Couldn't have asked for a better experience

I studied International Development for a couple of years before heading to Nepal for a three month volunteering stint with ELI Abroad, so I'd had a fair few experiences with meaningless "voluntourism", huge expenses to volunteer, and organizations just in it for the money.
My experience with ELI was the opposite to everything I had feared - the costs were reasonable (better than reasonable), the support staff were accessible and in it to help, not to make a quick dollar, and - most importantly - I felt like I had the chance to actually impact others and set up a lasting program.
I taught English at an orphanage to a beautiful group of children. The orphanage was (and is!) struggling - the owner tries her hardest and has put her own personal finances into the orphanage, but they need all the support they can get. It was so amazing to see how little they got by on, and how much they appreciate volunteers. It was amazing the way they would offer me food, drinks, time... they may have not had very much, but they were endlessly generous.
I had so much fun learning and participating in cultural activities, learning about Nepal and Kathmandu, planning lessons for the children, and building relationships with the staff.
Living in the volunteer share house in Kathmandu was fun, it was so great having people to travel with on the weekends. The staff there were beautiful and so willing to go out of their way to help us out with travel plans, lesson ideas, cultural quirks. They provided us with a home, a place where we felt safe and comfortable.
I'd recommend ELI as an organization, and Sarita's Orphanage as a volunteer experience, to anyone. I'd love to volunteer again, and would no hesitation planning any kind of experience with ELI.
I'd recommend Nepal because it's everything I never expected, because it's an entirely different world, because it's loud and busy and poor and yet, beautiful and spiritual and generous.
Sarita's orphanage is filled with love, and anyone who wants to visit the children there will be welcomed with open arms.