Volunteer World

I selected volunteer program Australia as a volunteer abroad and I'm requesting for further information how to travel to Australia. I'm ready to relocate if given an opportunity to support me in travelling documents.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

As an experienced volunteer and development professional with a background in projects across Africa, South America, and Asia — including living and working within local communities — I approach every new opportunity with open eyes and realistic expectations. However, my recent experience through Volunteer World in Rwanda left me concerned and disappointed. The local project I was placed with was poorly organized, and at times, I did not feel entirely safe. Despite these challenges, I remained committed and contributed actively by visiting project sites and developing several strategic documents for the local organization, including an investment proposal, a crowdfunding plan, and a volunteer-to-ambassador strategy. The local team even invited me to join their board, a generous offer I respectfully declined, having concluded that I could not, in good conscience, support their operations long-term. Upon returning home, I reached out to Volunteer World and invited them to have a conversation about my experience — not to complain, but to provide constructive feedback and help prevent future volunteers from encountering similar situations. I stressed how important this would be, especially for less experienced or younger volunteers, for whom this could have been a very distressing experience. To my surprise, Volunteer World declined the invitation for a dialogue. Instead, they asked me to submit a bullet-point list of concerns for internal review. I responded with a kind email explaining why a context-sensitive, personal conversation would be more appropriate — especially given the complex and potentially vulnerable nature of the issues raised. They declined again, with no willingness to engage in meaningful discussion. Because of this, I cannot in good faith recommend Volunteer World. An organization that is unwilling to listen to feedback — particularly when it concerns volunteer safety and well-being — fails one of the most basic responsibilities of any organization in this field. I sincerely hope they reconsider their approach for the sake of future volunteers.

I would really like to volunteer. I am passionate about charity and showing kindness to the world. Please, give me a chance. Kindly provide Certificate of sponsorship too since I'm not able to provide for myself at the moment. Kindly put my request into consideration.

I had an unforgettable time abroad caring for goats, rabbits, and hens. The experience taught me responsibility, patience, and the beauty of farm life. Highly recommend for personal growth and connection with nature.

He is a maintenance technician for aircraft structures and engines. He has a poultry farm and a rabbit farm, and I understand most fields such as mechanics, electricity, and raising poultry and goats.

This an increasingly popular way for individuals to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world. With numerous organizations offering volunteer programs, it's essential to review and research these opportunities to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. *Pros:* 1. *Cultural Immersion*: Living and working with local communities provides an immersive cultural experience. 2. *Skill Development*: Volunteers can develop new skills and gain experience in areas such as teaching, conservation, and community development. 3. *Networking Opportunities*: Volunteers can connect with like-minded individuals from around the world. 4. *Personal Growth*: Volunteering abroad can be a transformative experience, fostering personal growth and self-awareness. *Cons:* 1. *Cost*: Many volunteer programs come with a hefty price tag, which can be a barrier for some. 2. *Safety Concerns*: Volunteers may face safety risks, such as health concerns or political instability, depending on the destination. 3. *Cultural Differences*: Adapting to local customs and way of life can be challenging for some volunteers. 4. *Quality of Programs*: Some volunteer programs may lack structure, support, or meaningful work, leading to a disappointing experience. *Recommendations:* 1. *Research Thoroughly*: Investigate the organization, program, and destination to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. 2. *Read Reviews*: Look for reviews from past volunteers to gain insight into the program's quality and challenges. 3. *Choose a Reputable Organization*: Select an organization with a proven track record, transparent policies, and adequate support for volunteers. 4. *Prepare Yourself*: Culturally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the experience to ensure a smooth transition. By being aware of the pros and cons, doing thorough research, and choosing a reputable organization, volunteers can have a safe, rewarding, and life-changing experience abroad.

I applied for the experience program in Morelia. I'm staying here for 4 months. The program as been really nice for he moment. we do a lot of thing wth the local community here and we have also a lot of free time to do what we want. The courses of spanish also were usefull to improve my spanish.

As a Social worker i often meet with clients to assess their needs, provide counseling, and develop individualized plans to address their challenges. This could involve sessions with individuals, families, or groups.

I worked in goat farming for three years, which for me was one of the most beautiful years of my life because I was really doing what I loved I also aspire to work in animal care Because I feel that I can be creative, but I need specialist help

A skilled IT professional and programmer with 4 years of experience in designing, developing, and managing software applications and IT systems. Adept at leveraging a diverse range of technologies and programming languages to create efficient, scalable, and robust solutions. Demonstrated expertise in full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, system design, coding, testing, and deployment. Known for strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams. Core Competencies: Programming Languages: Proficient in [list relevant languages, e.g., Java, Python, C++, JavaScript, SQL. Software Development: Experience with various development frameworks and methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and DevOps practices. Systems Design: Skilled in designing and implementing scalable software architecture and databases. Problem Solving: Expertise in debugging, troubleshooting, and optimizing complex systems to enhance performance and reliability. Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills, with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines. Technical Support: Ability to provide technical support and solutions to end-users, ensuring smooth operation of IT systems. Key Achievements: Successfully developed and deployed [specific project or application], which improved [specific metric, operational efficiency, user engagement, by 70% Led a team in migrating system and application] to new technology/platform, resulting in reduced costs, increased performance. Implemented smart pool software of mines, which streamlined specific process and workflow and reduced specific issue, e.g. downtime, errors] by [p]. Technical Skills: Languages: [List programming languages] Tools & Technologies: [List tools, frameworks, and technologies, e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Git] Databases: [List database systems, e.g., MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle] Operating Systems: [List operating systems, e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS] Professional Experience: Desktop Engineers and IT Tshwane University of Technology 2020 to date Education: Diploma, measured Programmer and Networking and systems analysis Tshwane University of technology 2023 Certifications: National Diploma Continuous learning through courses, workshops, seminars, in emerging technologies and best practices in IT and programming. Contact Information: Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:Talent Nhylanhla Mthethwa

What a time it was to be abroad.I was 13 years old when if first went.I visited 3 continents in my school holiday.It was a very fun and learning experience by indulging in the different cultures.For me personally before I traveled I wasn't really interested to go live or study abroad, but the moment I stepped foot in a international country I was amazed and that side of the world really changed my perspective of life.

A result-driven and motivated technical associate with 6+ years’ work experience in the field of information management. Extensive knowledge in technical support and data entry. Proven record of success diagnosing and resolving technical/customer inquiries. Able to clearly understand problem and find positive solutions through critical thinking, problem solving and communication.

I iam habib Osman electrical vacant for long time ago i have got some experience in electricity however i need more capacity in my experience like plc and classic control. Hmi all this of automation systems i want qualified my self

I need to help human and people in any place any time. We all do all things to be human happy and life in peaceful. We happy, we healthy and we better People need our need help need small and large helps, need some one standing behind them and do any things to be human happy and good in the life and thinking and idea.

Unfortunately, a bitter disappointment. It's called a social organisation, you want to help and think you're doing something good. As long as you pay well, everything is fine. But if you can't take part in the programme because of health problems, you suddenly have to pay a double deposit as a cancellation fee. No one explains where the costs come from, the general terms and conditions are simply referred to, which one has never seen before. Without a doubt a bitter disappointment and unfortunately not a social thought, but a money-making scheme, in the foreground. Attention!

Natuwa is a very special place and my experience is really beyond expectations! I’ve been welcome since the beginning as if I was part of the family. Rodolfo and the team are great people dedicated to the animals and work extremely hard to give them the best life possible. The sanctuary is impeccably well looked after and everyone does their best to make you feel at home and to teach you something. Be prepared to work hard as this is no place for parties or slackers, but at the end you will feel really rewarded and part of something very special. I will miss everyone so much

I probably had one of the best experiences of my life in Natuwa for a month, feeding the many animals that live there, taking care of them, discovering a different way of life than mine, more minimalist and peaceful. Rodolfo is an extremely understanding man who cares about the well-being of his voluntarios. We had the chance to do several extra activities outside the centre, such as snorkeling near to Isla Tortuga, or swimming at night with bioluminescent planktons, which were dazzling. The workteam is really friendly and allows you to feel integrated quickly and easily. However, you have to expect to work hard sometimes, for example planting trees, doing work to maintain the infrastructure, but this is only a part of the day. outside the centre

In the project, which lies directly on the coast of the Pacific, I was only for a very short time. Nevertheless, I was lucky and during this time I could find an egg-laying turtle during one of my patrols and accompany a nest with hatching turtles to the sea. The conditions at the camp are really simple: so the shower under the ice-cold water was not always the best. But here, too, every day one realizes that there are more important things than this "luxury". In addition to the work, I also had free time here, which I had used, for example, to make a boat tour with other volunteers in Uvita, where we could actually see whales. The people I have known throughout the time (both other volunteers and locals) are simply incredible and have made it really difficult for me to fly back home to Germany. I could collect great experiences and impressions, which will probably accompany me all my life.

Had a wonderful time in the project and really enjoyed the monitoring, manual labor, and learning about conservation methods. The location is gorgeous and the locals are really friendly. Volunteers come from around the globe, so you'll definitely make some new friends. Luis and his team are always happy to help and will definitely show you the Pura Vida way of life. Knowing that all the work and effort you're putting into is going to benefit a variety of species, and that it will make a huge impact is very rewarding. Thanks for being a great team :)

I really love this country and the people, so definitely recommend to visit Costa Rica! The program offered me a good insight into Turtle Conservation. It was an amazing experience! Accomodation: Better than expected since they have just renovated it. Program: Tough due to night shifts and long walks but worth it. Food (!!!): Food itself was tasty and sometimes we even had meat BUT definitely waaaay too little portions! We would have needed at least four times of the amount. When we requested more food, they simply said that they don‘t have more for us. I am writing this hoping that the management will change this situation in order to encourage more people like me to stay. Conclusion: Since the shifts were quite tiring, the support from the kitchen was simply not enough. I am 1,67 m and 60kg - only that you understand my needs (normal portions!!). I would definitely have stayed longer, but this wasn‘t pleasant for me anymore.

Before commencing my placement I had honestly mentally prepared myself for the “culture shock”. I was prepared to see poor conditions, limited resources and poor treatment of the women. However what I did not prepare myself for was the battle to assimilate and integrate into the team of nurses/midwives. In hindsight, and overall, my experience at the hospital was incredible and I was in no way ready to leave. However at times, especially in the first week, I was very ready to book the next plane home. The first two weeks proved to be the most difficult for me. As a young midwife, I am very used to being supported by senior midwives, I am also very used to midwifery as a group practice involving team work throughout the entire shift. Coming in to the hospital as a qualified midwife had its advantages but also its disadvantages. The advantages included having the appropriate midwifery knowledge and skills to (quite literally) throw on a pair of sterile gloves and accoucher a birth as I turned around to see the presenting part on view. It meant I could decrease the workload on the local nurses/midwives by attending full antenatal assessments of women and transferring them to antenatal ward as they silently progressed through the first stage of labour (I am still to this day in awe of Tanzanian women’s pain thresholds). It meant I could receive in caesarean sections and knew the policies around sterile fields, aseptic techniques and those associated with operating theatres. It meant I could prepare a woman for a caesarean section by cannulating and commencing an IV infusion of normal saline and putting in a indwelling urinary catheter. It meant I could give IM injections, IV medication and remove urinary catheters once the woman was 24hrs post-delivery. It meant I could perform solo (in one occasion) or work with the nurses/midwives in neonatal resuscitations and make important decisions re if a newborn should be transferred, if a woman should go for a caesarean section etc. All of these things I performed on a daily basis however it wasn’t until my third week that the nurses/midwives started trusting me and my practice, trusting that I was skilled enough to work alongside them. That’s where the disadvantages come in. Being qualified meant the nurses/midwives were very unaccepting (for the lack of a better word) of me. They, at first, didn’t believe or trust I was qualified and when I began to perform tasks and use skills they would continuously tell me my practice or judgment was wrong. They then talk about me in Swahili to their colleges making my self-confidence plummet through the floor. That’s when the desire to jump on the next plane home set in. However Pearl warned me of this, she reminded me that it wasn’t malicious it was their culture and I kept that in the back of my mind the entire time. In hindsight this questioning and feeling of being a poor practitioner did wonders for my self-confidence. Confidence not only in myself as a person, but in myself as a midwife. It, strangely enough, made my love for midwifery grow, it made me back myself, trust myself and become my own hype girl because I knew what I was doing was right and I knew I was doing it because I had a burning passion to empower women. Having been trained in a tertiary (level 6) hospital, I was accustomed to clean wards, single rooms, sterile/single use equipment and unlimited resources. Working at the hospital was a big shock to that system. Women labour side by side, sometimes two to a bed. In the Labour Ward there are three beds, no curtains or any attempt to provide privacy. The door is always open. Fetal heart rates are auscultated using a pinnard, ARM’s are performed with broken oxytocin vials. There is really adequate sterile equipment and women have to supply their own cord clamps, congas, sterile gloves, oxytocin, sutures, cotton and more. Although it was a shock and hurdle to practice in such conditions, it was something that I acclimatized too quite quickly and was able to provide the best possible care in the given situation. As mentioned, overall and in hindsight my time at the hospital was an incredible experience. It changed the way I viewed myself as a person, a midwife and a member of this world. It enhanced my love for midwifery and empowered me to use my love, skill, knowledge and now determination to return to a place like the hospital and work to make it better, for both the staff and patients. Walking into Siret Hostel on arrival day was such an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. My boyfriend and I paid for the private room and it was decorated with so much love it felt like home the moment we entered. It was spacious enough for two people, had a wardrobe, four post double bed with mosquito net, a couch, a universal power board (life saver) and a place for us to store our empty suitcases. The lounge room and dining room at Siret were also decorated with so much love they felt very comfortable and homely. The area was spacious, there were comfortable couches, access to wide range of novels and other books, a very large fridge and freezer for us to use and a water filter. The highlight of my experience was my last shift at the hospital. My travel buddy/boyfriend who is a pre-med student was working in the Minor Theatre however there were no patients. Labour Ward was busy so he came over and experienced labour and birth for the first time. There was just myself and another nurse and within the space of an hour we had three births. The first was very straightforward and he stood and observed. He learnt how and when to give IM oxytocin, how to swaddle and weigh a newborn etc. Quickly after another baby was born, the nurse called me over as the baby was very evidently premature and required full resuscitation. As the nurse and I started compressions on this baby we hear a grunt and both look left to see another woman crowning, quite literally about to deliver. I leave the nurse with the resuscitation and smack on some sterile gloves, I tell Alex to draw up the oxytocin and lay out the congas and he does. The baby is quickly born and in perfect condition (thank goodness). Alex administers IM oxytocin (the first IM injection he’s ever given), and takes the baby to swaddle and weigh it while I deliver the placenta and ensure all blood/clots are expelled. Not many people in this world can say that they delivered a baby with their boyfriend but I can, and that’s something that will make me smile until the day I die. (The premature baby was successfully resuscitated and transferred to NICU at Mt Meru). Go in to this experience with enough knowledge in that you feel prepared, but enough ignorance that you make it the unique experience that it is for each individual. Be prepared, feel supported but remember, ignorance in bliss.

Hello everyone! First of all, I want to thank you for the hospitality of your association, a fantastic team and always available! It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience surrounded by nature observing all the various species of animals that Costa Rica has to offer! And especially the turtles ♥ ️! I invite you at least once in your life to live these unforgettable moments. PURA VIDA❤️ see you soon!

Everything is explained in the title... Considering that the covid is not of their making, Volunteer World refused any reimbursement. I strongly advise against working with this company, which is nothing other than a travel agency with unacceptable commercial methods.

The time I spent in Dubai, Oman and Abdul Dhabi, I have a wonderful and experiential Joy with the people and I was able to showcased my skills and the people explore my knowledge to their satisfaction Little details of my experience Dubai Falcon Ballroom Hotel which was so great. Even more perfect was the fact that they had thought of everything in advance, I didn’t need to remind them I needed a fresh bed shread in the room (which I did have to do twice at the local hotel I stayed in my country, more on this later) as they had already taken care of that prior to our arrival. The bed, oh the bed! It was dreamy in every way, the most comfortable place I’ve ever laid in, and the most restful sleep I had had in years, and sometimes teary nighttime awakenings. some things can’t be helped…oh, the joys of travelling with flight Emirate is spectacular. A night between those bed-sheets really restores and rebalances you. I had excellent views directly facing the Mall of the Emirate and part of the pool below (if you stretched your neck). Everything in the room was spotlessly clean and looked brand new. The desk was comfortable for planning my daily routes on our my map.

August 8th, 2018, I went to Thailand for the highest skydiving constitution in Asian. At the time, when I put on heavy equipment, I was super nervous, so I paid hundreds percent concentration on training. All set down, I followed the coach to get on the helicopter and had a big swallow before taking off. On the way to five thousand inches high, my hand still stuck the edge of seat tightly. It's the real time when I hardly moved right to the open door, my foot suspended in the midair and smash wind make me hard to breathe. Without struggle, I was pushed to jump with closing eyes and opening mouth. Actually, I screamed loudly but heard nothing. The parachute opened in seconds successfully and everything went as well as training. When I stood steadily on the cloud, I touched the soft clouds, astonished by the beautiful view of Phuket Island---golden-green fields are surrounded by the sea blue, trail of the train intersect through the landscape, cars running on the roads are as tiny as ants moving foods. Swinging back to the ground, I was so proud of myself and at the same time, I was so excited about the astonishing views in the sky.

In my 30 years of experience as a professional nurse I have worked in comprehensive patient care and I know everything related to the area of ​​health. Now I am retired and my great desire is to help people in need.

Volunteer World gave me the opportunity to find a project that suited me. They have plenty of projects and there is something for everyone! You meet amazing people. You get to know the country and the culture through te locals. You connect immedeatly with the other volunteers and experience this amazing trip together. I'm already looking for my next experience with them.

Briefly, the “Great Projects” great white sharks South African program may be alright for teenagers and mid-level or untrained/moderately trained, budget conscious college or possibly even graduate students seeking a thrill and a travel opportunity, however, if you are well educated, have a profession that you are taking time from in order to obtain a real opportunity to volunteer in a way that allows you to truly give back and assist constructively with shark conservation and/or if you are looking for a more meaningful level of education about shark conservation, then this program is NOT for you. At its essence, this is a themed sleep-away camp for young people on a budget. In more detail, the “Great Projects” promises you training in shark biology and conservation, cage diving, data collection, training in basic seamanship, and much more. Delivery is pretty hit-or-miss and really depends on luck. If the weather is bad, as it often is (when I went, the group before me had just experienced 4 “no sea” days during which time several told me they were bored out of their skulls and I myself experienced only two “sea days” the entire time I was there and never got to get in the cage, despite the program’s guarantee) the volunteers are mostly left in their “cottages” with massive amounts of downtime and nothing to do. When I was there, the project intern would take people out to drink, smoke and dance at the local pub. While this can be fun, it’s not why I volunteered and contributed nothing toward the shark conservation mission. **Note to parents of high school kids: be sure you trust your teen and that she or he can handle him/herself because the intern and the volunteer program coordinator try to be “friends,” not guidance counsellors or mentors or babysitters or teachers. The intern took underage kids illegally to the pub and encouraged them to drink. The program coordinator regaled a group of two young volunteers with stories about how she used to party and do cocaine all the time. These 17-20 year olds look up to the 38-year-old volunteer coordinator. Just keep in mind that the level of professionalism and maturity from the two people charged with coordinating and overseeing the volunteers - the intern and the volunteer coordinator - is very low. Will your teens like them? Probably yes because they may seem very fun and let them do all the things parents might not. Will people older than 25 like them? Maybe but I think much less likely if they’re professionals. Depends where you are in your life.** The company comes across like just one more in the sea of semi-ethical companies capitalising on well meaning people, taking their labour and money. Breaking it down some more: 1. The Training The entire time I was there, I got one lecture from the marine biologist. It was quite decent and he was a smart, interesting man, but that was it. Another volunteer who is studying biology in the UK created an ad hoc lecture on ocean pollution for us at the request of the volunteer coordinator because there was literally nothing else to do. The boat crew did give an excellent basic training on seamanship for those unfamiliar with all things nautical. That training takes only an afternoon and is done. For the majority of the time, the volunteers are hanging out in their “cottage” or washing wetsuits or cleaning the boat. There is very minimal education. Again, fine for high school students or even low level college students or grad students without much biology training. If you want to learn how to wash a wetsuit, though, you will definitely learn that. If you’re lucky to have good weather and be at sea regularly, without having to rely on the volunteer coordinator, you may have a very good time. But that will be based on luck. 2. The Lodging and Food Expect bare bones. The bathroom in the upper cottage had black mold colonies growing on the walls, a toilet permanently stained, paint peeling off the shower floors, and was unheated. If you go in the winter, expect it to be freezing and pack accordingly. The lower cottage has two bedrooms and the upper cottage three, which are fairly dirty and have twin-size bunk beds in them to dorm everyone up. They provide a pillow and one coverlet. They do not provide towels. Nobody goes on this project expecting The Ritz so it’s fine, but don’t expect anything too nice. The breakfast foods provided are milk, inexpensive bulk cereal and white bread. If you are vegan, you will have to go and buy your own food. If you’re lucky enough to go out on the boat, they will have water, crisps (with dairy - sorry vegans) and peanut butter sandwiches. Other than that, food-wise, you’re on your own. Good luck. 3. Location and Poaching You’ll be at 16 Geelbek Street in Gansbaai, South Africa. 7220. It is a small touristy town with several shark cage diving companies, one of which you’ll be working for, washing wetsuits and cleaning the boat. There is very little nightlife. There is one restaurant within walking distance. It’s beautiful for all ocean and nature lovers. Sadly, the first thing the project intern, “Frankie,” informed us of was that it’s unsafe to go out alone after dark because of, according to her, an abundance of poachers who will threaten and even physically harm anyone they perceive to be watching them too closely. The intern stated there are many, many poachers who collect abalone illegally every night and that the local police are paid off to look the other way. I suggested reporting the poaching to a level above the local police if, as the intern said, they were all corrupt. She advised us not to report the poaching and that it’s the “Great Projects” policy not to interfere with poaching, which was surprising and disturbing. I reported the poaching to a third party watchdog group anyway and, a week later, was told by a Cape Town resident that arrests for poaching were made in Gansbaai. Coincidence? And why didn’t the staff of the “Great Projects” do that from the start? How can you say you support and promote marine conservation yet turn a blind eye to poaching and actively dissuade others from reporting it? Hmmmm. 4. Who Will the Other Volunteers Be? Based on my experience and talking to others after the fact, the volunteers are majority female, white, teens to early 20’s. They tend to be majority from the UK, and most seem to be smokers. Most have lower educational and income levels (this is to be expected as the majority are very young). Based on what others told me, volunteers over 30 and volunteers who are professionals tend not to fare well with the project, partly due to the immaturity of the intern and volunteer coordinator and partly due to the lack of organisational structure/cohesion and partly due to the fact they’re bunking with excitable kids that may be their own kids’ ages. The volunteer coordinator, told me of two recent examples - a 60 year old man who left the program early and a 45-year-old roman who was ostracised and bullied by the intern and had a very tough time as well. While I was there, though, even the teens had had it. At least three people under the age of 25 also left the program early. 5. Race As mentioned above, volunteers appear to be predominantly white. When I was there I was the only person of colour and did feel a bit of an outsider. The staffers dealing directly with the volunteers from authority positions such as the volunteer coordinator and her intern, were also white and British. The only black South Africans I met on the project (who, by the way, were all lovely and the bright shining positive part of the program) were working in labourer positions, not authority positions. I asked the volunteer coordinator about this and she complained that “90% of all the jobs have to go the blacks” and that it’s “very hard” to be a white person in South Africa. I was flabbergasted by her commentary. You can draw your own conclusions. 6. Most importantly, will you actually help sharks and aid in shark conservation? Sadly, my personal experience was that I did not feel I had the opportunity to actually help sharks or aid in shark conservation. Because I was left alone to my own devices the majority of the time, I felt pretty useless. I offered to help with anything from data entry and collection to shark observation, but was mostly ignored. The two times the boat actually went out, we didn’t cage dive or take data. I do think there’s a potential for a great experience if you have luck and don’t need to rely on the volunteer coordinator. If you go when the weather is good and can get out on the boat frequently and really observe the sharks and collect data, you might have an eye-opening experience. Sadly, that didn’t happen for me. When I was there, instead of using all the downtime to educate the volunteers on other ways to educate the public about shark conservation or take other constructive measure to help sharks (which you can do without needing to be on a boat), the volunteers were either left alone with nothing to do or the intern took people to the pub or the volunteer coordinator would arrange some sort of typically touristy excursion. If you are 17 and have never traveled before or if you’re older and on a serious budget and have never had these touristy experiences, they will likely be fun for you. If you are already well traveled and came to the program as a means to really throw yourself into shark conservation for two weeks to give back to the community and not to holiday, you will feel like it’s been quite a waste of time. I was able to take lemons and make lemonade though. After it became clear there would be no more sea days for the remainder of the project, and after three days of nothingness, the volunteer coordinator sent the volunteers to a youth hostel for two nights where they could pay to go on tourist excursions like a safari, etc. I did not go. Instead, when it was clear no efforts would be made towards shark conservation, I promptly left and spent the remainder of my time traveling South Africa solo, which was a wonderful and eye opening experience. 7. How to Help Sharks What I will say is DO support the shark education and conservation efforts of the eco-conscious shark diving operations by going on cage dives with them. Your contribution toward the local economy and support as a tourist will probably be more meaningful than washing wetsuits. Bonus points if you utilise a company actually owned and operated by South Africans. Advice for Volunteer World and the “Great Projects”: 1. Disclose the typical age range and educational level of the average volunteer. It will help others determine if this program will be a good fit for them personally. 2. Consider an application process for potential volunteers and try to form cohesive groups based on educational attainment and age range. Learn what skills volunteers have (maybe they are graphic designers or data analysts or PR mavens) so their specific skills can be put to good use in the program to actually constructively assist in shark conservation efforts in ways suited to the volunteer’s individual skill set. This will greatly help in the numerous “no sea” days, enduring volunteers are effectively utilised so that an actual social good is happening. 3. Improved Staffing and Organization. This is, perhaps, the most important thing of all. The “Great Projects” needs a more organised, efficient and mature volunteer coordinator. Volunteer World could use more professional travel consultants. The project needs to have a better monitoring system in place for its staff, including interns. When interns illegally take minors out drinking and fail to oversee them, if someone gets hurt, that liability falls upon the company. Overall, there is a major organisational failure here. One woman - the volunteer coordinator - is creating a spur of the moment and ad hoc schedule (which often consists of nothing -e.g., days of boredom and downtime, followed by pay-for-yourself touristy activities that, while they may be fun, have nothing to do with social good or volunteering) that does little to help with shark conservation or the creation of social good. Properly done, “no sea” days could actually be educational and useful, both for the parent company and the volunteers. Professionalism is critical to good business. A small but telling example of unprofessional behaviour consisted of the volunteer coordinator actively lying when the travel consultant asked her if it was true I’d been on no cage dives. The coordinator made up a story that I opted not to cage dive rather than simply saying, “True and it was regrettable.” I actually directly called the volunteer coordinator on her lie and asked why she had lied. She didn’t directly answer, messaging me something to the effect of “don’t complain.” I have been free diving with sharks, sky diving and many other things along those lines. Those that know me find the coordinator's lie that I would ever opt out of a cage dive laughable but that’s not really the point. You want a program with staff that is professional, mature and honest. They set the tone for the entire experience. In Sum This project was a waste of my time and I would not recommend it to anyone well versed in biology, serious about social good and over the age of 30. Teens looking for a low-cost summer camp with a shark theme, however, will probably be just fine.

Hey , I'm Amine , I would love top inform you that I have had a good experience in voluntary work that's why I want to share it with you by helping people in need . In fact , I have made great relations when I was teaching either children or adults , it was really a good time when dealing and socializing , I really learnt many thing from such experience and thus could cope with many problems and situations . I also learnt many things when curing my father for about 16 years , he is in special need and I have learnt numerous things and even got more open with wide heart when dealing with sick people , indeed , I'm that kind person by nature who loves to offer something to others

During three months, I’m volonteer in community project for GVI in Silana Village and I really enjoyed my trip. It’s very likely to help the NGO and the villagers in the waste management and the recycling activities. Gvi permits to me, to discover a new lifestyle with my fijian familly in Silana.

In Mai 2017 I was volunteering in Ubdu, Bali for one month and had the best time of my life! To get everything organised beforehand couldn't have been easier due to the great and helpful people of Volunteer World. They answered to all questions within short time and there is a great choice of different volunteer opportunities on the page to find the perfect fit for anybody. Spending my time in Bali teaching kids in school english has changed my attitude and gave me the chance to see the world with different eyes. The organisation, transportation, introduction to the program was smooth and I never had the feeling of being in a foreign or insecure country, Volunteer World still was in contact with me for all questions and checked back if everything is ok. There was an introduction week with all the other volunteers where we got the chance to get to know the surroundings and the culture of Bali better. We had a cooking course, language courses, city tour, went to the monkey forest, a Balinese temple and rice fields and had lunch together every day. Living on the ground a Balinese family and get to know their lives better has been amazing! I would recommend to everybody out there to experience such a life changing trip and make the world a little better. Thank you Volunteer World:)

I'm Olatosu Gabriel, I was so touched when I travel to Tanzania, with a lots of unexpected surprises, really enjoyed my tour over there, especially in Zanzibar, their masquerades where so fine, they moved out with voodoo, flames of fire coming out of their head, women half naked dancing on their toe. Some strong men holding their masquerades that held cutlasses, I had a lot of time watching their festival, I enjoyed the way of their greetings, prostration and two hands on their head, I also visited a port, where I saw some animals, some that I have never seen in my life, also visited Kenya, I enjoyed their meal and their women so cheerful and lovely, most are black but beautiful, also visited Ghana in Accra, really enjoyed the cool place, with lots of fun, clubbing and enjoyed their women hospitality,. So amazing,...

The service was exceptional. I had many technical difficulties and someone was always there to help me out. Thank you so much! So easy to get in contact with organisations and tailor a search based on what my interests or travel requirements are for the experience. Love the range of filters and ease of contact and booking. I especially appreciated the transparent ethical guarantee on the website when looking at programs. Really great site! I've spent two weeks at a horse sanctuary and I had an amazing time! It is a nice project, you learn a lot about horsemanship and respect towards the horses.