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Sammy SillsEngland · October 30, 2026
My time in Manuel Antonio
My time volunteering in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, was an incredible experience. I spent my time teaching English in a community project. The program is well organised and provides meaningful opportunities to contribute to the local community. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a rewarding and impactful experience. The staff at Maximo are also lovely - Anika made me feel welcome from the moment i stepped in.
I would recomend to many!
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Steven LeonColombia · October 30, 2026
Kenya Taught Me That the Greatest Impact Begins With Human Connection
My volunteering experience in Kenya was truly unforgettable\. It was an opportunity to discover a new country, connect with local families, experience a different culture, and understand the incredible value that simple acts of kindness can have in the lives of others\.
I encountered fascinating places and, above all, beautiful people whose warmth, generosity, and kindness made this journey so meaningful\. Sharing moments with local communities allowed me to look beyond differences and recognise how much we all have in common\. Through conversations, shared experiences, and genuine human connection, I learned lessons that no guidebook could ever teach me\.
This journey also became a personal challenge: an opportunity to test myself, strengthen my attitude towards service, and reflect on how I want to contribute to the world around me\. It taught me that volunteering is not simply about giving\. It is also about being willing to receive, to listen, to learn, to embrace different perspectives, and to allow others to become part of your own growth\.
I believe our actions have the greatest value when they come from a genuine desire to connect with others\. Sometimes, a little time, a kind gesture, or an open heart can create moments that remain with someone long after we have left\.
I returned from Kenya with memories I will treasure forever and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of cultural diversity and the power of service\. It was an enriching, humbling, and life\-changing experience that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful personal growth through international volunteering\
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Isamary OrtizPuerto Rico · October 30, 2026
Introspective experience
This Gap year helped me realize what I wanted to pursue in my future. Anika and Roger were amazing and great help. The area was nice, my home stay was very nice loved my host family. I enjoyed this trip very much.
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Courtney McCallNorthern Ireland · October 30, 2026
Learning Spanish and Teaching English
I had such an amazing time with Máximo Nivel, and I had some incredible teachers there, Mateo, Ande, Francisco. All of the staff there were amazing, and the program itself was so great; it really allowed us to get a taste of local life in Antigua, Guatemala, as I practiced Spanish every day and got to engage with the primary school children on a day-to-day basis.
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Ronaldo YeungBrazil · October 30, 2026
Great time in Beihai
I had some chinese lessons when I was very young. Couldn't remember half of what I learned, and barely speak any mandarin. But within 2 months, I could finish the HSK 2 textbook, and half of the HSK 3, improving a lot of my speaking.
The program is very well organized, from the scheduling of the classes, to the renting of the apartment/hostfamily and cultural activities.

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Robert JonesUnited States · October 30, 2026
Great Intro to Teaching
I really liked the layout of the class and the help I got when I couldn't understand something. It was a great introduction to teaching English. I hope in the coming weeks to take the teaching online class and also the teaching kid's class. I expect to start my job search in the new year.
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Brendan MaloneUnited States · October 30, 2026
Lab Life Beyond the Classroom
Hi, my name is Brendan. I am from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in cell and tissue Bioengineering from Northeastern University. I chose to do an internship in order to gain more hands-on lab experience outside of my theoretical coursework and also the prospect of Cerca Abroad has been really exciting to me. I was able to perform DNA extraction and purification, as well as PCR, PCR sample prep and also get to see some sampling and sequencing. I am very happy with the communication, well organized, and also our accommodation has been very nice in the city. I enjoyed it very much, personally, it’s a fun town and Greece at large is very beautiful.
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Eloise LabrecqueCanada · October 30, 2026
Best internship
I loved my time at Maximo! We learned a lot about medical techniques and even got to do cooking classes. As a medical student, it was really worth my time. I would definitely recommend Maximo Nivel for an internship in Peru!
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Dr. Ewa ArnoldCanada · October 30, 2026
Trip of a lifetime for my middleschooler
As parents of a kid who has always loved camp, we thought we knew what a great summer experience looked like. Then our son went on Putney Student Travel’s Italy & Greece middle school program, and it changed our perspective entirely. He came home a different kid: more confident, independent, mature and excited about the world. He didn’t want it to end, and months later he’s still talking about the people he met.
What makes Putney extraordinary is the people. The leaders were exceptional, and our son still keeps in close touch with them, along with the friends he made on the trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if they organize their own reunion over spring break! From the leaders to the directors, everyone at Putney makes you feel your child is genuinely known and cared for, as if he were one of their own. As parents, there is no greater reassurance.
Putney gave our son far more than a trip. It gave him room to grow, lasting friendships, a new sense of independence and courage, and a real drive to learn about the world. We’ve even noticed a difference in his engagement at school this semester. We sent him hoping for a wonderful adventure; he came back with something far more meaningful.
We can’t imagine sending our children anywhere else. Our son is already planning to return for the next four years, and we can’t wait for our daughter to experience Putney when she reaches middle school. Putney has earned our trust in a way very few organizations ever could, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to any family.

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Sophia ParishUnited States · October 30, 2026
Teaching and Learning at the Same Time!
I had a really good time teaching English to the Ticos here. While I was teaching them English, they were also teaching me Spanish which I loved. I’d love to do it again one day if possible. I think many people should consider this if they want to be immersed in culture, give back, and learn.
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Ewa ArnoldCanada · October 30, 2026
Trip of a lifetime for my middle schooler!
As parents of a kid who has always loved camp, we thought we knew what a great summer experience looked like. Then our son went on Putney Student Travel’s Italy & Greece middle school program this summer, and it changed our perspective entirely. He came home a different kid — more confident, independent, mature, and excited about the world around him. He loved the experience so much that he didn't want it to end, and to this day, he is still talking about the people he met and the connections he made.
What makes Putney truly extraordinary is the people. The leaders were exceptional, and our son still keeps in close touch with them. He also stays connected with the friends he made on the trip, and I wouldn't be surprised if they organize their own reunion over spring break! The relationships that have continued long after the program ended speak volumes about the experience Putney creates. Every person at Putney, from the leaders to the directors, makes you feel that your child is genuinely known, cared for, and treated as if they were their own. As parents, there is no greater reassurance.
Putney gave our son so much more than a life-changing trip to Italy and Greece. It gave him room to grow, lasting friendships, a newfound sense of independence and courage, a genuine drive to learn more about the world, and memories and connections that will stay with him for years to come. We have even noticed a difference in his excitement and engagement with learning at school this semester. We sent him hoping he would have a wonderful adventure; we watched him return with something far more meaningful.
We honestly cannot imagine sending our children anywhere else. Our son is already planning to return for the next four years, and we cannot wait for our daughter to experience Putney when she reaches middle school age. The fact that we are already planning years ahead speaks for itself. Putney has earned our trust in a way very few organizations ever could, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to any family fortunate enough to experience the magic they create through their programs.

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Valerii SokolovRussia · October 30, 2026
Cabo Verde Turtles
Hi, my name is Valery, I'm from Russia. In September 2026, I participated as a volunteer in a turtle conservation program on Cape Verde's Sal Island. I am very glad that I became a member of this program. We spent 3 weeks on night duty on the beaches of the island. During this time, I studied and practiced tracking and registering turtle nesting sites and learned a lot to preserve their population. I also had the opportunity to observe the process of small turtles hatching from eggs and releasing them into the ocean. It was a pleasure to meet the guys from all over the world who are united and interested in preserving turtle populations. Thanks to the organization “Project Biodiversity" for significant work.
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Nick JUnited States · October 30, 2026
Costa Rica in October
The weather was unseasonably hot with rain almost every day for a few hours. The program was great an I enjoyed my students while teaching English. I stayed for 6 weeks which was too much for me, being from Wisconsin. I would only do 4 weeks for volunteering next time. Maybe 6 weeks if you are learning Spanish and want a lot of time for Emerson.
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Olga LepinaRussia · October 30, 2026
How I can helped turtles
I wasn’t sure I can really visit this place when I started. But now I’m really glad I’ve done it. It’s so important part of nature which we can see very rarely and more rarely we can help it or to do something for it. But here you doing incredible things, sleeping in incredible places and see incredible animals with their babies. I have just good memories and feelings after this volunteering program. It was really interesting and now I added some great new items to my resume. Thank to all team of this project for nice time! I want to back again:)

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Diego EcheverriaUnited States · October 29, 2026
#Awesometrip
I had a really good time! It was very interesting to learn about the culture in Costa Rica. The mariposario was beautiful. The institute is great, it has a pool!! Maximo Nivel is #Awesome I would absolutely recommend any of their projects.
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Michelle LeeMalaysia · October 29, 2026
Great Class and Solid Teaching
The class course exceeded my expectations. Each lesson has a topic, and the teacher paces things well so nobody falls behind. I especially appreciate the interactive activities and group practice, which make learning feel natural rather than repetitive. The teacher is approachable and always willing to answer questions. Overall, a very worthwhile experience that has boosted my confidence in Chinese.
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Benjamin MeierSwitzerland · October 29, 2026
Kyoto das wahre Gesicht Japans
Grüezi an das liebe Meiji Team!
4 Wochen in Kyoto mit Meiji Akademie waren einfach nur spitze. Das Team ist sehr engagiert und hat mir meinen Aufenthalt hier war von Anfang an sehr gut organisiert. Es gab sogar einen Mitarbeiter der deutsch sprechen konnte was sehr half. Besonders haben mir die vielen kulturellen Aktivitäten und Exkursionen gefallen. Von japanischer Töpfereikunst, Katanaschwertern und traditioneller Matchazeremonie war das Angebot sehr vielseitig. Der Unterricht war strukturiert und interaktiv mit vielen Gruppenübungen. Besonders haben mir der kulturelle Sprachaustausch mit japanischen Studenten von lokalen Unis gefallen. Merci vilmal und bis bald. Euer Ben
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Susan MillerAustralia · October 29, 2026
Clear Curriculum and Patient Teachers!
I took Chinese online classes and had a great experience. The course is well-structured, moving step by step from pinyin to grammar and conversation. Teachers are patient, correct pronunciation carefully, and give plenty of speaking practice. The schedule is flexible and recordings are useful. My listening and speaking improved noticeably.
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Giulia FerrariItaly · October 29, 2026
Excellent Chinese Course in Hangzhou – Highly Recommended!
I recently completed a class course with That's Mandarin in Hangzhou, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. The teachers are professional, patient, and genuinely passionate about helping students improve. Class sizes are small, so everyone gets plenty of attention and chances to speak. The staff are friendly and supportive, and the learning atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging. My Chinese has improved significantly in a short time. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn Chinese in Hangzhou!
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Antonio D'ErcoleItaly · October 29, 2026
One of the best experiences with Bolivar Education
An extraordinary experience that enriched me deeply. The team was welcoming, well-organized, and driven by authentic values. Knowing that you are making a tangible difference makes every moment truly worthwhile. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make an impact