I loved the experience that it provided me! While it was an unpaid volunteer position I gained so much more than I have with any other experience before!
What I wish was different
Honestly nothing
Advice
Do it!! It’s such a wonderful opportunity and an eye opening experience. It’s a life changing trip and the help you get to provide is amazing.
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VESA Volunteer
June 2019 • Tena, Napo Province
What I liked
Through Volunteer Eco Students Abroad, I was able to carry out volunteer work beside new friends while exploring Ecuador. We built toilet blocks and dug septic tanks for the families in town whose children attend school nearby. I liked that our work truly had an impact; these septic tanks will be a long-term solution for the community. We also got to interact with the students, who only spoke Spanish. During the second week, we hiked in the Amazon jungle and explored nearby towns.
What I wish was different
Absolutely nothing! There was the perfect amount of individual freedom and group structure. The balance between volunteer work and exploring was ideal too. The food, people, and accommodations were all superb!
Advice
Embrace the dirt that will be under your fingernails, the bud bites, and don't be afraid to get sweaty and tired! Reapply sunscreen as if your life depended on it, too. Soak up every moment - these were easily the best two weeks of my entire life!
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Volunteering at an Elephant Conservation Center
June - July 2019 • Nam Tian, Xiangkhouang Province
What I liked
I loved meeting the group directors and meeting new people around the world. I now have friends all over the world from this trip. I loved the opportunities that it brought me as well.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had better understanding of what to bring. Vesa is not a U.S. initially based company and so the instructions to bring "holiday clothes" did not make sense, thus making it hard to pack.
Advice
I would say, if you're on the fence about going, just go. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I could never regret this trip. You get out of your comfort zone and you realize you're capable of so much more.
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Volunteer
June 2019 • Suva, Central Division
What I liked
I loved everything about this experience. I really enjoyed that we got to spend a week exploring the islands, after volunteering. The most amazing experience
What I wish was different
Got to spend more time rebuilding the school. I would have loved to been able to do more for the kids than fix up the building and repaint.
Advice
Be ready to go completely out of your comfort zone. Just embrace the experience it will be amazing.
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Volunteer
May - June 2019 • Sayaboury, Sainyabuli Province
What I liked
This experience gave me the opportunity to be immersed in a completely new and different culture while doing volunteer work for people, animals, and the environment that made me feel like I was making a real contribution across the world.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Volunteer
May - June 2019 • St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal
What I liked
I loved getting to travel and see the world outside of Pennsylvania. I really enjoyed learning about the conservation of wild cats in Africa. I also enjoyed every muscle straining moment of mixing concrete by hand to build a home for the less fortunate.
What I wish was different
I wish I would have had more time to play games and get to know my fellow volunteers from around the world.
Advice
Do everything you can to expand your knowledge. Immerse yourself in the new culture and don’t be afraid to butcher their language, they’ll enjoy you trying.