At Original Volunteers we are proud of the fantastic work that our volunteers have carried out in 18 countries on over 100 projects. Here are a selection of testimonials & experiences from some of the very satisfied people who volunteered with us and are happy to leave feedback, since we started.
Going to Mombasa and working on the street kids project had been at the back of my mind for at least 5 years…last June I just decided to book it…6 months later I reached steamy hot Africa, not knowing a word of Swahili and not really knowing what was about to take hold of me.
Here’s my story and why I am going back for a second time…
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case StudiesWhat members of staff do you remember the most and why?
Adeel, Rachid and Amina. They were always very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed sitting on the terrace in the evening with Adeel who told us funny stories.
What were your impressions of the accommodation?
It was better than I expected and I like the traditional building with the courtyard in the middle which was really authentic.
Have you done any similar volunteering before?
This was my first time volunteering anywhere.
Why did you want to volunteer?
I wanted to travel and do something to help others and put something back.
How did you find the children’s reactions to you and other volunteers?
They never stopped smiling and were a lot better behaved than I expected. They loved all the games and things we took for them. They really seemed to enjoy our visits and asked when we would be coming back.
What did you do for fun in your free time?
We did a camel safari and visited a waterfall. During the week in the evenings we spent time in the main square watching the entertainers and eating at the food stalls.
When was your most enjoyable experience?
Away from the children, feeding the monkeys at the waterfall.
How easy was it to make friends?
Very easy as everyone is there for the same thing and you spend all your time together.
What were the names of the best places to hang out and socialise, why was this?
My favourite place was cafe arab but there are lots of places to relax and eat near the square.
Would you consider going again or perhaps to another project with Original Volunteers?
I am planning to go to Ghana next, depends on time and how much I can save.
What would you say/recommend to a friend who was interested in volunteering?
Just do it. If I had known before I would have done it sooner.
What items would you suggest future volunteers pack?
Comfortable trousers are practical because it’s too hot for jeans in the heat
What items do you think are essential for daily use at the projects?
You need to take a bag with lots of things to do. You might not use them but if no one else takes games you’ll get stuck!
Why did you want to volunteer?
For experience to get onto a masters in social work, to experience other culture, and to physically do something good for people that have much less than we do in England.
Do you feel you made a difference, how?
I felt I made a difference just by being there, for cuddles with the children, buying them treats and taking them out at weekends.
What did you do for fun? Took the children swimming, to a football match, made bracelets, took them go karting and to play football.
When was your most enjoyable experience, do you have an interesting story?
My most enjoyable experience was cooking for all the children and volunteers, we bought the ingredients for spaghetti bolognese, jelly and cornflake cakes. The children ate more than one bowl each and the next day there was still tomato sauce round their mouths.
Who did you make friends with and for what reasons?
I made friends with the other volunteers as I lived with them and shared living space with them. Also Hugo, Herbet and Davis as they also stayed at the orphanage almost full time and were of a similar age.
Where were the best places to hang out and socialise, why was this?
The best place to hang out was downstairs with the children in the kitchen. For the volunteers the best place to go out and hang out was in Frogs a chilled out bar with cocktails and a snooker table.
Would you considering going again or perhaps to another project with Original Volunteers? Please explain why.
I would definitely go back and volunteer in Peru but would be sceptical about doing another OV project because I have such high expectations after Peru, I’m not sure it would be the same.
Could you offer any tips to future volunteers?
Take a raincoat, especially if going to Bolivia. Also take sturdy shoes as it’s dusty and rocky in Cusco. And bring chocolate as it’s rare in Peru.
While volunteering in Ghana a Project Manager for a Midlands Hospital helped to build a Classroom, install a Creche, and set up Maths, and English tests during her two week stay at a school.
Joyte Parmar, who works at the University of Birmingham Hospital, described her time spent volunteering at the Lisa Findlay school in Ghana as ‘the best thing that I have ever done, It was fantastic’.
During her time there she said that she found that the classrooms were too small, and so along with two other people they knocked down walls to turn a spare room that was not being used into another classroom.
She then went on to help create a crèche for 50 babies, structure classes into Kindergarten and Primary school levels, and set up Maths and English tests.
This was a particular concern for Joyte as she feels that ‘the kids need to learn, and they have not grasped the concept that they are there to be taught’.
She was full of praise for the Volunteer Co-ordinators, and was able to put her administration skills to good use when American Doctors visited the area. ‘A free clinic was set up and the Doctors were able to carry out Eye, Diabetes, and Blood pressure tests.
I got the children into a line, and kept a record of them all’ she said. She was concerned that the country as a whole lacked ‘planning skills, and administration’, and added that ‘I found my niche, re-audited the structure of how things were taught, filled in forms, registered children, and helped to create manuals for the next set of people who will volunteer there’.
During her time in Ghana she also visited remote Village Schools, and felt that it was a shock compared to the school that had been set up by Lisa Findlay.
She found the people of Ghana to be very friendly, adding that ‘although they have nothing they are unbelievably happy people’.
Joyte made several new friends while she was there, and hopes to meet up with some of them who are travelling after they finish volunteering in Ghana.
She said that she would like to return to Ghana, but may well go to Tanzania next as she has heard that they need Administrators.
She said that she would ‘definitely recommend volunteering in Ghana to anyone’, and added that it is a ‘fantastic way to see a different side to a country’.
She feels that along with the other volunteers they ‘contributed a lot in a short space of time’, and that it has made her realise that ‘there is more to life than work’.
We here at Original Volunteers are quite amazed by all that Joyte has achieved in such a short space of time, and look forward to hopefully arranging for her to volunteer in Tanzania in the future.
Hopefully, as a result of her efforts the school is now more spacious, organised, and structured Educationally.
Well done Joyte.
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
The street kids project in Mombasa, Kenya is a favourite with many of our volunteers, and Sarah Ashmore is no exception. Sarah, 40, from Orpington in Kent, volunteered at the educational centre for street children for two weeks. Teaching children aged between seven and seventeen can be a challenge, but it is also extremely fulfilling.
It was amazing. All the staff and other volunteers made it a really special experience, but especially the children. The age range is huge, but some come across as being younger than their age and that is reflected in the level you teach at. It’s a great organisation.
The shared volunteer apartment also adds to the feeling of community in Mombasa, and spending so much time with the boys really shows volunteers that their contribution is integral to the continued success of the centre. As Sarah and other volunteers have experienced, it’s amazing how the simplest resources can make a real difference to the children you visit.
The volunteers do most of the teaching, after Madam Pamela has given the morning lessons, so it is good if people take out books that will help them to make lesson plans. English, maths, geography and science are particularly helpful, along with any other topics they think would be good to teach.
However, it’s not all hard work. The chance to take time out and have fun with the children as well as educate them was an important part of Sarah’s volunteering experience, and sparked her enthusiasm to volunteer in the future.
I would recommend that anyone going takes along some colouring books and pens, the boys are very creative and really like this. Any kind of arts and crafts, such as beads or other things that can be made, are great, and can make for a very constructive afternoon! My time at the project was great, and I hope to get the chance to work on this or another project soon.
If you would like to more information about volunteering in Kenya click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
One volunteer placement was not challenge enough for Jane Strand. She took on two very different projects in two very different projects in Ghana and in Kenya.
It has been absolutely unforgettable, was Jane’s simple summary of her 8 week trip.
Starting in Kenya, Jane, 22-year-old from Childer Thornton in Cheshire, joined a small baby orphanage in Nairobi in Kenya. Working alongside Kenyan staff and volunteers to feed and nurse over 30 orphaned babies Jane undaunted by a totally new culture took on the role of nursery nurse for the first time.
The baby orphanage’s main aim is to find adoptive families for the children whilst they are still young so they can avoid a more uncertain future from within an institution.
According to a report by USAID, in 2005 more than 34 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa were orphans with this figure expected to reach 42 million as we approach 2012. The prevalence of AIDS is expected to be the biggest influence with affected families running out of people to look after the new arrivals. Orphaned children usually face one of two futures: the streets or an institution.
Jane said her greatest passion is travelling which provides her with an opportunity to continually learn new things and develop. Jane describes herself as naturally inquisitive. In her short visit to the baby orphanage in Nairobi and with little experience Jane was soon implementing a baby progress monitoring system.
Jane even managed to organise and fit in trekking and living with the Massai before jetting off to the other side of Africa to Ghana for a second volunteering placement. Jane’s responsibility stepped up a mark as she stepped into coordinator’s shoes, moved into a children’s home as live-in staff and increased her responsibility for over 60 children and young adults. Besides basic child care and domestic duties which involved bathing, feeding and collecting water from the well Jane was also responsible for teaching basic English and numeracy. Following on from her experiences in Kenya Jane also helped to get the children on the health care register.
Commenting on this live-in position Jane joked: the volunteering never finished!.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you and found your service fantastic.
I will certainly be volunteering through your company again.
Jane Strand in Africa.
If you would like to more information about volunteering in Kenya click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
Volunteer who work at baby orphanage in Kenya gets in touch to share her experiences with Original Volunteers.
To Original Volunteers Team, I just wanted to drop a line or two to you regarding my visit to the baby orphanage in Nairobi.
Thanks to yourselves I was allocated a month placement in Nairobi, Kenya. The time I spent in Kenya was life changing and highly rewarding. However my host family were the icing on the cake with their warm welcome and flexible attitude. In particular Julia, my host was very supportive and loving towards me and took much time to see that i was comfortable and happy. I would recommend her to anyone wishing to volunteer in Kenya (Nairobi); and wish to emphasise that her home was clean, comfortable and brilliant for the short walking distance to the orphanage.
Whilst working at the babies home I found that I bonded with all 20 babies very quickly. Although a toddler named Candy seemed not to take to me as much as I tried to play with her or make her laugh. Round about the third week of my stay I had pretty much come to the conclusion that she just didn’t like me. But one day I walked into work and to my surprise she ran towards me smiling and shouting my name the best she could, ELINA ELINA. I picked her up and she squeezed me so tight that i could have fallen over with shock. I learnt that some children have seen so many passers by that they learn to be non-attached. But continuing in love and playfulness towards her meant that she learnt to trust and love me back and from that day she always called my name and expected a big hug from me on arrival and leaving the house.
Thank you again for connecting me to volunteer work in Kenya and i look forward to a soon return.
Many thanks for your time.Yours sincerely,
Selina Whinnery
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
Annie who volunteered at Orphanages in Morocco has issued a plea for enthusiastic, and outgoing people to follow in her footsteps…
She would like to see ‘more volunteers who are enthusiastic, and outgoing’ volunteering in Morocco, ‘full of new, fresh, exciting ideas’, that are ‘both fun and Educational’..
In return for those hours spent patiently, and diligently teaching the children comes a reward in ‘a tiny Moroccan smile’ she says..
Annie felt that when volunteering in Morocco you must be ‘very open to different cultures, and willing to try all kinds of communication from hand gestures to ridiculous facial expressions’.
This was a particular concern for Annie as she feels that ‘the kids need to learn, and they have not grasped the concept that they are there to be taught’.
She urged future volunteers to take Stationery items, and Arts and crafts materials as well as clothing for the children.
Arriving with an open mind she feels will enable you to ‘meet fantastic new friends, and to embrace a unique fascinating culture’..
Annie feels that if you arrive in the country with this attitude ‘you can actually make a difference to a few Moroccan children’..
If you would like to more information about how to volunteer in Morocco click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
First time volunteer Iona Hughes described her time spent volunteering at Orphanages in Marrakech, Morocco as ‘the best 5 weeks of my life’.
Iona said that ‘ I can guarentee it will change your perspective on life, and definitely help you realise what is important’. She added that ‘working with children is not just rewarding it is also just so much fun. They are so loving, and keen to learn, it is just honestly a pleasure being with them’..
Iona volunteered at 7 different Orphanages, and said that it was interesting to see how different systems worked. She took part in teaching English and Art to the children as well as playing games, and sport with up to 50 children at any one time..
She was full of praise for the Original Volunteer coordinators describing them as wonderful people who were amazing at their job, and that they had helped to make her time in Morocco ‘just incredible’.
Iona added that volunteering in Morocco had given her the opportunity to see another culture, meet life long friends, and to spend time with amazing children..
Iona has recommended volunteering in Morocco with Original volunteers to many of her friends, and says that she definitely wants to return there in the future.
If you would like to more information about how to Volunteer in Morocco why not call us today.
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
Chelsea enjoyed volunteering in Morocoo so much that she returned again two months later.
Chelsea Jordan enjoyed her time volunteering at Orphanages in Morocco in April 2009 so much that she decided to return two months later in the June.
Chelsea found her second experience of volunteering to be ‘just as rewarding as the first’ and hopes ‘to return again someday’.
She said that even in a short space of time she ‘got to see so much progress, both with the kids, and with the project itself’. She added that upon returning she was ‘greeted with a chorus of proud “hello’s”, and “how are you’s”, phrases that they didn’t know in English one month before’.
She really enjoyed teaching at Dar Tifl Orphanage, and felt that it ‘proved to be beneficial both for me and the kids’. She feels that due to the children having a ‘different upbringing, culturally, and in general’ to children in the U.K it is important for volunteers to be ‘open minded and patient’ on this project. She felt that there were ‘little successes to be found in the kids every day’, and that was what helped to inspire her..
Her first experience of volunteering was mainly spent at the Tameslohte Orphanage, and she grew very close to the children. She found the atmosphere there to be ‘peaceful’, and felt that her time there was ‘most useful’.
Chelsea was full of praise for the people who work at the Orphanage, as well as at the Volunteer house describing them as ‘wonderful’.
Chelsea added that she will ‘never forget my experiences volunteering in morocco’, and that she ‘definitely hopes to return again someday’.
If you would like to more information about volunteering in Morocco click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
Lucy Harwood said that volunteering in Marrakech, Morocco with Original Volunteers had been an ‘amazing’ time, and that she found the children at the Orphanage where she volunteered to be ‘loving, and excited to learn’…
She said that ‘despite language barriers friendships were quickly formed’, and felt that it is ‘truly satisfying to know that any extra time that you have for these children will make a real difference in their future ambitions and expectations’.
She described looking after the orphans in Morocco as a ‘massive task’, but was full of praise for the organisers at the Orphanage saying that they do an ‘excellent job’.
Not only does she feel that the children gain a lot from the presence of volunteers, but she feels that the volunteers have a lot to gain from the experience as well. Lucy felt that ‘as long as you have ideas and are keen to get involved in sports, teaching, or chatting with the children then I think you will have a great time’..
She described Marrakech as a ‘greatly exciting city’ and added that everyone that she met was ‘so much fun’, and was full of praise for Original Volunteers coordinators in Marrakech saying that she found them to be ‘really helpful’.
Lucy added that she really enjoyed the time that she spent volunteering in Marrakech, was impressed with the way that it was organized, and described the whole experience as ‘really great’.
If you would like to more information about volunteering in Morocco click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies
Rebecca Sutherland who volunteered in Morocco was full of praise for Original volunteers. She describes us as ‘very organised’, and said that she would like to travel with us again, and will recommend us to people that she knows.
Rebecca spent 4 weeks volunteering at Orphanages, and Children’s Centres in Marrakech, Morocco. She said that she ‘had an amazing time’, and that she ‘really did not want to leave’. She said that Original volunteers is ‘ A very organized company, and I felt so safe while I was out there with them’. She added that we gave her ‘ A lot of support and comfort’, and was very pleased with the amount of information that we supplied her with about Morocco before her travels began.
As a result she added that she will definitely travel with us again, and will recommend the company to people that she knows…
Rebecca’s volunteering experience got off to a good start. After being met at the Airport, and driven to her accommodation she was then met by fellow volunteers who she described as ‘kind and welcoming’, and found the house to be ‘really lovely, a lot nicer than I had expected’.
Following a Camping trip that she described as ‘An amazing experience’ she settled in to working with the children at the Orphanages and children’s centres. The majority of her time was spent at 3 different Orphanages where she loved playing games with, teaching English to, and being creative with the children.
She also taught English to children at a Street Centre, and felt that the children were really appreciative..
Rebecca was full of praise for Original volunteer’s coordinators saying that they were ‘wonderful’, ‘inspiring’, do a ‘brilliant job’, and had made her trip enjoyable.
She particularly enjoyed being able to stay in the small village of Sidi Mokhtar during her time in Morocco, and felt that the local people made ‘such an effort to accommodate us, and it was an honour to be accepted in to their community in this way’.
Rebecca was in Marrakech during Ramadam, was pleased that the local people were happy to teach her about it, and to see groups of people praying and eating together in the evenings.
Rebecca’s own words saying that she ‘Had an amazing time in Morocco’, and that she ‘Really did not want to leave’ speak volumes about volunteering in the exotic country.
If you would like to more information about volunteering in Morocco click here
Read more about our: Volunteers in African Case Studies