Program Reviews

Volunteering in Cordoba, Argentina through Projects Abroad was an amazing experience! I specifically chose to go to Argentina because I had prior interest in Spanish and South American culture. Growing up as a huge football fan, I idolized Messi and was immediately drawn to Argentina when I found that they had the placement I wanted. My project was a two week high school special for medicine and spanish. By being in a high school special, my parents were reassured that I would be safe at all times, and I was also relieved that I would be with others since I came to Argentina knowing very little Spanish. Projects Abroad staff was amazing, and all of my questions before and during my trip were answered promptly.
I was picked up at the hospital and taken to my host family. Even with my minimal spanish knowledge, I was comfortable and became friends with my fellow volunteers. The doctors I shadowed were kind, and I learned a lot during my time there. Also, we did many outside activities such as salsa dancing and shopping at the flea market that made me connect to local Argentinian culture. I found my trip to be meaningful and still one of the greatest things I’ve done.
Volunteering abroad teaches you the differences between American culture and other cultures. Even in hospitals, I can now appreciate the advances the United States has compared to developing countries, and I will take this knowledge with me as I continue into college and further studies. Everyone that entered with an open mind succeeded in Argentina. Overall, I would definitely recommend volunteering through Projects Abroad. While it was expensive, I felt that the experience was meaningful and worth the money. Time really flew by but I loved every day I spent there.

I spent a month in Córdoba, Argentina volunteering in Project Abroad's Law and Human Rights program, and it was such an enriching experience! I had always wanted to travel abroad while at university, but my class and extra-curricular schedule did not make it possible. Spending a summer with Projects Abroad (PA) was a great alternative. The Law and Human Rights program gives you great exposure to human rights at the grass roots level, and living and working in Argentina really helped me to improve my Spanish. As a Political Science and Spanish major, this project was the perfect combination for me. I learned so much about the political struggles in Argentina and also feel like such a stronger Spanish speaker now!

My host family was so kind and caring. My home was comfortable and safe, and my host family was experienced with hosting volunteers. The program directors at Projects Abroad (PA) went above and beyond to make sure I was safe and knowledgable about how to get around and what was expected of me. Work was fun but still educational, and I felt that my time there did help the vulnerable populations we got to work with. The Human Rights project taught me a lot about the human rights challenge, but it also taught me a lot about compassion and humility. Weekly volunteer social events help you to make friends with other volunteers, learn about the city, and experience Argentinian culture in a non-touristy way. By the end of my month in Argentina, I could get around the city on my own with no problem. PA is also great in that its volunteers come from all over the world. I got to make friends with people from England, Italy, Canada... It enhances the cultural experience even more!

I gained a lot from my time with PA and found my trip was so worth it. I also felt safe and taken care of. I would highly recommend this program, especially to college students looking to go abroad!

My experience in Kenya is one I will certainly never forget. From the outstanding staff, to making friends from all over the world; seeing elephants and giraffes, to helping improve the living conditions for less fortunate people, this experience opened my eyes to a whole new world. During my four weeks in Kenya, I stayed at a beautiful home with a welcoming family. The kids in the house kept me on my toes, and the adults provided authentic Kenyan meals.

When I wasn't at home, I was spending an average of 6 hours a day at a school called The Fountains. There, I was working alongside a teacher to help 2-4 year olds learn English. This, being my first real experience as a teacher, helped me to build up my confidence being in front of a class. I learned how different schools work in Africa, and was able to give suggestions based on what I have learned in college as an Education major.

To be honest, I was quite nervous going into this experience. I have never really left the country before, so this was a big step for me. My mother was even more worried, but those nerves got put to rest when I told her how outstanding the staff was. There are four main coordinators in Nanyuki, Kenya, and they all exceeded my expectations. This experience wouldn't have been nearly as great without their hard work, dedication, kindness, and perseverance. They were constantly catering to our needs, and making sure we had the best experience possible. They organized medical outreaches, a day to teach a kindergarden in the slums how to properly wash their hands and brush their teeth, a soccer day with an orphanage, a renovation day, and much more. We even ended up getting so close that all of the volunteers and volunteer coordinators went to dinner before we all had to leave. Overall, I would highly reccommend this experience, and push for you to choose Kenya as your destination!

I had the great opportunity to volunteer in Mongolia with Projects Abroad and could not have had a better experience. Traveling to Mongolia was very daunting and I was nervous about traveling abroad independently and trying to adjust to a new standard of living and new customs. My apprehensions immediately diminished once I stepped off the plane and was greeted by a cheerful staff member. She introduced me to my host family, took me around Ulaanbaatar, explained Mongolian traditions, and helped me become comfortable with public transportation. The support system provided by Projects Abroad was phenomenal. Besides feeling safe and well adjusted, my volunteering experience was wonderful. Projects Abroad connected me to a Primary Care Center and I worked for two weeks with infants and toddlers. The staff at the center didn't speak English but we still managed to communicate with hand signals and I gained such an appreciation for nurses and their hard work. Projects Abroad also organized a volunteering excursion to a ger camp where, working with other volunteers, I taught some very basic English, set up arts and crafts, and played basketball with some local children.
The host family Projects Abroad connected me with was so welcoming and kind. They gave me my own room, made large family dinners every night, and taught me about Mongolian history. I am so grateful to Projects Abroad for setting up such a life changing experience and making sure I felt comfortable for the entirety of the trip (except when it was necessary to feel uncomfortable, because sometimes that discomfort is most needed!)

I feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel with Projects Abroad to Tanzania this past summer. I have say that this program will definitely change your perspective on life.
I did the medicine in Tanzania High School Special, for volunteers between the ages of 16-19. I was the only 16 year old on my trip; most volunteers were 17 or 18. However, I really didn’t have trouble fitting in. As most did other volunteers, I came by myself. If you’re worried about coming by yourself, it really doesn’t make a difference whether you bring a friend or not because everyone wanted to meet new people and have a great time! As for the flight, I travelled from Canada to the Netherlands to Tanzania. It was my first time flying alone and getting around the airport was fairly simple. Knowing that the Projects Abroad support was available 24/7 really made me feel safe!
My accommodation was perfect! I stayed at the Haus. The family, the food, the beds and the rooms were way above the standards I had in mind! We became very close with Mama’s kids. One of her daughters was my age and it was extremely fascinating to have so much in common with a teenager across the world.
The culture shock was easily managed with the support of the other volunteers and our guides. The best part was definitely my project itself! It’s truly incredible how much knowledge I gained over two short weeks. Each day, we would have a workshop or a medical outreach. The workshops were very educational and we would be able to actually apply each workshop to our outreaches. For example, we had a workshop on first aid and then an outreach where we visited a school to teach teachers first aid. With Projects Abroad, I really felt like I was making a difference and that I was actually helping others. I definitely want to return to Tanzania as an adult volunteer (maybe even in Medicine!) when I’m older. I’m still in touch with the other volunteers on my trip and we hope to someday meet up! The experiences and the friendships you will take with you from Projects Abroad will really last a lifetime!

Last year I volunteered in Samoa, and it was the most amazing experience I have ever had.

The staff at the Projects Abroad office were wonderful. It was my first time travelling overseas on my own so I was so far out of my comfort zone. The team helped me settle in and showed me around the town, explaining how to get to and from my placement and house. They offered 24/7 support (thankfully I didn't need it) which was a great comfort.

I didn't know what to expect with Samoa, but I was blown away. Samoa is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Everywhere I looked I saw green and the houses were so colourful. It's nothing like my home in Australia. On the weekends I went out and did as much as I could. One of my favourite places was the Ocean Trench. It was so beautiful, definitely a place I would recommend everyone go.

When I first arrived I was so nervous and honestly a bit scared. My host family were fantastic. They comforted me and helped me with anything I needed. They were s friendly and always up for a chat and were so bubbly all of the time. The food they prepared was amazing and I missed it so much when I returned home.
I love my host family and Samoa so much, I went back for a holiday this year. I was lucky enough to stay with the family again and go out exploring with them as well.

At my placement the children were wonderful. It was quite difficult with the language barrier but they were always smiling and respected me. I was teaching them sports so after a few demonstrations they picked up what I wanted them to do and had a ball running around, kicking a ball in the dirt. It was so rewarding.

My name is Emma. I recently spent time in Jamaica volunteering through projects abroad, doing their care project. I was placed in a vey loving host family, where i had 3 other volunteers staying with me. They were all very supportive and caring. I then was placed in my placement, an orphanage. There i got to meet and help amazing children who accepted me with open arms. I got to make a difference not only in their lives but in my own. I made lifelong friendships with other volunteers as well as being so deeply submerged into the wildly different culture. It made me grow so much as a person and i would greatly recommend doing it to anyone who has a passion to help others.

I took part in one of the projects abroad care and community Christmas programs volunteering in Ghana. It was an absolutely amazing experience. I got the chance to work at an orphanage teaching English, organizing activities, fundraising, and just spending time with the kids. I made some really good friends from around the world and got to really submerge myself in Ghanaian culture. My host family was so great and the projects abroad staff were very helpful and kind. Overall an unforgettable 2 weeks.

My trip to South Africa was phenomenal! I am blown away by the beauty of the country and the people! I volunteered for the child care program in Cape town for two weeks. I worked directly with the children and assisted the staff with creating programs that will enhance their social-emotional development and academic abilities. The other volunteers and I taught the children basic hygiene practices through songs and visual prompts. Seeing the children learn while having fun was very rewarding! The principle was constantly expressing her gratitude and pointed out how happy the children were having us around to play and learn with. I will never forget all the moments of playing, singing, eating, having small talks, doing arts and crafts and reading! They will forever stay in my heart and memory.
I am impressed by the professionalism and support Projects Abroad staff members offer. Being that it was my first time traveling alone overseas, I was nervous and skeptical about booking my flight. The travel team was patient with me and helped me book my flight. This gave me a sense of peace and security. I appreciate the attentiveness staff members provided during my stay in South Africa. They made sure I was safe and satisfied at all times.
My host family were sweet and welcoming. The meals were delicious and there were always snacks and fruits available (which helped for long days at work). It was interesting living with five roommates from all around the world. I was able to learn about different cultures and upbringings. From talking about our day at work to going on unforgettable adventures together, everyday was filled with excitement! I will forever be grateful to Projects Abroad for creating such amazing opportunities for people to give to those in need in exchange for a life changing experience. I went on this trip with an open heart to help children and came back filled with compassion and hope!

It was a really fun experience to volunteer in Cuyutlan, Mexico. I joined the Sea Turtle Conservation program, which aimed to take care of the sea turtles. The most interesting part was to pick up the baby turtle eggs near the sea in the morning. You can see the most beautiful view of the world near by the sea in Cuyutlan. Also, picking up the eggs, seeing the small turtles growing up and putting them back to the sea was meaningful to me. It made me feel that I did help them live. Anyways, it was a special and enjoyable experience to live and take care of the sea turtles and other animals. It was a great volunteer program to join to get close to sea turtles and know more about their behaviors or features.