ELIabroad Experiential Learning International Reviews

I spent three months working in a Chinese law firm writing contracts, doing translation work, and meeting with clients. The work itself was as interesting as law can get, but the relationships I developed are unforgettable. I was also surprised by how many opportunities ballooned out of my stay in Shanghai. During my time here, I’ve been able to see Japan and Hong Kong, while most people are able to explore far, far more. More than a handful of interviews and opportunities came my way as well, allowing me to extend my stay in Shanghai. While I often yearn for home, I remember what a rare opportunity it is to be here. Living and working abroad does more than change your perspectives. It’s not always about the cultural experience. It forces you to reexamine whatever bubble you’ve been living in previously; it makes you confront your dreams and visions, and begin to seriously work towards them; it allows you to understand yourself better than you did before.
ELI has a great staff, and works with a Chinese education investment and management company that is every bit as helpful.

I spent a month working at a clinic in Quito, Ecuador as a volunteer. My time there was awesome! I got to truly experience how it is to work at a hospital. If you are a pre-med or medical student I highly recommend doing this. I was able to scrub in in several surgeries at the surgical center, and was even able to treat patients (at the clinic) on my own after a couple of weeks. ELI provided me with a great host family and I definitely got my money's worth for everything. This is an organization that will truly care for you and make sure you're comfortable and having a good experience. If I ever want to do another internship or volunteer abroad again I will definitely choose ELI.

Had an informative predeparture discussion on what we would be doing and where we would be helping. Everyone was helpful along the way. Local Program Director was nice and accommodating and allowed us to work and help where we wanted as well as give us time when we wanted to travel to tourist spots near and far. Stayed with a host family that was friendly. Overall, this program gives the ability to pursue whatever you set out for, but is not overbearing from the perspective of program, family, or volunteerism. I had a great time, made great friends, helped tens of people as much as I could, living in a world totally different from normal daily life. It was a good reflective, cultural, and fulfilling trip.

I went through ELI to do a microfinance internship in Uganda. While there, I was able to branch out into the community and facilitate my own projects to empower women. ELI delivered everything that they promised.
My host family took very good care of me. The support team provided me with every learning opportunity to be effective in my postition. I highly recommend ELI programs.

The program and everyone I met there was incredible. The ELI staff are helpful and took the time to show me the city. When working in the hospital you need to be independent enough to make your own relationships and find your own places to work because there is no coordinator there to hold your hand. This is a good thing though because it allows you to become friends with the doctors and the staff and see and do some incredible things. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to volunteer and work abroad.

I spent a month in Iganga, Uganda interning at Iganga Hospital. ELI arranged a homestay for me with a great family that really looked out for my safety and well being. I appreciated that the program is designed such that you get an authentic experience of the local community and the people who live there. I walked to the hospital each morning, ate lunch either at home or at a food stand, and did my own shopping at a convenience store on main street. It felt like I was a short-term resident in Iganga Town, not just a tourist. I was given the freedom to dictate my own schedule day to day, while at the same time, I received support in the field any time I needed. The local ELI staff made sure I was very comfortable in my temporary home. I formed great friendships with the local residents I met as well as with other ELI volunteers on site.

I worked for 3 weeks at Gabriel Learning Centre, which was founded two years ago by an Australian woman of great vision and spirit. Volunteers may help doing everything from kitchen work at the Centre to building latrines in the Kaptembwa slums of Nakuru, but as I am a teacher, I spent my days teaching basic reading and math to the "nursery" age children and conversational English to the adults who were learning to sew. Gabriel's staff carefully chooses its adult students, who learn tailoring (on a treadle machine) and business skills so that they may later support themselves and their families. The program is run through Susan Saleeba's rigorous fund-raising back home in Australia, and under the careful on-site direction of Christopher Makokha. Volunteers are encouraged to do what they do best--whether they prefer working with the adults (sewing and embroidery experience are sought-after), or the children (ages 3-7). Christopher says we must "go with the strength that we have."
Many of the other ELI volunteers chose to work at the hospital, but came to the Centre to be with the children in the afternoons, and to help support the families in the slum. Last year, one American volunteer raised money and sent (by new volunteers) four iBooks to the Centre. I used these to teach English vocabulary and beginning computer skills to the adults; the possibilities are endless if you are a computer adept.
Your time at Gabriel's will be rewarding and appreciated. Rosemary Njenga Wangui is the volunteer coordinator and will guard you like a bulldog (her real dog is also great!). All of the staff are sympathetic and kind-hearted. Boundless energy is not necessary; compassion and open-mindedness are better tools to carry. Those, and picture books for the children if you're going. The children also need chalk, white boards, dry erase markers, pencils, erasers, and sturdy composition books (there are twenty children currently and about 75 adults).
Go. You will make a difference to many, including yourself.

Traveling by your self to a foriegn country is an amazaing and difficutl process. Although you can't evade culture shock, the staff made it an amazing transition. The family that I was placed with was GREAT and will always be my family. The staff was helpful and solved any problems I came across. The internship I was placed in was new to the program simply because they didn't have an option for what I wanted to do. However, a new position was made just for my needs and it worked out great. Thanks ELI and Foundation Rural! Greatest travel experience of my life (so far :)

There were two reasons I chose to volunteer with ELI as opposed to the plethora of other programs I looked into. First, ELI is affordable. It doesn't take a lot of research to see that ELI is much cheaper than other programs that offer the same experience. Second, the support staff was incredible. As soon as I showed interest in going to Kenya the staff (in the U.S.) called me, talked thoroughly to me about the program, and were honest with their evaluations of the program I was about to join. I felt so much support before I left and was relieved to find out that my host mother was there to offer me the same support once I was in-country. During my two month stay in Kenya my host mom and my coordinator back in the U.S. were frequently on the phone calling each other to check on me and make sure I was comfortable and safe. I felt like I had two moms!
Some things. First, it is true that ELI had little to do with the school that I taught at. But on their website, ELI specifically says that they are a PLACEMENT organization. They PLACE you in a local organization that does not have the means to advertise themselves for volunteers. ELI is upfront about this so it is not supposed to be a shock when you realize your school/orphanage/hospital is NOT an ELI institution. ELI simply helped get you there. In my experience though, ELI was in good contact with my school and my school was expecting me, were grateful to have me, and were very, very kind to me.
Also, ELI was very upfront before I left. They told me that once I got to my school I would have to initiate things. I would need to decide which part of the school I wanted to work in, where I wanted to put my energy, how I wanted to spend my days. As adults, I don't believe we can complain that much about not liking our placements. They really are what you make of them. If ever there was a day when I felt like my time was mismanaged or my energy not used to it's potential, I would go in the next day and make changes...put my energy in something else or change my job a little so that I felt more useful. What made my experience so pleasant was that I was able to decide how I wanted to spend my time at the school - I got to decide where I thought I could help the most. Had the program been strict with me about this, I probably would not have enjoyed my stay as much. Part of the beauty of my experience was the flexibility the program offered.
Overall, I loved ELI to Kenya. They gave me enough support to feel confident about going to Africa but also gave me enough space to explore on my own. They were there to help me know how to set up a safari and to recommend the vaccinations/visas/prescriptions needed before I left, but flexible in their expectations of me and let me decide what kind of trip I was going to have. And I had a great one!

I don't even know where to begin. I spent a summer in Uganda two years ago. Although some time has passed, the experience I had has been a guiding hand throughout my decisions the past two years. The kindness I received from my host family, the community and the amazing program director is unforgettable. I made lasting friendships and still speak with all of them over the internet today. I know that whenever I return, I have a family to go back to who treat me like I am their daughter. I felt very safe the entire time I was there. Everyone looks out for you. The activities that I partook in were things I never dreamed I would be able to do at such a young age. I was given so much freedom to help and the community was so grateful to have me there. I learned so many life skills that has opened many doors for me now. I am leaving next month for the Peace Corps and I was able to get the position I did because of my experience with ELI. This program provided me with much more than I was expecting. Volunteering was the best decision I made during my entire undergraduate studies. I could never have gotten this experience in a classroom and I always promote this idea to other people who want to get a unique cultural and rewarding experience. I hope to return in a few years and reunite with my Ugandan family that will always have a special place in my heart.

I volunteered in Iganga just when the program began in 2008. My experience was wonderful. I stayed with a host family, who welcomed me into their home with open arms. We spent everyday together, cooking dinner and enjoying each others company. I volunteered at Self-Reliance orphanage, working with the staff and children. The staff at self-reliance was great to work with, and inspirational in their commitment to the children and development of the orphanage. Michael, the head of the organization based in Iganga, was very accommodating, caring and attentive to my needs. He really went out of his way to make sure that my experience was a positive one. I saw him almost everyday and often spent time at his home with him and his family. From day one with Michael, my family and the people at self-reliance, I felt safe, comfortable and at home.
My experience in Uganda was one I will never forget. I still keep in touch with my family and coworkers and really miss them! I would definitely recommend ELI as an organization and Iganga as a location to volunteer.

The in-country coordinator was very informative. Our host family was great and they took extra good care of us. The volunteer work in the school was such a great experience, it was hard but rewarding. The other teacher & director were great resources for us to use to better our teaching skills. Both of them and our host family helped us a lot with learning the language, getting around town, and learning the culture. The spanish lessons offered from ELI helped a lot as well. My spanish teach was a great resource that allowed me to speak spanish in a comfortable setting where I wasn't embarrassed.

ELI turned out to be a great organization. The staff was extremely helpful with getting everything set up prior to me leaving. Once I was there, my Shanghai internship coordinator took over and was always accessible when and if I needed something. I learned a good deal in the internship itself, the staff and physicians at the hospital were wonderful and became good friends of mine. Also, just being in Shanghai and having the opportunity to travel to Tibet and Beijing while I was there was an incredible experience. Shanghai is quite a wonderful city, I highly recommend going there if even just for a vacation.

Prema Vasam was the volunteer opportunity of a lifetime. Waking up everyday to the laughs of children and smiling faces was a thing of dreams. The staff was loving and truly showed compassion. For a home away from home and volunteer experience as well Prema Vasam is the place to go. Be sure to contact the director directly before paying ELI.

My volunteer experience in Guatemala with ELI was amazing! I volunteered with a free clinic in the mountains of Tecpan, Guatemala and lived with a host family for 2 months. My days were spent going out to the rural areas surrounding Tecpan with both the local and volunteer doctors and nurses to provide free care to these communities. On the weekends I was able to travel to many other parts of this beautiful country as Tecpan is a quick bus ride to Antigua, making it easy to travel anywhere! ELI helped me feel well prepared for my time volunteering and traveling throughout Guatemala with Spanish lessons at the beginning of my trip. The support from the staff during my preparations for my time abroad was helpful and thorough, and the support continued during my time spent in Guatemala with frequent email check ins. I would recommend ELI to anyone! :)

If anybody is looking to do volunteer in the Philippines...need to check out other Volunteer Organization because if you encounter any problem regarding their volunteer group counterpart in the Philippines...ELI in USA headquarter will not help you.There are many volunteer programs run by the Catholic organizations and you dont even have to pay to be able to volunteer...just pay your air fare. The catholic organization will provide you a VERY GOOD LODGING!!! The ELI advertisement in Tacloban regarding their lodging and food is not true. And the lodging is not good...if you need a picture, I can download it for everyone to see!!!

I taught English for three months at Colegio Nacional San Pablo, near Otavalo Ecuador, working with the 900+ students and the Ecuadorian English teachers. It was the first time almost any of them had interacted with a native English speaker, and the experience was challenging and rewarding. I agree with the comments by Alissa [hi, Alissa!] about Mariana, the in-country coordinator -- she was always there and was very supportive and positive. Information from the Stateside staff was also prompt, accurate, and responsive. The teachers at the school were welcoming and enthusiastic, and the kids -- the kids! -- were terrific -- eager, open, funny, warm. My only less-than-enthusiastic comment is that twelve weeks is a long time to live with a family, as amiable as they may be, especially for an older (ahem) volunteer like me. Overall, a great experience, with an organization I warmly recommend.

I was in Quito, Ecuador for four months working in a public hospital in the department of social work. I absolutely loved my internship and the people that I met there were fantastic. Mariana, the on-site coordinator, helped me with anything and everything I asked her about. From helping me plan a Galapagos trip to donating food and clothing to patients of the hopsital, she was there for all of it. The staff in the US was very helpful as well, checking in with me to make sure that everything was going alright. My host family was excellent and they made me feel as if I was their daughter instead of an intern. Overall, I was extremely happy with the program. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of host families and placements considered that we paid a fraction of the other companies' prices. I would definitley recommend ELI for anyone looking for a good deal and a fanstastic opportunity!

I was placed in Uganda through ELI last summer for nearly a month. This experience was incredible. Not only did ELI take my needs into consideration, upon arrival, field operations were exceptional. My host family accepted me with open arms, and when I found myself sick one evening my host family did everything imaginable to help me feel at home under undesireable conditions. I always felt safe and secure.
Since the experience I have started raising funds for an orphanage in the village--with the incredible help from ELI as well as the field operation in Uganda. If I could do it again, I would in a heart beat. My only mistake was not taking enough chocolate.
But seriously, this is a great investment and one I would highly recommend it to anyone willing to step outside their comfort zone to experience a completely differnet kind of livihood.

Great time working with the elephants! Living in the treehouse was a fantastic experience. This is a program in which you'll get out of it what you put into it! Hanging around the mout and the camp staff gave me a feel for life in the northern jungles. Teaching English at the public school was a nice side activity, since the children were so receptive. Working with elephants is hard work .... cleaning dung, chopping grass/corn .... but then when it comes to time bath them ... sheer enjoyment! It is hard to find the words that can express what it is like to be with the majestic Thai elephants! I believe one must experience elephants to know what it is like to be in the presence of such a huge giant.

I taught class 3-4 times a day for sixty-minute intervals. I would wake up around 7:30, eat breakfast at a number of wonderful restaurants with some colleagues, and head back for 8 or 8:30 class. There would be lunch for 90 minutes in the middle of the day. Plenty of time to eat and sneak a nap in. Dinner was around 6:30 every day. The restaurants had huge variety and I can guarantee it will be heavenly to you if you’re a fan of Chinese food. Every class was quite crowded and had had at least 40 students in it. It sounds rough, but it was wonderful. The students were well-behaved and respectful. I always had the support of the faculty if there was any issue. I rarely gave homework – so the students loved me!
There were numerous other opportunities in Yanqing. I was approached a great deal of times about working as a private English tutor. You can make some pretty decent money doing this. Furthermore, I also eventually worked as a judge at the various English competitions throughout Yanqing. I was welcomed with open arms by the other judges. The students had never been judged by a foreigner from a West before. They were nervous – but wonderful!
My room, internet, food (all of it – and I ate a lot), traveling – were all paid for. We went on field trips every other week or so. We visited the beautiful Songshan Mountain, attended Museums, saw all the sites downtown Beijing had to offer, attended festivals (of which there were many).
Collectively, the experience was overwhelmingly rewarding. Leaving was one of the most bittersweet moments in my life. We had a huge farewell party and exchanged tears + hugs. Inquire with ELI and they can put you into contact with me if you have any specific questions about Yanqing. I could go on forever. I still talk to dozens of my students and friends there everyday. I cannot wait to go back

Great experience! Stayed in the city of Iganga and then the village of Lambaala for about three months. Developed great relationships with my host family and support staff! The utmost was done to ensure that I was satisfied with my work placement and kept safe. Incredible relationships formed at the placement! I ended up forming a nonprofit organization with my supervisor at my work placement and with the help of the ELI support staff.

I spent a month in Quito, Ecuador with an amazing host family and a supportive in country staff. ELI was amazing with answering any and all questions I had. I am surprised they didn't lose their patience with all the questions I had! I had an indescribably wonderful time and I am grateful for all of the support ELI gave me that allowed me to have such a great experience.

I spent two months in South Africa through ELI. I lived in an apartment in Stellenbosch, 45 minutes from Cape Town. I worked on an exotic animal farm and had the opportunity to work with all sorts of animals. I loved all the hands-on opportunities I got there. Every weekend, the program that ELI works with, SA Exchange, coordinated site-seeing trips and adventures. I white-shark cage dived, bungy jumped off the highest bridge, went sky diving, saw penguins, visited Krugar National Park to go on a safari, and more. With the free time I had every night, I made friends with the locals and learned how to play the djembe (African drum). I bought a drum from them and now jam with my friends on it. It was an intense trip and I had the time of my life. Although the flight was expensive, and I had to pay the additional program fee, everything was super-cheap in SA so I was able to budget everything well and even had money left over. When you arrive, you are provided with sim cards for your cell phones, or you can buy a cheap cell phone to keep in contact with the other interns and the leaders of the program. Karin who runs SA Exchange keeps a close watch on all the program participants that stay all over Cape Town and in the surrounding areas. They set me up with a rental care and even taught me how to drive on the left side of the road. I recommend this program. South Africa is a beautiful country. Keep in mind that if you decide to make it a summer trip (May-August) to SA, plan on being cold since it's their winter and the houses don't have heat.

I did a month in Tanzania doing the HIV/AIDs volunteering and loved it. I looked at a few programs and went with ELI because it was significantly cheaper than other programs, and I liked that they fully immerse you in the culture with host families and local organizations. The work was rewarding, the town we lived in was beautiful, and I felt it was totally worth the money.
My work was usually about 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. I think some people expect to do more, but the pace of life in other countries tends to be slower so even a little bit of work makes a difference. I liked the flexibility from my coordinator and my job, and ELI was helpful when I had questions that my coordinator couldn't answer, or when if I had any problems.
I'm surprised by some of the more negative reviews... I think that when you travel, you have to keep an open mind and remember that you're in a country where things work a bit differently. Most of the volunteers I met had positive experiences with ELI, but I think the more flexible you are, the better your experience will be.

Choosing to travel abroad in the Galapagos Islands with ELI was easily one of the best choices I've ever made. Everyone was so supportive - I was never lost or unsure of what to do, as there was someone there with me every step of the way. My experience at the local primary school was also amazing. Although it was extremely difficult, my time there was very rewarding. The educational system in the Galapagos needs a lot of help - expect to use your Spanish a lot, because almost no one can speak English - so if you're really looking to make a difference this is the place to go. In addition to the time spent at the school, I also found time to go sightseeing around the island. Needless to say, this was another highlight of the trip, as the flora and fauna is virtually untouched by human influence around certain areas. If you are hoping to volunteer abroad in Ecuador, I would highly recommend the ELI program in the Galapagos.

The Ecuador coordinator, Mariana Lara, is the most kind, hard-working, and welcoming woman I have met! She made the transition into a foreign country easy and secure. Mariana hosted my sister and I after the completion of my internship, she arranged all the details and fought for my position, and made me feel at home.
The experience working for the Galapagos National Park is something I could never get any other way. I worked with wonderful and passionate people in one of the most unique and beautiful places in the world.

I interned with ELI this past fall for 4 months in Uganda. I must say, if you have the money I would not go with ELI at ALL. They prey on a legal loophole so to speak: they do not directly employ the in country support that they say will give you 24/7 support. It is not even the "supporters" main job and thus you will be lucky if they check up on you once a week or live remotely close. I have found this with other volunteers as well.
Basically, if you have any grievance with your service, this support is your main line of defense. But since they do not "directly employ" (and I quote from the director when I wrote the headquarters regarding some problems) the in country support can "choose to not help you if they want- it is up to them". I personally, find that unsatisfactory.
I had my host family horribly steal from me- but it was the extended family members of my coordinator so he became angry at the allegations and refused to speak to me. My host family did not pay any of their bills, and instead the mother would leave for days and come back drunk. During this time she left strict instructions to ask the "volunteers for money for school". Since she didn't pay the bills, the electricity was turned off, and backed up payment for 3 months. They told me they paid, but since they used an illegal splitter to get their electricity off their neighbor without getting their own meter, there was nothing they could do. Unless get their own meter which would be legal and cost money.
My personal safety was very questionable at times with ELI. Local raping were kept from the volunteers knowledge. When I desired to move because of the theft and lack of electricity (which can be dangerous as is) they told me it wasn't their responsibility to provide safety necessarily.
ELI overall simply connected me to a grassroots organization. And since that organization isn't directly paid, supplemented, or trained by ELI, you better hope your happy with it. I knew alot of people who weren't and ELI just told them that was not their direct fault. Then who's is it?
I do speak for Ugandan's staff alone, as I have not traveled elsewhere with ELI. However, the same legality exists everywhere. It is my personal opinion that ELI is a scam, and their customer service is a joke. If my grievances were met respectfully with due consideration, I would say different. However, I left feeling they didn't care about my personal experience at all.

I booked volunteer travel with ELI Abroad, which apparently subcontracts with Friends for Asia for their Thailand programs. The people at both ELI and Friends for Asia seemed nice enough, and were generally helpful, but I DO NOT RECOMMEND volunteering at the elephant sanctuary. It is NOT a sanctuary, but a working camp where the elephants are chained constantly when they're not working. It was beyond depressing to expect to do something good and wind up giving money to something so horrible. Also, the 'volunteering' was a joke. The people at the camp were nice enough, but they do not have a proper volunteer program. There was no real work to do.
I asked for a refund from ELI, by the way, and received no response.
Be sure to ask very specific questions about the volunteer work you will do, because I heard from volunteers at the other Chiang Mai programs (all housed together. decent accomotions) that the 'volunteering' at the orphanage was also not well organized.

I spent the summer teaching English as a volunteer in a primary school in Salinas, Ecuador, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Two other friends and I were looking to spend the summer in a Latin American country, and ELI did a great job of locating a place that fit our requirements and allowed all three of us to volunteer together. They were great about promptly answering any questions or concerns that we had before leaving, and have continued to be very helpful when I have asked for references from an ELI staff person after returning home from the program. I had a great time in Ecuador, made a lot of friends, and absolutely loved the town that we were placed in. Based on my experience, I would highly reccommend ELI to anyone who is looking to volunteer/intern abroad!

I went to Ecuador with eliabroad last year and it was the best! My host mom Mercedes was so nice and really made everyone staying at the house feel comfortable (there were 2 other girls at the same time as me). She didn't speak any English, so we had to use Spanish all the time. The Ecuador coordinator helped with everything, especially on the first night when my bag didn't make it. WE got the bag on the next day, so it wasn't a big deal to lose my luggage. I worked at the Remar orphanage and the kids were so cute and so fun! It was so hard to say goodbye after a month. Before I left, everyone in the eliabroad office was really helpful and had a lot of information and patience for my questions. I really hope I can go back to Ecuador someday.

I spent two weeks at the People's Training and Craft Centre in Southern India. This is an amazing place which provides help, work and support to the disabled of the region as well offering educational resources to the local children. I was very impressed and it has completely changed my view on volunteering. I am looking to do many more trips in the future.

It truly was a life-changing experience. I saw things that I had never seen before by myself, which I felt was a big positive. It allowed me to be fully immersed in the culture, so that I was the only American or European around. I improved my language skills greatly (went from fairly good spanish speaker to nearly fluent) and developed close relationships with my coworkers and host family. Supervision was existent, but not omnipresent. I was emailed once or twice by an affiliate program in Guatemala. This is also contributed to being immersed in the culture. I almost felt as if I were a Guatemalan in the last few weeks of the program. For value, this program was amazing. Many of the other programs that I looked at costed three or four times the amount of the ELI program. This is a program for those who truly want an experience different from that of the Western world

Don't pay ELI a cent. They sent me over to Ghana to "intern" at a Women's Health Clinic (there isn't a women's health clinic in the village I was in) with a very unprofessional and selfish in-country coordinator. The coordinator placed us with her own mother, who was a terrible person and created an awkward situation for us because we didn't feel comfortable complaining to the person we should have been able to because it was her own mother. After things declined in the home, we requested to be moved and also experienced difficulty through both the organization as well as the coordinator with that. But, at least they didn't tell me I would be working at an HIV/AIDS clinic like they did some of the other interns, which doesn't even exist within at least 2 hours from the village. The orientation was the most unorganized thing and for each volunteer it was a totally different experience, lasting totally different lengths. Before I even went, it would take the company days to respond to my e-mails and the "program packet" they gave me from the coordinator was full of false information. After my return, I requested a refund of my money and in a couple of weeks it will have been 4 months since I sent that letter with no response as of yet. If you want a company that will have your back in a bad situation, this is certainly not the one. I would have been better off going on my own and figuring stuff out that way.

I found ELI's India team to be warm, timely, conscientious and considerate. They were at the airport awaiting me even when my flight was delayed for several hours, arranged sight-seeing tours, and helped me to change money and buy a phone card right away, and later helped me connect with other volunteers in the city. It's true that ELI wasn't holding my hand the entire time, and this might not appeal to less independent volunteers. But they were responsive when I needed something, and seemed pretty on top of things.

I applied to volunteer in Kenya through ELI in March 2008 for a start in September 2008. I discussed my placement with ELI in great depth via email and I was very happy with what I was promised by ELI. Unfortunately, from the first day of my placement, my supervisors asked me to do work which I had specifically requested I not do. ELI seemed powerless to change the situation. When I complained to them, ELI essentially told me that they took no responsibility in ANY WAY for what happened to me in the field. Their role was simply that of middleman. Their local representative was weak and ineffectual and told me to "take it easy". I gave up on my placement half-way through as it was just not what I had signed up for. Furthermore, I never enjoyed any of the great-sounding orientation that I was promised by ELI. I therefore lost around US$1000 to ELI. ELI have never apologised or refunded my program fees; on the contrary, they got all legal on me and referred me to the waiver form I signed. This form essentially states that ELI are not liable for anything that goes wrong during the placement. Any organisation which asks you to sign such a form should be avoided.

I volunteered with the orphanage program in Nakuru for almost a month. Such a beautiful place, and the kids were so fun! I was nervous about traveling on my own but the staff really tried to make me comfortable and they were always available, Ruth greeted me at the airport in Nairobi and drove me out to Nakuru Town. It was hard leaving those cute little faces behind, I hope to go back someday.

I can't say enough about my experience in Nepal. The kids were so cute and eager to talk and play. ELI staff was extremely helpful in setting up the program and continuing to answer questions while in Nepal. I even got a chance to visit there amazing elephant program where you get to stay in a treehouse! I was a little worried at first because they cost so much less than other companies I looked at. But, everything ran smoothly and I felt great when I talked to some volunteers I met there that paid so much more than me. Most of the money I saved ended up being spent on gifts for my family and friends. I also was able to purchase some things for the orphanage. Hopefully I can work out a way to go to another one of the countries they send people to in a year or so.
Highly recommend!

I didn't know it at the time I signed up and paid for the trip, but I guess ELI was simply a middleman to a separate entity in Costa Rica. They basically just sent me to "Amistad Institute" who handled everything. I was a little upset that there would be no representatives of ELI there, but it turned out not to be that bad. I guess this was the first year ELI worked with Amistad, and from what I heard from other students, this might also be the last. It would have been nice not to be part of the "test group" lol.