Globalteer

This was an absolutely unreal experience! Was out in Peru for my university placement. Cusco was an amazing place and Globalteer is a great place to build working experience! Can’t recommend to anyone enough!

My Globalteer experience in Peru has been wonderful and I totally recommend anyone who wants to make a difference volunteering in any of the projects. Everyone I have met is kind, lovely, welcoming, and really dedicated to the work, always trying to achieve the best for the kids and for the animals. Particularly, my work is as an NGO Assistant in the Picaflor House, an after-school program for poor and vulnerable children, and I could not be more positively impacted. The project really makes a difference in the life of kids, giving them the support they need on their learning and also providing many leisure through art classes, sports etc. All of the kids love Picaflor and consider it a fun, safe and happy environment.

I loved volunteering at the Dog's Shelter, you can see that the staff there love the dogs and put their needs first. It was so fun to play with them all, they're so cute and all just want to be loved! The volunteer house was great, I enjoyed meeting people from all around the world and everybody got along so well. There was a mixture of volunteers and Globalteer interns, so meeting the Globalteer staff was really nice too. Cusco is an amazing city, there is so much to do inside the city and in the surrounding rural areas. Great restaurants, bars, museums, shops, and there are so many companies offering day and multiple day trekking trips. The cost of living in Peru is super cheap, and with food and accommodation provided I only spent money on socialising and excursions. Machu Picchu was unreal and the Salkantay trek is a must do!

I loved the time I was able to spend with Magali (project founder and owner) and her animals. She’s incredibly passionate, and the animals were a joy to work with. I loved preparing their food and collecting leaves for the monkeys from the surrounding jungle. The accommodations were comfortable and the food was good, making the experience all the more enjoyable. I hope to return someday!

I really enjoyed working at the Peru Dog Project. Though some dogs arrive in bad condition or have suffered neglect/abuse, they’re still happy dogs at heart and a joy to work with. The owners of the project are passionate and well-organized, and it was a pleasure to spend 2 weeks with them and their dogs. The facilities/kennels are simple, but the dogs have lots of space to run around, and are overall healthy and happy.

I volunteered at the dog shelter in Cusco in 2017 at which time it was not possible to leave a review or if it was I was not aware of it. My experience was rather negative. I was very upset by the conditions and the way the dogs were treated to the extent that I had to stop going there after the second day. I informed the Globalteer office in Cusco of my concerns and they took quick action to address the most serious of these. After I returned home to the UK, I wrote an email to Globalteer detailing what I had seen and also setting out suggestions as to ways in which the dogs' welfare could be improved. I have been involved in animal welfare all my life and have volunteered at numerous shelters in various countries and therefore thought that my suggestions would be useful. As a Iawyer I am familiar with the UK standards. I received a response from the manager which I was not happy with as the statements contained therein did not correspond with what I had seen myself at the shelter, and direct questions were not answered. I asked him if my complaint could be forwarded to the trustees but did not hear anything from them. I then wrote a letter to each of the trustees at the company's registered address but did not receive any replies. I don’t know if my letters were forwarded. I then asked my member of parliament (MP) if he would write to the trustees for me. He kindly tried to do so but only received a reply from the manager. I am sorry to say that in this reply, which my MP sent to me, the manager stated that I was making things up about the shelter because I wanted to get a refund of the fee I paid to do the volunteer placement. It also contained the same kind of inaccurate statements that I had received myself. My MP then contacted the Animal Welfare Group in the UK Parliament about this issue, the chairman of which then wrote to Globalteer. Even he did not receive a response from the trustees but only from the manager.

I volunteered with Picaflor House in November 2018 for couple of weeks. I’ve never done an abroad volunteer program before so i had my doubts and hundreds of questions. Globalteer team put children into their heart and they direct you accordingly during your volunteer program. They answer each and every question with patience. The kids are amazing, teachers are so helpful and everything is so well organized that you don’t have anything to worry about. Cusco itself is a lovely city that I enjoyed a lot. I can’t stop talking & thinking about this amazing experience I had! Wish others would also find the opportunity and be as lucky as I am to have such an amazing experience! Thanks much for this great experience

I will always cherish the experience in Peru. I grew up on a farm and have been passionate about helping animals all my life. I particularly connect with dogs so wanted to volunteer to help dogs in need. I already have experience volunteering with dogs at home but wanted to take on the challenge of helping at a shelter overseas. The project did not disappoint, I was able to get stuck in straight away and the dogs were amazing, really friendly and loving despite their horrific backgrounds. The work was as expected but probably more rewarding than back home knowing these dog’s stories. Cusco is a wonderful place to volunteer, beautiful city and friendly people. The staff and other volunteers were great. I never felt alone in the hostel, great place to socialize. I would highly recommend!

I absolutely love all dogs so decided to combine my holiday with helping dogs in another country again. This project was amazing, the shelter owners were so passionate and there love for dogs was obvious. They worked so hard for many years to care for dogs in Cusco, I was inspired by their dedication! The problem for dogs in Peru is huge, attitudes are different and there are so many dogs on the streets. The support at this project was wonderful, Globalteer has an office in Cusco, so the staff were always there and available when I needed help. When I volunteered overseas before though a different organisation, their office was back home and support was via email so not so good as this project, especially as I have not really travelled independently.

I had a great time in Thailand and volunteering at the elephant sanctuary was definitely the highlight. It is such a beautiful place to spend time and the elephants have a great natural environment to live in. The elephants come first at the sanctuary which is correct in my view. I have seen other places where the elephants are used in tourism and they are treated badly. I was happy that I found this place after lots of research. Def recommend this one if you want to help out at a real elephant sanctuary.

I was a little overwhelmed at first after all the travelling but quickly got settled into the routine of feeding, watering and cleaning as well as other special tasks like creating enrichments for the animals. They have an amazing variety of animals at the project. I have always loved animals and seeing these different exotic species up close and knowing you are helping them was fantastic. The location was really nice, and it was a pleasure to work there. The staff were great, and I learnt a lot from them. I just wish the project had more funding, so they could expand their vital work.

I loved helping the monkeys, they were so interesting to work with. It was a pleasure to help the project in their mission to rescue and care for them. I want to work in conservation one day and this was a great insight into the plight of trafficked animals. I learnt a lot from the staff and other volunteers. The accommodation was pretty basic at the sanctuary but as expected. Argentina was great and I hope to return again to explore the country more.

This was my first visit to Cambodia and I really love the country and the people were so friendly. Mondulkiri was quieter than I thought, it was just a small town with a few bars and restaurants. That made the experience pretty cool though. The staff were great, and I hope I helped them out in their mission to promote the indigenous people of Cambodia. Such a great cause and I wish them all the best.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this project. The staff were great, and it was wonderful to be able to learn about Costa Rica from the locals working there. I was lucky to have such a great group of volunteers with me at the time, that made the whole experience awesome. The work was better than expected, we had lots to do and it all felt like we were making a positive difference. I love turtles so this was a dream come true for me. Seeing them up close and knowing that we helped the individuals as well as the species was a truly rewarding thing.

This was a great experience for me in Cambodia. It was my first time in Asia, so I was a little nervous. The project was really cool, it exceeded my expectations. It was really rewarding work and I hope I made a difference to the wonderful animals. Cambodia was a truly fantastic experience for me, I definitely want to travel more having experienced such a wonderful country.

Volunteering with Globalteer was an experience that will never leave me. The enthusiasm of the kids was infectious, they loved being at the Helping Hands project. I was so lucky to be with an amazing group of other volunteers from all around the world. We had so much fun together, both at the school and socially. Siem Reap is a wonderful little town, my kind of place, lots to do and laid back. I look forward to the day I go back, I know I will one day.

I volunteered at the Thailand rescue centre and absolutely loved it. The location is a really beautiful, chilled out place with a really friendly little village. There was a good balance of work and relaxing and exploring time and on days off there is quite a few places nearby to visit with nice beaches and some good bars to go out in! The centre is well organized and run. There is a really interesting range of animals there and new ones arriving all the time but most importantly with the rehab program for gibbons you feel like you're contributing to a program that is actually making a difference and has a real future. We went on a jungle trip to the national park which was about 30 mins drive away and so we got to see some of the species at the centre in the wild plus some wild elephants and loads of other animals. The rooms are pretty basic but fine and meals are great although you do have to like rice! I wished I could have stayed for longer.

I made some wonderful friends that I'm still in contact with, the children never failed to make me smile even when I missed home - and Peru is a beautiful country with such lovely people. The Project Manager was amazing, I had a few problems during my stay and she sorted them quickly for me. Globalteer’s Development Manager was also very helpful, preparing lessons and assisting in the lessons amongst other things. The Picaflor House Manager was great, always smiling and helping me with my Spanish. Generally, the other volunteers were like-minded people who I made friends with and remain in contact with. I would definitely recommend Globalteer to anyone. They were professional and supportive throughout. Their staff are lovely and really helped me out. I also like the fact that a lot of the money goes towards the project. You can see where your money goes and how much the kids appreciate the program. If you’re on the fence and not quite sure then take my advice and go for it. It was the best thing I've ever done. I met amazing people and had a great time and I felt I made a difference to the children's lives. Please tell my story to as many people as you can and get more volunteers to the projects!

I volunteered in Indonesia at the sanctuary rescuing and releasing wild animals. There was a huge variety of animals and birds at the sanctuary which made it a wonderful experience. The sanctuary itself was really big and was doing great work protecting many species. I was really impressed with the place and had a great time with other volunteers from around the world. I would definitely recommend people support this sanctuary to help the amazing animals.

This was a great program in the Amazon. I have always wanted to do conservation work and I was lucky to find this project. All the volunteers were great, like minded people and we had a great time together. The project is well established and we all felt useful, safe and had great fun.

I was a bit nervous about going to Cambodia, but I was not disappointed. The Globalteer team in Siem Reap were so nice and helpful to a novice traveller! The project and kids were amazing and I felt so humbled to volunteer at Helping Hands school. The staff are making a real difference to the kids lives. I was lucky to meet so many nice people in Siem Reap, from the staff to other volunteers.

I spent two weeks working on the project in Medellin through Globalteer, and had an amazing time. The children at the project are so friendly, welcoming and such good fun, despite coming from tough backgrounds. While my Spanish is fairly basic, I was able to communicate, make friends, and help the children with arts and crafts and English lessons. I also took them to the cinema and to the park, walked them to school and helped with meals and with tidying up. The staff at the project are also really friendly and doing an amazing job with the children. Elena, the Globalteer in-country co-ordinator, was really helpful (despite being unwell), and helped arrange everything, including my stay at a really nice hostel in El Poblado, Spanish lessons, transport to the project and even assistance with finding a dentist! Overall I had a fantastic time and would really love to return soon.

Volunteering to help animals is something I have always done at home but this was a big adventure for me to help animals in the amazon rainforest! I loved every minute. There was lots to do and it was so worthwhile helping the amazing animals at the sanctuary.

I guess we just take clean water for granted but in Cambodia, many people do not have access to clean drinking water. We made the water filters at the project and then distributed them to villages. The clean water project is really making a big difference, you can see the results of your work and the filters last for years. Had a great time in Siem Reap and made some great friends!

I had a wonderful time visiting the project near Cusco, Peru. The children are happy to be there, as is the staff and other volunteers. I was involved in English, arts, games, and kindergarten classes and felt that I truly made a difference to the children's learning experience. The lunch programme seems to be very popular and the kids were eager to see what was on the menu every day! Globalteer was very helpful with every aspect of my volunteer application and helped me settle into Cusco life. I loved volunteering at the Peru Community Project and would highly recommend Globalteer.

It was amazing to get so close to these gentle giants. The elephants are rescued from horrible situations so it was a privilege to be able to care for them. There were lots of other volunteers there and the work was really fun.

Based right in the Amazon jungle of Peru, the work being done at this project is so interesting. Assisting on genuine conservation research project was a great experience. While trekking through the forest is definitely not easy, it is worth it, as you get to see countless insects, bugs, butterflies, amphibians, birds and monkeys too! And if you are very lucky you will get to see the resident sloth that is often lazying about in one of the trees close to the base. I love the social aspect of this project too, as with very limited electricity and no internet to distract you, you really get to know the people there.

could not pick a favourite thing about this project if I tried!! The owner of the shelter is so genuinely passionate about the animals and their care - she remembers the names and stories of every animal that has come through the shelter. The project aims to release as many of the animals that come through as possible - they have already done many successful releases! Time at the project mostly spent preparing food for and taking food to all the animals there, as well as general maintenance around the project. I was extremely lucky when I was at the project as there were 2 babies (a baby sloth & a baby howler monkey) being hand cared for until they were old enough and strong enough to go into their own enclosures and I got to assist with their care! It was an unforgettable experience.

All the staff at the project are doing an amazing job and you can tell the project is making a real difference and impact in the community. The kids at the project are great, always so excited and welcoming of new volunteers and even when there is a language barrier this does not stop them finding ways to interact and communicate with volunteers. It is impossible not to be happy while at the project, as the kids happiest is just infectious. In addition to the project being fantastic, Peru & Cusco itself are just amazing - with the most lovely people and so much to do in your free time!

The first thing I should comment on is the passion that the staff at the shelter have for what they are doing. They put their heart and souls into helping as many dogs as they can, and they genuinely care about the well-being of each and every one of the animals under their care. And taking care of so many pups is a lot of work, so they are so appreciative to all of the volunteers that come to help! Of course the dogs are always happy to see you when you enter the shelter, and how can so many wagging tails not put a smile on your face?! While working, even if it's the grubby stuff like washing bowls or cleaning up messes, you genuinely feel like you are helping these animals have a better life, one meal or one scratch behind the ear at a time. Especially seeing how many dogs are out on the streets in Cusco - homeless, injured, or just generally unhealthy and un-cared for - you know that each of the dogs at the shelter have such a better quality of life, and are genuinely loved! It's a wonderful thing to be a part of.

This project is doing wonderful things for its community in Peru. The kids love attending the after-school program, and you can see it on their faces as soon as they walk in the door! They love meeting all of the new volunteers and are eager to participate and learn! The staff is friendly and incredibly helpful. My favorite memory was getting to participate in a day of fun and games during Halloween. We did activities normally practiced int he USA during Halloween like bobbing for apples, and the kids had an absolute blast! All the while they were happy to practice their English with all of the volunteers and staff. Peru is an amazing place, and getting to participate at this project is an amazing experience no one will ever forget!

I volunteered in Cusco for 4 weeks and it was an amazing experience in an amazing city at an awesome project. I could't recommend it enough, the staff were great and kids were amazing. We helped out the local and foreign staff in arts, English classes, sports and games. The kids are given nutritional food to ensure they are healthy and education to help them in their futures. Cusco is a great place to volunteer with so much to do and see and Globalteer really helped the culture shock by being there for me in Cusco.

I had an amazing experience volunteering with the elephants in Cambodia. One thing that was truly awesome was the location, the elephants live a life as close as possible to their wild relatives in the jungle. The project has a massive piece of land and the elephants get to roam and forage just like in the wild. We walked the elephants into the forest and made sure they had a happy and respectful life. The project really provides a wonderful life for the elephants and I will be back!

The project is in a small village outside of Siem Reap. The kids here have very little and the school gives them the opportunity of improving their lives. It was great to go out to the countryside every day and work at the project. The project is making a real difference to the kids lives and I hopefully contributed my small part in that. The kids were amazing, so keen to learn and be at the project. I will remember this for always!

This was an amazing experience for me, it really made me reconsider my life priorities. The children were amazing and the project was just fantastic. They are really making a difference to the community and I was proud to be part of it.

This is a fantastic project that helps loads of dogs. Many of the dogs are rescued from the streets or from bad owners. The dogs at the shelter are so happy and have a great life. The directors of this project are so dedicated, they are an inspiration.

The Food and Farming project was great fun and you get to see the results of your labour when the kids arrive at the school for their meals. The multiple projects program provided by Globalteer is fantastic as you get to experience many different projects and help out at great projects. I enjoyed being a teaching assistant at a school but also felt a real impact when we built water filters.

I spent two weeks in Medellin, a week of which I volunteered with Globalteer. I had not previously volunteered or travelled to Colombia so was unsure what to expect. Leading up to my trip I frequently exchanged emails with Elena, the project coordinator. Elena arranged my accommodation, Spanish lessons, pick up from the airport and sent me lots of useful information about the project and Medellin in general. Once I arrived in Colombia I was met at the airport and driven to the hostel in El Poblado. The hostel was ideally located, very clean and the staff were fantastic! I met with Elena the next day and she showed me around El Poblado and how to get to the project. Once at the project I was introduced to the staff and children and given a tour of the facilities. As a volunteer you are given the freedom to plan your own activities and chose which areas you want to help with. During my with the children I helped clean up after meals, organised and took part in arts and craft activities, walked the children to school and took them to play in the park. I also gave one of the older children one to one help with his English work from school.The staff at the project were very welcoming they are also genuinely invested in the children they care for. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the project and in Colombia and hope to return!

I had a very very good experience in chiang mai. Everything was perfect, i made a lot of amazing friendships and loved my project and the kids that i worked with. I have no words to explain how this trip changed my life and the way that i see the world. Im also in love with Thailand and this amazing city that is chiang mai. I LOVE CHANYA AND JOY

I spent a fantastic month with TRACC near the north tip of Borneo from early January to early February. I camped in a comfortable tent under the trees just in from a beautiful beach. The diving was brilliant, lionfish, nudebranches, rays, a turtle, we even saw a whale shark from the boat! It was really rewarding to be able to help with the reef conservation, it was great to see the marine life colonising artificial reefs other volunteers had put in, and it was great fun making and installing new reefs. The visibility wasn't always fantastic but this was because there was lots of plankton, which is what attracted the whale shark! I think the weather gets better after March. The food was great and we could go body boarding or kayaking, or go to the north tip of Borneo in our spare time. The people were fantastic, really welcoming, friendly and fun, and I learned loads about marine life, fish ID and coral conservation as well as the problems currently facing sharks. I passed my advanced open water diver and emergency first response courses while I was there. I would definitely recommend going to anyone who enjoys the sea, you don't have to be a diver, you can take your open water certification when you get there. I wish I had stayed longer!