Volunteer Programs in West Bank, Palestine

My name is Genevieve and I'm a Physics PhD student from the United States. I came to the Excellence Center for one month to teach English and learn Arabic, but my experience encompasses so much more than that. I got to see the Old City of Hebron, witness discrimination against Palestinians by Israeli guards, and speak with people who endured physical violence perpetrated by the settlers and soldiers. The Excellence Center helped arrange for me to visit Ibrahimi Mosque, the glass factory, and the kuffiyeh factory. I also got to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Masafer Yatta. Everyone at the center was so warm and welcoming. We were served breakfast every day and often also enjoyed dinner with our hosts. Even the students I taught were welcoming. They sometimes gave me chocolates and were always so engaged and excited to learn. The apartment I lived in was comfortable and very close to the center. I never felt scared, even when walking alone at night as a woman. The locals always seem happy to chat with foreigners and give directions or recommendations. The local cuisine is also amazing and I'm excited to try making some of the new foods I tried here, like maqluba and sahlab. One of the most valuable parts of my experience here was getting to see the settler areas in Hebron and Masafer Yatta. Seeing the stark differences in infrastructure and quality of life between the Palestinian and settler areas was eye opening. Even though I'm sad to leave, I'm excited to be able to use my experience to educate others about what is actually happening in the West Bank. Since I'm from the luscious green pacific northwest in the US, I'm also very happy that I got to experience the natural landscape in Palestine. One of my students was kind enough to take me hiking and exploring a cave. I'm grateful that I got to have such a well rounded experience by meeting people of all ages, including students, working adults, journalists, and local human rights activists, hearing first-hand accounts of settler violence, and seeing different parts of the city including some nature. I will always remember the kind people I met here and their experiences with the occupation. My Arabic teacher Haya was extremely patient with me. I learned more Arabic from her in one month than i did in three months in America. My hosts Osama and Marwa were always kind and inviting despite having their hands full with four beautiful children. Even before I left, I was already trying to plan my next trip to visit Palestine again. The Excellence Center truly provides a unique life-changing experience and I'm so thankful to everyone I met here who welcomed me with open arms and helped me understand the local situation. I can't wait to come back and in the meantime I hope I can use my experience to support the Palestinian cause.

My name is Gina and I participated in the teaching English program. I stayed for over 2 months with a host family who were incredibly welcoming and made me feel at ease being a new place. At the centre I had Arabic lessons which really helped me to be able to communicate in the city and beyond, by the end of my stay I definitely had an understanding of the basics. I taught intermediate English to a group of young students over the summer and I think this was my favourite experience, I learnt a lot about Palestine through them. The Excellence Centre also organised many visits to areas of Palestine I wouldn’t have seen if travelling on my own. We had opportunities to meet many different types of people and listen to their stories. The tours around the old town of Hebron and surrounding areas were really interesting and I really value the shared experiences I had. It was wonderful to meet so many people from all over the world within the centre, there really was a varied group of volunteers, so a real cultural exchange. I made friends and we managed to travel around the country to Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and Jenin. The people of Palestine are incredibly kind and welcoming and there is a real sense of community here. I am sad to be leaving and would love to return soon so I can see the friends I made here. Thankyou to the Excellence Centre for giving me an experience to remember for a lifetime.

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

Hi, my name is Osmn, and I’m from Norway. I have a master degree in teaching and I work as a primary school teacher back home in Norway. I participated in the programme called Teach English & study Arabic for 4,5 weeks. At the excellence center I taught at two private funded schools, and also students who study English at the excellence center. It was great fun! I have also participated at the arranged trips they offer to experience different parts of the West Bank. I have had the best Arabic teacher I could have asked for. Saj’a is one of the most talented teachers I have met, and I have learned so much from her. Her way of teaching is inspiring and I will most definitely try to keep up with my Arabic when I go back home. The staff and teachers at the center are so lovely, and I have had so many great conversations with them. Teaching with Isaac was very interesting and I have learnt a lot from him. I have also enjoyed being with the other internationals very much. The male dorm was great. Good standards and a great place to chill. I felt very secure in Hebron, even with the ongoing tension. Most people here are so friendly and you will get a lot of invitations by people on the street to come join them for coffee. I suggest you do it! The food is of course amazing, especially compared to Norway. I will miss my daily falafel at the corner falafel place. I really enjoyed the programme, and I will most definitely recommend it, especially for teachers who want to experience teaching abroad. Me sjåast att!

My name is Donna-Maria Corr and I am from Ireland. I was on the Volunteer Teaching English and Learning Arabic programme for two months at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, Palestine. Part of my activities involved assisting some of the Palestinian teachers at the centre. The local teachers would teach English grammar rules through Arabic, to ensure that students had a good foundation and understanding of the grammatical rules before I would begin a practice session with the students. This was a helpful experience as I came to the centre with little teaching experience, and I believe that this helped increase my confidence in the classroom. I also enjoyed learning Arabic, and Marwa was a fantastic teacher. At the centre I was able to participate in some activities such as, a tour of the old town in Hebron, I got to visit Ibrahim Mosque. I also had the opportunity to speak to some local Palestinian business owners in the old town and I got to hear their stories. This was a very eye-opening experience. The centre also organised a trip to Dar Saba Monastery near Bethlehem. I got to meet many international people and local people during my time in Hebron and friendships were formed. During my time at the centre, I was able to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. I was able to see and do so much and it was an experience of a lifetime. During my time in Hebron, I stayed with a host family. This was an interesting experience, as I could really experience Palestinian family life first hand. My host family were very kind and welcoming. Palestinian families are very much like Irish families, we value the importance of family life and I liked how close the family are. I had two unpleasant experiences, both with taxi drivers in the city while I was taking a taxi to my host family, but this was nothing to do with the centre and not within their control. I preferred not to get a taxi after this, and mostly walked. To clarify, I didn’t feel unsafe on the street walking, it is just like walking in any city and most people just wanted to chat and welcome you to the city. Overall, I found the people of Hebron very warm, friendly, and welcoming. My second day at the centre I was walking back to my host family house, when I got lost. I was worried and a bit stressed, as I didn’t speak any Arabic and I had yet to get a SIM card, so I had no internet. I made my way to the Regency Hotel, and they spoke English to me. The staff at the hotel were very helpful, I was offered a drink and one of the staff contacted Marwa to find out directions. This confirmed that local people were kind and willing to help you. My overall impression of my time in Palestine is that the effects of this occupation are evident, the Palestinian people try to carry on with their day to day lives in peace from what I have witnessed. However, it is everyday things that most of us take for granted in our own countries, that are made difficult for Palestinian people and it will not be covered by media, such as the electricity cutting out, the shortage of water supply, 3G internet, rubbish bins overflowing, locals not allowed free movement of travel. Life is difficult for Palestinians, but despite this the people of Hebron are some of the kindest, most peaceful, and welcoming people I’ve ever met. I would recommend for anyone to come here and experience the occupation for themselves, but it’s not just a better understanding of the occupation you gain, it’s the amazing people you meet while you are here. I would like to thank the excellence centre for everything they do, this is such a vital community centre for the people of Hebron and so many children, young people and foreigners benefit from the centre. Marwa, Osama and all the teachers at the centre do an amazing job. It’s clearly not just a ‘job’ for them, they genuinely care about what they do. I would like to thank them for all their help and support, and I hope to return in the future.

My name is Jamil Shiha, and I am Palestinian from America. I was in the Teach English and Study Arabic program. During my stay in Hebron, I also participated in activities here such as visiting the Old City and presentations from other volunteers at the Excellence Center. I found my Arabic lessons here very helpful. They helped improve my speech, vocabulary, and grammar. The staff at the Excellence Center was overall great. They were very nice, generous, and helpful to me. I enjoyed living with the volunteers at our dorm. I felt safe living in Hebron. After volunteering here, I look forward to coming back to visit again. I had a great experience volunteering and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center and recommend it to others.

Hello, my name is Audria, and I am from the United States. I have two bachelor’s degrees in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures from Indiana University. During my time at the Excellence Center in Palestine, I participated in the Teach English & Study Arabic program. As an English teacher, I gave multiple private lessons and taught large classrooms with students of all ages and levels. In addition to preparing for lessons and teaching certain classes, I gave a presentation on the experience of teaching for other English teachers at the center. As for my Arabic courses, I had one or two lessons per week with an Arabic instructor. These courses helped me learn more about the Palestinian dialect and Ammiya Arabic as a whole. I visited a few sites with the Human Rights Program, including a trip to the Governor’s Office and the Hebron Municipality. Additionally, I went on a few trips with the entire Center, which included a site visit to a mountainous area where we ate dinner together. The Excellence Center’s environment is very open, caring, and easy-going. The staff and faculty are always willing to answer your questions and take care of your concerns. The Center is quite lenient with your schedule and available to your suggestions and recommendations. Other volunteers are nice and tolerant, as most of them come to Palestine with a similar sense of curiosity, adventure, interest, and respect. Throughout my time in Palestine, I visited several cities and places. I traveled to Ramallah, Jerusalem, Nablus, and Bethlehem. I visited more southern parts of Palestine with my host family. The host family I stayed with was lovely and very welcoming. Through living with a family from Hebron, in Hebron, I was given a full immersion to the culture and the language. In regard to safety, I felt very safe in Hebron and Palestine at-large. Other than normal uncertainties and moments of hyper-awareness that are expected with any travel experience, my time in Palestine was safe and secure. My favorite thing about Palestine is the people, the Palestinians. Of course, the food and the environments are delightful, but the people are what make Palestine great. My favorite stories are simply of the many laughs and moments I had with the friends I made through the fellow interns and volunteers at the Center. Overall, my experience in Palestine and with the Excellence Center was beautiful and lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my time. I highly recommend this experience to others, especially those that want to fully immerse themselves in the culture, language, and the environment.

INTRO My name is Luke Hudson. I am an American born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I currently live in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I work full time as a restaurant manager and study full time at Eckerd College. I am in the process of obtaining two bachelor’s degrees. My first degree is in International Relations (B.A.) with a specialization in Human Rights and a regional concentration in the Middle East. My second degree is in Political Science (B.A.). I’m also acquiring a minor in Arabic. In Palestine, I participated in the Summer Internship at the Excellence Center (EC). I chose this internship for a variety of reasons. First, I decided on Palestine for its Arabic -as I am studying the Levantine dialect of Arabic at university- and its intriguing political conflict. Because of this conflict, human rights violations are happening daily, and this provides me the unique opportunity to research and learn about the topic firsthand. Additionally, I chose the Excellence Center in Hebron because of its reputation, magnificent Arabic instruction, human rights internship, and most importantly, its flexibility. I could only travel for less than a month as I cannot afford to take over a month due to my job. Also, I needed 150 internship hours for University credit. However, the Excellence Center was highly flexible and willing to work with my schedule. So, combining ECs flexibility, Arabic instruction, and internship made the decision easy. ARRIVAL & THE BEGINNING My first impression of Palestine was interesting. I have never traveled outside of the United States. So, it wasn’t surprising I experienced extreme culture shock – as any first-time traveler does. However, unlike most travelers who travel to popular tourist sites like Paris or Costa Rica, I traveled to Hebron, Palestine – an area rich in tradition yet negatively affected by the Israeli occupation. Because of this, I would argue that my culture shock was much more dramatic than others. A seven-hour time difference, radical driving, an unknown city, a foreign language, and much more were enough to give me the jitters. Nevertheless, I adjusted all thanks to the Excellence Center’s warm hospitality. I flew into Ben Gurion Airport. After many delays and a cancellation later due to complications by American Airlines, I finally arrived. The transition from the plane to my taxi wasn’t too complicated. Ben Gurion Airport is relatively easy to navigate as it displays English throughout. Baggage claim was easy as well. However, I only seemed to have complications at customs as I was asked the same questions three times after I told the agent I was traveling to Hebron for my internship. They weren’t too fond of me traveling to Palestinian territory. However, I remained consistent and composed, and they let me through – only telling me to “be careful over there” – this felt shallow. However, I was at customs for only about ten minutes, so my customs experience was a breeze compared to others. The EC had arranged a private ride from the airport to the Center for me. A friend of the Center picked me up in his black sedan. Unfortunately, he didn’t speak English, so the ride was slightly awkward. However, he delivered me to the Center safely in roughly an hour and a half. The faculty at the Center greeted me with traditional Palestinian coffee and introduced me to the members present. Afterward, I was driven to my residence. As a male participant, I stayed in a shared flat with fellow male participants at the Center per customary measures. According to US standards, I stayed alone in a “not-so-nice” place the first night. Naturally, this made me worried, but the Excellence Center assured me I was safe and comforted. Once my colleagues moved into my residence the next day, I felt even more secure—however, more on my living situation later in this article. SAFETY, SECURITY, AND HOSPITALITY IN PALESTINE Did I feel safe in Palestine? On my first night, no. But, this is only because I have never traveled outside of the United States nor to the Middle East. So, I would argue that anyone in my position would feel the same. Nevertheless, I soon lost this feeling the very next day as I started my internship at the Excellence Center. As stated previously, the Excellence Center is genuinely, well, excellent. They provide everything and more that one may need to succeed and to feel comfortable and safe. I can say for sure that it is indeed safe here. Take it from a first-time traveler. Additionally, regardless of what one may presume, the Palestinian citizens are remarkably hospitable – you just have to be brave enough to create conversation. Palestinians are highly family-oriented. Because of this, though you may not be blood-related, Palestinians treat their newfound friends as blood. I can say this from experience as I made a fantastic friend and now brother named Mohammed at a local gym. He spoke broken English, and I spoke broken Arabic. Together, we shared the common interest of exercise, and over this interest, we created a bond I never would’ve found in the States. We eat, work out, smoke sheesha, exchange language, and have fun routinely. Moreover, I have created over five other additional friends I routinely hang out with. In the States, it is hard to make a strong friendship this fast. In Palestine, all it takes is patience and respect, and within minutes, you have created a friend that will keep you safe as if you are family – as you have become family to them now. They will keep you safe. Also, living and learning with your colleagues here establishes a sensation of warmth and security. SUMMER INTERNSHIP My internship included multiple trips and meetings to essential locations, the opportunity to teach English to Palestinians both privately and in group settings, intensive one-on-one Arabic lessons, and individual writing compositions like article construction and revision. Weekly I worked from 8:30 to 18:00 with the ability to leave for coffee breaks or lunch Sunday through Thursday. I also had the freedom to work remotely at one of the local cafes if I was writing or revising. I often used one of the classrooms at the Center to work as well. I worked this much because I needed to acquire the 150 hours of work required by my University in my short three weeks at the Center. The first week consisted of trips, presentations about human rights, teaching English, and article drafting. I made many friends at the Center and built a fantastic relationship with my students that first week. My second week consisted of strictly immersion trips and meetings. Without diving too deep into detail, I visited the Old City of Hebron, Al-Shohada Street- where we interviewed a Palestinian widow living around an Israeli settlement, a local Refugee Camp- where we interviewed a refugee family- the Hebron Chamber of Commerce to interview the Head of Commerce, the Office of the Mayor to interview the Mayor, a local secondary school to learn about the Palestinian education system, and the Governor’s office to interview the Governor of Hebron. Both my brain and my notebook are filled with notes and valuable information. My third week at the Center consisted of intensive Arabic, where I had one-on-one instruction for three hours. Doha, my excellent instructor, catered to my learning style and taught me a great deal of Arabic in only one week. I am entirely able to have intermediate-level conversations already in this short time. We built an incredible friendship, and I highly recommend learning with her. She is terrific and inshallah I will see her soon. There were also new excursions and presentations I also attended throughout the week. LIFE, FREE TIME, & TRIPS Unrecognized to the western mind, thanks to biased media, Hebron is built like every other city. The city hosts a plethora of shops, cafes, and activities. Every day I would be at a local cafe, restaurant, or a different destination where my friends and I would eat, study, play games, meet people, smoke sheesha, drink delicious mocktails, and laugh. One night we even went horseback riding after being invited to a Palestinian’s home for dinner (this happens all of the time – take advantage of it). For avid gym-goers like myself, there are a couple of options around. Depending on where you live, anyone can find an affordable gym. Prestige Gym was the choice of all of the men given that its location was close to our flat. However, Future Gym is the best according to the locals. After work, if I wasn’t meeting up with anyone at a cafe or different location, I would find my way to the gym for a good workout and sauna. If the Center didn’t already have something planned for us during a weekend, participants had the opportunity to travel elsewhere. Ramallah, Nablus, Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea are all locations within reach. During my free weekends, I traveled to Nablus, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. During my last week in Palestine, I traveled to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with fellow colleagues as we all had flights around the same time. We toured popular spots and frequented fun restaurants and clubs. Depending on your schedule, participants have a significant amount of free time in their schedule. Even I still had a great deal of free time working nine hours or more. Others, like those just studying Arabic, have the most time for adventure. So, every schedule is different, with ample opportunities for exploration and relaxation. LASTING IMPRESSIONS The staff at the Center is incomparable. Every member is willing to aid your every need, practice Arabic with you, and will run with any requests. In addition, the Center is clean and homey; it provides a significant amount of space for both learning and bonding. Mahmoud, one of the Center’s tour guides, made a lasting impression on me. His knowledge, hospitality, and humor are something I will truly miss. Yet, I know I will see him again soon one day, inshallah. What I will surely miss the most is Palestinian’s hospitality. As stated before, Palestinians provide a warmth that I have never felt in the States, nor will I ever feel again, I believe. Being invited to homes, farms, weddings, etc., is uncommon in the United States; however, here, it is custom. You are never alone here as anyone will take you in as their own. Writing barely encompasses what I feel. Moreover, the geological views that Palestine offers are genuinely breathtaking. My photo library is stacked with images – mainly from Nablus, as Nablus consists of glorious mountain ranges and ancient archeological sites. Being surrounded by so many different colleagues with varying ages, ethnicities, nationalities, backgrounds, education, and knowledge of the area allows for extreme self-exploration. I often felt unworthy to be in the presence of some of my fellow colleagues who knew multiple different languages and have traveled to thirty or more countries. Most of them had a better idea of the area and conflict than I and the language. So, it was pretty intimidating, yet liberating, as I was able to learn from them, thus expanding my mind. Therefore, each colleague established something new within my spirit, and I have made everlasting friends I plan to meet with again inshallah. CRITIQUES & SUGGESTIONS No program, place, or institution is perfect. Though the Center comes close, it’s crucial and mature to discuss my critiques. First, I would like to discuss my living arrangement. The men’s living quarters isn’t necessarily a five-star Airbnb. Not that I cared about the physical appearance of the flat, but with bedroom doors missing handles and locks, a loose front door handle, broken cabinets in the kitchen and master bedroom, and anonymous clothing left behind in the wardrobe, one may be slightly concerned. Additionally, during my stay, my flatmates and I did not have hot water for over two weeks, and the water occasionally stopped running throughout my stay, leaving us without water some days. Along with this, it took some time until we received a fan to cool the flat during the summer heat. Granted, I do not want to put the entire blame on the Center, as we gentlemen are responsible for communicating all needs and complications during our stay. But, water is a basic need, and not having running water some days is alarming. However, the Center quickly reacted when we called on them to fix the issue. I think with a thorough inspection of the space and appliances, a deep clean, removal or the repair of items and pre-existing belongings, the purchase of essential utilities like fans, kitchen supplies, fresh bed sheets, pillows, cleaning supplies, and insect repellent the men’s flat will become an adequate living space. Secondly, I would like to critique the structure of the Center and its programs. I was a part of the summer internship, which meant I would attend the activities of the human rights program, teach English, attend all immersion field trips, write articles, create presentations, and have intensive Arabic courses. My program was the most expensive and blended all programs in one. However, colleagues who strictly participated in the intensive Arabic program or only taught English would attend the immersion trips and human rights presentations. This is not included in their outline or tuition. Moreover, these programs cost much less. Therefore, I felt my tuition cost was unfair as it seemed anyone could join any event at will regardless of their chosen program. There needs to be stricter enforcement of programs in the future to ensure the fairness of pay and a better outline of each program in person upon arrival. I would suggest an orientation day on the first day for each new participant. This orientation would explain their chosen program in-depth, provide a weekly schedule of said program, a tour of the Center and the surrounding city, the faculty members, expectations, commute help, what the Center does and offers, and a space to answer all questions. FINAL REMARKS My experience in Palestine and my internship at the Excellence Center is one that I will cherish. Between the work I completed, the research I acquired, the students I impacted, the Arabic I learned, the knowledge I gained, the memories I experienced, and the friends I made, my short month in Palestine exceeded my expectations. I will never forget the people and their inherent hospitality. Nor will I forget the truth that I obtained here about the occupation and the lives of Palestinians. I plan to fight for Palestinian freedom in the ways that I can. I will meet my friends again. Without the Center, I would not have accomplished my goals before arrival. The Center is the only choice I would recommend for someone looking to be humbled and impact themselves and others. Thank you, Rafat, Marwa, Osama, Doha, Sajah, Mahmoud, and my other friends for teaching, welcoming, and creating our bond. Inshallah, I will return.

My time at the Excellence Center was some of the best time in my life, I had so much fun and I laughed a lot. All the Palestinian teachers and staff are some of the best people I have ever met, they were extremely welcoming, respectful, friendly and kind. I felt more welcomed at the Excellence Center than I have anywhere else in my life. The Palestinian students were also very eager to learn and very excited to meet foreigners and speak English with them. My Arabic teacher was wonderful, she was very supportive and made our lessons together both fun and educational. The Palestinian teachers were always willing to help me with anything I needed for English classes and also gave me really great advice. Sometimes I joined classes with Palestinian teachers, sometimes I taught classes by myself and sometimes I taught with other international volunteers. I became more confident, comfortable and better at teaching English during my time here, thanks to all the people at the Excellence Center. The Palestinian people in Hebron were also wonderful and very kind. I felt very safe, as a woman, walking down the street in Hebron alone at night. I felt more safe here than I did anywhere else in the world. Sometimes people on the street would say hello, how are you, welcome, but it was always in a friendly way and I never felt hassled. It's very different to places like Egypt or Jordan. I found Palestinian men to be very respectful towards me, much more so than men in Western countries. I cannot recommend the Excellence Center enough, whether you want to just study Arabic, Teach English or do another program. The first few days were overwhelming because I was somewhere new and meeting lots of new people, but after that I started to enjoy it so much that I didn't want to leave. I had some of the best times of my life and met some of my favourite people ever. I would do it all again if I could!

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