Economic Development Volunteering in Switzerland

Had a great trip to Italy. I met a ton of people from all over the world and we worked together educating about issues around refugees. We worked during the day and had fun at night and on the weekends. I am still in touch with many of the people I volunteered with. Thanks

I love helping the old people , and I love those who do this because it gives them a spirit of life and enhances their psychology for the better. I also love animals and playing with them gently and I hope that I will enjoy this volunteering because it will have a great impact on my psychological state

My experience with VFP way back in 2009 was remarkable. Living in Germany and building a labyrinth at a World Heritage Site as the only native English speaker in my group was a truly immersive experience. I didn't feel like I was coming into a place from the outside so much as I felt part of a community. Our group really bonded and while we had a primary task, many of the day to day decisions were made by the group, one of my first experiences with really being responsible for myself.

I've been always active with many local associations . And i would love to experience something new abroad . France can be 1 grear chance for me to deal with the local community and to help in any kind of project

VFP made the travel and volunteer process very simple and it was very easy to communicate with them when additional information was needed. They worked with an agency in Nepal called VIN (Volunteers in Nepal) which was also excellent. Our host family made the experience really incredible. They were kind and very concerned for our safety and well-being. My partner and I remain in contact with our hosts and VIN through Facebook and have made life-long friends. Through VIN we were also able to feel involved and contributed to the reparations after the massive earthquake last year. I would recommend Volunteers for Peace to anyone.

This trip was amazing and Volunteers for Peace was an excellent organization to go through for my first international volunteer experience. Living and working with such amazing people, from our hosts to other volunteers, the project was enlightening and exciting and allowed all of us outsiders a chance to be welcomed into a vibrant, warm culture.

My time spent in Haiti has forever changed my perception of what's important in life. Volunteers for Peace, VFP, allowed me to experience life in a society where things we take for granted are not readily available and are scrounged for daily. Mere existence in Duchity, Haiti involves foraging for food, hunting for wood or charcoal to cook with, collecting water at a community water source, and cleaning clothes in an overused creek. I was overwhelmed with the opportunity to witness and live (if only for a short time) the joy and rhythm of Haitian life. Immediately upon my arrival, I found myself immersed in Haitian culture; for this I am forever grateful. I was able to witness the dangers of idleness and feel the uncertainty of tomorrow that brews in the youth of Duchity. The residents of Haiti lack opportunities to better their situation, but VFP has joined forces with a local energetic resident to help establish an adult vocational school to empower the Duchity residents with trade-skills that can be used to earn income and better lives. Volunteers for Peace has a strong commitment to empowering local residents. They understand that meaningful help for a person, group, community, or nation must come from within that person, group, or nation. They embrace this concept fully. Their affiliation in Duchity, Haiti is helping to assure residents learn to help themselves. I was honored to have been a part of their exceptional program.

My VFP trip to Alaska took place several years ago, but it's still worth reviewing here, because I've done additional VFP trips since. VFP has always impressed me with its customer service, affordability, and attitude that "Peace begins one friendship at a time." Our work in Sitka, Alaska, was varied, thanks to our excellent local hosts. We did everything from working with injured eagles at a raptor center to painting tiny furniture at a preschool. During our free time, our hosts took us fishing, camping, hiking, and kayaking in some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Our lodging was simple but comfortable (mattresses on the floor at a large church) and groceries were plentiful. While I doubt that those particular hosts are still organizing projects like this one, I highly recommend working with VFP if you want a meaningful and affordable volunteer travel experience!

One of the unique features of traveling with VFP is that they partner with a few organizations that will accept entire families to volunteer -- and most importantly, these programs are very affordable compared to others I've researched. A few summers ago, my husband, 10 year-old daughter, and I went to Sardinia to volunteer with Legambiente, a large environmental agency in Italy. We lived and worked with three other families from three different countries. Our lodging was in a former boarding school in a tiny village. There was a huge, modern kitchen, shower facilities, and a washing machine. The hosts brought plenty of groceries to us on a regular basis and we shared the cooking and cleaning duties. Our actual work was simple -- cleaning up trash from Sardinia's beaches, planting some trees, etc. (Children didn't have to do the physical labor; parents would take turns keeping an eye on them.) Usually this would take only a couple of hours each day, then we were free to go into town, to the beach, etc. Our hosts treated us very well, although for them it was their vacation time (!) so they often just socialized with each other, not with us. But the other families and mine became good friends; we still stay in touch.

In 2013, I volunteered in Reykjavik with SEEDS, Iceland's VFP counterpart. Volunteering is apparently not a common pursuit among Icelanders, so SEEDS has taken advantage of 1) Iceland's booming tourist industry and 2) tourists who do like to volunteer. The SEEDS program I did involved helping a soccer club called Throttur with their annual international tournament for teen players. The Throttur hosts provided a comfortable living space, groceries, and free passes to the city's top swimming pool facility, right across from our lodging. The work was physically challenging, but not difficult -- cleaning up the fields each day, setting up beds for the players and coaches, etc. Working with VFP for travelling is awesome. They offer a ton of choices, the fees are exceptionally low compared to others volunteer-abroad programs, and the staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and quick to respond to questions and concerns.

I've been involved with VFP for several years, both as a project participant and as a local project organizer here in the U.S. All together, I've been a part of 11 projects. Working as a camp counselor in Turkey was my favorite. Genctur, VFP's counterpart in Turkey, was excellent to work with. The Genctur staff were flexible with our situation, allowing family of three to participate together: Two of us were counselors and one was a camper. Our main purpose as Americans was to encourage the campers to practice their English with us while we enjoyed typical camp activities like games, swimming, arts and crafts, etc. We even learned some Turkish. The other staff were very nice to work with and the facility was clean and comfortable. And the camp food was really good, no kidding! If you like residential summer camps, and you like teenagers, I can recommend this project without reservation.

What an incredible experience! I went looking for an adventure, what I found changed my life. I couldn't be happier about my journey. I met some of the best people in the world and lived among the locals and they treated me like I was family.

No amount of International Relations coursework or even studying abroad could prepare me for learning the ins and outs of navigating cultural barriers and different work expectations. The program truly opened my eyes and taught me how to be more accepting and understanding. I volunteered at the end of March in Bavaria county in Germany. The first week we experienced hail and torrential downpour and yet there were people still working on our labyrinth! Needless to say, I found I much more value my health over my work. However, it did clear up and we managed to finish even with our reduced time given the weather! It was rewarding; next time though I think I will go during the summer.

This festival has been happening for over 30 years, and volunteer participation, both local and international, is a key component. The whole town comes alive for the week of the festival. Our group worked a week before the event, setting up booths, cleaning seats, making signage, etc and then worked every day of the event, with plenty of time for watching performances, and some field trips. We slept in tents, worked at ticket booths, food concessions, serving drinks, cleaning trash, etc. on a rotating basis. Ate our meals, which were cooked and served by local volunteers, at the high school, alongside of the performers, who came from many different countries. It was great fun to see them perform in their traditional attire, and then have breakfast. lunch, and dinner with them in their regular daily clothing. Got to know some of the performers well, and are still in touch seven years later. A great experience.

My experience in Desab, Haiti was unforgettable. The work that we did was really effective and the interactions with the community were meaningful and productive. VFP projects are a great way to get an authentic experience while learning a lot about the people you are working with and the place where you are staying. Teaching English was so rewarding and through that work we were able to gain the trust and respect in the community that we needed to accomplish other things. If you have any interest in traveling to Haiti, I suggest going with Volunteers For Peace.

Excellent chance to develop skills working on a variety of school related activities with children in a summer school program, such as teaching English and playing educational games. We had several opportunities to explore the local area outside of our daytime counseling duties. Kids were terrific. Locals were very helpful and made us feel very welcome. Also got involved in a 3 day building project at the end of my stay to contribute to the building of a new school in the Duchity area.

This was a great intercultural experience. The mix of local and international volunteers really made it meaningful. I learned a lot about the fall of Yugoslavia and Serbia today, and felt I was able to give co-volunteers are better understanding of life in America.

I had a fantastic time with VFP in Duchity and Port au Prince. I had amazing community experiences that didn't involve technology, and it changed my idea of what "fun" and "friendship" look like. I also felt like I made a difference in the village because I remember I taught the school I was at a a song and they would sing it all the time, and I got pretty close with a lot of the kids. It was a great experience

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for a VFP volunteer trip to Serbia, one that would begin 5 days after I sent the initial email. VFP responded quickly to all my questions and provided enough information to make me feel comfortable flying halfway around the world to a country I knew nothing about. Because of this experience, I actually got a job with an NGO in Serbia. None of that would have been possible without VFP's support.

Best program for real service that leaves a legacy and continues after you leave. Absolutely designed with both participants and residents in mind, working together. Meg Brook is fantastic and makes sure you are safe and fully integrated into the host culture as a gracious and grateful guest.