Construction and Environmental Projects in Germany

My two weeks volunteering in Germany was amazing. The group of international participants were very interesting to meet and by the end we felt like a big family. It was sad to leave everybody. Working in the town of Kell was great, because it was within walking distance from the house we were staying at. We had an entire area of beautiful scenery within our grasp, and it was all at our disposal. Working with Helge, the groundskeeper at the house, was great. He was one of the most hardworking and kind men I have ever met. And sharing our different cultures but still realizing we all had a lot in common was the best part. My mind and worldview is forever changed because of this experience and I would love to do it again!

After spending an entire year searching high and low on the internet for an organization that would not scam me out of paying thousands to do volunteer work, I finally came across Volunteers for Peace, ironically enough based out of my hometown (though I had never heard about it before). As a 17 year old I was not hopeful that many programs would be available to me; or if there were international camps for minors, the price would be skyrocketed. As of 2011 the price for all teen camps was a flat $500, regardless of length, location, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many options available to me and found my three-week camp in Germany. Chelsea and Meg are very helpful and helped my family to be reassured of my safety during international travel. I made 16 amazing friends at this camp and still keep in touch with almost all of them; in fact, this summer at age 19 I am participating in another camp through VFP in France, and will meet one of my German friends from 2011 in Paris before it starts. I can speak on behalf of a VFP Europe participant that the organization has reputable intentions and I look forward to additional projects with them!

I joined yap last summer, it was one of the best memories in my life. We painted a outdoor theatre to convey the concept of peace. And try to tell the young teenagers not to paint something bad on the wall. If they do want to paint, paint some ideas worth spreading.
the members from 5 different countries have lots of talks for cultural exchanging, which is in our daily life. It's a great opportunity to learn from others.

The work of the 13-person team was to do landscaping and restoration of an old chapel that had been abandoned after WWII. The work was fun and satisfying, and the local community was outstanding. We were in a tiny village and they treated us very well, hosting dinner parties and taking us on a castle tour. We also happened to be there during the World Cup being held in Berlin. The country was positively abuzz with excitement and even national pride. The local community group paid for us to take a weekend trip to Berlin for the final, but for the games that occurred prior to that, we dragged the couch outside through a window, set up a television, and enjoyed some beers and friendly rivalries under the evening sky. It was an amazing experience in a part of Germany I would never have visited otherwise, and I couldn't have been happier.