What inspired you to travel abroad?
I had a long summer ahead of me and I wanted an adventure (preferably a well-managed one; I'm not that bold!).
Why did you choose GoCamp?
I chose GoCamp because my university advertised it, and after looking into it, it seemed like a brilliant program to join.
What was your favorite part about Ukraine?
Without a doubt, my favourite part about Ukraine was the people—they're all very friendly and welcoming!
GoCamp on one of the many outings organized by the school!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made the experience extraordinary is that this was my first time volunteering abroad. I had a lot of expectations and GoCamp surpassed them all.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The members of the GoCamp team were brilliant! They were behind me every step of the way; if I had any questions or worries they were always just one short email or phone call away. They were incredibly resourceful and helpful, and they made sure I never felt alone no matter how far away from home I was.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I'd spent more time there, such as a week or two after the program finished to get to see more of the country.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I had two typical days abroad: the first happened during the first few days of the trip at the training camp. After breakfast, team members started the day off by having the volunteers sing the GoCamp song and do the GoCamp dance (imagine a circle of seventy-odd people trying to decide whose left and whose right we were supposed to be following—we wouldn't be winning any dance competitions but it was a fun and revitalizing way to wake us up!).
Next, we were separated into smaller groups for various activities: a first aid course, a crash course in Ukranian, or a song and dance course. There were a lot of games organized as examples and inspiration for what we could do with the kids, which made you feel like you were a kid again yourself, running around the playground and having the time of your life. There was always an activity organized in the evenings and after that we got to hang out in the lounge and get to know our fellow volunteers.
The second typical day happened after the training camp while at the school I was volunteering at. There was always a group of students waiting at the front door to take me to the school in case I got lost, and they would chat eagerly all the way there. The teachers led a few warm up dances and games, then everyone was packed into a bus to visit a nearby city, park, zoo, hiking trail, or museum...I have never been involved in so many activities in such a short period of time, and I loved every minute of it. My afternoons were free to do with as I pleased, and I was often invited over to students' houses to meet their families and be given food (there was a lot of that!).
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I enjoyed exploring the village I was staying in and meeting up with fellow volunteers who were in schools nearby.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was staying in a flat owned by one of the students' families, and it was a great place to relax after an eventful day.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
There's a lot of walking and exercise involved (although it never feels like exercise, it's far too fun) so be sure to wear the appropriate shoes. The weather is also something that surprised me—I'd looked it up before leaving but it still managed to be far warmer than I'd anticipated (I went in June and my school was in central Ukraine).
Would you recommend GoCamp to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend GoCamp. It was a wonderful experience, and I could not shut up about it for months after coming home. I made friends there that I still speak to today and memories that I will cherish forever.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
It's something that everyone has to experience at least once in their life (preferably far more often than that). The discovery of different cultures is amazing and eye-opening!
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Upon getting home, I felt very worldly, as though I'd grown more in those two weeks than I had in years. I also felt a restless need to get out there again, to experience more of the world and discover more of what it has to offer. That feeling has lessened since then, but it is still very much present.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means personal growth. It's a chance to better oneself, to learn more about the people and the world around us, and to lend a helping hand where we can.