Volunteer Ghana:

1. How was the Local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

I received all the support needed and was fully taken care of by the host family. They helped me solve all my needs and answer all my questions.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

• Program: I was surprised about how emotionally intelligent all the kids are and able to make right decisions in various tricky situations.
• Country: Ghana is an amazing country with lots of astonishing sceneries. I was surprised mostly by how Sunday masses at church looks like, how music is played at funerals and that you can buy snacks riding a car just through your window.

3. What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

• Program: there were no challenges as I had the possibility to prepare for lessons, kids behaved well and everything is very easier when you’re open to what’s happening around you.
• Host family: living with the host family was very easy and pleasurable. They made their best to make my stay comfortable and easy to adjust. No challenges at all.
• Country: it was unpleasant to be asked money or gift and be perceived as a rich white person, this is common just say no and thats it.

https://www.abroaderview.org/volunteers/ghana/kasoa-ghana

4. Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

• Read carefully all the tips and guidelines which are provided by ABV, they’re extremely informative and useful.
• Books or other things for a plenty of free time; protein bars or any kind of filling snacks due to irregular meal consumption.
• Anything that you would be willing to donate for kids: clothes, shoes, books, usual explanation for English language etc.

5. Personal paragraph about the experience ( ABV program testimonial):

My overall experience about the program is very good. I was welcomed by the locals with open hands; my host family was super friendly, supportive and was a pleasure to spend time with. I didn’t happen to have any security or health issues or concerns. Pupils at school were very talented, eager to learn and easy to work with. People taking care of the children are very inspiring and it’s unbelievable what they do and devote their time to raise and educate young people. Absolutely incredible experience! I can’t wait to come back.

6. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others?

• Accommodation: I was surprised by how spacious my room was, it had a huge comfortable bed, a toilet, and shower and luckily no mosquitoes disturbed me.
• Meals: the food here is very delicious and none of it was a novelty for me. Same ingredients as at home only prepared differently with other spices etc. I usually was too full after an erratic portion of meal served.
• Security: as long as my host family was taking care of everything during the whole stay and was with me, I felt very safe.

Volunteer Reviews

7. What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

• Program: dancing completions are definitely one of my favorite, however having discussions with my talented kids at school during lessons was very fulfilling.
• Host family: preparing local dishes together with the host family. Banku and fufu are finger-licking tasty! However, any activity with my host family was super good, going to church on Sundays, visiting local market, enjoying sunset etc.
• Country: I really enjoyed the trips to different amazing places in Ghana. I was even lucky enough to have a crocodile named after me. What a month!

8. How was the ABV USA support prior traveling? ( who helped you, emails, phone calls, chat online, how fast did you got the answer, did you got all your answers)

Thank you Lori, Lynn and Sarah for all the information provided. The orientation guide and all the informative and useful materials which helped me prepare for this trip. I really liked the opportunity to chat online and get all the answers to the questions right away.

8.1 Who did you find Abroaderview website and what keywords did you use.

Initially I was looking for such volunteering opportunity with duration no longer than one month. That’s why I started with keywords “volunteering Africa for a month.”

9. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Absolutely, more than glad to

Volunteer Guatemala

1.  How was the local ABV coordinator and the support provided in-country?

The coordinator was our in-country support and was amazing. Took care of getting us settled in on our first day in the clinic and with our host families. She even helped us organize transportation and hotels for the rest of our trip, which was great.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

The most surprising thing I experienced was how much time we got to spend with our Spanish tutors and how flexible the classes were. I was expecting a more formalized lesson, and it was a pleasant surprise to be able to have a more integrative experience with learning the language, culture and history.

3. What was most difficult to experience?

The Spanish immersion. It has been a very intense experience trying to communicate and understand, and while it has been beneficial and great, the best way to learn, it has been the most challenging aspect.

4. Any tips for future volunteers? (clothing, travel, personal items, donations, etc. ?

1. Spend more time volunteering if you can, more than 1 week, we had 1 week and it was jam-packed.
2. Bring layered clothing, it rains sporadically and nights can be a bit chilly.
3. Bring crisp, clean large bills to exchange at the bank ($50$100, no $20)

5. Other things volunteers should know?

a. Do not flush toilet paper in toilet.
b. Beware of street dogs
c. Beware of traffic – pedestrians do not have the right of way
d. No need to tip, not part of the custom, but welcome

Volunteer Reviews

6. Personal paragraph (ABV program testimonial):

This was truly an amazing experience, it really renewed my faith in altruism and globalization. This was such a holistic experience combining volunteering, culture and language. I loved being able to do some good, while meeting warm, genuine people both local and from abroad. Human connections are really what makes us strong and this experience really solidified that.

7. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security (e.g. host family, on-site, shared)

Our host family was phenomenal! They made us feel like part of their family, took care of us, taught us, and hung out with us. They made the living experience really great and made us feel welcome and at home.

8. What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Spending time with our host family. We did a night out with our host family and another family, and it was one of the best experiences I´ve had. The bonding and laughing and genuity of it all was truly amazing.

9. How was the ABV USA support prior to traveling?

The support prior to traveling was great. Very receptive and responsive to questions and provided us with all the details we needed, even reminded us of things we had forgotten to submit.

10.  Are you willing to speak to potential ABV volunteers?

Yes.

Volunteer Ecuador

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

The local coordinator was wonderful. She offered lots of support by answering all my questions and checking in with me frequently. If I encountered any problems I knew that I had a great support network at my disposal. Karen and Laura were so very helpful and calmed my nerves once I arrived.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

The most surprising thing I experienced was how quickly I was able to navigate the town I was living in. After less than three days I was able to get around perfectly well on my own. Granted, it was a small island town.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

The most difficult thing for me was missing home. Everyone experiences some form of homesickness while abroad. Mine was very mild and since I was only gone a month I mostly found myself missing the food of my home country. Although I enjoyed the food in my host family by this time I could go a very long time without eating rice.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

Bring presents for your host family if you will be living with one! It is a great conversation starter if you bring something from your home country. Keep your packing light so you can bring home lots of gifts. And make sure to explore some on your own. It came seem scary at first but it can be very nice to catch a sunrise or sunset alone and reflect on how you are doing and how you are enjoying the country.

5.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a. Be flexible. Plans change and you should take it in stride.

1. Be open. Try new foods and new things.
2. Listen to your hosts. They know what is safe to do.

Volunteer Galapagos

6- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial):

I worked with Galapagos tortoises in La Galapaguera a semi natural habitat for breeding. I also

monitored sea lions and marine iguanas so that the data could be used in work with local children.

I could spend my mornings with tortoises or sea lions and my afternoons helping out at a local dive shop. My volunteering was exhausting but extremely rewarding. I will never forget getting to feed baby Galapagos tortoises or getting to hang out with sea lions on the many pristine beaches.

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security (e: host family, on-site, shared)

I lived with a very nice host family. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with them everyday. This allowed for bonding and extra time to practice my Spanish. I always felt safe and was given a key to the house. I had my own room and bathroom with a beautiful view of the ocean. I could not imagine staying anywhere else.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

My favorite memory was scuba diving with sharks at Kicker Rock. I had free time on the weekends to do what I wanted. I got to dive with Galapagos Sharks, White and Black tip sharks, and Hammerheads. I also went diving with volunteer to clean up trash in the main harbor during World Oceans Day with the local navy.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

I had lots of great support while filling out my application. They answered all my questions promptly

and well. I never felt lost or confused.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?
Yes, absolutely.

Volunteer Honduras

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

He was fantastic. He provided us with everything we could have needed and more, and supported us through the entire month long process.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program:

The difference in medical care practices i.e. Less of a focus on sterility for patients and providers, and less ‘PFA’ or compassionate communication with the patients from the healthcare providers. Both are things that are heavily stressed in the US health care system, and we have developed habits in our work at home that were harder to achieve while here (such as wearing gloves and using sterile techniques). Honestly, I was expecting somewhat of a systemless form of healthcare, but La Ceiba does have a system, it is just very different from what we are used to in the United States.

At the accommodation:

The most surprising thing about the accommodations was that they were much complete than had been expected. We set our expectations to be packed into a bedroom with maybe a shared bathroom, but the house we stayed at (Rafael’s home) was more than enough for us during the four week stay. Rafael has a very large extended family that was very good to us and helped us with everything from cooking to getting to know the city.

About the country:

We traveled from the U.S., and the expectations we had about Honduras were from our “state department sites” and word of mouth from other friends and family. When we arrived and got to know the country, or at least the city of La Ceiba, we realized how different the country and the people here are from the way they are depicted by our country. I was most surprised, very happily, by the welcoming nature and generosity that was displayed by the citizens of La Ceiba. Our first week here we helped the Secretary of Health with a vaccination campaign that required us to go door to door in the outlying neighborhoods of the city to ensure that all at risk populations were vaccinated. During this process we truly saw the incredibly kind and genuinely thankful aspect of the Honduran people. While some people have a somewhat negative perception of western, specifically U.S. culture, the majority of people just want to offer you a bottle of soda.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program:

From a medical standpoint, there is obviously a huge lack of funding, supplies, training, and manpower that inhibits the ability for the medical system in place here to function at an adequate capacity. Witnessing the unavoidable decrease in the quality of care due to these things was very difficult. For just one example, the ‘Hospital Viejo’ – the public hospital in the center of La Ceiba – truly has no money or supplies. Because of this, patients who come to the hospital for treatments of their infections or removal of their stitches are often required to bring their own medical supplies for the doctors and nurses to provide care. Antibiotic cream as well is only available if the patient can afford it and bring it with them for application by medical professionals. It was definitely hard to be unable to provide the care that we are accustomed to, but the knowledge that our being there could improve the quality of care, both by bringing donations and fresh hands, was enough to balance the difficulty.

At the accommodation:

The accommodations were truly very comfortable and enjoyable. The most difficult thing, which is consistent with everywhere in Honduras and not only the homestay, was the heat. Our trip was four weeks in length, and by the end of the second week we felt as though we had acclimated and found ways to avoid being overcome by the heat, but anyone planning a trip should prepare to be very hot when in the home. Luckily, there are many fans and a gentle breeze goes a very long way to cool down the body.

The country:

La Ceiba is absolutely beautiful, but the standards of cleanliness in terms of water quality and food sources (out of our host family)  are not the same as in many other more developed countries. All five of us were the patients at one point or another during the trip when a quick bug crippled our ranks temporarily (after doing a tour on a weekend). The officials in the city have, in the time that we’ve been here, determined that there was some kind of big – a virus or bacteria – that spread across much of the city, affecting not only us volunteers but also the local Honduran people. It was very difficult to deal with the symptoms of this 20 hour bug, so come prepared with a refillable water bottle, and some diarrhea, nausea/vomiting drugs, maybe antibiotics and a multivitamin just in case.

Volunteer in Honduras

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing:

Lots of socks and underwear/other things that you don’t feel comfortable wearing more than once. If you’re staying for more than a week then you’ll probably need to do laundry, which is done by hand or at a next-day dry cleaner down the road. In the home, it’s acceptable to wear whatever is comfortable. Tank tops and shorts were what I wore around the house to avoid the heat and sweating through everything. Because it is HOT here, sweating is very common and acceptable, so after a week we got used to not caring about how soaked our shirts/scrubs were. Footwear: Sneakers, sandals (flip flops are good but I brought sandals with secure straps and didn’t regret it), and another pair of comfortable shoes.

Donations:

The public hospital needs just about everything, but most importantly is:

Sterile gauze (all kinds but rolls of gauze are great), soap, ALCHOL for cleaning instruments (Alcohol swabs for injections too), liquid Iodine, blood pressure cuffs/stethoscopes, GLOVES for nurses to wear when doing IVs/ exams, toothbrushes/toothpaste. Medications: Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen.

Weather:

Bug Spray: DEET is not the healthiest thing for humans, but it definitely keeps the bugs away. Some pure DEET spray (99%) is great to spray on a backpack or clothing if you go anywhere on the weekends, but don’t go over 30% DEET on your skin. Other, natural forms of bug repellant is a good idea too.

Sun Screen: The sun here is different, and its strong, so bring some heavy duty sunscreen to protect yourself.

Temperatures are regularly in the 90s and super humid, so dress accordingly.

La Ceiba is a very developed city, and there are a couple of great stores where you can buy anything that you might forget in the states, or that you don’t want to pack in your luggage.

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a.- Honduran people in La Ceiba are great, kind, and welcoming.

b.- Safety should be a concern in the same way that it should be a concern in any major city of any country.

c.- Unless you’re central american of some kind, you will not blend in and everyone will notice your presence, but this does not mean you’re unsafe.

d.- Honduras is Hot! Prepare for the heat and the humidity.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

We stayed with the ABV coordinator in La Ceiba, and it was truly a wonderful accommodation. We were not expecting much, but Rafael’s home and his large extended family were nothing but kind to us for the month long stay. There were five of us traveling and working together for the four weeks, and we were split among three rooms and three bathrooms. The terrace on the second floor has an incredible view and breeze that allows for somewhat of a cool down. All meals were provided for us three times a day, 7 days a week and Honduran food is very good (Baleada mondays every week in Rafael’s house were always the best). Rafael made sure that we were safe, and that we got as much out of this experience as we were able to give to the Honduran people of La Ceiba. I will forever have a more enlightened view of the world and global healthcare due to the experiences I have attained on this trip. I would suggest staying in country as long as you possibly can, because it takes a short while to acclimate socially and get used to the way things work down here. By week two, we had made great relationships with the doctors and nurses that continued to be strengthened over the following two weeks. The ABV program provided us with everything that we needed and more, and when we come back in the future we will be working with ABV again.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

The family and food were great. We got to learn how to make some traditional Honduran food, and we were never hungry here. In terms of security, we were apprehensive because of what we had heard about the country itself, but we very rarely felt uncomfortable in public situations, and never felt as though we were in any danger. That being said, we made it a point to keep a low profile and not attract too much negative attention to ourselves when in public. Overall, respectful foreigners will be safe in La Ceiba.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: Working with the children in the Hospital was incredible. Being able to communicate with the patients by the end of the four weeks and make their days a bit better was so rewarding. Because of the limited medical providers and overworked nurses and doctors, patient affect is something that often is not a focus, so a smile and a compassionate “Como esta?” can go a long way and make a patients day a bit better.

Country: We took a weekend trip to a river that flows through Pico Bonito National Park and hiked up to a few waterfalls. The trip ended with rock jumping and some food at a small, family run hostel along the river. This afternoon was a great break from the busy weeks in the hospitals.

 8.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

The ABV staff was a huge help before our trip. The information that we had available to us was sufficient for planning the trip and we did not feel as though we were underprepared in any way for the work we were doing here. ABV was prompt and informative in answering any questions we had whether via email or phone calls. When returning to do more service in Honduras or abroad in other countries I will be contacting ABV to organize.

Website Information:

The Website was a great source for information and for organizing all of the trip information in one place.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes, I’d love to talk and share anything with anyone.

10 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

We were looking for a volunteering abroad experience and found the ABV program online. We chose the program because we felt as though we could use our training in the healthcare system here in La Ceiba.

Volunteer Honduras

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

Our ABV Coordinator in Honduras helped us with everything we needed during our trip. We were able to volunteer at multiple hospitals with his help. During the week he always made sure we knew where to go and would check in during the day to make sure everything was okay. After a few weeks our group felt comfortable finding our way though the hospitals and helping wherever we were needed.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program: The most surprising thing was how patient and helpful the nurses and doctors were. I would have totally understood if they had been frustrated with my broken spanish and potentially slowing their work down, but in my experience the nurses and doctors were patient and kind and helpful.

At the accommodation: the house felt like home almost immediately. I was surprised by how comfortable and modern the house was. I had my own room and bathroom, and had a fan to use at night. There were some small surprises like not being able to flush the toilet paper (many countries in latinamerica do this) and not using the sink water to brush my teeth, but overall I felt totally comfortable and safe at the house. The food was amazing and there are a ton of places for snacks and other food within walking distance.

About the country: The most surprising thing about the country was definitely the people. During our first week we helped with the vaccination campaign and were able to walk through different neighborhoods in the city giving vaccinations, vitamins, and parasite medications to the citizens of La Ceiba. It amazed me how amicable and generous the people were. People would frequently welcome us into their homes and offer cold drinks or fresh fruit from trees in their yard. Seeing the different places people lived and interacting with the community outside of the hospital was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program: The most difficult experience about the program was probably adjusting to the different working environment. All of us are Advanced EMT’s and work on an ambulance in Vermont so we’ve had training in wound care, IV establishment, CPR, medication administration, etc.. We are all so fortunate to have sterile supplies and all the resources we need to provide care to our patients, so it was difficult to adjust to minimal resources. It not only gave me a new appreciation for my own ambulance service, but also made me realize that there is still so much more our group can do to help here in the future.

At the accommodation: I didn’t have any major problems with the accommodation. The only minor setback for me was being sick for a few days after doing a weekend tour, so I would recommend bringing pepto bismol and an antibiotic incase you’re sick for more than a few days. It was definitely hot and sweaty most of the time, but we all acclimated pretty quickly.

The country: The most difficult thing about the country was seeing how little some people have. The hospitals have very few supplies, and patients are often responsible for bringing their own gauze or ointment to care for wounds. We were able to donate around $8,000 worth of medical supplies, but even still we felt there was so much more we should have brought. For the first time I encountered patients whom I knew how to care for, but didn’t have the means to provide care, and that was really tough for me.

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing: It’s hot so loose breathable clothing is ideal. Bring lots of scrubs because you need to change into clean scrubs if you want to watch a surgery. There are also opportunities to go on little trips to hike or swim or go to the islands, so be sure to bring good shoes and swim things too.

Donations:  Donations are definitely needed here. We were fortunate to find a non-profit organization that gave us medical supplies to donate to the hospitals here, so I would definitely recommend researching and/or fundraising to bring as much as you can. There is a huge need for basic medical supplies like gloves, gowns, facemasks, sterile gauze, antibacterial ointment, tournicates, alcohol pads, etc.. If there was anything I could have done differently it would have been to bring more donations. Even donations aside from medical supplies like clipboards, pens, staplers, whiteout, soap, hand sanitizer are needed. You can also buy locally all these items.

Weather: It’s hot and humid every day so be prepared to sweat. There are some areas of some of the hospitals that have air conditioning, and there are some local places with AC as well if you need to chill out for a bit. But overall be ready to sweat a lot, bring cooling towels.

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a. The doctors and nurses are very helpful and friendly so don’t be shy. Ask to help and don’t be afraid to make mistakes in Spanish as long as you’re trying. But also learn as much Spanish as you can before you come. I would recommend taking a Spanish class (or 3) if you can, and keeping a Spanish/English dictionary or medical dictionary on you.

b. Bring bugspray!! And lots of sunscreen

c. The city and country are beautiful and I would definitely recommend making the most of your down time, but still focusing on spending as much time in the hospital as possible.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

Volunteering Honduras in the hospitals and walking through the neighborhoods vaccinating the community was one of the most unique and life changing experiences I’ve had. Being in EMS has allowed me to see a decent amount of medical emergencies, but observing the effects of poverty and lack of medical resources first hand truly altered my perception. I always felt comfortable and at home in my host house, and I made so many connections that I hope will last longer than my month here. This trip was everything I’d hoped it would be and so much more, and I can’t wait to return.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

The house was great, I always felt comfortable and at home. We had our meals cooked for us at the house, but we could always go out to eat if we let the family know beforehand. One night we also cooked for everyone in the house which was super fun. I always felt safe at home, and walking around felt to me like most other big cities in the U.S. We were pretty much always home before dark and stayed together as a group whenever we went anywhere. There are taxis all throughout the city too if we ever wanted to go somewhere we could get one, or the coordinator would call a taxi for us if we wanted to go somewhere together.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: My favorite program memory was being able to spend time with the new born babies after c-sections. The first c-section I saw I cried when the baby came out strong and healthy, the doctors made fun of me for a little bit after that. But it really is an incredible thing to be one of the first people to hold a new born baby.

Country: One afternoon we went to the waterfalls in the mountains and it was the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life.

8.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

ABV answered all of the questions I had before coming. At one point I had to email them probably 3 times about my fundraising page and they were always very helpful.

Website Information:

I watched basically all of the videos from people who had done this service trip before and I found them to be so helpful and accurate.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes definitely!!

10 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

Marty, one of the people in our group, found ABV online.

1.     How was the local ABV coordinator and the support provided in-country?

The local support was very thorough and responsive to any questions or help I needed. They stopped by the shelter a few days to check in with me, helped connect me with other ABV volunteers from the program, and organized side travel and tours.

2.     What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

I was surprised at the comforts at the homestay. The “know before you go” literature made it seem as if it would be rough accommodations and this was not the case.

ABV: we lower expectations as not all houses are the same, but most houses will be middle high class accommodations.

3.     What was most difficult to experience?

The most difficult experience for me was attempting to bond with the girls of the shelter without speaking much Spanish.  I know that had I been here longer, my Spanish would improve and it would be easier to communicate with them and gain their friendship. At times I felt a bit of an outsider with the girls and staff. However, I suppose that is to be expected.

4.     Any tips for future volunteers? (clothing, travel, personal items, donations, etc. ?
Clothing – closed toe shoes, hair ties, rain jacket, high necked shirts, comfy jeans (no leggings to the shelter).

5.     Other things volunteers should know?
a. Bring tissue / toilet paper, it´s hard to come by. Carry in your bag during your travels.

b. Some of the girls/children at the shelter have lice so wear your hair in a braid or bun when holding the children. (bring lice shampoo to give to the shelter)

c. Listen to your host family and ABV directors, travel in pairs, take taxi´s etc.

Volunteer Guatemala

6.     Personal paragraph (ABV program testimonial):

ABV is a great way to get out and make a difference while knowing you are with a reputable organization that will look out for you, prepare you and ensure a great learning experience.

7.     How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security

My host family was so welcoming and I loved hanging out with them. I had my own room but I hear some volunteers have shared accommodations. There were plenty of blankets on my bed but if you get cold easily bring sweats to hang out in at night.

8.     What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Teaching dance to the girls at the shelter to their favorite song and everyone got involved including the staff. It was a really great, lively experience.

9.     How was the ABV USA support prior to traveling?

Great! I didn´t give them a ton of notice I was coming (not recommended), and they answered all of my questions and set everything up for me with short turn around.

10.  Are you willing to speak to potential ABV volunteers?

Yes via email.

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

I didn’t talk much to my local coordinator, solely because I had most of my things in place for this trip. The in- country coordinator was very helpful. German showed me around the fun places of Quito, told me which places I should visit on the weekends, and encouraged me to come to events held at the school.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced? Name 2

Program: How many doctors and medical students are actually at the hospital to help, and finding out my first patient on my internal medicine rotation has stage 4 cancer and nothing can be done to help him because of how fast it spread.

Host Family: How good the food is, and how open the family and nice the family is.

Country: How safe the country is compared to others (even the us), and how beautiful every part of the city is.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Program: Not having much work to do because there are so many people at the hospital, and trying to understand the spanish (even with 6 years of lessons)

Host Family: I really can’t think of anything.

Country: sometimes the language barrier, and because you’re a tourist some people take advantage of your money.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

1.     You really don’t need as much as they say you will, 2-3 scrubs are fine, there is laundry.

2.     BRING A RAIN COAT, sunscreen, hat, and also buy your toothpaste/shampoo/face wash in the US, it’s way cheaper there.

3.     Go to otavalo, mitad del mundo, the coast, everything in the end is worth it, so if yourre questioning going somewhere, just do it.

4.     Have an open mind with everything, don’t eat the street food until your stomach is accustomed (2 weeks), try the ice cream (its great), and the empanadas.

5.1-Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

(thats not in the orientation guide)

a. know your money limits before you come, set limits per week, dont go crazy.

b. ask questions, dont be afraid, theyre here to help

c. 2weeks to a month is enough time to enjoy the place without getting homesick and such, set your time here with everything like that in mind.

d. the tap water isnt bad, bringing a filter water bottle will do.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

It took me 3.5 weeks out of my 4 to actually start falling in love with the country. I loved how cheap it was to travel around ecuador. The taxis are sooo much cheaper than ubers so I took advantage of that. I can tell that my spanish has gotten way better and I am more confident when I talk. And the hospital wasn’t what I thought it would be. I wanted more of a hands on place with patients and I didn’t necessarily get that here. I did learn a lot about different diseases/ conditions patients were admitted with, and how to communicate effectively with patients with the little spanish I speak.

Volunteer in Ecuador

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others: 

meals, accommodation, saftey, friendliness, I would all rate a 10/10. The meals were great (way healthier than what I am used to), I felt very safe always around quito, whether I was with others or by myself, my host family made it seem like I was at my own house, and every one you see will say hello or good day.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

Program: seeing the patients get healthier

Host Family: feliz de ano was crazzzzy. but a good crazy.

Country: the beach was beautiful, 10/10 would go again.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling? (who helped you, emails, phone calls, chat online, how fast did you got an answer, did you got all your answers)

I would rate it like a 5/10. there was an incident where my dates were changed and I was charged $120 more and I was not contacted at all about it. I only found out about it when I saw my itinerary 2 weeks. so communication could be a little better. I was also told I would work 8-12 then 2-6, and when I got to ecuador I was told I only work 7:30am to 12:30pm. I also did not need nearly as much things to bring like the emails said. I didn’t even use half of it.

9.1- Who did you find Abroaderview website (keywords, search engine, word mouth to mouth, recommended by .., other)

I googled ‘medical mission trip’ and found abroaderview.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

yes.

Volunteer Nepal

1. How was the local Coordinator and the staff and the support provided in-country?

They were very thorough in explaining every aspect of my stay from the working condition, to commute, to things to do during weekend. They made me feel like I’m home and not feel home sick.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?

The most surprising thing was the fact that I actually found friends of a lifetime. My colleagues actually got me gift and cake when I was leaving which showed me how close we got and also made me really sad to leave them

3. What was most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?

Probably the most difficult thing would be the language barrier since at the dental hospital patients would communicate in Nepali language and I did not know any Nepali. But on the bright side, I would ask dentists and they would translate for me so I did not have any difficulty understanding the situation. I would recommend having Nepali language immersion class.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….(clothing, travel information, packing, sightseeing, donations)

As for the recommendations, I would recommend volunteers to bring clothing especially during hot months and anyways they would be able to buy light, cheap cloths here. So I wouldn’t recommend bringing many suitcases.

4.1 Other things volunteers should know:

• Try to read on sightseeing locations in advance and know how long it would take to get there.
• Always negotiate with the cab.
• Don’t walk late at night …..

5. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial):

I loved my stay with the coordinator and his family. They are very caring and helpful and like a second family to me. My work environment was great and people were really friendly. I would definitely come back to Nepal with my family and spend more time here.

Volunteer Reviews

6. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security?

Everything was perfect. The meals were delicious and as little spicy since I can’t handle spicy food. Also they made me feel very comfortable at home and if I needed to go somewhere they made sure I know my way.

7. What was your memory of this trip?

Great and kind people at work and at home and beautiful nature outside Kathmandu.

8. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?

I received plenty of emails regarding my trip explaining every step of the way and the information. I needed to know about accommodation and condition of living so the emails were very thorough.

9. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience?

Yes.

Volunteer Guatemala

1. How was the local ABV coordinator and the support provided in-country?

The coordinator was extremely supportive and accommodating. She met up with us almost daily, helped with logistics of volunteering, traveling, communication, currency, and extracurricular activities. She was also extremely engaging and approachable. My experience would not have been as complete or as diverse without her involvement.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

The most surprising thing I experienced was how warm and engaging everyone in Guatemala was, from the program coordinator to my host family to the medical staff I worked with to even the patients.

3. What was most difficult to experience?

The most difficult experience was the need to quickly immerse in the Spanish, especially for someone with minimal Spanish proficiency.

4. Any tips for future volunteers? (clothing, travel, personal items, donations, etc.)

• Layer clothing – weather is variable.
• Comfortable, durable shoes
• Bring crisp, high amount dollar bills (no small bills) for currency exchange
• Beware of street dogs!

5. Other things volunteers should know?

• Take advantage of local cafés and nightlife!
• Ask your host family lots of questions about local recommendations and travel logistics.
• Bring gifts for the host family.
• Consider bandages / blister covers for foot protection.

Volunteer Reviews

6. Personal paragraph (ABV program testimonial):

I personally thought this was a life changing opportunity. ABV was able to provide a complete experience for me in terms of volunteering and culturally. Would recommend it to anyone.

7. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security (e.g. host family, on-site, shared)

Extremely accommodating and social. You are fully immersed with your host family and will eat meals with them often. I felt very safe with my accommodations, and felt that my host family was really my family.

8. What was your favorite memory of this trip?

My favorite memory was going out with my host family one night to get chocolate drinks at a café. There was much laughter and my friends and family were full of jokes and pranks the entire night.

9. How was the ABV USA support prior to travelling?

Their email response was very quick. I was actually a last minute addition to my group, and this was done very efficiently and seamlessly. The instructions were easy to navigate and all questions were answered thoroughly and quickly.

10. Are you willing to speak to potential ABV volunteers?

Yes.

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

The support was good and helped in a lot of ways.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

Program: How curious all the kids were and how different the schools are here.

Host Family: How different we are as people.

Country: How different the cultures are in general.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Program: trying to think of things to draw that the kids could get a reference from.

Host Family: Having someone always trying to tell you what to do,

Country: There is a big language barrier. Learn some basic Hindu, take local lessons

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

1. You want breathable material in India’s hot weather. You can buy local clothes

2. Bring your own soaps for showering.

5.- Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

(thats not in the orientation guide)

a. You will get mad at people very easily because you always feel like you’re being pressured everywhere you go for money.

b. You need to learn how to bargain if you are trying to buy anything in India.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

This has been a very eye opening experience for me. I have done so many things that some people could only dream of. I couldn’t have had a better experience traveling to a poverty stricken country.

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others:

The accommodations were good but the food could have been a little better. Having the same 4 or 5 choices for an entire month gets tiring. Everything else was very good. So try to eat out a couple of times a week if you want more variety.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

Program: all the kids would swarm me and bombard me with questions about me or my country.

Host Family: The first day I arrived I was sitting at the airport in Jaipur looking like a lost puppy because I couldn’t find the ABV sign, its big, stay in the gate of arrival waiting for the coordinator and the ABV sign.

Country: How shop keepers and business owners always thought we were rich and always gave us an outrageous price for everything, they do this to any foreigner.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

Anytime I called the program I always got a hold of someone and could explain my problems. I would always get emails regarding how everything was going and if I needed anything.

9.1- What do you think about the reservation system online?

It’s good and it got the job done.

9.2- Who did you find Abroaderview website

My grandparents found abroaderveiw and thought it would be good for me.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

I’m willing to talk to other volunteers to help them with their experience.

Link to the program:

Construction-Painting: Construction / Building
Teaching: Teaching English