region who were passionately working to create change. For example, the Young County Change Makers (YCCM) is composed of some hard working individuals who are really inspirational! They helped us settle in and were really nice. We were able to help them build a community library that brings books, education, and recreation to the youth living in Kisumu.

The play part of the trip was also wonderful. For example, biking through Hell's Gate National Park (think Lion King) and being so close to wild animals. Zebra ran right past me! I also got to climb "Pride Rock" and walk through the gorge.

Overall, this is an experience that is well worth your time and money. I wouldn't be able to express in full how awesome it is on this website. It is something you really need to experience to understand, and trust me, you'll love it!!

Peru Amazon Adventure trip was an incredible experience that I will always remember. Some of the highlights were taking a ferry up an Amazon River tributary for 3 days to get to Iquitos, the largest city in the world not accessible by road, getting to know the local children in Pampachica, where we were working for 2 weeks, helping the area recover from severe flooding, and working with Mayantu, an organization of Peruvian university students. This trip offered an opportunity to travel in a way that I never otherwise would have, and got to really experience local culture. Another great part of all OG trips is the week of Independent Travel Time, when we got to explore the country on our own and manage the complications that come with travelling.

This is an incredible program. They really attempt to help you understand and become part of East Africa. You stay in a variety of living conditions from camping, to a guest house, and many different kinds of hostels to show us the many way you can travel. They also provide you with the skills you need to get around despite cultural or language barrier and they teach you how to do it as cheaply as possible. I had never backpacked before this program and I felt comfortable traveling and staying by myself during our independent travel time. I never wanted to feel like I was a tourist looking at the sights while never actually seeing the country I was really in. This program provides you the opportunity to become a part of the culture while constantly changing you to ask yourself what your impact is and why your there.

This experience will stick with me forever! It has changed me for the best. It's an experience everyone should undertake. It made me personally realise how lucky I am to have the education and educational opportunities I hold, and even made me regret how previously I had not used these opportunities to my full potential, taking a lot of it for granted. However since the trip I'm I trying to take all opportunities that arise, be it educational or just generally.

There are 2 outcomes of this trip which illustrates its brilliance...
1. I want to do another operation groundswell trip
2. I want to visit Ghana again

Ghana is an incredible place and I would (and have ) recommend everyone to go and see it for themselves because you have to personally feel and experience it's magic, whether it's dancing in the rain with a group of school children or eating stew and rice under the stars on top of Wlitogi.

And obviously I would not have experienced Ghana the way I did without operation groundswell and the amazing leaders! This organisation makes your trip unique and you feel at home in a new country. People did think it was a little over priced but for me personally, from what I gained out of it, the price was cheap! It allowed you to feel independent but safe still. If you want to visit Ghana for the first time do it with this group, because you will experience Ghana so much more than doing it on your own.

There is not a day that goes by when I don't think about this trip, Ghana and the people I met. I'm still having Ghana/operation groundswell blues to this day! I really wish I could do it all over again! So if your reading this...sign up right away!!!!!