Community Development Volunteering in British Virgin Islands

Go Beyond helped me to have the two best summers of my life. I have created life long friends all over the country. I plan on going back to Go Beyond BVI next year. I also think that the BVI GB is extra special because of how we travel with Action Quest. We get to meet so many more kids that seem to all have similarities. Go Beyond has allowed me to meet people that I would have never come in contact with in my life, if I had not come. I have crated so many friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life. The service opportunities we had, ranged from building swing sets to catching turtles on Anagada. Each day was a new adventure that gave me insight to the lifestyle of the Islands. The trip helped me to see that I love the boat life, too. The British Virgin Islands mean so much to me, after going to Go Beyond these past two years.

On every project I could see the impact that we had on the community around us. The staff made the projects fun and always explained what we were doing with very good instructions.I learned so much on this trip. From sailing to projects, I left the BVI with so much more knowledge compared to when I got there. The environment that we were in allowed me to meet so many new friends.

I think the program ran super smoothly first and foremost. The counselors were fantastic and all of the adventures were exactly what I signed up for. I loved the small group dynamic as well I loved the group bonding experiences because it allowed me to feel more comfortable within the group and engage with others. I was also able to reflect about what I was doing while I was there which was unique and helped me really appreciate what I was doing. The group discussions helped me engage with myself and think about who I was and wanted to do. The best about it was that it had a great balance between service and fun exploring which is unique

The trip was overwhelmingly amazing! Being able to help the community provided such a big impact on my life. Knowing you can actually make a change is a feeling I will forever yearn for again. Very well organized and care and well being of the students is always the primary goal.

This trip gave me the opportunity to learn new things, see new places, and meet new people that I wouldn’t have other wise. The service projects brought us face to face with some of the most dire problems in these communities. I got to know the locals very well through them. It gave me the opportunity to itch my travel bug, do meaningful work, and make incredible new relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Ecuador and I believe that there are many things to be learned from it. It was an eye-opening experience for me, so I would hope that it would be the same for one of my friends. The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Although some of the projects might not have been as fun as the others, those were sometimes the most meaningful ones. LOVED the Galapagos excursions. Found myself eating the same types of foods over and over again, but once again the food exceeded my expectations. The guides were awesome. They were also a really good age to look after teenagers. Not too old to make them feel like parents, but also not too young and demanded our respect. They were not just looking after us, but they also wanted to make a difference which was motivating.

It is an incredible program where I discovered a lot about myself and my country, gained confidence, made life long lasting friends, and did community service that was tough but helped kids and a lot of people in different ways. Everything about GoBeyond was extremely good! I don't think there was ever anything bad.

My GoBeyond experience is something I know that I will remember and cherish forever. GoBeyond has introduced me to so many amazing people that have become my best friends from all over the world. Also, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new things or experience new ideas or concepts that I never imagined I could. The food varies in place to place depending on if we were in the Amazon, Galapagos, or Andes. The Galapagos had the best food because we got to out to eat and try new things and try traditional food, whereas the hotels or hostels fed us at the other places. There was also an excessive amount of fish that was served, and if it was possible it would be nice to change it up more often. The group discussions really helped me to find myself, and kind of discover not just who I am, but who I want to be. GoBeyond is great because it provides valuable life skills and experiences in a brand new place, with brand new people, and it teaches you things you never knew before, all while taking your breath away.