The Humanity Exchange

I'm really happy I went through The Humanity Exchange to facilitate my volunteer experience abroad. I didn't want to go through a program that tailored the experience to a tee, so that you feel like you are travelling in a western bubble, where everything is provided for, and your schedule is decided beforehand. Because humanity exchange has exchange managers in all the countries they work in, and these are those who coordinate your experience, you feel that you are truly more independent and in control of your work. Furthermore, you are interacting with people in the country rather than from abroad to decide what you will be doing, etc. Tips for other volunteers include: -Try to get in touch with your NGO before you go so you know what you'll be doing. -Go on as many trips as possible. -Make a blog and raise money -Take the language lessons. The most helpful aspect of my relationship with my host family was Solange's knowledge and experience with AIDS work associations, poverty etc., which really gave me the ability to have great discussions every night and learn a tremendous amount about political infrastructures, cultural obstacles, etc. The level of freedom I had, the close proximity I had to the people I was working with, and the amount I learned caused the experience to exceed my expectations.

Both the experience and the project outcome with The Humanity Exchange exceeded my expectations - in so many ways! I wanted a project that I could take the reins of (along with my partner) and develop from the ground up. This experience incorporated every aspect of my interest in international nutrition assistance: providing intercultural counseling, evaluating new nutrient/food profiles, conducting health assessments, teaching food safety and sanitation, and enhancing traditional recipes in a culturally sensitive way. The Humanity Exchange did a fantastic job of creating a volunteer opportunity that could be used as a model for future nutrition projects in other areas. This was such an incredible learning experience for me in planning my own volunteer organization for registered dietitians. I will always recommend The Humanity Exchange to my friends and colleagues interested in volunteer experiences abroad.

In many ways my experience exceeded what I expected in respect of living in Cameroon. Experiencing a new way of life, new cultural forms and learning to understand the way of life was fascinating. My experience with The Humanity Exchange was that they are a reliable, great company to work with. THEX solved any issues I had while away in Cameroon. A big issue I had was resolved within 24 hours of it occuring and was dealt with in a professional and suitable manner. This is a reliable company to go through. Yes, I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange to others.

My experience in Benin was life changing. Very difficult at some times, but very rewarding all the same. I learned and grew a lot as a person and the people that I met and grew to love really made my trip. My language teacher is an incredible man and I really did learn French, its not perfect of course, but I would say I am at an advanced level now. Through all the highs and lows, I have to say that this trip really opened my eyes and has made me see that i want to continue doing work like this in some way or another for the rest of my life. The children at the orphanage are my family now and I adore them and I know I will be coming back to see them one day very soon. Undergoing this trip was definitely the best decision I've ever made. My experience exceeded my expectations because I really did not know what to expect prior to my arrival in Benin. I never would have imagined I would have made as many friends and really fell in love with the children I was working with. I really had an amazing experience, one that I will always cherish. Yes, I would recommend the Humanity Exchange. It is a great program and I was very happy with everything it provided. I like how the volunteers are very independent but always have someone there for them in case of any emergency. I grew up a lot and for the first time in my life I was completely independent and self reliant.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Africa and felt that the Humanity Exchange was great all around. I met many great people in Cameroon and am glad that my host organization was so accommodating. The Humanity Exchange was very professional through every stage of my trip. My experience with the Humanity Exchange exceeded expectations. Everything just worked out great for me and I felt that the whole experience went very smoothly. I believe that it was a worthwhile experience and that the professionalism exhibited by the Humanity Exchange allowed volunteers to stay safe and enjoy their time abroad.

At the time I was applying for The Humanity Exchange's Medical Team to Ghana, I had just finished four years of University at the University of Victoria, in Canada. I had been accepted to medical school starting in the September after our August trip, so really had no medical experience. I did not know what to expect when I left, though I had heard stories of people going away to under-developed countries and being in dangerous situations, or getting ill, or seeing such traumatic things that it was hard to recover from it. What I definitely did not expect was to have such a positive, life-changing trip. I remember starting our first day in this tiny village where most of the residents had never been a doctor in their entire lives. Before we had even arrived, not to mention unpacked all of the supplies, there was already a line. Every day after this I think the line started off bigger and bigger. It was then that I realized the impact we would be making. From that morning on it was a complete blur. The first day was intense, as we were trying to find a balance between the paces of each room. We had a triage section, where the few of the less experienced individuals, including myself, took a quick history, and some vitals (height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, etc.), in order to make it easier and quicker for when the doctors and nurses would see the patients. We then had a public health education room, which all of us quickly realized the importance of, as many diseases are misunderstood in such rural areas. The patients then moved on to see the doctors, nurses, and more advanced medical students. A friend who had completed two years of med school actually allowed me to sit in on his examinations one afternoon. This was such an amazing experience for me. Instead of feeling out of place there among the other volunteers, I felt that everyone was helping eachother learn. It was such an amazing collaberative environment. Finally, we had a pharmacy where we gave out the medical supplies that The Humanity Exchange was able to bring over from Canada. To say this part was chaotic would be an understatement. Because many of the people visiting the clinic didn't speak english, we had to rely on translators to give specific instructions, and many individuals had multiple illnesses, with multiple medications. This really forced us to be patient and ensure that we were communicating effectively, as giving incomplete instructions could potentially be fatal. Though the working days were long and exhausting, everyone always had a smile on the bus ride home. We even did karaoke one night on the bus! Not only did we get to work with such an amazing team, but we also got to experience what life must be like for people living in rural Ghana. Overall, this experience was life changing. It enhanced the passion I already had for medicine. However, you do not need to me a medical expert to have an amazing time on this trip. In fact, our public health educator had probably the biggest impact for a single person, purely because of her enthusiasm and charisma. I was told that Ghana is 'beginner's Africa', as in it was a perfect place for someone to visit Africa who had never been before.While I was there, I always felt safe, we got to see amazing beaches, the national rainforest, and local villages, where the girls even had traditional dresses made! My favourite part of the trip, though, was probably getting to play soccer or football with the children as we were packing up at the end of the day. Overall I would recommend this trip to ANYONE who wants to do something different, have fun, make amazing new friends, and help hundreds of people. I often look through my photos from the trip, and think about all of the amazing people I met, both with The Humanity Exchange, and locals.

It was many early mornings and late nights but totally worth the trip. The people you meet and and the things you see are the types of connections you will never forget. I made very good friends in a short period. There was one guy on the trip who got very ill, (don't worry wouldn't happen to you) and couldn't keep anything down, we were good buddies by then so when the docs asked to look through his....you know, vomit to make sure he had gotten down his meds I did. Trust me I won't forget that. Anyways, I could go on and on about how great it was with the beautiful beaches, landscape, the awesome culture and people not, to mention the people who organize everything..that's you Allie! You're amazing and I don't know how you do it all. I can't wait to do it again and recommend it to anyone who wants to have an adventure they won't forget.

My Exchange Manager was able to assist me in choosing the correct placement. I was very impressed with Positivos, a partner of The Humanity Exchange, as a whole. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The children seemed to be very well looked after. I was impressed with what Positivos have achieved. The house is was always clean and tidy and I was impressed with the amount of staff available for them and that the staff also work closely with the local hospitals psychology department and they are able to provide education for the children. I also felt that The Humanity Exchange were very accommodating to my individual circumstances.

This was indeed a beautiful experience. As a native of Colombia it was a great opportunity to learn about my country in all its lights, the positive, the negative and the beautiful. It was great to be able to write about it and document the experience as I went along; I encourage people to write a blog, it makes the experience so much better. Knowing that I had the support of an organization really helped. It was comforting to know that volunteer opportunity had already been researched.I would recommend The Humanity Exchange to others as its a beautiful opportunity and a lot of fun, working with kids is beautiful in itself. My expectations were met and The Humanity exchange was very organized. It was great to find an organization that catered to my needs as a volunteer.

Think you are onto a winner here, even if you don't know it. I'm talking of course about the language program. While the majority will choose to go to France for French or England to Learn English because of the status, there are the 'east village' brigade that prefer learning French in Afrika or English in Trinidad. This tiny minority can now find out how to do this via the net and Humanity Exchange.

I would recommend The Humanity Exchange to others. Everything is very well organized and sorted out for you. There is nothing to worry about, but there is still flexibility to bring your own touch to the project if you so wish.I have just returned home from 2 weeks volunteering in Ghana with the Humanity Exchange. My official role was as an orphanage assistant, but I also taught a class of kindergarten children, and ran arts and crafts activities for the children at a nearby refugee camp. This was my second trip to Ghana with the Humanity Exchange, and everything went brilliantly. Because this was my second trip, I knew where I wanted to focus my efforts in the short time I had available. The Humanity Exchange really supported me in this, and helped to form links with the refugee camp so that we could set to work there. There was still work to do to ensure we were able to carry out the activities we had planned, but having Endeavor and the Humanity Exchange as support was great. This experience exceeded my expectations. It was incredible to go back and see the children again. It was also brilliant to get to work in the refugee camp, which was something I would have liked to have had time for before but wasn't feasible with the commitments we already had. By going back to the same place but with a slightly different focus to the trip I felt challenged but loved every minute!

After thoroughly researching volunteer abroad organizations I chose The Humanity Exchange and couldn't be happier with the choice I made. They provide value for the amount. Accommodations were kept spectacularly clean. I felt safe and my Exchange Manager was always available when I had questions. Ultimately, I recommend THEX not just because of value and an outstanding experience, but because they were one of the few organizations that was willing to work with my university. Their head office communicated with my practicum advisor, completed all paperwork, and provided me with a recommendation letter. They were professional and clearly experienced when it came to dealing with universities. So if you want to get course credit at your university for your volunteer program abroad, I recommend The Humanity Exchange.

The Humanity Exchange did a great job of organizing my placement and accommodation before I arrived, meaning that there was no stress. My in-country coordinator was utterly brilliant - helping me out, showing me around and introducing me to some really cool people. My tips for future volunteers would be try not to have any expectations and make the most of every second because no matter how long you stay, you will leave wishing you'd had longer! I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange because it was a cost effective, hassle-free way of organizing a placement abroad with a non-profit organization, as well as accommodation. Plus, the THEX team were great. Overall, my experience in Colombia was fantastic and THEX was great. Thank you!!

My experience through Humanity Exchange in Medellin, Colombia was unforgettable. It provided me with the tools and opportunity to help me realize my potential in journalism. After three months in the program, I did not want to leave. I fell completely in love with the country and its people. Get ready for the ride of your life. I had no worries about housing, food nor safety. Expect nothing and you will receive everything. Prior to travel I had safety concerns as the country I was going to had received an unwarranted negative press through mainstream media. After a few hours, all concerns were alleviated. I expected the unexpected and that is exactly what I received. I think it would be foolish to expect anything more or less when travelling to a destination that is completely foreign to the individual. I expected things to be different; they were; and that was perfect for me. I would recommend this program. It sets you up with everything you need to get started from transportation, housing, meals and a placement in whatever field you pursue that the program has to offer.

My experience in Ghana was life changing. I learned more than I taught and was given far more than I gave. I had the opportunity to meet people who were rich in love, generosity and community despite being poor by our world's standards. The people in Ghana are some of the most generous and honest people I have ever met and it was a privilege to spend time serving them in the best way I knew how. I was given the opportunity to practise and learn medicine in a challenging environment where resources were limited. I had the joy of connecting with the people of Ghana in a very personal way as their medical provider. I enjoyed the challenge of overcoming the language and resource barriers to provide care, even if it just meant a listening ear and the only physical exam they may receive in their life. As a medical student hoping to do further international work I have gained priceless experience and knowledge which will guide my further endeavors. It was also an absolute joy to work amongst a team who all had a heart to serve the people of Ghana. I was so encouraged by the level of support and friendship our team had for one another. I made life long friendships on this trip and for that I have gained a great gift. Lastly, I was absolutely inspired by the beautiful culture of Ghana and the joy of people who have so very little. We have a lot to learn from people around the world. My experience exceeded my expectations. I never imagined enjoying the culture and differences in Ghana so much. I enjoyed getting to know the people I met in Ghana more than I can express in words. I enjoyed caring for children who had more joy than I have ever seen. I also never expected to meet such amazing friends on our team. I felt so honoured to be a part of a group of people who looked out for each other so much. I came on this trip to Ghana after a long stressful third year of medical school feeling somewhat tired and with very little exectations and came home feeling refreshed, energized and exciting about international medicine. I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange. I felt this organization made possible the opportunity to reach out and help others in a practical way and at the same time made possible the opportunity for its volunteers to learn and grow themselves. The trip was very organized and well put together. The exchange managers were absolutely outstanding. They did an amazing job of keeping the team organized and coordinating details while on the trip. They had genuine care for how the team members were doing. I was very impressed with what a great job the leadership team did with dealing with issues that arose. It was an excellent leadership team! I thought the lodging was excellent.

I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange and these are the four main reasons why: 1. Safe, clean, and actually beautiful accommodation 2. The amount of relevant, clinic experience you can get as a med student 3. The ability to participate with no medical or volunteer experience, and still be able to make a difference, have things to do that contribute hugely to the team, and make your trip feel worth-while 4. Not a lot of prep work, thanks to the admin organizational side of things! I found everything to be so well organized, that all I had to do was be at the bus when told to be, and the rest would run smoothly. Of course, taking into consideration that all things may not happen on the same time schedule, being on Ghana Maybe Time. Our accommodations were better than I would have hoped for and the way the clinics were set out seemed to have been well thought-out. Thanks for making this an easy, stress-free experience for me! My experience exceeded my expectation. I didn't even know if we'd have running water. I was also pleasantly surprised at how hands-on I was able to be in the clinic. The fact that we were allowed (and actually encouraged) to try different areas in the clinic made things very interesting and kept things on a steep but beneficial learning curve.

Absolutely, I would recommend The Humanity Exchange to others. I appreciated the director, Allison, the most. She is driven, passionate and absolutely down to earth. I felt that I was a part of a program that really wanted to make a difference and it stems from her. I also appreciated the price. Other programs ask for too much money to volunteer. Why not simply write a cheque? The Humanity Exchange is affordable and I knew that the money I paid would be spent according to the needs of the program. It is an excellent, trustworthy program and one that I will recommend to all my friends and family. I absolutely appreciated my work experience with The Humanity Exchange. They did an incredible job of organizing everything from our accommodation and transportation to our lunches and expeditions. The volunteer work itself was inspiring and I felt that I was more than comfortable to be working in the Ghanian communities that we were involved with. I am grateful to have been able to work my first week as a camp coordinator and my second and third week as a medical team volunteer because I was able to gain a well rounded perspective of some of the local communities. The Humanity Exchange was flexible in terms of making sure that everything was well taken care of. I have no doubt that anyone would appreciate this experience as much as I have. Thank you again. As a first time traveler to Ghana and Africa alike, I was very unsure of what to prepare myself for. I was curious as to what the level of poverty would be and whether it would be safe to travel afterward. These are probably typical concerns that cross everyone's mind before going. What I did learn though, it that Ghanians are the most embracing and incredibly kind people. Although many Ghanians need the help we provide, I was excited to see that most are empowered and patriotic. Also, they are very welcoming. In that sense, my expectations were exceeded because I felt like I belonged in Ghana instead of feeling like a foreigner. In final, my original uncertainty has been transformed into curiosity. I have a new appreciation for Africa that stems from Ghana and I am planning to return at my next opportunity.

Volunteering with the Humanity Exchange in rural Ghana was an incredible experience that exceeded my expectations - I met some incredible people and have memories I will never forget! I felt we were well taken care of from a safety standpoint - we had a driver to transport us from the hotel to each village and a safe place to stay every night. The experience certainly exceeded my expectations. Allison ensured our safety and put a lot of effort into coordinating everyone's flights, meals, rooms, location of the clinics etc. Overall, the clinics ran very smoothly. I would absolutely recommend The Humanity Exchange to others! The Humanity Exchange truly makes a difference and you can be guaranteed the money you put into the trip will be well spent.

Immediately, the Humanity Exchange took steps to prepare us for the experience ahead in Ghana. The approximate itinerary was posted on the website and an update emailed to us a few days before departure. We were assisted in obtaining our Ghanaian visa. After arriving in Ghana, Allison was there to greet us and had our accommodations prepared for us throughout the trip, both in Accra and Axim. When delays and deviations in our plans inevitably occurred, the whole team was involved in the decision making process. From beginning to end, there was a sense of camaraderie endowed by Allison, Travis and Faydra, the leaders of the trip. Medically, given the resources we had, the Med Team maximized its effectiveness through its design and efficiency. We saw as many patients as we could while providing the highest level of care possible. As a physician, I rarely felt hurried to make a hasty clinical decision due to the burden of seeing the next patient. Everyone on the team worked independently but in rhythm with everyone else to ensure patients received the appropriate treatment at the end of the day. To meet and work with the other outstanding volunteers was certainly a highlight of the trip. The experience exceeded my expectations, mainly due to other volunteers. I knew there would be frustrations with the medical side but I was pleasantly surprised to find so many things in common with the other volunteers. We came together very quickly and the last two days, without clinic, were like a vacation with old friends. I've already recommended the Humanity Exchange to someone else.

I have just returned from the most amazing 6 weeks spent in Ghana, a month of which was volunteering for The Humanity Exchange. My project involved teaching kindergarten children (about 50 of them!) in the day, and looking after and playing with children in an orphanage after school and at the weekends. I loved every minute of it, and I never could have imagined how difficult it would be to leave the kids at the end of our time with them! The teaching is challenging, but I stuck to simple things like alphabet games, simple vocab and songs, and you really do start to notice them picking up new words and understanding more of what you are saying. English is not their first language, but from kindergarten all lessons are taught in English. At the orphanage we mainly just played with the kids- sports, arts and crafts, clapping games, they showed us special places we never would have visited without them (the! river in the bush behind the school, a secluded village where the river flows into the ocean...). They were amazing - always full of energy, wanting to play, sing songs, anything! What made this experience so amazing was that everything went so smoothly. There were no admin problems, no faffing - just straight into the project and spending time with the kids! I really can't fault the Humanity Exchange in their organisation at all - everything went perfectly. I have spent time volunteering with other organisations in other countries and had far from perfect experiences, and really vouch for how important it is that everything is organized and dealt with properly. We had a brilliant network of in country support, and if anything had gone wrong I am sure that it would have been dealt with efficiently (as far as Ghanaian culture allows of course!) and would have been overcome without any trouble whatsoever. The Humanity Exchange provides a volunteering experience in which you are really supported and looked after, but at the same time have the freedom to make decisions about what you yourself can give and do for the project. We were involved in every part of school and orphanage life - from making fliers and a website for the school and orphanage, to organizing a day trip to the beach for the orphans. Each volunteer has the opportunity to do something unique and brilliant for the kids, and I would wholeheartedly recommend The Humanity Exchange as an organisation to travel and volunteer with; I can't wait to go back! This experience exceeded my expectations. The program went so smoothly I couldn't have asked for anything better - the partnership with Adamus was excellent, and we always felt very looked after and in safe hands. The Pastors and the Headmaster at the school involved us meaningfully in the running of the school, and allowed us to input into the program as fully as possible in a short period of time. I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange. Everything from pre-trip planning to in country support was excellent! I have travelled with other organisations which have had terrible in country support making you feel quite unsafe and uncomfortable. The Humanity Exchange was nothing like this, and I hope lots more people can have an amazing experience as I did! During pre-departure, all of my emails were replied to really promptly and in a friendly manner, with all the questions answered fully. Also it was really nice and personal to be called up to ask about the program. Shows THEX care about their volunteers and the programs they are working on. Airport pick up by Adamus was excellent. At the beginning of our time in Esiama Allison was really helpful in making sure everything went smoothly, getting our sim cards, taking us to site etc. After the first few days we had a good balance between having the support there if we needed it, and being left to get on with our programs in our own ways. Even after we left the project and were travelling, Allison, and Ama and Adrianna at Adamus, were really helpful in ensuring we got the info and help we needed! Always a good choice of dinner, and something continental! The chef was lovely - and once he realised we couldn't manage the spicy food always told us what we would and wouldn't like! Rooms were always very clean, and security guards all around the mess made us feel safe and secure at all times. The staff at the school and orphanage were really welcoming for the duration of our program. We were given several orientations by different people relating to different aspects of the project, and really felt like we were being welcomed into the project. My class teacher was really lovely, and always praised and thanked me for everything I had done that day. Throughout the project though everyone was really lovely and appreciated our contributions to the school and the orphanage.

My experience with The Humanity Exchange was amazing. I know this may sound cliche, but the Humanity Exchange helped me live out my dream! It was everything I imagined and a lot more. Every step of the way both before and during my trip, Allison was very reassuring and made me feel very supported. At the same time, I really liked how she fostered independence amongst the volunteers. It was a perfect balance of support, and encouragement. The program at the Rock of Ages school ran very smoothly. I liked the flexibility of options in working at Rock of Ages. The staff there were incredibly friendly and just as helpful. They were quick to make me and Beatrice, the other volunteer, part of their team. The children were a pleasure to work with, and I left asking myself when I could come back! My experience completely exceeded my expectations. The housing accomodations were great. It was very reassuring knowing there were new water bottles in our rooms every day. It was also very convenient having laundry service for those who relied on it daily. The food selection was great as well, and everyone in the kitchen was beyond friendly. The transportation service very much exceeded my expectations, and I was very pleased with the service. All the drivers were so nice and accomodated to us at all times! I would and will be recommending this program to everyone I know. I simply loved it, and think about it every day now that I am back. Why? Because the trip touched my life in such a way that I'll never forget it. It made my first time to Ghana so comfortable, safe and complete! Allison is amazing, and so on top of everything. Her calm demeanor was very reassuring for those volunteers who felt anxious or stressed at all. She always made everyone's concerns feel heard, and always dealt with all issues in a timely matter; no matter how small or large, she always reassured the volunteers that the task at hand will be done! Allison is truly one of a kind. She's organized, friendly, efficient, productive, positive-everything an exchange manager needs to be! Pre-departure communication and meals in-country were excellent. My school was very welcoming and kind!! I miss the school already!

Had a great time. Amazing people to work with and felt very safe and more than accomodated in the process. This trip met my expectations. I was able to help hundreds of people in a short time span and the team members were a pleasure to work with. I would recommend THEX because you can learn about new cultures while making a difference. Overall I thought it was very well organized and had a great time!

The best thing about the THEX is that they really care about both the volunteers and the communities that are being served. I believe that that is lost with a lot of other organizations. As a volunteer, you receive so much support from the time you first contact THEX till after you have returned home. THEX really tries to ensure that both the volunteer and the community get the most possible out of the experience. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a long assignment because volunteering with THEX is affordable and Allison and the in-country organizations are tremendously helpful and supportive.

I wanted to spend my summer volunteering in a French-speaking country close to home (Nigeria), so one of my first attractions to The Humanity Exchange was the opportunity to volunteer in either Cameroon or Benin. But other factors led me to actually choose to volunteer with THEX, and up to now, after my volunteer experience, I know I made a good choice. All of the correspondences I had with THEX prior to my arrival in Benin were well organized and informative. I always got a prompt response to questions I had. Arriving in Benin was relatively easy for me and I was picked up from the bus station by the Exchange manager. The first few days were spent getting used to, and integrating into my new environment. I started working daily at a local NGO some days after my arrival. I particularly liked the NGO I was paired up with as I got to work on some interesting projects relating to different fields and groups of people. The volunteer house was very comfortable. It was well equipped with furniture and materials that made living in the house very homey. The location of the house too was very convenient as it made it easy to move around the town and was easy for taxi moto drivers (the most common means of transportation in Ouidah) to find. Thankfully, I spent my time in Benin with a group of very amiable volunteers and we all became friends through spending time at the house, cooking together, spending the weekends travelling in and around Ouidah, and things of that sort. I also took a month of French classes while in Ouidah, which was well educative and which helped me become more confident in my French which I had to use to communicate for the two months that I spent in Benin. I also picked up some basic words in Fon, the local language. In a nutshell, I really enjoyed the time I spent in Ouidah, Benin. Even though it was literally a three hour bus ride from home, I had an experience like nothing I had ever had. I learnt a lot from the short time I spent there; and I appreciate the opportunity I had to be able to leave an impact in a very deserving place while also learning so much from there too. I can definitely say that my expectations in terms of accommodation and convenience were definitely met. I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange to others because I think it is a well-organized program with opportunities for each individual depending on their capacity to have an unmatched experience working with less privileged people.

I signed up for the role of 'HIV/AIDS Peer Health Educator', and when I arrived in Benin, I was placed with a local NGO called IMPACT. I really appreciated my placement, because the people at my NGO were professional, goal-oriented, and organized. They are a successful NGO which has made a lot of progress in Ouidah/southern Benin, partly due to the fact that all of the members are Beninese and have a deep, intuitive understanding of social problems in their country. I really liked working there because they were such nice people and always made sure to keep us busy, either by challenging our French comprehension/grammar, engaging us in critical conversation about the problems we were working against, or about social work/development in theory vs. practice, etc. I did four main things there this summer: translation of documents and grant applications between French and English; visit womens' associations in different quartiers/villages for VIH/SIDA education sessions; assist/observe the VIH/SIDA formations; write a grant to USADF for a group of women beekeepers. Overall, I loved the diversity of my program. It did not involve too much science/medicine but I was actually okay with that, since I learned about public health from an education perspective. The experience was between meeting and exceeding my expectations. I had a great time, I learned a lot and made good friends. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good, educational and cultural experience during the summer. I was not sure what to expect before I left, so that is why I am not sure if it exceeded. Before I left Allison answered all my emails (and I had a lot) promptly and with detail. She was extremely friendly and supportive. I really liked Jules, my Exchange Manager: he had a good sense of humor, he was pretty much friendly, we always had good conversations, and he was helpful. He was really social and made a great effort to make sure that we were having fun. I loved Rouqiyya, the lady who cleaned, cooked, and did laundry for us. She had a great work ethic, was always friendly, and a fabulous cook. She always greeted each one of us with a smile. It was nice having a local woman friend there. I loved my host organization. I hope to stay in touch with them. My french improved all due to them.

I would recommend The Humanity Exchange because of the variety of programs and how simple and outlined the process was. I loved the program director in Cameroon and felt comfortable asking questions. It was a very good experience for me as a young adult. I went to Cameroon for a few weeks to work in an orphanage. I loved the kids at the orphanage and I felt that the program was very well coordinated. I always felt like I had someone to ask questions to and go to if I needed help. The experience met my expectations. I loved the orphanage and always felt very comfortable there. Also, I loved the French lessons and my professor for those.

Overall the experience exceeded my expectations. Living and volunteering in Cameroon was such an exciting experience. There was never a dull moment in Douala, and the Cameroonian children I was able to teach were the highlight of my day. It was a great way to spend my summer. I think communication with the Canadian office is one of the biggest strengths of THEX, I always got a quick and thorough response that was very helpful. I think my host organization was a great place to work; they tried their best to accommodate to our skills and the director and her family were wonderful to spend time with. I loved my language teacher Adelle, she was one of my favorite Cameroonians. I would recommend The Humanity Exchange, everything went smoothly and I felt well taken care of.

I had a great 2 week trip to Ghana. I wouldn't change a thing about it! Everyone was so helpful and inviting. Tips I would offer to future volunteers would be to go into your trip with an open mind, make the most out of your time there by going into the community, and try to learn the local language and have an understanding of their culture. I tell everyone I talk to that I had an amazing experience and that I wouldn't change anything about my trip. I have been recommending The Humanity exchange to them all! I think because of Allison my trip was that much better. She took the time to teach me about the country, make me feel comfortable, and always answered my questions. She was so great! I am very thankful she was a part of my trip, I will think of her warmly when I remember my African adventure.

When I arrived in Benin my French was completely inadequate--much worse than I had hoped. Jules, the exchange manager was on top of EVERYTHING, from picking me up at the bus stop in Cotonou, to getting me settled in with cash in hand, etc. Awesome! The NGO I worked with, IMPACT ONG, was an amazing outfit, involved in many different kinds of projects, ranging from microfinance to health education. The guys at IMPACT were fantastic to work with, and allowed a great deal of flexibility in our work. I can't say enough about their professionalism, friendliness, and willingness to help their volunteers along the way. Great experience all around, and my french improved substantially thanks to everyday practice and regular classes with Prince. This experience met my expectations, and in some ways exceeded it. I was amazed by the professionalism of everyone I worked with. I would recommend The Humanity Exchange; it is a great way to find yourself living in a foreign country in a safe and under control situation, as well as with a number of local contacts and work partners, with the freedom and opportunity to pursue your own goals.

Myself and Daniel decided with quite short notice that we wanted to go to Cameroon. Despite this THEX managed to organise everything efficiently and rapidly to enable our volunteer programme to begin on the dates we wanted. Yes, I would recommend The Humanity Exchange; I enjoyed the homestay, the experience as a whole and our exchange managers were helpful. Allison was always available if needed and prompt in replying. Both exchange managers were helpful and addressed any problems we had. They were great at helping you settle in or just to have a drink and relax with! We really loved our homestay and family. They always made sure we had everything we needed. We liked our host organisation, they were extremely helpful with most.

Being able to go to the school and help out with the children was great and extremely rewarding. I would recommend The Humanity Exchange because it really is a great opportunity to help out and improve peoples lives and you can see the progress first hand. I think it is great opportunity to learn about a new culture also and improve on your language skills.

I respect how The Humanity Exchange works with local leaders in order to facilitate an impactful exchange experience. This type of relationship helps bring volunteers to the forefront of many of the challenges and issues facing the communities in which they are placed. Furthermore, it allows for interested volunteers to truly accomplish a wide variety of locally identified tasks within a relatively short time frame.I think it certainly exceeded my expectations - I managed to accomplish a fair bit. Certainly I would and have recommend The Humanity Exchange. Mostly because it allows for an exchange experience where a lot of time and effort is dedicated to making it impactful and meeting local needs. [It has what I would describe as a much diminished neo-colonial impact as compared to other programs.

I very much enjoyed the experience in Cameroon and felt that by living with a host family and thus being fully emersed in the culture, I learnt a lot more about the country. I was very well looked after before and during my volunteering experience by co-ordinators and host families who had been very well chosen by Humanity Exchange. Knowing I had people nearby who I could trust made the 2 months enjoyable and less stressful. The people at the centre where I volunteered were equally kind and sincere. By choosing a place in great need and where the people were appreciative of our efforts, Humanity Exchange helped me gain a great satisfaction and a sense of a real purpose through the work I was doing. My experience definitely met my expectations in terms of cultural and social discovery, as well as in terms of successful humanitarian work and new memorable experiences I would absolutely recommend The Humanity Exchange. It is a well-run, affordable organisation that offers the opportunity to help less fortunate people, travel around beautiful countries, meet new people, and return home with very unique and memorable experiences.

I went to Cameroon for 2 months and worked in an orphanage. It was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it :). My experience exceeded my expectations. It was a great experience. The humanity exchange was great, and I would recommend this program!

Ultimately I loved learning about another culture and living overseas, even though it was only for a short time. I have reccommended The Humanity Exchange to others. My opinion of the organisation overall is very favourable, I believe them to be helpful, well organised, enthusiastic and engaging in worthwhile work.

I participated in The Humanity Exchange's one week volunteer/adventure trip to Bucerias, Mexico. It was an amazing experince filled with a mixture of fun and helping. For volunteering we did a mixture of helping with a community garden, a beach clean up with local children and helping out in an orphanage type organization. For our adventure activities we went on 3 trips which included snorkelling, kayaking, ziplining and a Unimog trip. It was a trip I will never forget. The locals, the community and the children are things that I will never forget. International volunteering is great for who you are helping, yourself and everyone else involved knowing you are making a positive impact no matter how big or small.

The experience offered in Medellin by the Humanity Exchange was both rewarding personally, educationally, and mentally. It was in an amazing city with a wonderful group of people. They were flexible to my schedule and always patient with my basic working knowledge of Spanish. The place I stayed was excellent, and the landlady was always ensuring that not only I ate but that I kept safe and was finding my trip to be excellent. She also made sure I practiced my Spanish and that any issues were resolved (but there were none!) Overall, I did enjoy my trip. My landlady, Senora Marlena (last name might be wrong) was amazing to me, the meals were always there and she was always concerned about my well being, and I never really went wanting for anything. She also allowed my friends to visit whenever they could which I really appreciated since they were helping me with adjusting and with my Spanish. This lady is amazing, one of the best 'land lady' situations I've experienced in my entire life, and I recommend her to anyone staying with the Humanity Exchange. She is was definitely a huge asset to me during my stay even though my Spanish was minor when I began. The lady I lived with was AMAZING. She ended up being more like an aunt than a land lady. Would return to stay with her anytime should I be there again. I was fully briefed about basic concerns by Allison prior to leaving on both Health and Safety concerns. Allison was amazing. I had several concerns prior to leaving but she was very very supportive and assistive throughout my pre-departure period, during, and after. Another party, my landlady, also made sure that I did not walk outside of the complex area at night alone or unless with a group. I found her to be very caring in this matter and over all, many of the people I met shared a similar concern. Locals often would remind myself or a friend to shoulder our bags properly or where was not safe to walk at certain times. The experience met my expectations greatly. I do plan on returning in August 2011 for a few weeks, and I am willing to continue on with volunteering while in Canada. Thank-you for the great experience that your agency has assisted in obtaining. It is greatly appreciated. I do and have recommended the Humanity Exchange to others. It was a great volunteer-vacation experience and I plan on trying another location or returning to Colombia in the near future.

Overall, my Mexico trip was amazing. It's where I was supposed to be. Everyone at PEACE was wonderful. They were really excited about the project I was doing and I felt very supported and welcomed. As you know, Nicole is the greatest. She is warm and enthusiastic and I'm lucky to have the chance to have met and worked with her. I feel like I'm starting to gush, but I was really welcomed by the community there both personally and professionally and it was a rewarding and wonderful experience. The prep work that I had a chance to do with Nicole from Canada was really helpful. It gave me a chance to get organized over here and concentrate on specific ideas. I appreciate the work that the head office did as well, making sure that I had a great program to work with. I loved the flexibility of my volunteer schedule, the enthusiasm of the Manos Unidas coordinator Ana, the surfing lesson I took, and the friends I made. I would love to continue collaborating with PEACE to see if we can cook up another project in the future. Thank you for bringing me to Mexico. I would, and have, recommend Humanity Exchange to others.

I think the overall experience was enjoyable. I would like to do another one of these in the future. I would like to engage the youth in my organization at home in a positive overseas program like this.

I volunteered at an orphanage in Cameroon with The Humanity Exchange for one month. If I could sum up my review of their volunteer abroad program, it would be: Allison in head office helped me A LOT before I left; in total must have spent hours on the phone. Akobe was pretty cool. She's the exchange manager there. Her and her husband were incredibly hospitable. In retrospect, this aspect really helped me to fit in despite my obvious differences from the local culture (white/Anglophone). I found it very difficult not being able to speak French, but, this is the whole reason I went there! The French teacher I had was super helpful in practical application. Once I covered the basics, we started adventuring. I used my French in the city with her guidance in the beginning, and with the kids at the orphanage throughout my trip. Definitely progressed more than I thought I would in a month. I also made an effort not to speak English with the other volunteers that were there at the time, and I think that helped. On learning French, I'd say a lot of it comes down to what you put into it, I guess that's the same with anything. Ppl there spoke Douala and French, I didn't find this a problem, but I really don't know anything about Senegal. The work itself was amazing. I was worried about going all the way there, and then feeling useless, but actually ended up being busy the whole time (orphanage staff were patient with my language learning). I fell in love with the kids and know I will be back. Exceeded my expectations! Overall, I would definitely recommend The Humanity Exchange. They have a real focus on working in partnership with local communities and not importing projects so to speak. And this was a big part of the reason I went with them in the first place.