Conflict Resolution Volunteering in South Africa

My stay in Cape Town was truly a life-changing experience. From the moment I arrived, Magister made sure I felt welcomed and prepared for my stay. The organizers were very supportive and organized my accommodation and work place which exceeded my expectations in every way. I loved my host family and role as a teacher assistant and child care worker. I connected with locals and other volunteers from around the world and built friendships that I will cherish forever. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to make a positive impact while exploring one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Cape Town’s breathtaking beauty left an indelible mark on my heart so that I hope to return someday!

Very good preparation. Whenever there were questions, there was always a quick response and the supervisors always responded immediately. Furthermore, there was a lot to do with the Magister at the beginning of my stay, but during the summer time there was actually nothing more to do. There are also fun activities that allow you to meet other people.

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

I had the most amazing experience. IAHQ ,thank you for giving me the trip of a life time. The internship I did is very helpful for my future. IAHQ, really helps you find an internship that is right for you. They were so helpful every step of the way. I met amazing other interns and I made everlasting memories.

Intern Abroad HQ responded to this reviewAugust 22, 2019

Hi Miriam, thank you for such a wonderful review. It was a pleasure to help you live out your dreams of interning in Cape Town. I'm glad that this internship program was able to assist in creating lifelong memories and help you with your professional development. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

Intern Abroad HQ is an amazing organization. Their team was phenomenal in providing as much information as possible when I was very skeptical and unsure. After all, one wanted to make sure they weren't being thrown into another continent without any support or idea! Dallas was very helpful in helping me prepare for my internship. Their online journal assignments was a great way for me to document and ponder my experiences as they happened and were very good at keeping tabs on me and my family when I had a medical emergency. This I cannot emphasize enough, they have your back from start to finish. My liaison-contact there, Elisha, is such an amazing guide and overall a chill dude to hang around with. For him, it is a matter of who he doesn't know him in Cape Town, which helped a lot when seeking the most beautiful locations and the best activities. The housing there is very college dorm-like. You may live with students, both from abroad or local, and the area of Obs (Observatory) is a unique and interesting community. One thing is for sure, there is always someone down to have fun with at the Freeland lodge. I am preparing to become an occupational therapist and chose this program to intern under. The Kaya branch of Akeso Clinics in Cape Town has a great team of psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers that had great methods in treating adolescents with mental health disorders and a whole variety of issues pertaining to being a troubled youth. I came to work every day caring for the patients and was privileged to see their progress as they worked out very difficult issues in a communal setting under professional guidance. Great people at Akeso - Kaya, they are very accommodating with interns and felt just like family. I cannot state enough how great my experience was. If anyone wanted to have a good experience interning in Cape Town I recommend coming with an open mind. Be accepting that things can be uncomfortable and different. Learn how to flourish with the idea that plans don't always go as they were intended and that the best moments can be spontaneous. Who knows, you may end up like how I felt in my final weeks there: feeling like a local taking the hectic minibus taxi on the Main Rd with the guy on the side yelling "Wynburg!" over your earphones. Also, if one has the opportunity to take a trip down the Garden Route of the Eastern Cape while in Cape Town, TAKE IT!

Intern Abroad HQ responded to this reviewJune 16, 2019

Hi John,<br/><br/>Thank you for you kind words! It was wonderful to follow your internship progress in Cape Town through your weekly journal assignments and it was a pleasure to support you on this journey. On behalf of the Intern Abroad HQ team, we wish you all the best for the future and we are excited for you to have the opportunity to transfer your intern experience in Cape Town, to the Occupational Therapy field in the United States.<br/><br/>Cheers, Daniel, Dallas and the Intern Abroad HQ team :-)

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