Volunteer & Vacation in the Caribbean

Going to Jamaica was a very eye-opening experience for me. It gave me a glimpse of the world of "development", something that I have studied on a theoretical level but never really experienced personally. I gained an understanding of how a project works, what the work involves and how people respond to the project environment. I am convinced that working for the Social Development Commission and the skills I gained while volunteering will be very useful for boosting my CV and thus helping me build a career in the charity/NGO/Government sector. On a more personal level, it showed me that I can be very brave and open-minded, but I also learned how to truly relax and live in the present moment.

Definitely, yes! Rather than going to tourist attractions, my friend and I decided to make friends with local people and try to really immerse ourselves in the Jamaican lifestyle.

By the end of our trip we had created amazing friendships and experienced things tourists could never see. We have spent hours cooking and relaxing at our friends' houses or simply going to the tiny road bars to enjoy a glass of white rum or a Dragon stout. We knew literally everyone who lived or worked in our area and felt as if we are part of the community. Our Rastafari friends taught us a lot about Jamaican herbs, roots, tree bark, used for making healthy potions or simply to spice up your food. The parties we went to were definitely not the parties regular tourists went to. Most were in small towns where tourists never set foot because of Jamaica's reputation as a "dangerous country". Our experience, however, was extremely positive and people were very welcoming and friendly.

Relax! It’s going to be a great experience. No matter which destination you choose and what activities you would be doing, volunteering abroad will be a truly inspirational and enriching experience.

Yes, you will see things differently and have unforgettable time through which you will learn not only to appreciate your lifestyle at home but, most importantly, the smaller things in life. You will have a firsthand experience of a different culture and will have the opportunity to learn about new ways of thinking but will ultimately realize that we are all humans trying to make the best out of our lives. Expect to meet many incredible people, deal with unfamiliar situations and overcome some challenges. At the end of your journey you will realize how much you have grown!

Reni and Cecilia, who went on an 8-week internship program with V2 lived in a small community in Jamaica and got to know the people there quite well during their stay. A few days before leaving Reni and Cecilia decided to visit their favourite little bar to listen to some reggae. The girls were surprised to see the faces of all of their Jamaican friends who had decided to come and express their gratitude and appreciation for the two volunteers. Avril, the owner of the bar, even exclaimed “I have never seen so many people in my bar!”

Reni and Cecilia shared that it was in this moment that they realized that not only this experience was beneficial for their personal and professional growth, and for the people that they were helping directly through volunteering, but that their presence had brought the community together and had inspired people to help each other in whatever ways they could.