Winter Volunteer Abroad Programs

Volunteering with SMWEF Ghana has been one of the most meaningful and heart-warming experiences of my life, and it is something I would recommend to absolutely anyone. I volunteered with SMWEF for two months in 2025, and from the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms by Naomi and Seth. SMWEF is deeply committed to giving every child a fair chance at a brighter future. The warmth and kindness these children carry with them is truly indescribable. Being able to put a smile on their faces by giving them the love, time, and attention they deserve is incredibly fulfilling. Their joy and love is so pure and heartwarming, it gave me such a different perspective. The love and passion that Seth and Naomi have for these children is equally indescribable. They give everything they have to give these children a chance at a better future. Their dedication, strength, and wholehearted commitment are truly inspiring. I have the deepest respect for their mission and the tireless work they do every day. You can see and feel the impact they make every single day you are there and they will take you along with every part of the process. SMWEF still needs all the support they can get, and every volunteer truly makes a difference. I cannot recommend SMWEF highly enough. Volunteering with them will fill your heart, broaden your perspective, and leave you with an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life.

I was excited when I read that I could expect to do 4-6 hours of archaeology Monday- Friday. And all the different tasks it would entail, such as excavation, artefact classification, etc. There was a warning about weeding, but I didn't expect to do it 10 days out of 12. Furthermore, the 'archaeology' was only for 2 hours a day. On one occasion it was only one hour. The people I stayed with were lovely and it's not their fault, it's the bureaucracy in Peru which you aren't warned about until you're already there! Basically because you're not qualified, you can only weed. There was no consistency, nearly everyday was somewhere different so there was no measure of progress. The only benefit was getting to see archaeological sites off the beaten track that tours don't cover. But every afternoon I was having to be creative to find something to do because I had 5 hours free time. There is only so much you can do in the middle of nowhere. This project was wildly missold and needs to be reevaluated.