Projects Abroad

My volunteer experience in Senegal from July-October 2011 with Projects Abroad was absolutely incredible. I was supported by the organization's staff from the day I first made contact with them, and have felt that contact through this day-- even after my experience has ended. I reviewed several organizations before making the choice to volunteer with P.A., and I would not have changed one thing about my decision. Through Projects Abroad, I found the perfect balance of support and independence, which is exactly what I was looking for in an organization. I didn't feel confined or overly directed while in Senegal, but someone was always there to help me if I needed assistance. The desk officer, social manager, and on-site staff were available 24/7, which is certainly a comfort to many individuals who volunteer in a foreign country. The excursions and social activities allowed for the chance to get to know other volunteers, and the projects themselves were extremely fulfilling and enlightening. Most of all, the structure of the program allowed for true immersion into the local culture. This is a vital element for volunteers to gain as much as possible from an experience while giving back to the residents of the community in which they work. The time I spent in Senegal genuinely changed my life, and Projects Abroad made that possible.

I loved my experiences in Sri Lanka through Projects Abroad. I learned so much about the country, it's people, the other volunteers that were from all over the world, and myself. The staff members were very helpful and accommodating. My host families were lovely and they always tried to make me feel like I was a member of their family and the community. The people were friendly, nice and very impressed when a couple of the other volunteers and myself would wear saris to work. They would make a point of telling us that we were teachers and they knew this because we wore a sari; my host moms were wonderful, from helping me get dressed in my sari in the morning, to accommodating their cooking for a vegetarian, to trying to teach me how to cook some of the local cuisine, and to bringing me tea when I was sick; they were just all around lovely people. I don't remember the final cost that I spent on my trip but the experiences I had and the friends that I made were worth every penny of it.

A small city in the Eastern European country of Romania is not where many people would go. However, for me, it was the most amazing 1-month experience I could have asked for and my choice to volunteer with Projects Abroad was the best decision ever. This summer I spent 1-month in a medical internship in Brasov, Romania through Projects Abroad. Preparing for my trip, I had no idea what to expect but the PA staff were with me from the time I considered a project. With frequent check-ups before my arrival in Romania, my friend and I felt ready to go to a new place. After travelling across time zones we arrived in Romania and it was unlike any place I had been before. The structure of the Projects Abroad program is what made it such a special experience for me. I lived with a host family and had a placement at a local care center for children with Down Syndrome. When I wanted more medical experience, the PA staff immediately gave me an opportunity to work in a local hospital as well. The freedom and flexibility of this program appealed to me the most. After being taught transportation and directions to work and the city center, we were responsible for attending every day. We could plan our own trips with other volunteers and if we ever had any questions, the PA office was just a 10 minute walk and the staff was more than happy to help plan. Romania was a place I had never before thought about going to, but ever since I returned to America, I can't stop talking about it. The friendships I made through my 1 month in Romania are more than I could have asked for. Projects Abroad was fantastic in every aspect of this trip and made my experience the way it was. Projects Abroad is a wonderful organization and I hope to participate in another program with them. I feel that everyone should participate in such eye-opening and life-changing experience.

I could not have been happier with my choice to volunteer with Projects Abroad. I found out about Projects Abroad through a career fair at my university and I thought it would a cool thing to do over the summer. I chose to travel to Moldova, located in Eastern Europe, because I had never heard of the small nation before. It was the best decision of my life thus far. I have no doubt that my friends are sick of me talking endlessly about my adventures in Moldova and my parents are probably disturbed by the total makeover which has taken place in my room to make space for all my pictures. From the moment I submitted my application the Projects Abroad staff was in contact with me. They were always prompt and knowledgeable although I would not recommend their flight booking service (you can find much better rates just booking airline tickets yourself). However, overall, I felt that the program was a good value. When I arrived in Moldova I was met at the airport by a friendly, and welcoming staff member. I was then brought to my host family who opened up their home to me and made me feel like I was staying with family. In terms of satisfaction with my volunteering project, I am extremely pleased. I started teaching my own classes the very first day I went to the local school. The students were so enthusiastic I instantly fell in love. Of course everyday was a challenge, but I was very pleased with the assistance and advice the staff provided me. Every weekend the Projects Abroad team offered trips to local sites to the volunteers. This was a great way to meet the other volunteers and see the area. Although I think they could have been done for less money, overall the chance to mingle with the other volunteers of set the potential price hike. I recommend Projects Abroad without hesitation. It was an amazing opportunity I am so grateful to have had.

As soon as I arrived at the airport, I was greeted by PA staff and taken to get dinner. The staff was very welcoming and attended to every question I had. Throughtout my stay, all staff were there to assist me with my needs, and It was great having someone who I coudl go to or call, e.g. the time I stayed out late and the rickshaw driver did not know where the address I was staying and we had to call the PA staff late at night and wake him up, but not to worry, he was helpful and I got home safe that night. I got sick 2 weeks into my trip, but the PA staff came and took me to the hospital and contacted me regularly to see how I was doing. I liked the fact there were regular scheduled outings for the wekend where we had to opportunity to have a guided tour and meet other volunteers. If I knew someone who wanted to volunteer overseas and was looking for an organization to sign up with, I would definately recommend Projects Abroad! The only thing I did not like was the fact I did nnot know the address where I would be staying, until I got to India. It could have helped to have been more prepared ahead of time.

As soon as I arrived in Ghana I was greeted by a staff member, very clearly marked as a Projects Abroad staffer, as well as, a few other volunteers who arrived on the same plane. Projects Abroad also provided me with plenty of contact information of staff members, just in case anything were to go wrong, a few weeks prior. This staff support continued throughout the 2 month trip. I was also very pleased to have weekly staff interactions during Tuesday night Quiz nights and during my outreach programs. I honestly could not have asked for a better accommodation. I stayed with Molly Yankey for my two month placement. She is the kindest and sweetest Host Mother in all of Cape Coast! She took care of me and my seven other roommates like we were all her daughters. She cooked to our preferences and always made sure we were well fed. Even having a roommate who was a vegetarian, she met her needs to the best of her abilities. I am so thankful for my placement at Miss Molly's because it also meant living with Esi and George, as well. They are like family to me now and I stay in contact with them, even a year later. The conditions were great, especially for being in a third world country. The running water would often not work, but that was only due to overall Cape Coast city problems. However, Molly always made sure to have water stored on hand so all 8 of the volunteers and the three family members could take showers and use water as need be. My project was with the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast and I worked as a Physiotherapist. I was able to work with my own patients, diagnose, and rehab with my own plan. Definitely an experience that I would not have been able to have in the united states without being certified. I was treated respectfully and always have plenty to do. Overall, I had an amazing experience with my placement and on top of that, an extraordinary time traveling all around the country of Ghana during the weekends. The price for the program was a bit lofty, but with how well the two months went and how well everything was taken care of, did I mention I contracted Malaria and the staff took me to the hospital and checked up on me for days after??, I am perfectly satisfied with how much I paid. I know I could not have had an equal experience going through a different program.

My experience with Projects Abroad was surprising and life-changing. I must admit I found things to be a bit rough at first. Once arriving in Accra, I was greeted by scorching heat and humidity. When I was first offered a water, instead of receiving a water bottle or a glass like I'm used to, I was given a little square plastic pouch filled with water. My face must've shown how surprised I was because the very friendly Projects Abroad staff member responded to my reaction with "I know it's a bit weird. You just have to bite the corner off and sip." I obviously did not know what I was in for. There were many things in Ghana I found surprising and strange, but those feelings immediately disappeared when I began to realize it was all a culture shock for me and that this was how many people live their lives in other parts of the world. My host family and all the Projects Abroad staff members made me feel so welcome. I found all the townspeople in Cape Coast to be so humble and hospitable, I felt like two weeks was simply not enough! I made so many new friends and I got to spend time with other teenagers who had the same passion as me. I would not trade my experiences with Projects Abroad for anything in the world and I most definitely will be joining the program again next summer. I recommend PA for anyone who would like to make a difference in the world, help make the lives of those less fortunate better, while at the same time, have an awesome time doing it!

Without Projects Abroad, I do not think that I would have been able to have such a successful trip to Morocco. Sure, I could have planned my own trip, but I would not have been able to locate a family in the beautiful old part of Rabat, the nation's capital, on my own, and I would not have been able to find such a qualified French tutor without their assistance either. Furthermore, being part of Projects Abroad gave me the opportunity to network with other ex-pats during our weekly get-togethers. Projects Abroad also accepted my outside scholarship money. When I went to Morocco, it was the first time I had ever been to a Muslim country, and Projects Abroad really helped me adjust while also letting me discover the country by myself. I was able to travel freely without feeling like Projects Abroad was breathing down my neck, but I also knew that if I needed help, staff was only a phone call and a few miles away.

This trip with Projects Abroad was absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in a completely unknown culture and life. The Ghanaians were welcoming and very accepting. The Projects Abroad staff were warm and supportive but also were good about keeping a distance so one could have the complete experience. The children at the daycare were adorable and kind. Realizing how little they have, both education and materials, was shocking. Helping to teach them English and basic lessons was very rewarding. I would give anything to go back to Ghana!

I loved Ghana and everything about it. I plan on going back to Ghana next year with Projects Abroad again, because everything was executed so well and was extremely organized. I'm looking forward to next summer already. :)

I had a fantastic time with Projects Abroad. The staff were extremely welcoming, meeting me at the airport, introducing me to my host family, and taking me on a "test run" of how to get to and from my placement. They dropped in to make sure that I was having a good time, and just generally made me feel supported and safe. My host family was also an amazing resource for support and love. Right away I knew that this was a place where I could be happy.

I have just returned from my amazing Medical Mission trip to Mongolia and I would like to thank Projects Abroad. The trip was everything I hoped for, though a little surprising in some aspects, and your help enabling me to have this experience means a lot to me. From the very start, with my 36 hour delay and over night stay in Beijing, I knew this would be an interesting experience and a trip I would never forget. Apparently Mongolia has certain wind drafts that make it difficult to land airplanes in the Chinggis Khan Airport, so flights from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar are frequently delayed. Fortunately for me, my flight originally scheduled for 7 am Saturday was delayed until 7pm the next day. This meant I was only a bus, airport train, and underground subway away from spending an entire day in Beijing. I was able to see the Temple of Heaven where emperors prayed each year to the heavens for a good harvest, Tiananmen Square , the Forbidden City, and the Lama Temple Buddhist Monastery. Having seen a city I never expected to visit on this trip, I was then ready to begin my two week mission in Mongolia. I don't really know how to start talking about Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia other than to say it was interesting. The first day I was there I saw Mercedes, Land Cruisers, BMW's, Hummers, and Lexus cars that I never thought I would see in Mongolia, but the rundown, rusted apartment buildings the cars maneuvered through quickly assured me that I was indeed in the right place. However, the apartment I lived in was fairly nice and clean besides the fact it was on the 7th floor with no elevator and had some mold lining the stairway walls all the way up. I noticed this all my first day there and once I had a feeling of what the city looked like, I was ready to go to work in the hospitals. With my previous experience I was able to help a lot, including removing sutures from a man's eye. I was also able to observe many interesting things in various hospitals and clinics. To start, due to a lack of money, the Shastin's State Hospital of Mongolia only has one Stryker drill for a neurosurgery department that has nearly ten surgeries every day. But as if this isn't bad enough, the drill was broken. So the craniectomies I observed were either done with a hand saw, a hammer and chisel, or just cauterization through the skull. Once the surgeries were then completed, the skin flap was sutured closed directly over the brain tissue without a patch or other protective material. This is because a skull flap/patch costs about $800 in Mongolia, and the average annual salary is only about $1000. In addition to brain surgeries, I saw a tonsillectomy with only local anesthetic, many cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, heart surgery, vaginal births, a couple of c-section births, and a premature baby die helplessly on a table in front of me. I am very fortunate to have had so much experience at Little Co of Mary Hospital because that offered me many chances to make comparisons to western medicine/surgery that I would have otherwise been unaware of. In addition to my medical work during the weeks, I went with several other volunteers and our supervisors to spend the night in a ger in the Terelj National Park on the weekend. The wide rivers, endless mountains, and actually fresh air (completely unlike Ulaan Baatar) was incredible and the whole trip would have been worth just going to this national park. We ate cooked beef with a nomad family for dinner in a ger, I got to ride a yak , and then at 4am the next morning me and another kid decided to climb on top of the biggest mountain for sunrise. We could see forever in every direction and after several hours of sitting on top, we returned to camp and then headed back to the city. Overall, visiting both China and Mongolia made this an amazing trip and again I really want to thank you very much for helping me have this experience. I feel I have gained much insight into the ways of a completely different culture, lifestyle, and style of medicine very unlike our own, and I will carry this awareness forward with me as I embark on my life's journey into the world of medicine. Sincerely, Alex Seyferth

The three month business internship program with Build Shanghai and Lister Investment & Management in Shanghai, China was the most amazing learning experience of my life and provided the best eye opening environment for anyone seeking to enter the international business world with strong insight into the Chinese market and developing future industry specific business proposals and networking contacts.

The Projects Abroad team was great at giving me all the support I needed leading up to the trip. If you want to make sure you are secure at all times use this organization. At the airport I was greeted promptly and made to feel right at home right away. My host family was absolutely amazing and everyone in Projects Abroad wanted to make sure I was safe and happy at all times. The materials provided were very useful,and the staff was always available for support at any time. The program itself is a bit expensive and I the only downfall I saw was not enough money from what I paid going into the orphanage I worked at. I feel the price is a bit high, but I am glad I used Projects Abroad for my first volunteer trip to Africa because they always made sure I was comfortable and safe and healthy - so in this sense it was worth the extra cost.

Projects Abroad was an amazing experience. The staff is courteous and on top of things. They don't stifle you with attention or hold you by the hand, but neither do they just throw you out without any information or know-how. My host family was very kind and would go out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. The food was also amazing (unless you don't like spicy food!). The placement went slowly at first, but by the end we were giving regular talks to students on HIV prevention and treatment. Of course the Projects Abroad HIV program in Ghana is still fairly new, so of course it's going to have growing pains. Overall Projects Abroad was a great decision for me and I highly recommend choosing it. Ghana is an amazing country as well, so you really can't go wrong!

It has been nearly four years since we began our collaboration with Projects Abroad and during these years we have had the pleasure of working with a number of your volunteers. The children, who are between the ages of 3 and 6, have enjoyed learning about other cultures and the enthusiasm with which the volunteers work, has helped to encourage and stimulate the children in so many ways. It has been a privilege to work so closely with people from different countries and the exchange of cultures has meant that we have all benefited greatly from the volunteer program. Your volunteers have shown more than just love and care for the children and have given their time to bring new activities by teaching the children new songs, dance and games. Working in an orphanage can sometimes become rather stressful and having the volunteers here has helped tremendously in alleviating some of that stress. As a result of our cooperation with your organization since 2003, two classrooms have been refurnished with new carpets, wardrobes, shelves with a new drainage system and heating system have been installed. We have also been able to provide the children with more toys and equipment, which simplifies the daily running of the orphanage. This kind of contribution deserves more gratitude than we can possibly express. Thank you so much for all your help and for making the lives of these children not only easier, but also much happier. We're sure our cooperation will continue and develop even further in the future.

From day one, the PA staff in the US worked hard to make sure I could complete all of the requirements necessary for my college credit towards my internship. They responded quickly to all of my e-mails and calls. Once I was accepted into the program, the staff in Fiji was also quick to respond to my questions and needs. Everyone made me feel confident and ready for a successful trip to Fiji. Once I arrived, I was immediately greeted by a staff member which was great because I already felt lost and exhausted from traveling long hours. I arrived immediately at my host-families house. My family was very friendly and did all they could to make sure I enjoyed my stay. The food that my host mother made was wonderful! They also asked if there was something particular I didn't eat but I was open to trying new things. I got a roommate after a couple of days which is a great plus. It was nice to have another volunteer to talk to and do things with. There were a few complications later on in my trip with the meals and staff (not keeping things confidential) but this is a minute problem that was immediately addressed. I liked that the staff did take time to meet with the volunteers mid-way between our stay to find out how everything was going at the accommodations and placement. Any conflicts were resolved immediately. The placement was great. It was challenging working with 35+ students in a class but it was also very rewarding once you figured out how to manage things a little bit more. I would've liked to do more teaching with the students but this particular class wasn't really setup in a way where the teacher taught at the front of the class like in traditional classes here in the US. Again, if any one did have a problem with their placement, the PA staff were quick and helpful to letting us go elsewhere. PA also held weekly socials which was a great way to meet other volunteers and do something fun. The staff are also helpful in planning any weekend trips you may want to take. Overall, it was a great experience and you can't go expecting to have the luxuries you have back home. You have to be open to trying new things and doing things that you want to do.. you are there for yourself and to teach children so make the best of it! And if you go and feel that you're not comfortable .. speak up! The staff will help you and do what they can do to make things better. Also, when I returned the US, the staff again were quick to get in touch and talk about my experience and let me know how I could be involved. For the pricing, I felt it was a little much. I am not sure exactly how the money is used but I do feel we could have gotten a little more for the price we paid. I'd like to see some of our money go to our schools because the students struggle with having supplies such as pencils, erasers, paper, etc. Great experience and I definitely would recommend PA.