Reviews
Read Thousands of Real Reviews from Past Program Participants.
GoAbroad's reviews come straight from past participants and alumni, giving you honest insights on everything from housing to local life to program support. Each review is verified and vetted so you can find out what any program is really like—and find the one that fits you best!
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2 months Hokkaido with Meiji
March 11, 2026Aida Kowalski - NetherlandsProvider: Meiji Academy
Program: Study Japanese in Hokkaido
I simply loved it. The Japanese lessons were fun with a lot of group practices and focus on communication. The grammar lessons were sometimes a bit intense but a lot of rehearsals and sample sentences practices helped for tricky grammar chapters a lot. I recommend going out of your comfort zone and engaging with Japan is the best solution to improve your Japanese. My fellow classmates were nice and I always hang out with them. I was even able to make friends at some of the language exchange and culturally events that Meiji organized. My recommendation is to stay at the share house as it is very affordable and it helps a lot to not get home sick and also make Japanese friends to practice your Japanese.
Meaningful engineering experience
March 11, 2026Carla Gabrielli - ItalyProvider: Community & Humanitarian Engineering
Program: Volunteer with Engineering Without Borders Argentina
I volunteered with ISF Argentina in 2018 and 2019, working on community projects mainly in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. The experience was incredibly rewarding because the projects were developed together with the local communities, ensuring the solutions were practical and sustainable. One of the highlights was a group trip to Santiago del Estero, where we visited very remote rural communities and worked on a rainwater harvesting project. The initiative focused on collecting rainwater and storing it in large cisterns, providing families with safe drinking water in areas where access is extremely limited. What I appreciated most about the program was the collaborative approach between volunteers, engineers, and community members. It was a great opportunity to apply engineering skills in a real-world humanitarian context while learning from the people directly affected by the projects. Overall, it was a meaningful experience that showed how engineering can create a real, positive impact in communities. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in humanitarian engineering or volunteering abroad.
Gold program
March 11, 2026Maryam Aifa - United StatesMy experience with this program was truly meaningful and life-changing. I felt welcomed by the community and learned so much through hands-on involvement, especially from the children, whose gratitude and respect left a lasting impression on me. The program was well-organized and supportive, making it easy to adapt and fully engage. Overall, it was a rewarding experience that helped me grow personally while making a positive impact. The support from the program staff and coordinators also made a significant difference. They were approachable, organized, and always willing to help whenever questions or concerns arose. This support system made me feel safe and reassured, especially while navigating a new environment. Knowing that guidance was always available allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience without fear or uncertainty. Overall, this program exceeded my expectations. It was not just a volunteering opportunity, but a life-changing journey that helped shape my outlook on the world and my role within it. I would highly recommend this program to anyone considering volunteering, especially those who are hesitant or unsure. While stepping into a new culture can feel intimidating at first, the growth, connections, and unforgettable memories that come from this experience are absolutely worth it. This program has left a lasting impact on me, and I will carry the lessons I learned here with me for the rest of my life.


Human Rights in Palestine with Ziad
March 11, 2026Sienna Rangi - New ZealandProvider: Go Palestine - The Palestinian Center
Program: Online Crash Courses - Law, Human Rights, Media in Palestine
I joined the Online Crash Course on Human Rights, and it was a very insightful experience. The course included three online sessions led by Ziad, a Palestinian lawyer based in Hebron. What made the course especially valuable is that Ziad works on the ground and deals directly with human rights cases. During the sessions, he explained the legal situation and the reality of human rights violations that Palestinians face in the area. One topic that really stood out to me was when he explained the situation in Masafer Yatta, where many Palestinian communities are facing displacement and legal challenges. Ziad shared detailed explanations about the legal processes, the challenges people face in the courts, and the broader human rights implications. Hearing about these issues directly from a lawyer who is actively working with affected communities made the sessions very powerful and real. The course was interactive, and I had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss different topics related to international law and human rights. It helped me better understand the complex reality on the ground. I highly recommend this online course to anyone interested in human rights, international law, or learning more about the situation in Palestine from someone who is directly involved in the field.
Building Community Through Engineering: My Experience with Engineers Without Borders
March 11, 2026Kathryn Lyons - United StatesProvider: Community & Humanitarian Engineering
Program: Volunteer with Engineering Without Borders Argentina
I just graduated with my degree in civil engineering and am studying Spanish in Córdoba, Argentina. I wanted to do volunteering related to my field of study and was really excited to find an Engineering Without Borders group in Córdoba. I have had the opportunity to volunteer on the project 'Salón Crece desde Abajo.' It's been an amazing experience of building relationships with the ISF team and engaging with the community through this project. I felt immediately welcomed into the group and have been able to have lots of hands-on experiences so far!

A committed and inspiring NGO
March 11, 2026Lila Bourdieu - FranceProvider: Community & Humanitarian Engineering
Program: Volunteer with Engineering Without Borders Argentina
I had a wonderful volunteering experience with Ingeniería Sin Fronteras Argentina. The team is welcoming and passionate, and the projects they carry out have a real impact on access to water and local communities.
A life-changing experience!
March 11, 2026Álvaro ROMERO - SpainProvider: Community & Humanitarian Engineering
Program: Volunteer with Engineering Without Borders Argentina
I collaborated with ISF-A back in 2020. My goal was to serve communities with my professional career so I contacted ISF-A. It was a real change in my life when I joined the team, not just due to the end goal of the project but because of working closely with communities, understanding how they live and which were the main pain points of their lives. It helped me to become, not only a better professional, but a better person. This, together with the amazing team ISF-A became this experience unforgettable.
Learning, culture, adventure
March 10, 2026Ben Mallinson - New ZealandProvider: Baladna Projects
I undertook a volunteer placement with Baladna Projects in 2013 assisting with coordinating community activities and excursions, and on environment and circular economy projects and initiatives. Living in Australia, spending time in Red Sea, with Baladna Projects was an amazing learning and experience. Thanks for the memories and valuable lessons taken. Ben.
It was totally amazing. I loved every minute!
March 10, 2026Helene Lambert - CanadaProvider: Volunteer Encounter
Program: Volunteer with Horses, Antelope Park
The horses were great, the work was fun and meaningful. The accommodations were very good, the food was nice and the housing perfect. The people who were in charge were great. Il loved doing soup kitchen for the homeless and going to the orphanage was very sad but it made so much sense. Overall I felt like I was on another planet than mine, completely overwhelmed by Zimbabwe and it’s reality. I definitely recommend this trip.
A “hard-reboot” for a a retired guy
March 10, 2026Geoff Dunn - United StatesProvider: Na'atik Language and Culture Institute
I am 69 and retired. I was fed up with my 5 years learning Spanish with DuoLingo. I determined I needed an immersion program to jolt me into being able to converse with others (I tried a tutor which helped but was still not enuf). So my adult daughter and I enrolled for the school in February 2026. She speaks Spanish much better than me but wanted to improve even more and we got to spend 11 days together, something we hadn’t done since she was a kid. Elizabeth was meticulous at providing information and making sure we understood how the program worked. To say this was a reboot for me is putting it mildly. During the weeklong classes (4 hrs/day for 5 days), activities in and around Carrillo, and living and eating with our very gracious and sweet host family, I finally became able to differentiate words when people spoke. And while I didn’t suddenly start speaking confidently I could finally see how that would happen. Being surrounded by people primarily speaking Spanish for 11 days made my mind to start thinking in Spanish. And now I find myself constructing sentences when I am idle and thinking how I would answer a question in Spanish. I have also stopped translating sentences. I cannot recommend Na’atik more highly. And both my daughter and I plan on going back for 2-4 weeks sometime in the next few years.
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