DESTINATIONS
“I did a placement for about a month in the Kwahu district of Ghana. It was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life, learning about a completely different culture and learning about myself.
The Original Volunteers placement was perfect for me-
Everyone was friendly, and the children I worked with were angels (in a sense) and I divided my time between two orphanages although the one I started at was my favourite and the one I spent more time at.
The children challenged me, loved me, played with me, made me sad and happy. The family I lived with looked after me , cooked and kept everything clean during my stay and became my Ghanaian family.
I also had the chance to travel and I did some local touring; I went to Accra for breaks and visited the beautiful Lake Volta and historical Kumasi (capital of the Ashanti region). I recommend anyone who wants to volunteer to consider Original Volunteers, friendly and helpful they ensure a trip of a life time”.
Hannah Law volunteered in Ghana during April 2007
Milton arrives in June with two other friends for a combi stay at both our placements in Mexico. He is studying music technology, can play various instruments and tells us he can perform basic magic tricks!
Alexandra has experience of working with children in a nursery and is currently studying business management and Spanish.
David is studying computer science at Uni and arrives in Merida, Mexico in June for a 3 week stay. David’s interests include art, writing, music and football.
Sarah arrives at the beginning of July for a 4 week stay in Mexico. Sarah has experience of working with children on American summer camps.
She is a keen sportswoman.
Milton
David
Sarah
Alexandra
Marc arrives in Mexico shortly to combine our two placements and is hoping to put to good use his love of team activities with the children in both Merida and Puerto Vallarta.
Rahima, a project manager, will be staying for 4 weeks following a round the world trip to many destinations.She wants to be able to put something back when she arrives in Mexico.
Katie is a primary school teacher and will be staying for 4 weeks. Her interests include music, arts/crafts and describes herself as a good organiser.
Hannah is a history teacher and will be visiting Mexico during July for a 2 week stay. She also enjoys embroidery.
Marc
Katie
Rahima
Hannah
mexico
...............................................................................................................................................................................................
The Mexican wave has arrived!!! Don’t forget your toothbrush and come and join us!!!
Welcome to Mexico
................................
Mexico
Volunteers work at an Puerto Vallarta orphanage caring for and playing with babies and children under the age of 14.
Holiday
Sister Mari took her first holiday since opening the orphanage over six years ago.
With not one day off and working all waking hours for so many years she decided it was about time to visit her own family in the north of Mexico.
Putting children and fun first
Sarah, Jane, Charlotte and Jacqueline packed their toothbrushes and loads of energy and discovered their inner child in Puerto Vallarta
Just arrived!!
Just arrived, quick change and off to the beach, usually the first port of call for volunteers before the work begins.
................................
Volunteer coordinator Sol helps to make all volunteers feel valued and supported during their stay.
Already there and some of those ready to arrive...
................................
................................
................................
................................
Looking for a challenge and describing herself as ‘very out going’ Jacqueline arrived in Puerto Vallarta with best friend Charlotte for two weeks helping at the orphanage followed by two weeks teaching English in Merida.
With a background in gymnastics she likes to keep active and arrived in Puerto Vallarta to start her placement direct from Peru where she’ d done the Inca Trail!
Jane arrived to help at the orphanage for two weeks with the intention of making a difference and doing something worthwhile with the two weeks she had available.
Charlotte arrived with friend Jacqueline for a 4 week stay in Mexico to combine projects on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. She is hoping to gain some teaching experience for the first time.
Sarah
Jane
Charlotte
Support
Jacqueline
Every contribution makes a difference.
Whether you want to offer your time playing with the children, teaching the children English or helping staff with the important everyday tasks such as feeding the infants, maintenance or helping in the kitchen. Whatever your background, age or ability you will fill a much needed role.
....................................................................................................................
Even if you don’t speak any Spanish you still have a great time and just having a conversation is an achievement and a lot of fun.
Ultimately everyone here just wants you to be comfortable. If you need ANY help with ANYTHING then you will get it at the zoo.
If you have any concerns or questions either write them down or ask – everyone here is very approachable and also interested in new ideas, sometimes they may be taken on board and sometimes they are a bit out of reach.
Fundamentally you’ll not change anything however you greatly help the workers and the animals. Remember it is an experience and you will learn so much, good and bad.
The zoo is large so take a pen and paper so you can write down any problems that you see. It also is good to take photos if you can, as describing a specific animal can be quite difficult.
I have met some amazing people and made friends that I will keep in touch with and visit again when I return to Santa Cruz. It is not always easy – but that is why it is also so rewarding.”
Liz Seal volunteered at the zoo during April 2007.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Liz volunteered in Bolivia at the Santa Cruz zoo
“You’ll be spoilt here and get involved in experiences outside of the zoo as well.
By working within the community you have a chance to talk to people, make friends, get invited out and be a part of it all.
Click on the map
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Karen volunteered in Cuzco, Peru
Click on the map
Original Volunteers @ Terms and Conditions
Dear Original Volunteers
It is wonderful here in Cusco, our volunteer coordinator
is a perfect host and has made us so welcome. We are staying at the girls orphanage
and everyone is so friendly.
It is a Bank Holiday here so we have not been teaching but visited the boys orphanage yesterday and will start teaching them from tomorrow, I´m looking forward to it.
We are having Spanish lessons with our coordinator and he is a very good teacher.
The accommodation is very nice, it is clean, comfortable and has a very pleasant atmosphere and every effort is made to make our stay the very best.
Thank you so much!!!!!
Kind regards
Karen
Karen Allsopp volunteered teaching English at two orphanages in Cuzco during April
2007
See who’s going to mexico...country of the month June 2007
.........................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Roxanne volunteered in Ghana during March 2007
‘’It was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life...,
The Original Volunteers placement was perfect for me-
Hannah’s experience
Hannah in Ghana 2007
Hannah volunteered in Ghana Newsletter
................................................................................................................
Last updated -
