Volunteer Experiences
This section is where you tell the world all about about us and our projects!
Placement 0001 - Malaysia Rainforest lodge - Ecotourism and Research
Daniel Quilter, January-June
2005
"I had the time of
my life so good infact it inspired me to create this site so more people
can
experience what i
have! Plus i did it without spending much
money!"
Jon Smith, January-Sept
2006
The things I have
learned, the good times I have had, the exposure to a totally
different
culture, and most
importantly the friends I have made, are things that I will keep with me for
a
long time to come.
Ironically, the hardest thing about coming over here and working is going
to
be going home again
afterwards!
Placement 0005 - Mountain Ecolodge - Ecotourism
David Blatcher, August
2006
"If you are looking
for somewhere peaceful to stay, in spectacular surroundings with friendly
company then I would
heartily recommend spending some time at this lodge."
Placement 0020 - African Game Reserve - Conservation
Lydia Ho, June
2007
"if I
had to say one thing about my stay here, it is that you never know what to
expect, but
whatever the turn out is, it will be one unforgettable journey"
Vicky Holden, June
2007
"Last
but not least we have Ettiene our facilitator, to thank for all the amazing
experiences we
had and the knowledge he imported to us. His enthusiasm made our stay
interesting, fun and
memorable and we all go away with fond and happy memories of our time
spent
here.
It
has been an experience of a lifetime and we all plan to return in the near
future. "
Placement 0021 - West Indies Eco-lodge - Ecotourism
Accounts from many volunteers since
2003
"Being a volunteer
at here was the most enriching experience - I've never been so sad to
leave
a place!"
Placement 0032 - Conserve the Scarlet Macaw - Conservation
Christine Gray, June - July 2006
"They are a wonderful
organisation, the volunteer program is easy, educational and a once in
a
lifetime opportunity. I would
recomend it to anyone!"
Placement 0035 - Nature Retreat - Ecolodge
Mike
Dombrowski, January - June 2007
"The work
itself was enjoyable to me and I found all the interaction with the guests in my
work to
be a great way to practice
compassion and patience. Ah, sometimes such a great exercise
in
patience!! But for someone with
a bit of sense of adventure, an interest in deepening their
yoga
practice, and a willingness
to examine their own issues, I think this work exchange program is
a
great opportunity."
Unknown, July
- September 2007
"For me, the
Retreat is an enchanted soundscape of beauty and unending stories. I
highly
recommend going there and experiencing it for yourself. "
Placement 0043 - Greek Wildife Protection - Conservation
Christina Faust,
Summer 2007
I spent 7 weeks this
past summer volunteering for here, a wildlife conservation NGO
in
northern Greece. The
experience was the best of my life, and I learned so much
about
conservation work. Everyone
was so accomodating and I can't wait to return.
Placement 0053 - Community development Projects - Teaching and Humanitarian aid
Various,
2006
Well, my dears, it has
been an absolute pleasure. I have no idea how to begin to reflect on
this
experience. I'm coming away
so full of inspiration - to travel, to work, to volunteer, to
learn
Spanish, to sing - and
I feel like this is just the beginning. I want to thank Aldeas de Paz for
this.
Placement 0059 - Namibian Guest Farm - Teaching and Conservation aid
Lizzy
Eves - July 2007
I got the
feeling that I had really experienced the Namibian lifestyle by talking to, and
working alongside, local
people who are happy to share their experiences with you. During my
time on the farm, I saw
wildlife including leopards, rhino, oryx, kudu, baboon, warthog,
cheetah, giraffe, springbok and
many more!
Placement 0071 - Help the street children of Ghana - Teaching and humanitarian
Alexandria David, May - July
2006
"I feel
that I really got to experience Ghana on a more personal level. I only hope that
others
will have
the chance to visit this beautiful country"
Placement 0072 - Ecolodge and Research Station - Ecotourism and Research
Alice, June 2006 - Decemeber
2006
"The
area is stunning, and when I go I will leave a small piece of my heart buried
here
behind
me. The experience is like the place, diverse and varied and through it
you learn
constantly
and make new friends which you will hopefully never truly leave
behind!"
Chelsea beebe, May - September
2006
"I think that
the ecolodge is a great place for volunteers who have a strong desire to learn
all
they can
about nature, improve their interpersonal skills, and to experience rural Costa
Rica
without the
distractions of a big city. "
Placement 0082 - Organic Farm - Farm
Various
"We had an absolutely wonderful time! Everything was great... the staff, food,
the
cabanas,
the
work. I would totally recommend to friends with children, I think it's a great
learning
experience for adults and kids alike."
Placement 0083 - Volunteer in the rockies - Ecolodge
Rachel Lodge
2007
"Volunteering at
this lodge was one of the most fantastic and eye-opening experiences of my
life."
Placement 0090 - Turtle conservation in Costa Rcia - Conservation
Elke, May
2006
"Its
very important that these beautiful animals get the protection they need,
and this project
is the perfect way to do this. For me, volunteering here was a unique,
unforgettable
experience. "
Placement 0091 - Ghanian Rural School - teaching
Kate Happell, July - August
2006
Now that we are
back in London, having some time to reflect, there is no doubt that it was
one
of the most amazing
experiences of our lives, and we hope to ensure that we take
these
experiences and use
them in our everyday lives in the future.
Placement 0092 - Bear rescue centre - Conservation
Patrick, December 2005 - May
2006
"I feel more like an Ecuadorian than a tourist, and that's a very important
distinction.
The
tourist sees the Ecuador (or wherever) that is intended for the tourist.
Even if you do
your
best to get off the beaten path you will as a tourist be living in a
bubble, perhaps
only
mental, of the country you come from. The only way to leave this personal
patch of the
first
world is leave your home - mentally as well as physically - and be able to
say with
complete
honesty that, if only for a while, the volunteer house was your home. Even
if you only
volunteer here for a few weeks, you'll begin to feel it. I keep a journal,
and I recently looked
back at
my first few entries. I can't believe how much I've changed, and I think I like
that
that.
Whether you return to the same dorm room or the same desk, you'll be
someplace
different after you leave the Project."
Various
volunteers
"I
think of my volunteer experience here whenever I need to be reminded of what
makes me
truly
happy: Having a loving family, a close community of friends & neighbours,
and work that
exercises the body, interests the mind, and feeds the spirit."
Placement 0111- Sustainable living lodge - Ecotourism
Various volunteers and
visitors
"When you
are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your
thoughts break
their bonds: your mind expands in every direction, and you find yourself in
a
new great and
wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and
you
discover
yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to
be."
Placement 0112 - Biological Reserve - Conservation and Teaching
Stephanie Davenport, July
2005
"I have made
so many new friends, from the old woman who runs the local shop in the
Santa
Rosa community
to the man with scary dogs who lives down the road from the reserve and
tells
me to marry an
Ecuadorian man so I can live there! All of these people are blessings in my
life
and I will never
forget my amazing month in this spectacular country filled with such culture
and
spirit for
life."
Kate Gustafson, July 2005
"One of the major
benefits to volunteering, of course, is the deeper, more
meaningful
exposure to local people, customs and issues that a work-related
commitment makes possible.
Along with the beautiful surroundings and the chance to meet new and
interesting people, my
experience was further enriched by seeing firsthand the challenges that
the reserve faces."
Placement 0120 - Kindergarden school
Paul Williams, May
2006
"The kids are
incredible, so interested in the volunteers and full of fun. Jayaliila is a
wonderful
host.
The food was amazing and she made me and the other volunteers feel very welcome.
I
personally
enjoyed the challenge of teaching the kids and I found the best approach was
to
get stuck in
to anything that needed doing."
Lara,
June - July 2006
"One
last sentence about the kids: they are all so adorable. And you will find your
favorite kid,
who you will
really love and miss when you re back home! "
Placement 0122 - Drama and culture centre - Teaching
Samantha Ferm, June - August
2005
"The
coordinators, my host family, and my new friends, were definitely the highlight
of my
experience. I consider them all family now, and I can't wait till I can go
back and visit
them
again. It is a great program, one I would not have traded for any other
experience, and
the
care
and attention the coordinators give you is unsurpassed. I hope you have as great
of an
experience as I did, and I know that the people here look forward to your
coming."
Rory, January - May
2006
"Ghana is a great place, really crazy. The people are super friendly and there
is a great
community/ family spirit. Tafo is a nice town; pretty remote but very nice again
and quite
cool
(but
never cold) because it's high up."
Placement 0124 - School Teaching - Teaching
Rosie Srao, May-October
2006
"The school
is wonderful, even though we are hugely lacking in books, computers and
teaching
aids.
The teachers and pupils are plentiful in spirit and morale. It is a real child
centered school,
which is not always common ground in schools over here."
Placement 0125 - International School - Teaching
Gayle Pescud, November 2005 - April
2006
"As someone
who isn't a teacher, I've learnt so much from the children and teachers at
school.
I
found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was tough at
times, but I
grew up
and learnt as much about myself as I did with new culture. I appreciate the care
and
the welcome from
the family, Mr. Bonny and everyone at the house. I feel grateful to
have
been part of
Ghanaian family and see things somewhat from inside."
Alice Loft, September
2006
"Advice I would
offer future volunteers is to make sure that you liase with Lawson at the
school
as much as
possible before you arrive. It will be helpful if you have semi-decided what
sort of
things you
will undertake to teach because then you can bring appropriate materials- eg: a
globe for anything
geographical, instead of my useless chalk maps!"
Placement 0136 - Brazilian orphanage - Teaching
Arthur, March - August
2006
"The
experience was definitely life changing and positive. During my stay with the
kids we
went on
several field trips outside of Xerem. In case you were not aware, the orphanage
is
situated in
the middle of a tropical rainforest."
Placement 0143 - Wildlife Refuge - Conservation
Various
volunteers
"Working so close with these kinds of animals is once in a lifetime..and
actually feeling
that
your actually doing something for these animals instead of just travelling
about, getting
drunk
in various places for 6 months...
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! "
Placement 0148 - Organic Farm -
Farm
Cailin, August-September
2007
I
went expecting to exercise my body, but I was surprised at how much I ended up
exercising
my
mind. Suman is wonderfully calm and friendly, and his library of eastern
philosophy is
the
perfect way to balance physical and mental stimulation.
Placement 0149 - School Child Care Project - Teaching/Humanitarian
Merit,
August-September 2007
"I volunteered
for only two months in August and September 2007. Although I feel this is
a
very
limited time period, I think I have been able to do many things, which will not
only affect
me
as a person, but also many Cameroonians and even more people at home in Finland,
where I am from."
Placement
0205 - Teach and care in Kenya - Teaching/Humanitarian
Rachel McGahey, August -
September
2007
"I
had no idea how rewarding teaching could be until I started teaching here. I
have
never
met
children who are so eager to learn. This eagerness really motivates you to try
your
hardest to find sponsors and donors to help the children's families pay
for them to come
to
school
and for the school to carry on educating them. You know that you are living
and
working in a poor area but until you actually visit some of the families you
have no idea
how
difficult it is for them."
Matthew
Pike Sept
2007
"So far my
experiences here have been enjoyable and I have made some very good
friends,
but it has also been a real eye opener for me and has at times been upsetting.
But the
freedom I have been given by the charity to pursue ideas in my own way and
my own time is
everything I could have wished for to try and make a difference and help
people in the region.
Placement 0208 - Orangutan
Rehab - Conservation
Hayley
Maurice - August 2007
"I do
feel that I made a difference for the time I was there"
Heather
Roberts - February 2007
"I
shall never forget that extraordinary, powerful moment with her"
Placement 0214 - Turtle Conservation- Conservation
Angus Hinks - August
2007
"The beach is amazing and I'm not
joking when I say it is like ‘The Beach' film - absolute
paradise
and rainforest
vegetation. White sand, clear blue water and huge areas of coral housing
so
many colourful fish
including, barracudas, parrot fish, black tipped sharks and of
course
Neeeemo!"