When I first decided I wanted to go on an alternative Spring Break trip I had no idea where to start my search for the right one. I asked one of my friends which program she had used and she enthusiastically suggested Projects Abroad. I was a little skeptical at first, not because of the company itself, but because I was essentially paying to volunteer, a concept I had never heard of before. But once I was in Costa Rica and saw where exactly my money was going to I was elated that I could donate my time and money to such a great cause.
Projects Abroad is a wonderfully organized volunteer program. Every single member of staff that I met was amazing- on the first day in the office everyone greeted me with a hug! I felt so welcomed and like I was genuinely needed at my placement. The other spring breakers and I spent one week helping out at a day care and painting a mural at a kindergarten. I had the opportunity to practice my Spanish in every day conversations; an opportunity that I would never get sitting in my classroom. The work was definitely physically hard and exhaustive at times but we still had time to go out to the bars and restaurants and even to a beautiful beach! I met some amazing people from all over the world that I feel like I will be friends with for years to come.
I would recommend Projects Abroad to anyone looking to volunteer in a foreign country- you learn so much about yourself and people in general that the experience is not to be missed! The only drawback is the price (it is quite pricey) but the money is used for such a great cause that this issue can be overlooked. My only regret is that I was not able to spend more time volunteering in Costa Rica! If you choose to volunteer with this company I would recommend going for no less than two weeks as you will surely love every minute of this cultural exchange.
Projects Abroad
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8.4 / 10
after 45 Reviews
Based on overall, support & value average ratings
Established in 1992, Projects Abroad is the world’s leading short-term international volunteer organization. Over 8,000 people a year join our programs in over 25 amazing countries around the world. All participants receive unparalleled in-country support from our full-time, professional staff to ensure that the experience is safe, worthwhile, and fun.
Program website: http://www.projects-abroad.org/
I volunteered through Projects Abroad at a hospital outside of Arusha, Tanzania. It was a wonderful and life-changing experience and I highly recommend recommend the program. The staff at Projects Abroad were supportive throughout the application process, and in the country. At the same time, the structure of it was such that you can do what you want in your free time, which I also appreciated. I was placed with an amazing host family, although my house was quite far from both town and my placement. (Personally, this wasn't something that bothered me, but it was also not my first time living and working in Africa. Had I not had previous experience on the continent, it may have been overwhelming to be that far away.) Working in the hospital itself was a very humbling and eye opening experience. I would definitely recommend it for anybody interested in working in the medical field- so long as you have a strong stomach! It was at times greusome, and you will be asked to do a lot more than you might expect. Overall, I felt like I made a positive contribution, I am happy I went, and I would definitely do it again.
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Location:
Posted: March 20, 2012
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: nurmisur
Age:
27
I volunteered in a Care placement with Projects Abroad for 3 months. I lived in Niteroi, a city of about 400,000 in the state of Rio de Janiero. I lived with a local family. My home was in a great location - it was a block from the beach and the bus stop. I worked every weekday at a creche - or care center. The creche is free, so most of the kids there came from relatively poor families. There were about 75 children ranging from 2 to 6 years old, and there were 14 staff members. At work, I played with the kids, fed them and bathed them. It was definitely a challenge and the experience often times pushed me out of my comfort zone. But the experience gave me invaluable perspective. Though the playground equipment is not as impressive as that of schools and care centers in the US (where I live), the kids for the most part act the same way. Kids are kids no matter where they live or what kind of background they have.
During the weekend, volunteers were free to explore the marvelous city of Rio. I visited Cristo, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Lagoa, the Botanical Gardens, the Sambodrome, Flamengo Park, Arches of Lapa, Niteroi's Contemporary Art Museum, a favela, a samba club, some of Brazil's forts, and so much more. I watched a soccer game - the Fla-Flu game. It was between Flamengo and Fluminense, Rio's crosstown rivals. I enjoyed many of Brazil's beaches - from Ipanema Beach in Rio and Itacoatiara Beach in Niteroi. Along with sightseeing in Rio, I took side trips to Sao Paulo, Cabo Frio, Iguazu Falls, and the Amazon, where I held a crocodile and fished for piranhas.
The volunteers mostly hung out together. The volunteers I worked with came from the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and Portugal. Some people were taking gap years like me and some were taking time off from university or work. None of us knew each other before coming to Brazil, but we immediately had to trust and rely on one another.
Brazil was incredibly eye-opening. I learned how to get around Brazil and immersed myself in the culture as much as I could. I became more alert and aware of my surroundings. I learned a lot from the way Brazilians treat others and approach life. They are never in a hurry and never seem stressed. Living in Brazil - where bus drivers wait for the man running to catch the bus from 2 blocks away and taxi drivers pull over to give money to beggars - moved me and humbled me. Brazilians amazed me with their warmth, openness, and carefree attitude towards life. The months I spent in Brazil were some of the most rewarding in my life.
Projects Abroad's best feature is its flexibility. The staff does a good job placing you where you want, when you want, and how long you want, which is something I don't think any other gap year program offered.
Program:
Location:
Posted: February 25, 2012
Overall:
9
Support:
8
Value:
8
By: CW11
Age:
18
I contacted the Projects Abroad Organization about two weeks before the start of my final undergraduate semester with Long Island University. As a student majoring in Global Studies, I was looking for a program that would allow me to volunteer with orphans for my independent field research project. I also needed an organization that would allow me to take language classes, cooking classes, and assist me in meeting the needs of my other academic requirements. To make matters more complicated, I also needed an apartment accommodation, rather than a home-stay, in order to study most efficiently and accommodate the needs of an unrelated disability.
All of these "demands" were put forth just two weeks before the start of my semester. (As a contentious student, I had initially planned ahead for all of these things with a different volunteer organization, only to be "dismissed" in mid-August on the basis of the program no longer wishing to be affiliated with my academic research.) In any case, I came to Projects Abroad in a state of "academic desperation," so to speak. My graduation depended on my preparing an alternative placement, and with only two weeks, I was doubtful that any other organization would accommodate my needs.
Needless to say, Projects Abroad was my "life-saver." Not only did they work to meet every single academic requirement, they expedited my enrollment form so that I could begin my pre-departure preparations and not lose my semester. Terri and Rachel, both coordinators in the New York Headquarters, were absolutely wonderful-- they gave me an enormous amount of time both on the phone, over e-mail, and in person to answer each and every question that arose.
When I finally arrived in Romania, I was met at the airport by Dani, and then transported to Brasov. After I arrived in Brasov, I was given some time to rest, and then met at my apartment (which was pre-arranged ahead of time by Projects Abroad) by Daniela, my care placement supervisor. She took me around town, bought me lunch, and then took me to the Projects Abroad Offices to introduce me to all of the staff and several volunteers. She presented me with a schedule of my cooking classes, language classes, volunteer placement days, and open "study times." Needless to say, the fact that she had taken the time to plan everything and make me feel so welcome created the perfect start to what would became one of the best experiences in my life.
Overall, there are no words (in English or Romanian) that can properly encapsulate the essence of my time in Romania. Working with those children, getting to know the other volunteers, and being so welcomed by the staff is not something I will ever forget. I will also never forget all of my "dinner host families," who welcomed me into their homes and taught me how to cook Romanian cuisine for my classes-- not something traditionally done through the program, but included at my request to fulfill my academic requirements.
In conclusion, if you are thinking of studying abroad or conducting academic research for your degree, Projects Abroad is definitely the "way to go." Not only do they make a wonderful experience for anyone simply wishing to volunteer, they also are extremely accommodating in meeting the needs of students who are venturing abroad for academic purposes.
To that I say--in the words of the Romanian Orphans with whom I worked with-- "Foarte Bine" (Very Good/ Well Done!) Projects Abroad. I will definitely be volunteering with your organization again in the future.
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Location:
Posted: February 21, 2012
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
9
By: RomaniaCares
Age:
26
I spent two months in Romania doing a physical therapy placement and loved every single minute of it. Before this experience, the only time I had spent abroad was a week of an alternative spring break trip with 14 of my classmates, so I was a little nervous about going so far from home on my own. Those worries disappeared the minute I arrived to see the Projects Abroad sign in the airport. The staff was incredible at making me feel at home and trying to morph my experience into what I was looking for. For example, when I wanted a different experience from my placement, they had one set up for me within the week.
My placement was at Hospice Casa Sperantei where I worked with children with lifelong disabilities and terminal illnesses. The physiotherapist I shadowed was amazing and really invested in teaching me. I was allowed to touch the patients, interact with them, feel their stiffness and crooked spines: experiences I hadn't had shadowing physical therapists in the US. I left this experience with no doubt that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I was so excited about it, I actually filled out almost all of my physical therapy school application while I was abroad!
Being abroad over the summer was awesome. Since you can come and go when you want with Projects Abroad, I crossed path with 40some volunteers from all over the world. Every night we would meet up for dessert or karaoke or coffee, and on the weekends there was always someone to explore the country with. We became so close that I will always call them my Projects Abroad "family".
I learned so much in Romania about myself and what I wanted in life. I met some incredible people and learned not only a ton about Romania, but the places where my fellow volunteers were from too. All of this with the beautiful Romanian backdrop, the summer I spent there was the best of my life.
Program:
Location:
Posted: February 13, 2012
Overall:
10
Support:
9
Value:
10
By: amontanaro519
Age:
21
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