Program Reviews

The India program has unfortunately been discontinued. It's too bad, because this is the best thing I've ever done. I didn't always have the support I wanted, especially when it came to learning how to teach English, but the Sanmarga Gurukulam--the orphanage where I lived and taught--was filled with amazing people helping to lift children out of poverty. It was beautiful in every way and I'm a better person because of this adventure. I'd do it again tomorrow if I could.

Amazing program at an amazing school in a beautiful country! One of the best experiences of my life; I even went back afterwards on my own to continue teaching in the community.
Didn't have the best support prior to departure, but feedback was heard and the staff in that role has since changed. They do a great job of hiring supportive and knowledgeable field staff (who are the real problem solvers during your service).

My time in American Samoa was nothing short of breath-taking. The natural beauty of the island is the first thing you notice. My placement was on the island of Ta'u, one of the most remote locations that WorldTeach offers. My time was spent exploring the tropical jungle, snorkeling on pristine beaches, and teaching the most entertaining and creative kids on Earth! I recommend this program in American Samoa to anyone who is looking to truly escape and still have a great supportive staff to see them through the difficulties of any Teach Abroad program. WorldTeach truly is out to make a difference in the World, and there's nowhere on Earth like American Samoa!

Waking up and walking to school may sound like a horrible way to start your day but it was one of the things I looked forward to when the island ran out of gas. When you watch movies of tropical islands and think "that's not real, it's too awesome", well, that was my life. For a year I lived on one of the most pristine beaches and reefs in the world. I was a volunteer teacher through WorldTeach at Olosega Elementary School. The walk each morning followed the coastline where I watched the tides roll over the tops of the reef and small white tip sharks swimming to catch their breakfast. The giant fruit bats eating from the papaya trees would all fly away from the road once they heard the group of local students and teachers walking, singing, and playing towards the school. There was such joy each day. Even in the rain there was something amazing to see. When the sea turtles would beach to lay their eggs, or the little turtles would breach the nest to scoot towards the water we always stopped to watch. Time was irrelevant, the experience was the key. I learned to enjoy the moment, to not have a plan, and to just flow like a river. When the whales would migrate through we would all stop to watch in amazement. The local community still looked at all of these things like it was their first time. They celebrated it and once I became part of the community, I was able to celebrate with them. The walks to school is where I became not just a palagi, but a part of the Ofu Village. I made friends and had experiences that would impact my life profoundly, just by being there. Once I'd get to school my work would start. No one says that teaching is easy, but no one ever told me it could be such a wonderful adventure. Just google Ofu Beach and look at the smiles on peoples faces, the joy that comes from living the dream. I carry these lessons with me today. On the subway or in traffic I think about the waves, the whales, and the crystal clear ocean.

It isn't everyday that you wake up and find a new farm animal outside your window. Sometimes it was a horse, most often a cow, and on the rare occasion we watched my host abuela's goat and got to wake up to that lovely white, hairy face in the mornings. The best (or maybe worst) part of watching that goat was getting to try fresh goat milk for the first time - and I mean fresh! I milked it straight from the utter into and coffee mug, something that's not totally abnormal in Costa Rica. The experience I got living in Costa Rica for a year with a great family (wonderfully pre-approved by WorldTeach) is one of the best, and definitely something I would never change. WorldTeach offers great support to you while you're in country, so your focus gets to be on your service teaching and being with your family and community learning about the amazing culture. A must do if you have means and time to participate in a WorldTeach program!

WorldTeach Costa Rica was an amazing and enlightening experience, from the orientation to the ongoing in-country support the program was very organized and created a really great program. The people of Costa Rica are wonderful, the geography is naturally spectacular, rich in culture and experiences for everyone. I would highly recommend this program for anyone!

How can I sum up this year in a meaningful way?
This was an absolutely incredible experience and while I came for to help my students, I learned so much from them and I experienced tremendous personal growth.
Facing water buckets, candlelight, spiders, bats in dresses, walls of heat, and bus rides crammed in with 12 people and some chickens was be a challenge, there is no doubt...but the challenges are WELL worth it!
My fondest and proudest memories during this year come from the hours spent in the learning lab we created. Watching my students, who are often too afraid to talk to teachers or lack the confidence to attempt English, come into their own controlled space, eager to learn, was incredible. Take Vumilia for example who, at the beginning of my time in my village was too afraid to speak a word in class…my last week at school she came in and read me 5 books in one sitting. I love her. I love all of them! I saw excitement, curiosity, and the beginnings of a new chapter in each students’ learning journey throughout the year and they made me SO incredibly proud.
They were the reason I came but they proved to be the reason to get up and face the dust, the rats, the heat, or just the long day ahead every morning (although my bat friends were a close second). I hope they learned something from me, however small, as I have learned so much from them. They really are what made my year unforgettable.

The support I received from WorldTeach was excellent. When I was sick, frustrated, or passing through the city I always knew that I would be able to talk to my field director Kim. She was amazing but because of the way the WorldTeach program is set up, I never felt pressured. I felt that she truly cared about me, how I was doing at my site and how my students were.

While the Tanzania program is not available, I strongly recommend the WorldTeach program to anyone wishing for a year of true service (not just a holiday).

A couple suggestions: if you are seriously looking into this type of program, do your research!! Know what you are getting yourself into because you want to be able to do your job effectively without regrets :)

I absolutely LOVED my teaching experience in Morocco. I had a wonderful host family, amazing students, and there was never a dull moment. To begin, my first week in Morocco was considered the orientation/training week, which was helpful. During orientation we learned about Moroccan culture, values, things to expect, how to bargain, some language skills and towards the end a little teaching skills. The following week we were sent off on our "missions" to teach, and I can confidently say that I was lucky! My host family placement was wonderful; I had host grandparents, parents, siblings my age, an aunt, nephews and even a little brother. My host family was so welcoming, loving, willing to teach me different things and also willing to learn. We shared many laughters over meals and I was able to master many Darija words quickly. My students, like I said, were amazing. Some were difficult to teach, but others were eager to learn.
I had great support from three young men of the community and because of them I learned so much about Morocco. We took weekly adventures like dinner on the beach, exploring the Medina, or having family dinners during Ramadan. Although I had a great experience in Morocco, there is no denying that this trip was extremely challenging. Volunteers will have the best time if they are resilient, self-motivated and open-minded. My school did not have a strict curriculum, so everyday I taught based on the needs and skills of my students and my creativity. Adjusting to the Turkish toilet, a different culture and the blazing hot sun during Ramadan isn't easy, but it is worth it because you get to spend that time with people who truly appreciate your work and presence. If you are looking for a demanding, but rewarding summer, Morocco is definitely your place. Enjoy!

Coming to China with World Teach was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The field director and assistant director provided useful training, and support second to none. They take our welfare seriously and are always there for issues that arise and guidance. The middle school were, I was placed, was very welcoming and provided a fully furnished apartment, located 5 minutes from the school. The liaison I got is a wonderful friend and very helpful navigating me through the language issues. The students are amazing and dedicated to their studies. It's good to see the changes in confidence they have gained these past 8 months, which makes me wish I could stay longer. One of the things I wish I had paid more attention to was not to bring so much clothing, because the shopping here is amazing. One thing I would have liked to have brought with me are Index cards, and board games. Other then that, you can get everything else here.

I had little idea what to expect when I boarded the plane to Cape Town. Although I had traveled in South Africa for work in the past, I had never taught, was unsure what would be required, and was concerned that I would be so much older than the other volunteers. From the minute I arrived, it was a wonderful and magical experience. Due to predeparture information, I was well prepared in terms of what I brought with me, and our coordinator, Peter Fenton, made us feel very welcome and at home from the beginning. His insightful comments, discussions on the history of apartheid, and overview of the S.A. educational system were excellent foundations for working in this cross-cultural environment. At the same time, there was an almost immediate sense of team building and bonding with the other volunteers through sightseeing, hiking, visiting the penguins and baboons, markets, walks around the township and visiting local schools and other volunteer projects. Every effort was made to place volunteers in the optimal setting for tutoring and mentoring to the benefit of both volunteers and students. As the weeks went on, it was clear that we had formed a family as volunteers and had bonded with each other and with the children and adults we worked with. It was an incredible experience - one of the best of my life. Although small things may have gone awry along the way - delays in schedules, difficulty in setting up key meetings, disruptive children, and the emotional toll of working in a challenging environment; it was all part of the learning process - and in the end, the answer is, "This is Africa." Wonderful, majestic, amazingly beautiful and inspiring Africa. In fact, the experience meant so much to me, I returned to the States at the end of the program and spent over 4 months obtaining a long-term volunteer visa to come back to S.A. and the same township of Masiphumelele. I am back in the country working at the same community centre. I highly recommend this program!!!!