Program Reviews

On March 2019 I’ve been one week in Kathmandu supporting kids of an orphanage. It was an amazing experience! Starting from the coordinators everyone were super friendly and ready to help you in every situation, communication was super fast and clear, really appreciated. Kids were simply fantastic, with a lot of love to share and a spontaneous smile everyday. I’ve spent one week on helping kids before their shool time on their homeworks, I had free time to visit the city from 9am to 4pm then I came back at the orphanage to help kids on their homeworks after school and let them play at volley, drawing or singing. I strongly suggest this kind of experience to everyone, it has changed me radically, I came back at home with a new mentality and a new heart! I’m feeling rich inside! Last but not least I know that those kids you are Special, they are happy to stay with you and to have someone to share love! For them it’s very important! Thank you IFRE Volunteers for this opportunity!

My husband Greg and I are recently retired professionals who like to combine volunteer work (I am an educator, and Greg assisted me in the classes) with adventure travel. Our month in Ecuador enabled us to do just that. From the beginning our experiences were positive. Our coordinator Jose met us at the airport, introduced us to our homestay (in a comforable apartment), liaised with the school's administration, and was supportive and encouraging throughout. Our hosts Olga and Marcelo were among the kindest the most hospitable people we have ever met: our room was comfortable, the meals were delicious, and their patient help with our Spanish was very welcome. (We even had a friend join us for a few nights.) Our school was poor and bilingual (Spanish and Kichwa), and during our three weeks there we had the opportunity to teach English to students in Grades 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Although there were some discipline issues, these were soon overcome. The kids proved to be gregarious, friendly, curious and uninhibited. The highlights were taking part in a very special indigenous Pachamama Spring Equinox celebration, during which the Administration and staff expressed profound thanks for our volunteer efforts and the teaching materials we were able to bring to them. Finally, during our afternoons, we were able to explore the many parks, squares, museums and cathedrals of vibrant Quito; during the weekends our host drove us to volcanoes, the highlands, the Cloudforest and numerous indigenous villages; and for our fourth week we embarked on an unforgettable cruise of The Galapagos. An amazingly interesting and fulfilling combination of volunteer work and adventure travel!

Our group of 13 travelers spent a week working with IFRE while visiting various medical locations throughout the week in order to perform our medical needs assessment. The week was extremely successful and the group felt as though IFRE supported us in completing our goals. The logistics ran very smoothly and our host families were welcoming and supportive of our missions while staying with them. Oscar, our primary in-country contact was extremely helpful and accommodating to help us with everything we needed throughout the week.

Prior to the trip our group did struggle with communication as we felt that IFRE did not provide us with much information that we did not specifically request. Our daily itinerary and day to day functions were not entirely clear to us prior to arrival, and throughout the week we still felt as though a lot of questions went unanswered in terms of logistics. While everything still ran smoothly, we wished that we had received more communicative support for the price that we were paying.

It was an incredible experience in Kenya, it is hard to describe in words. From the moment I arrived I felt at home and very welcome in the centre. I volunteered to teach English & Math to during my 2 weeks stay at the centre & I was given the teaching aids that were necessary for classes. If I had problems or needed assistance other teachers were always there to help me. Barnabas was a fantastic source of information and advice during my stay. I found the students to be very eager to learn and very courteous in class. It was just such a pity to find them with only one book to work from for the whole class. Nonetheless, the teachers manage with what little resources they have & they are a great inspiration for the children. I extended my stay there by another week but that was still far too little time to be spending with such great children. I will definitely go back as soon as I can organize for it.
I was welcomed into the host family as their own. It really felt like home. My host sacrificed her own time at weekends to bring me to the Giraffe Centre & the Bomas of Kenya. She also helped me to buy provisions for the orphanage – taking another whole day of her personal time. In terms of the livings conditions I found the house to be most comfortable and the quality of the meals I received was excellent.
On the last week of my stay in Kenya I did the Safari as well. It was absolutely fantastic. The driver, Sammy, was very competent – I felt very safe in the vehicle on such rocky roads! He was also very knowledgeable with respect to the wildlife – in terms of both identification and giving us information about specific animals. The campsite was well run – it was clean & even had hot showers on our second day! The food was also very good.

I volunteered with IFRE’s Teaching English Program in Cambodia. I was assigned to a Charity School as an English teacher for 4 weeks. I must say that the experience was incredible. The whole process right from inception to the end was hassle-free. The IFRE team was very prompt with replies, which was very helpful. I was picked up by a driver at the airport upon my arrival at Phenom Penh. The teaching was challenging because of the language barrier. The children were very enthusiastic and eager to learn, which made my experience even better. My primary responsibility was teaching the group of beautiful and enthusiastic children. I not only taught them but also shared with them special bond- laughing, playing, drawing, painting and so on.

The IFRE staffs are responsive, sincere, helpful, up front. Support while at the site was also very good. Any questions or requests I had for the local coordinators were quickly responded to.

I would definitely recommend IFRE to anyone considering a volunteering placement.

Volunteering abroad ethically, has been an aspiration for my wife and I and we took a chance after a ton of research. Unfortunately we didn't get what we paid for in IFRE's Kenya placement with Boundless Loves, which didn't match their online description of Cultural Conservation. On top of that, communication issues, cost overrun and lack of direction made us leave our project early.

IFRE didn't communicate costs well, and the money we paid for our program placement didn't have a portion go to the project there as the IFRE website claimed. Boundless Loves’ projects didn't have a lead or any actual projects for us to join, and we had to create our own. They put us in front of cute children, trying to make us feel sorry for them so that we would donate more, and “coordinators” were constantly asking for more money. For any project we wanted to start, we had to make our own plans, fund and direct help for them--which from everything we've read is not very helpful because we're simply forcing our biased fixes that may not fit the local needs or culture. Without leadership or proper oversight, and not receiving useful information, we were left bewildered, frustrated, and unable to help in a meaningful, long-term way.

Finally, IFRE or known as Global Crossroads in EU isn't a volunteer organization, they're a volunteer placement group, so if you can connect with a group on the ground, you can save $300+ per person. Additionally, extra services come at a premium, for example our safari cost twice the going rate in Kenya with no difference in experience for the other safari goers who paid half the cost.

In regards to our experience, I can say it was very positive. The work with school in Mitaboni was very rewarding, the children and the school have great needs and we were glad to help. They kept us very busy throughout our time there. The children instantly bonded with us, very quickly we had several "best friends".
The host family was very accommodating, all our needs were attended to and every effort was made to make us feel at home and welcome. It was a great way to immerse ourselves in Kenyan culture and truly learn how they go about their daily lives.
Our reception was good, Barnabas was waiting to meet us when we arrived and we always had someone at our disposal to advise us or meet our needs or answer any questions. Arriving at the airport in Kenya can be quite overwhelming and a little bit of a culture shock if it's your first time there.
The safety of us and other volunteers was always a priority. We were always kept informed and updated on our surroundings, travel plans, routes and times. At no time did we feel uncomfortable or in any danger. Barnabas and his staff as well as the staff of the school and hospital were always looking out for us.
Local support was top notch. The people we came in contact with were so friendly and accommodating. Kenyan people in general were so friendly and welcoming. Always willing to go a step above what was needed. They are happy to explain things about their culture, give directions and offer suggestions, even complete strangers.
I would absolutely endorse this project to other people looking for an authentic way to experience a new culture, while helping others who have great needs. Kenya is a beautiful country, rich in cuture, friendly people and traditional ways. They will whole heartedly greet with a "jambo" or "caribu" and a big smile. The costs and expenses are very reasonable. Saftey is a priority. You will get an education, do rewarding work and you will want to return.

The volunteering has been amazing and eye opening, the children are the most kid and sweetest I have ever met. The teachers are nice but some can be cold to new comers. The hours at the orphanage are great as you can do the whole day (8:30-6) or half day (8:30-12/1:00) and explore the city of Galle and the surrounding towns. The other volunteers I live with are amazing and have become close friends over the course of the 5 weeks staying here. Micheal’s house is a great place to stay as it is on the main Colombo-Galle road and right across from the beach, the other volunteers and I love to walk on the beach and watch the sunsets, see turtles and watch kids play cricket and soccer at the beach. The food served at Micheal’s is fresh and just like the way my Sri Lankan Acci makes at home, it’s amazing to watch and see the process. I would highly recommend doing this trip it has changed me as a person so much (for the better) anyone and everyone should do it

I would definitely recommend this experience. I worked at the orphanage for only 3 weeks, and still I felt like those kids were mine. They need so much love and they give love to you as well. It was hard to leave them...
It is also hard to see them leaving in those conditions, but after a while you get used to it. However, as I mentioned below, most of the teachers and the stuff working there are very rude wirh any volunteer. They do not give any love to the kids and they get angry if you try to play with them or kiss them. I honestly thought that that was very sad; even if they are clearly frustrated they should not treat the children like that.
They stay at Michael's was good! He and his family are super kimd, and available for any kind of need you can have. He also organized few trips for the foreigners that were staying at his place, all of them at a fair price.

From the very beginning José did a fantastic job. On the first day he gave me the option between 2 facilities, which we both visited!

I elected the school in the poorest district of Quito as I wanted to face a real challenge and above all help pupil who really needed the assistance, motivation and language classes I could give them.

It was kind of great to every day enter San Roque and its people on the way to the school. Always with the "protection" of my "bodyguard" Fernando oder José!

The children were so hearty that I cannot find words for. Will never forget.

Also the school director was very kind and prepared a great goodbye ceremony at the end of my stay!

I can really recommend the program for male persons, as I am not sure, if women really want to daily go this district from Quito. But if you really want something different, go there and enjoy to the maximum. The children will thank forever, as they are not used to see volunteers!