Legal Aide Volunteer Programs in Africa

During my stay, I had the privilege of being accompanied by Magister, who helped me find accommodation and two internships. Thanks to the organization, I was able to take part in many activities and meet people in the same situation as me, making friends who became family over time. From the beach to the Cape of Good Hope, from the Kruger Park to parachute jumping, the Magister network will do everything to make your stay unforgettable.

I had the best time ever in South Africa. I came there for school and enjoyed every minute overthere. Nicky is the kindest person I ever met. When I broke she took care of everything. Visited me in the hospital, drove taxi for me when needed and contacted me every day. I would advise everyone to join magister.

I previously participated in a trip abroad to represent my country abroad in the field of art and music, and we got third place in singing. I am a girl who loves to travel and help others, especially since I am a doctor. I am used to caring about the health of others. I strive to volunteer in many fields

We recently had a chat with Ryan, who volunteered at Nkosi’s Haven for a month. Ryan had worked in business development for several charitable organisations, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which has a strong relationship to Nkosi’s Haven. This helped him get involved as a volunteer and put his experience as a fundraiser to use at the project centre. As he explains: “Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS is the fundraising arm of the Broadway industry and community. Each year, they raise close to $20 million, mostly through fundraisers and donations related to the Broadway shows.” The money is then granted out to AIDS service organisations, mostly in the US, but they do have a very special grant category that goes to South Africa. That’s because the Lion King is one of the longest running Broadway shows, it’s phenomenal, and a huge number of the actors in the show and the dancers come from South Africa. “The Lion King also helps raise millions and millions of dollars for Broadway Cares. So, years and years ago, they decided it was only right and only fair that a considerable amount of money be given back to NGOs in South Africa. They have about 20 different grantees in South Africa that get money from Broadway Cares. Nikosi’s Haven is one of the most well-known, most beloved ones, and for good reason. It’s got heart.” “There's a lot of need there, and I think they look towards volunteers as being able to temporarily fill those needs, whether it's something as simple as attention, or playing with kids, or tutoring them, or even better, just bringing special skills to improve their lives, like business marketing to help the organisation grow. I was immediately at home, I always felt like I was wanted there." “So when I was travelling, I decided I wanted to spend about a month volunteering. Nikosi’s Haven came to mind, so I got in touch with Vocational Impact and they welcomed me with open arms.” “I was pretty clear on what I wanted to do, I said : I have this fundraising and business experience and with your permission I'd like to help you with whatever fundraising programmes you have or if you don't have any we can talk about starting one up" “I arrived with some idea of how I wanted to help, and instantly helped Gail create a direct mail campaign to their existing donors.” “We also built something called Nikosi’s Angels, which is a programme for people to give at a moderate level and become Angels. In the evenings, I spent about two hours doing tutoring with some of the older kids.” While Ryan was discussing his work, he also mentioned the freedom the project offers volunteers: “ It's up to each volunteer to really take initiative and create whatever you want to create. if you want to get behind social media, or compliance and policy then there is an opportunity for you. If you want to help with fundraising and corporate CSR, then jump right in." As we all know, no volunteer opportunity is perfect. Ryan also informed us of one of the more difficult aspects of volunteering at Nkosi’s Haven. “When they’re on campus, it can feel a little isolating because you don’t have a car there. You can get Uber, and I would recommend getting Uber so you can take it to the nearest mall if you just need a break. But I was so busy with helping that I got stuck right in and the time actually went by really quickly.” However, at the end of the day, Ryan said what made the Haven the perfect fit for him was how he immediately felt at home “I was in touch with Vocational Impact just by email for a month and a half or two months before I went. They prepared me with documents and background information. This meant I could make a start almost instantly. Everyone who walks in those doors is fully embraced by everyone, by the students, by the kids, by the staff.” “I arrived and there was lunch set up for me, and then they took me around on a tour of the place. I think it's hard for anyone to show up there and not get this overwhelming sense of love and community, you're just embraced".

"Vocational Impact really helped set up my placement and tailored the topics to my specific degree requirements. No other volunteer organization provides this level of support." See below the different tasks you can get involved with. Get in touch with Vocational Impact and they provide all the support you need. Not to be missed! a) Develop a template to track financial situation & received funds. How can this inform future revenue predictions? b) Create a template for their yearly annual plan that can be used in the future, and complete 2019. c) Evaluation and risk management. How we can measure both? d) Assist with policy design by department - They have very basic ones and there’s an opportunity to add or ‘re-design’ e) Identify a business problem and craft a plan to solve this problem. Act as a consultant. f) Develop a plan to increase donors for the charity through fundraising. Document progress, challenges and plan of action. g) Create a plan to find new corporate partners. How do you make that connection with corporates and start accessing CSR budgets? h) Getting all compliant ready. One of the main challenges of starting new corporate relationships, where there is a high emphasis on compliance, is international charities are really struggling to keep up with compliance demands. i) Develop a centralised data system for monitoring, evaluating & information storage. This will include a list of policies, compliance, contacts, processes, action plans… so information can be drawn easily. j) Design performance and evaluation documentation for staff k) Workable Programmes for children during the holidays (i.e. based on budgets) and bearing in mind that the caregivers are not the most creative and energetic.

In November 2018, Portsmouth University International Development student Satara spent 4 weeks at our project in Johannesburg, living and working at Nkosi’s Haven, a community that supports HIV/AIDS affected mothers and children. During the time at Nkosi’s Haven, Satara had a large role working and helping with the admin task in the office. I assisted with researching and writing letters for fundraising. I took part in the celebrations of World AIDS day. I learned from being in the heart of a working and active internationally renowned charity. I observed and learned about how tasks are completed and how often resources are split, when they are limited by funds. Satara had a great time working alongside Gail, the founder and director of Nkosi’s Haven. Gail took time out of her extremely busy day to make sure I knew what I was doing and if I had any questions. There were constantly little feet running in and out of the office, it was so sweet, some of them were extremely cheeky and were constantly looking for a biscuit on your desk or a sweet in your bag. I definitely learned to work independently and persevere. I was working to update the system in which they send enquiring funding letters. Their system was very out of date and needed to be made practical and modern. For a student studying International Development such as I am, it is very important to have an idea on how an internationally known organisation such as Nkosi’s Haven struggles with funding. Whilst I was there, they were deperate for funders and it gave me a great insight into the process that they had to go through to achive fund to stay afloat. I was also able to build confidence when talking to all levels of people internally, from the Founding Director, the on-site nurses, social workers, funders, and everyone in between, helping my communication skills and time management experience. Nkosi’s Haven provides a lot of opportunities to learn from the inside of an internationally known charity. It is full of friendships and love. The children show you the future of acceptance of HIV/AIDS, they showed me the determination despite their disease to achieve their dreams. I got to see the how the internal medical ward worked, sat in the office when meetings with partners and funders and even experienced events held by Nkosi’s Haven. To volunteer at Nkosi's Haven is to see the future of South Africa, inclusivity and diversity. I believe everyone should participate in volunteering, especially in South Africa. I also got to watch Gail, the founder of Nkosi’s Haven present the children’s peace prize held in Cape Town. Gail’s son was the first recipient of the prize and now years on she is still pursuing his dream and pushing his message on. Showing the world that AIDS should be prevented but also accepted. It was great work experience and really opened my mind to the rest of the world. I can use the experience to apply to practical examples when I start applying for work. I am continuing my work with Nkosi’s Haven as part of my year placement at Vocational Impact. I am helping them with their international development efforts, including assisting with crucial fundraising and engaging funders so Nkosi’s Haven can continue the amazing work they do by providing a safe Haven for those affected by HIV/AIDS.

How has it been since you returned from Nkosi's haven? It has been a slightly strange transition, from working full-on, every day in South Africa, to suddenly returning to a normal pace of life. But I guess this is the experience I was looking for, real work-experience. I felt that the few weeks I was there wasn’t long enough, and in hindsight, wish I had gone for double the time. But it’s hard to know this before you go, and there is lots to consider too, like costs and what the day-to-day demands will be like. I think I would have been able to get more stuff done if I had gone for longer. It would be a completely different experience if you go for 4 weeks instead of 2. I still have lots of plans and ideas in my head, that I would have loved to explore whilst I was in Johannesburg. Vocational Impact really helped set up my placement and tailored the topics to my specific degree requirements. No other volunteer organization provides this level of support. But it isn’t just the 2 weeks I went, I wanted to continue to work with the project even after I had left and offer them continued support of the amazing work that they do at Nkosi’s Haven. I didn’t want to just leave a project in the middle, once I had started it so being able to continue supporting from the UK is a really great part of this placement and means I can continue to gain valuable work-experience in a real-life environment. There was some elements that I didn’t want to rush, just to fit them in, so I have offered to continue my placement from the UK. You can see the time spent at Nkois’s Haven as your in-country placement and when you return you can continue the work, but remotely. So when you arrived, it sounded like you had to hit-the-ground-running? The first few days were good. I was introduced to everyone, and then rested after the long days of travel. I understand what was meant by feeling a bit isolated in the first few days, as it’s all so new, and overwhelming. Vocational Impact checked in on me every day, and helped me settle in as well as the in-country team. It can feel quite strange, as you don’t really know anyone, and nobody really knows you. It can feel strange as you’ve never been there before. I was prepared for this, as Vocational Impact really helped prepare me, we had a pre-departure call, and they sent lots and lots of information. Then it was the total opposite when a big corporate event happened at Nkosi’s Haven with over 100 volunteers there to work with the 50+ children. It was madness but really enjoyable to see everyone in action and the Haven so alive. Meeting the corporate partners was really interesting, and understanding how they help Nkosi's Haven. It was a very humbling part of the process. The corporate partners are a lifeline for NGOs. They not only provide essential donations, they also bring expertise and security. Understanding this relationship was really eye-opening. The history of the relationship, how it came about, the length of time they had been involved and how they supported. They bought 30-40 cases of donations, toys, clothes, and books. Corporate donors always get heavily criticised for the mistakes they make, and never get enough recognition for the good work they do, so it was really nice to see the direct impact of the corporate relationship. CSR is often seen as a box ticking / PR exercise, but seeing the corporate relationship in action encouraged me to make others aware that they do do good, and they are making a difference. And they do actually care. So I thought, how do you encourage another relationship like this? If there were 2 or 3 more corporate partners, then Nkosi’s Haven would be in a much more secure financial position. So I made this part of my placement, how do you make that connection with corporates and start accessing CSR budgets? Is it a case of reaching out to certain people? Or is it who you know? Getting compliant ready. Reaching out to South African based corporates to access donations Vocational Impact really helped me understand this better, as they have years of experience working with corporates and international development. It was great to learn about how to create these relationships and how the volunteer fee’s they create, form a big part of the donations received by their partner projects; including Nkosi’s Haven. One of the main challenges of starting new corporate relationships, where there is a high emphasis on compliance, is international charities are really struggling to keep up with compliance demands. This is where Vocational Impact volunteers have been stepping in and making a real impact. Volunteers have been helping Nkosi's Haven with policy, compliance, accounts, budgets, website content, marketing and policies. This is where the real need is, and this is where students are able to apply their university education and support. I was working on monitoring and evaluating for Nkosi’s Haven, as suggested by the Chairman of the charity. It was a big list, of policies, compliance, which is a wonderful idea, but how do you put that into place at somewhere like Nkosi’s Haven, when they literally don’t have any time? I felt like I was in the thick of it, based in the central office, where the phone is constantly ringing, there are children in and out, staff in and out, trying to keep all these people happy. This is why it’s so amazing what Vocational Impact are doing, supporting the running, the business and marketing needs through the volunteers they send. They prepare all the volunteers individually, set them up with a tailored project that is mutually beneficial to both Nkosi’s Haven and the student volunteer applying their degree subject in a real life situation. Both parties are benefitting from the relationship. Plus, they provide essential funding to Nkosi’s Haven, which will grow as the volunteer numbers grow. Educated young people absolutely can step in and fulfil this need. They can physically and mentally support an international charity that is fighting every day for the rights of children with HIV/AIDS. Nkosi’s Haven have fallen into the dangerous trap where international volunteers were costing them money, rather than receiving anything for hosting. There are many volunteer organisations out there that do not send a single £ or $ to the hosting organisation. They have since stopped working with all other volunteer organisations, and recognise the Vocational Impact programmes as the most beneficial, with funding and providing educated students. It takes the strain away from Nkosi’s Haven, with their business demands ever increasing and volunteers being able to provide support. Vocational Impact want to increase volunteer numbers for Nkosi’s Haven. Another one of the challenges at Nkosi’s Haven is that there is so much information, all over the world, from people that have helped over the years, and it hasn’t all been drawn together. They would really benefit from a centralised data system and storage so information can be drawn easily. Because of the resource struggles, the communication between Nkosi’s Haven and the outside world is compromised. There is so much media published around Gail and around Nkosi and the whole history of Nkosi Johnson. It was making world headlines. So many positive stories. They need a social media strategy, and consistent content uploaded onto their social media channels, this is the perfect project for a business and/or marketing student to work on. One of the kids could be taught how to handle this, which also provides skills to the residents of the Haven. They have lots of work to do on their compliance, and policies, and this is a project that a law student, or international development student could work on. It was amazing the pre-departure information Vocational Impact sent me, it was so accurate to what I ended up doing on my placement, and helped me understand the type of projects Nkosi's Haven were focusing on and where I could jump in and help with straight away. I was given free-reign and was told ‘if you see a gap, go right ahead and explore’. I’ve done business for 4 years, and it’s all about how to present yourself, pitch ideas, but going to Nkosi’s Haven was the real deal, there was freedom to make an instant impact. I started working on a marketing strategy, and then moved onto a strategy document that bought in all the elements and highlighted areas of growth and how to overcome challenges. One of the great things is handing over these to the next volunteer, who can then put their mark on it. By the end of the summer, Nkosi’s Haven will have received constant help, from business students. By the time I finished my placement, I had completed an online marketing strategy, and a strategy report as well as templates that Gail could use for writing policies and updating compliance. How would you say, overall, the experience was? Did you feel you made an impact? Did you learn? Did the experience match your expectations? It’s hard to form expectations about volunteering abroad. I’d never been to South Africa, I didn’t have much context. But this meant I was kept on my toes the entire time. When you learn about business in the classroom, you aren’t always sure if you would be able to put it into practice, but this experience showed me that I was capable, and able to make decisions. There were ups and downs, but I’m so pleased I did it. Especially as it it feeds into my masters degree in International Management and Leadership, where we had to find an international project with a business problem and solve it, it was also about project management and self-reflection. This placement certainly ticked all those boxes. I had to present my plans to volunteer at Nkosi’s Haven to my lecturer to get it approved, which it was. I found the business placement a very humbling and worthwhile experience. It was the first chance I've had to put all my education and learning into real-life. Working with a charity, I think, is one of the best ways to focus your business skills, as at the start of your career, you want to know about each part of a working organisation. And charities you need to be able to help with all sorts of things, and be prepared to try anything. You can then start to focus more, when you know what specific area of business you want to pursue. How did you find your placement? I fundraised. I actually found that one of the most challenging parts but a really rewarding experience. It is hard to get money off of people, which then gave me the understanding of how hard it is for charities to raise essential donations. There is a big parallel between personal fundraising and organisational fundraising. It’s really challenging, but this possibly is where I learned the most about business and gave me so much experience about how money works and how people think about money. It’s something Vocational Impact really help with and they knew how to support me. Fundraising is a really good skill to add to your CV, that you are able to fundraise as it shows your communication skills, planning and persistence. Any employer would snap you up. It's a huge personal achievement Nkosi's Haven, Johannesburg So what's next? I wrap up my masters degree, and I’ve been offered a job in London. but I don’t think I’ll take that one. I think I’m going to accept a year place on a programme in New York, that starts in August.

I spent three months interning in Cape Town, South Africa, and it will forever be some of the best months of my life. I gained valuable experience in my field while working for a human rights organization and in the South African Parliament, all while experiencing the unique culture of South Africa and making lifelong friends! Looking for internships is hard, and I didn’t even know where to start after deciding on Cape Town. Thankfully, Connect-123 was there throughout the entire process! Robyn and the crew at Connect-123 helped me find the perfect internship. They also set up my housing before I arrived and met with me when I got to Cape Town to ensure I was settling in! They were always just a call away if I needed anything, and while I never had a single issue during my three months in Cape Town, knowing that they were there if anything should go wrong was reassuring. Connect-123 also set up different events and excursions for all of the interns which was a great way to experience new and unique things that South Africa had to offer. I wouldn’t trade my months in Cape Town for anything, and I’m glad I now have a home away from home in my favorite city in the world.

I had a time of my life i just want live the real life, compartir my time in this moment with real people. See other culture, expand my mind, compartir saberes, be a friend and connect with people a través the universal awareness.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewMarch 24, 2019

Hi Rebeca,<br/>Thank-you so much for this enthusiastic review of our programs. We completely agree that volunteering is a fantastic way to connect with people and travel around the world doing humanitarian work.<br/>Thanks again for being a part of what we do here at Love Volunteers.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

Tirana is a safe, interesting city with lots of places to visit and eat. The people are very respectful and friendly and transportation in the city is excellent. Albania is country full of history, with a variety of museums to visit, from history to art. There are a variety of restaurants, cafés and bars where you can eat and relax. The people are very relaxed and polite. Altin was very friendly and kindly provided airport pickup and departure. He also recommended places to visit. Maria is a lovely lady who cares deeply for animals and there is some really crucial work being done at the shelter such as sterilisation, rehabilitation and adoptions. There are too many animals at the shelter and not enough people to ensure all the dogs for example have enough environmental enrichment and exercise but of course I understand this is difficult and differs from country to country and hopefully will begin to change as the attitude improves toward animal welfare in Albania. TIPS: Make sure you go out into the city and sample traditional Albanian food, visit the attractions such as the museums. As for the project don't be afraid to suggest doing certain things, such as taking the dogs in the clinic outside for exercise as well as interacting and spending time with as many of the dogs as you can. Maria is very open and will listen to suggestions. Cleaning the shelter takes up a lot of time, however there are staff employed at the shelter which gives volunteers time for this crucial interaction.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewMarch 28, 2019

Dear Rhys,<br/>Thank-you for this amazing review of our Animal Welfare program in Tirana, Albania. Your care for animals is so apparent in this account and your contribution on the program was highly valued by the local team.<br/>Reading reviews such as yours provides future volunteers an invaluable insight into volunteering and the crucial role that they can play in areas where help is so desperately needed.<br/>How amazing to be involved in such a rewarding project whilst staying in a city as historical and beautiful as Tirana! Great tips btw!<br/>Thanks again for your contribution to the program for being an amazing Love Volunteer!<br/>From all of us at The Team @ Love Volunteers

It was a rewarding experience to work in Bamenda. It is not easy but worth it. Having worked in a few other charitable places, I found it much harder to work here. But the people still benefit from your help. Cameroon is a poor country when seen from a volunteer's point of view. I have traveled in many parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America and Asia but I was very sad to see the state of Cameroon in the 21st century. People are extremely lovely, especially the ones in English speaking part of Cameroon! It might have something to do with the fact that I don't speak French! Although there was a conflict going on in Bamenda at the time, it does not affect you as far as you stay away from the no-go regions. Be prepared for a little corruption (I had to pay a small bribe at the airport for bringing in my own local anaesthetic cartridges). There are no fast food chains or anything similar in Bamenda. I found one local restaurant in Douala which had similar standards as a standard western outlet. Otherwise most other eateries are not the cleanest. Home cooked food at my homestay was good. The project I worked on was well managed and organised. I had some help from the Cameroonian counterparts, but not a lot till I arrived there. Once I arrived and people realized how serious I was about helping and then things went smoothly. My host cooked some lovely meals for me every day. The meals are simple but delicious. don't expect sweets/ puddings everyday. Usually you will eat only twice a day. The homestay is very safe. The toilet and bathroom is basic but acceptable. Your host will have a means of transport (motor bike) and he will take you around anywhere you need to go. My host was extremely helpful and went out of his way to help me in achieving my goals. TIPS: 1) Don't be put off by the news. Your in-country organisers will take good care of you and make sure you are safe. 2) Be prepared for serious poverty, especially when it comes to resources, such as medical consumables, stationary etc. If possible, bring your own supplies. 3) The town of Bamenda has very few roads and thus it gets very dusty. Take wet wipes with you! 4) some of the standards of cross infection in the hospitals might not be up to scratch. Put your foot down and demand better standards (you might have to carry a few consumables yourself, such as gloves, masks and hand sprays).

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 30, 2019

Dear Sagar,<br/><br/>We can't thank-you enough for your contribution as a qualified dentist on the medical program in Cameroon. As you yourself know well it's a challenge getting things done in Africa and it's a testament to your commitment that you were able to achieve so much during your time in Bamenda.<br/><br/>This review is hugely valuable in letting potential volunteers know about the difficulties and the rewards of volunteering in Cameroon and we appreciate the time you have taken to share your experiences and your continued support of upcoming volunteers.<br/><br/>Thanks again and we wish you all the very best for your dental career and hope to have you join us again in the future if you are able.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

The experience was good. I felt that we enhanced the program they are already running, especially for younger volunteers. Sr Lanka is a beautiful country. The people are friendly and welcoming. The staff were organised and easy to speak with. They are well suited to the position. TIPS: Have some ideas, songs and activities organised for the age group. If you can take some English picture books as they have very few and this would enhance the children’s learning.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 28, 2019

Hi Karen,<br/>Thanks so much to you and your daughter for the wonderful contribution you both made on our Education Support program in Badulla, Sri Lanka. You absolutely enhanced the lives of the children, both through your teaching and the thrill that having you with them brought to their daily lives.<br/>Thanks also for taking the time to provide this feedback and advice to future volunteers - much appreciated!<br/>All the very best to you both. The Team @ Love Volunteers

It was my first-time volunteering abroad and by myself. I have already been involved in several humanitarian projects, but this was a brand-new experience. Volunteering in a developing country, 10 000 km from my home taught me a lot of new things. Helping people in need while I am myself losing my bearings in a new environment made me more mature and allowed me to discover myself more. Working with children also taught me to be patient. South Africa is a beautiful country with amazing landscapes and places to see. Local people were very nice. I was also struck by the inequalities in South Africa and the water shortage situation there at the time. TIPS: Rent a car if you have a driver's licence. Bring warm clothes during winter. Stay open minded and be patient.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 28, 2019

Dear Noëmie,<br/>Volunteering abroad is a challenging and rewarding experience and you have summed up the combination wonderfully in your review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your time in beautiful Cape Town and want to thank-you for your time and effort on the Social Welfare program that tackles the inequalities you mention in this diverse city.<br/>We wish you all the best for your future travels and hope to have you join us again.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers<br/>

My general impression is that I loved the volunteer program. South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It is rich in culture, food, and wildlife. I am very content with my project and staff. Everyone was generous and willing to teach. The staff really made my volunteering experience enjoyable. My tips for the other volunteers is to come with an open mind and to be open to new experiences.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 28, 2019

Hi Jazmin,<br/>We couldn't have put it better ourselves: an open mind and flexible attitude is absolutely what make a great volunteer! Thanks for your commitment to the Medical Internship program in Cape Town, South Africa and for taking the time to share your experience.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers<br/>

Fantastic first impression of volunteering. Personally rewarding and I was left with a real impression that we had made a difference by being there, both at the school and with the handicapped children - who were utterly delighted to see us each day. Amongst the 10 volunteers onsite we had a real connection that also made it incredibly enjoyable both at the school and back at the house. This will not always be the case, but for me, this was another highlight! See my comments below, but I would highly recommend Love Volunteers for facilitating this incredible experience. Badulla was a super-friendly place, aided by the fact that there were no other tourists, and wherever we went people smiled, honked their Tuk Tuk horns etc. I will never forget these smiles In the more touristy places, however, this was not the same, but the people remained very friendly. Another good example is that the public buses were very friendly as few tourists use them. I suppose this is the ""progress"" you get from tourism and so we were probably utterly spoilt in Badulla. That said, the people were super friendly if you consider the conditions in which many of them live, and for this reason it does make them pretty exceptional as a nation. I would whole-heartedly recommend Srti Lanka to friends and family :-) Shivanthi, the volunteer coordinator in Badulla, was the sweetest person you could ever imagine meeting - there was not an irritated or nasty bone in her body and she was so incredibly helpful, hospitable and just plain nice. This was not commercially-driven, it was just her nature. TIPS: Be open in your new environment and feel free to immerse yourself and try things you never realized you knew you could do! Always carry a smile with you into each day and above all enjoy the experience as your enjoyment is felt by those around you

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewFebruary 04, 2019

Dear Chris,<br/>We really appreciate you taking the time to share this wonderful review of the education program in Sri Lanka. It's extremely helpful to potential volunteers to hear advice and feedback from volunteers like yourself.<br/>Thank-you for your dedication to the children and your polite and friendly nature to everyone you met. I'm not surprised that there was such great camaraderie between the volunteers on-site with you.<br/>We hope to have you join us again in the future - until then we wish you well in all you do.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

Volunteering was a highly satisfying and challenging experience. Everyone I worked with was warm and welcoming. My only regret was that I missed two days of construction work and that there was no way for me to makeup the time I missed working on the house, which leaves me with a feeling of unfinished business. The environment is clean to an almost shocking degree. The people are extremely kind and welcoming. Rwanda is the most community-oriented and forward-thinking country I've ever been to. The project was appropriately challenging and satisfying to complete. All the staff were extremely receptive and supportive. No complaints. TIPS: - When working with wet mud, wear the tightest gloves available, as wearing looser gloves causes mud to buildup on them and makes your job more difficult than it needs to be - Learn to say "Good morning," "Good evening," "Thank you," "Sorry," "May I help you?," "You're welcome," "Yes" and "No" in Kinyarwanda before arriving, as these are basically all the things you've ever need to say or understand - Drink lots of water - Visit Akagera National Park! - The project center has wifi, but it only works well early in the morning, so do all internet-related things in the morning.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewFebruary 04, 2019

Hi Mateo,<br/>Fantastic to see your commitment to the house-building construction program in Rwanda! Please don't worry about missing a few days as your input on the other days was significant. The local staff really can't achieve what they do without the aid of dedicated volunteers like yourself.<br/>Thanks so much for sharing your tips which will assist further volunteers on this program - and hopefully encourage others.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

The children were a pleasure to work with and having seen their living conditions, I believe that the local team makes a real difference to their lives! I hope they will keep up with their amazing work, but it would also be amazing to see that the lives of their employees improve through their honest work, not just charity of other people.. The country is absolutely beautiful and lush green due to frequent rains (the rainy season lasts 9 months a year! Whilst Rwamangana district is a poverty stricken area and people are hardly managing to get by, the country's capital is up to date with the modern world. There is a lot of contrast between how people live. The country is super safe and I wasn't even scared to walk by myself after dark, the people are very trustworthy. On the other side people are a little reserved and not very smiley unless they get to know you. As mentioned above, the staff were amazing and the project was very rewarding. I was overwhelmed on numerous occasions by the poverty in the area which was very, very obvious - which made me admire the staff even more. All of them are incredibly patient and also dedicated to the mission of the charity. TIPS: bring rainproof outwear bring good shoes - there is a lot of mud here when it rains! learn a few phrases in Kinyarwanda to break the ice don't expect the local people to speak English be very patient - the pace of life is very slow :)

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 31, 2019

Dear Beata,<br/>Thank-you for this frank and informative review of volunteering in Rwanda. It's fantastic to hear volunteers testify about how safe they felt and how friendly and welcoming the staff and locals are. It's often a concern for potential volunteers and, although we at LV can provide assurances, there's nothing like hearing it direct from a volunteer.<br/>Your description of the beautiful countryside and frequent rain gives readers a great image of the country - quite different to what they may have expected.<br/>Thank-you so much for giving so generously of your time to the amazing community of Rwamagana. The dedicated staff couldn't do what they do without volunteers like you and we and they say a heartfelt THANKS!<br/>The Team @ Love Volutneers<br/>

This was an absolutely amazing program! I felt completely at home and everyone treated us very well. I felt safe the entire time and the people at the program were always there to help and answer any questions I had. It was the most amazing time of my life and I cannot wait to do it again. Everything in Rwanda was perfect and the childcare and development program opened my eyes to a new sense of the world and changed my life completely in a good way. I will never forget all the amazing people I have met there, and I look forward to doing it again. The country was absolutely breath-taking, everything is so beautiful and safe and really opened my eyes to a new perspective.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 31, 2019

Hi Emilie,<br/>What a joy it is to read this review of your time in Rwanda and feel how much it meant to you to be there and to interact with the children.<br/>Life is Rwanda is so very different from what we are used to and it's wonderful that you enjoyed every minute and can't wait to go back!<br/>We love volunteers like you with a passion for helping and experiencing different cultures and embracing the way of life in poor communities.<br/>We look forward to having you back with us again in the future!<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

My experience with Love Volunteers has truly been great. During my stay in Cusco I've been able to recieve a lot of love from the locals, the hosts and especially the kids. I will never regret this decision, nor will I ever forget this experience. If you do have the chance to go, just do it! Going to Peru had been a dream of mine for quite some time and it was all that I had imagined and more. There are poverty and a lot of noise and differcies to what I'm used to but there are also so much beauty to take in, interesting culture, great food and many wonderful people. At arrival I got some briefing which was very helpful. Whenever I've been in doubt or had any questions, I was able to turn to our contact person and there I got my answers within a short amount of time. The hosts were wonderful. I was able to stay in Cusco for two months and it really did feel like my home away from home. I must admit though that knowing some Spanish is very helpful, also when communicating with the staff or at the project. About the project I'd say that at first it was a bit challenging to know how to assist and help out in the best way, but the kids opened up immediately and it was easy to just love them and try to be there for them. TIPS: This is an experience that you won't regret, you will build relationships that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. To be able to get out the most of it I'd advice you to try to pick up on some Spanish before you go since most don't really speak English. Also, if you are able to stay a bit longer then do it. I went for two months and honestly wish I'd stayed a bit longer. There are some wonderful people out there and also great things to see!

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 31, 2019

HI Anna,<br/>What a fantastic account of your time volunteering with the children in Cusco, Peru!<br/>You so accurately sum up the benefits of volunteering over being a tourist: not least of all the support that is available throughout your preparations and while in-country, from the moment you are met on arrival at the airport. Another benefit of course is staying with a host family which is such an absolutely wonderful way to improve your Spanish skills and see what real life in Cusco is like for the locals. Rather than skimming the surface as a tourist, volunteers dig deeper and as a result enjoy an experience that's so much more memorable and rewarding.<br/>We agree that knowing some Spanish is essential when volunteering in Cusco - and every volunteer's Spanish improves markedly during their placement! <br/>Muchas gracias for the generous contribution of time and energy you gave to this program and to the wonderful children.<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers

I absolutely loved Nicaragua, Granada, and Carita Feliz! The people I encountered were friendly and helpful. Granada is a beautiful town. The security is unbelievable. To think that men can stand on the corners outside banks and other stores with wads of money, cordobas and dollars, and make fair exchanges is incredible...would never happen in Washington, DC or Bethesda!!!! I found travel very easy, once I got informed. I took taxis, chicken bus, and local minibuses and the ferry. Very impressed with the promptness, much better public transportation than DC. On the weekend I had the opportunity to go to Ometepe, Merida on the smaller half to the island, the peaceful surroundings, kayaking, walking, enjoying the sunset, just the perfect setting. I guess I pretty much answered this above. At Ometepe I was told that 40% of the country’s energy is renewable. I saw wind farms and solar panels being used. People told me that the energy was being sold to neighbouring countries and they were a little frustrated about who might be benefiting from the sales. A lot of roads were in very good condition. A particular highlight was that El Berrinche Ambiental was having their 9th annual week together, always in Granada. It is an international group of street performers committed to the environment. Their week entailed learning from each other, working with the local community-especially the kids, and performances every night where they again engaged the community. I was so spoiled. My understanding is that the two main coordinators are social workers at Casa de las Botellas. It was such a delight to watch them interact with the kids. One night I got included in the show with 3 clowns competing for my affection, fun. Carita Feliz was absolutely the highlight of my trip. Meylin, Ivania, other staff, and the children have left a lasting impression. One feels the love just walking into the building. All the kids and adults just seem so comfortable and everyone contributes to making the community center a place of welcome, education, exercise, and health. Shantall Cerda was very attentive and helpful. She showed me around the town, took me to Carita Feliz, introduced me to my family, helped me set up Spanish classes. TIPS: Changing money-yes, you can trust the guys on the street to give you a fair exchange. Look up the current exchange rate before you go out just to confirm. Use the local transport, but if you're taking a chicken bus get there early if you want a seat. We were at least 15 minutes early for a 0630 trip to Rivas and got 3 of the last 5 seats. If you're catching a local minibus the guy will grab you on, push you in and the bus may start moving before you really realize your on, very efficient, similar dismount, don't fall. The Convento de San Francisco gives a great overview of the history and culture of the town including a huge relief map...a great orientation. I felt very safe walking around the town. Cafe Sonrisa is a great place to get coffee or breakfast. Staff is deaf and mute so just point to the menu. Very welcoming. Also make hammocks. Garden Cafe is great. Eskimo has wide selection of ice cream, sundaes and banana splits for a hot afternoon. Just sitting in the Plaza Central relaxing is delightful.

Love Volunteers responded to this reviewJanuary 31, 2019

Hi Hope,<br/>Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful review of our Childcare program in Granada. Safety is a big concern for many of our volunteers when volunteering abroad and it's fantastic that they are able to read accounts from volunteers like you confirming that you felt comfortable and secure throughout. <br/>I can feel the enjoyment you experienced from embracing the local way of life, taking public transport, joining in the camaraderie of the street performers (wow, that sounds amazing!) and exploring the islands. That's exactly the way we hope all volunteers will spend their free time.<br/>What also comes across is your passion and commitment to the children and the centre and we can't thank you enough for giving your time and energy so generously to this program.<br/>We hope that you will join us again one day and wish you all the very best for your future adventures!<br/>The Team @ Love Volunteers