Before I made my decision to volunteer I managed to talk with some of the past volunteers of Global Crossroad. I received varieties of feedbacks some were very positive and some were partially positive. But one thing I learned from all participants is that the projects associated with Global Crossroad are very good and the hosts are very nice and honest. They will go out of their way to help you and make your stay smooth.
My other option was Cross Cultural Solutions as well, however I crossed it off my list since it was 200% expensive than Global Crossroad.
Once I booked their program to Accra. I received all information within two weeks and gave me access to talk to local coordinator and volunteers who were on field. After talking to volunteers in field it provided me with more confidence. I was greeted at the airport by Richard. Once we arrived in Kasoa, there was a room ready for us. Next day, I had an orientation; all together there were 10 other volunteers as well. The home base accommodation was safe. The nice thing about it was that the working project was only few blocks away from the hostel. I am happy that I choose Global Crossroad.
Global Crossroad
I volunteered in a Cusco hospital for 2 weeks in Julu 2018. I also studoed Spanish. Roger was our coordinator and he did a fabulous job with everything. He was very supportive and always available for help. I really enjoyed my hospital experience because I got to rotate through all the different departments in the hospital on different days including surgery, pharmacy, pediatric care, primary care etc. It was great to have this hands on experience. Since I had already traveled to Peru the summer before with my family and friends, I spent the weekend volunteering in the orphanage. It was a lot of fun playing with the kids. Our host family was great. My friend and I shared a room in the same host family and ate well. We had a lot of quinoa. It was pretty easy to navigate the bus system between the family, the school and the hospital. I highly recommend this program. My mom really appreciated the fact that it was reasonably priced.
I spended two month in Cusco.That was the best time of my life. The people are socordial, I directly felt like being home.
I worked there in three different projects. The first time, I worked in a catholic girls school and helped the english teacher during the lessons with all things. I was in classes from the first to the tenth grade. The clasrooms are really good equipped, but the girls were not so motivated to learn. That makes the teaching a little bit harder. One week the teacher was on an excursion and I was in the class on my self. That was a really good experience and I enjoyed to be a teacher although that were really exhausting days.
After the school, I went to an orphanage were teen mothers living with their children. I looked up for the children and played with them, had them sitting on my lap and just was there for them.That was a really funny and also calm time and a good contrast to the hectic work in the school.
My last two weeks I completly changed my place of work and got the possibility to work with disabled young people. I didnt want to leave at work, because we had so much fun together. I helped creating the free time in this orphanage. We painted with our fingers, builded up towers of bricks and we danced a lot. One day we made an excursion and picnic. Although they are handicapped, they never lost the joy of life. It was funny to work with them and we loughed a lot toghether.
Everytime at work, wherever I worked, they gave me so much back. I smiled a lot and had much fun at work, which I didn´t expeted after a six to eight hours workday. But it´s not mandatory to work so long, I just did it, because I loved my work and the people I worked with.
When I came home, I had a lovely family and a nice homestay. I enjoyed to live with Maria my hostmother and my lovely sister. The other familymembers often came for visits and we had funny evenings and also a hilarious birthdayparty for two of us volunteers. My coordinator also lived with us, which was really practical, so I could ask everything on any time I wanted. Before I went to Cusco, I got all informations I needed from my coordinator and from the organisation. Everything was well organized and I felt welcome, when I came to Cusco.
I lost my heart in this city and gave it to the children, I worked with and the nice people I was permitted to met. Now my mind is full of lovely memories and I will keep them forever. If I get the chance to go back to Cusco another time,I would directly do it and just can say, it´s a nice and cordial country to visitand live for.
My time in Sri Lanka was well spent. Michael was a fantastic host who connected me with a rewarding volunteering experience. This volunteering experience gave me the opportunity to learn and witness the medicine works in Sri Lanka. The hospital is big, all the doctors in there are very helpful and they did let me help them with sutures, surgeries, examine patients.
Highly recommended experience. I will definitely be back
I volunteered at KCMC in Moshi Tanzania for about 4 weeks and have been placed at the house of the country coordinator Mama Alice. She has been a wonderful host through out my stay and is the kindest most loving person you can imagine. I can recommend anyone to stay at her place and spend time with her family at her beautiful house. We were served 3 meals per day all cooked by Elizabeth. Mama Alice and her son Frankie will help you with everything you need and they always take their time to make your stay the best possible. I hope one day I will return.
