Program Reviews

I was surprised at the way I was included and accepted by the locals- not only my host family, but also villagers I passed who didn't speak English or know exactly who I was. On the way up the mountain from a festival in town, we passed a group of women playing drums outside the temple. They invited me to dance to their chant. I never expected I would be the first one to dance in a group of strangers at a festival, but how could I say no? It was my honor to be accepted and valued.
I'm glad that I found ABV. This organization will make you a part of the family and make you feel truly valued. I knew when I went to Nepal that I would have the adventure of my life, but I didn't anticipate feeling so at home. I always felt taken care of, and I had the chance to contribute, too. ABV put me in a home where I could experience Nepal in the most authentic way. By the time I left, my new friends were telling me I seemed Nepali. I'm so happy I could contribute to this organization that does real work to improve the living conditions of many Nepalis.

I have paraglide, trekked, canoed, ridden elephants, explored ancient temples, traipsed through jungles, had tea on a mountain top above the clouds, and watched a Himalayan sunrise. But as I wrap up of my time in Nepal, there is no doubt about what has been my greatest adventure of all: third world medicine. The doctors I was lucky enough to learn from work seven days a week and never go on vacation. They pay out of pocket for those who are too poor to pay for treatment. They fundraise relentlessly for basic equipment and can only afford to dream about CT scanners and MRI machines. They fight every day to treat health problems that would be little more than a passing concern in the United States. This experience has been life changing and opened my eyes to the incredibly blessed life that I lead. And although it is difficult for just one volunteer to make a difference, I feel truly honored and humbled to have been able to touch even a few lives. 


I love the Sea Turtle Program in Costa Rica!!!. The type of work we did sometimes surprised me. At first I was surprised that clearing paths would help the sea turtles/conservation project, but then learning more I understood how all the parts we did helped to sustain or expand the program.
For me this was a completely new experience because I have never even been camping! It was not always easy to adapt to the very simple conditions but once I did it, it was one of the best experiences.
We had a share on-site accommodation that was not fully closed from outdoors. It was very basic but still felt safe. The meals were almost always a combination of rice, beans and something else. But very good.
The best memory of the trip was watching the sun set and the stars on the beach without light pollution and other noises/distractions.
The experience of nature is very different here. We had the whole beach to ourselves most of the time, That was a very rare and great experience.

When I first left for Cusco, I was honestly really nervous. I was traveling alone to a new city, country, and continent. However, when I arrived, my worries went away because I felt safe, welcomed, and at peace with my coordinator, host family. My coordinator here in cusco took me on a tour of the city and showed me where I was going to work for the next couple of weeks. During the morning, I worked in the Unidad de Quemados at the hospital, and during the afternoon I worked in emergency at the Clinic. Working in the hospital was amazing because I was getting hands-on experience treating and working with burned patients. I saw many different kinds of burns with varying intensities, and I think that seeing these harsh realities will help me in my future career as a nurse. In the clinic, I was not able to do much. I mostly spent my time following the nurses and observing them as they gave medications to patients, because Im a prenurse I was not allowed to have so much hands-on in the Clinic. Overall, I had an amazing experience traveling and working here in Cusco.
My host family was spectacular. They gave me everything I needed and more. I had three delicious meals per day, a large room with a comfy bed, and the freedom to do what I wanted. The family was very friendly and welcoming, and theymade me feel safe and calm. The house was a short bus ride away from the hospital and clinic that I worked in, and it was veru easy to find my way around.

After traveling two summers with Abroaderview, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have had two amazing experiences and have been able to see two different parts of the world that have truly helped me in my life's journey. I felt safe, cared for, and empowered to meet new people and learn about myself! I believe each project will bring its different challenges, but the people in country really care about their work and helping the city and people around them. While this is considered a volunteer trip, it was truly me who gained knowledge and life experiences from this trip.
The apartment was huge and I had my own bedroom and shared a bathroom with only one other girl. The food was delicious and always plenty. The cook always accommodated to our preferences and made food that she knew we liked. The building had a security guard as well as a secure entrance. I always felt extremely safe at the apartment and in Quito in general. 

When the family and all of the volunteers traveled together to Quilotoa and Otavolo. It was such an amazing trip. We laughed, listened to music all together, and enjoyed each others company. We also truly felt like we got to understand the culture of some of the people that lived in Quilotoa as we had tea and cheese at a family's house! I will never forget that experience. 


I was surprised at how quickly all of the volunteers became friends. We were like a family at the volunteer house. The Cordovas even took us on a trip to Quilotoa and Otavalo one weekend. It was amazing to have a group of supportive people to live with while away from my own home. Even without other volunteers present, I knew I would feel at home with the Cordovas because they always say that their house is my house and they really mean it!

Negative experiences- the living conditions could be better. Safety was an issue as well. Better communication and updated packing list. There's some things that need to be added to it.
Positive experiences- got to see turtles and made lots of new friends :)

Waking up and opening your window to let fresh air in while you get ready for the day is a wonderful start to the day. Add to that the refreshing walk to and from the orphanage. Everyone is so helpful with any questions or difficulties you will encounter there. Everyone at Josphat's work will be more than willing to help you find where you need to go, or set up your cell phone. Bring either an unlocked phone to use, or buy a cheap phone and put a few Kwacha on it for minutes to use while in country, I brought an unlocked Blackberry so I could get unlimited 2G Internet access for a cheap price. I was then able to use the app WhatsApp to text friends both in Zambia and back home for free. You can pay for internet for one day, one week, or one month at a time.

ABV is a not for profit organization and really focuses on the volunteer and the work of the volunteer, instead of the business. I highly recommend ABV-my host family was extremely kind and helpful, the coordinator was involved and always available, and the people I worked with wanted me to be there and made me feel useful. All of the promised services were provided. However, as with any volunteer experience, situations are different and never match up to expectations. Most importantly, the success of the volunteer, depends on the volunteer. You must be the type of person who can take initiative and not wait for others to come to you. You have to be comfortable with being different, and embrace those differences, always sharing and learning with others. I helped teach English in Chile, and felt like a celebrity in the school. Whenever I entered into the patio, students would rush up to me with there many questions about the U.S., or my personal life. The constant questioning never bothered me, and I looked at it as an opportunity to build connections, while allowing kids to practice their English.

My favorite memory of this trip was being able to connect with the people I met in Uganda. It was very humbling to hear their stories and a pleasure to be in their presence. The most difficult thing I experienced is not knowing how I can effectively teach the children with limited resources. You don't need a lot of clothes. Regular T-shirts, pants, long skirts, and comfortable shoes are highly recommended. Avoid bringing anything white. Bring extra money to help students pay for uniforms, food, etc. The ABV staff responded to my questions/concerns right away. I was very well pleased with the support they provided me prior and after leaving the project. The local ABV Director was very informative. She checked up with me daily while in the foreign country to make sure I was doing well. There is nothing like volunteering overseas. It has allowed me to broaden my understanding towards different cultures and has given me a new perspective on life. It made me realize how fortunate I am to even have clean water and food on the table, everyday.

My experience in La Serena was really amazing and I am so glad that I did it. The work that is done at the children’s home is truly incredible and I am really happy to have been a part of this project. Getting to know the children and the workers was so great and I learnt a lot during the 6 weeks, whether it was about Chilean culture, the language or washing and changing babies. Also my host family (Wilma, Juan Carlos and Romina). Wilma did so much for me during the stay, she was always willing to help me with anything at all, and nothing was too much for her. The family really did make the experience for me, I felt completely comfortable and welcome in their home and learnt a lot about Chilean culture from them.