Teaching and School Support in Jamaica with IVHQ

The guidance and preparation resources I received from IVHQ before starting my trip were invaluable. I was provided all of the information up front and walked through every single step that I needed to take in successfully moving forward through execution of my trip. The resources are there to read and ingest and the program management staff is always available within 24-hours to answer all questions one may have. The impact from my volunteering stretched me out of my comfort zone by allowing me to understand the ways others move around on a daily basis and how accepting everyone is for individuality. I gained the experience of set expectations. Here in the US where I live, expectations "waver' in some cases, but in Jamaica, there is a consistent value of "expectation or consequence" which I honor. If somone is hesitant about joining this program I would say: "Leap into something you never experienced and be prepared to learn about other cultures and thier ways of living, working, and playing!

My favorite moment from the volunteer experience was all the new sights to see and getting to be involved with all the children. I realized how much we take off granted in where I'm from and that it was great to see how things in another country worked. Don’t overthink it, the program is there for your safety and support. There’s nothing to be afraid or concerned about as long as you use your resources correctly because they easy to access.