Mixed Emotions but Mostly Harmful Experience

The program boasts about being around for nearly 20 years but still does a good job of making you feel like the experience is happening for the first time for everyone. The orientation was fumbled. Volunteers were often bored during presentations because the information was redundant or not very helpful. Some volunteers got lost walking around the city due to the lack of preparation on part of the staff, which is very dangerous. The home placements is a draw but can be nightmare-ish. For example, I was extremely flexible with preferences except for a strong allergy to cats and to my surprise, I was placed with cats. I was blamed, then moved to a hostel and then moved to another home. For the first 3 months no one was paid until well after the fact which naturally caused problems at the home. So on top of the fee, make sure to bring at least $3,000. I know the program gives vague suggestions on the amount you should bring but just bring as much as you possibly can because they won't help you out financially. Actually, overall the program is vague is how I would describe the program. Vague with key details, disorganized, non responsive. They push the saying "flow like water" and "resilience" to place the responsibility on volunteers to respond passively when they're met with disorganization, misinformation, and peril.

What I wish I knew: Essentially this is a staffing agency. Foreigners work as cheap labor. The program has no true interest in supporting volunteers with anything related to teaching, curriculum, etc. They bring you to work for universities. That's it.

Most importantly, it is dangerous. I have been robbed at gun point, beaten, groped, suffered physical and psychological injuries. I was still forced to work at night. Violence is normalized so there was no empathy from the program/universities. Colleagues were drugged, robbed, beaten by folks dressed as cops, sexually assaulted, attempted kidnapping. They gloss over protection and due process because they do not respect volunteers enough to take the seriously. Once they have your money, you're treated like a nuisance (e.g. Smaller incident, one volunteer had an allergic reaction and needed help and they just told him there wasn't enough time to deal). So there's a concern about capacity and a sincere empathy issue.

I know the application process is roses because they are responsive and nice but please don't allow yourself to be duped. If you are still considering, just go expecting not to receive support, in all honesty.

There are some fun times. The schedule allows you to take up other interests and sometimes travel. However, please keep in mind that you have about 2-4 hours worth of paperwork and planning so the 4-hour work day is more realistically 6-8. No big deal if you love teaching, but just a heads up. It's important to note that I loved my students, my final host family and some of my colleagues became really great friends. The country is beautiful but you can also enjoy it without the drama.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to comment or send in your email address so I can give more details and/or support. I'm really focused on telling the truth so you can make an informed decision.