Why did you decide to volunteer with Volunteering Solutions in Tanzania?

Tobias: I was wanting to volunteer for a long time (half or one year) in the future and found the Volunteering Solutions website by chance. This way I was able to first try how volunteering works and if I can adapt to a different culture/ lifestyle. Volunteering Solutions' price was very good compared to all the offerings they provide.

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Tobias: During weekdays we went to the project (orphanage including a school) in the morning and helped the teachers with their classes. We supported the children when doing their classwork or even taught them subjects like English or Math.In the breaks we helped the staff, providing food/beverages and played with the kids. This included playing cards, football, jumping robe, reading, and drawing, to name some activities. After school we aided the kids with their homework and continued the free-time activities.

Afterwards, we got back home and met with the other volunteers at the apartment and did some talking, eating and watching movies, etc.

On the weekends we went on several journeys, for example visiting a Masaai Village, climbing a mountain or going on safari. So time went by really fast!

What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?

Tobias: Experiencing a whole different culture and meeting so many new people, as well as having great adventures made it special.It was amazing that all the local people were so friendly and helpful. Especially the kids were so happy and joyful despite their really hard backgrounds! All volunteers, including me felt so “homelike” in Arusha after some days and I think we really got a lot more into the culture than if we were just tourists. Most of all, saying goodbye before leaving to the other volunteers, the project staff, teachers and most of all the children was so sad. This showed me that it was just a very special trip and I will never forget it!

How has this experience impacted your future?

If you get to know about the hard life many people have in Tanzania, you get really dissatisfied when arriving back in e.g. Germany, with all the wastage and unfriendly people. I had kind of a second “culture shock” when coming back home after I experienced that you can live without so many things that you are used to. So after this trip to Arusha I know that we all should be more thankful for our healthy and well-supplied life. I also became a bit more relaxed after the trip because in Tanzania, everything works a lot slower than in the rushed “western civilisation”. All in all, volunteering really enhanced my personal horizon!

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory would be exploring my own country (South Africa). I like many people take it for granted that I live in South Africa and feel the need to travel outside of my county instead of exploring the wonders it has to offer. The last couple of years I have traveled to various destinations in South Africa and by far my most memorable would be the beautiful sunsets and hiking trails in Tietiesbaai which is located in in the Western Cape near a fishing village of Paternoster.

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

The Philippines -- this destination is made up of more than 7,000 islands unlike anywhere else in the world. The country offers a wide range of cultures as well as different types of outdoor activities on the water and land. The Philippines has world class beaches and +-30 volcanoes. I would have to say Dubai is the most overrated destination in the world.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Customer relations would be the biggest factor in a successful company. Making sure customers are happy and satisfied should be every company's goal/ aim. Customers are where the money comes from and therefore we should keep our standards high to accommodate them. I also believe good leadership skills are what makes a company successful.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started off as a receptionist at the current company with little or even no confidence to address/communicate to a large group. I have grown from a receptionist to being a programs coordinator where I am involved from the start of a clients application right to the end of their stay. Being involved with this many clients has given me the confidence speak in front of a large group of people as well as feel comfortable although I am out of my comfort zone.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

We are an NGO and offer affordable prices to our clients. We are involved with our clients from the minute we receive their application. Throughout our programs, our participants also have a designated staff member on hand 24 hours to attend to any needs that should arise.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team.

The moment I felt proud be part of my team would be was when we hosted a British government funded group in Mamre just outside of Cape Town. The platform 2 group was about 20 volunteers who traveled for a 8 week period back to back. Once the 1 group left, the next group would come in, sometimes we would have 2 groups at a time. For these groups, we had to customize a volunteer program for these participants. This was very admin-based as we had to report everything to the sending company, as well as console and accommodate first-time travelers.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

The best story from a returning volunteer would be a participant that joined our program 4 years ago and returned to manage 1 of our hostels. He found love and is currently back home in New York in a long distance with a woman from Cape Town and is planning to get married soon.