Cross-Cultural Solutions

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9 / 10 after 143 Reviews Based on overall, support & value average ratings

As an international volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions, you're making a meaningful contribution, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes you. You're experiencing another culture like never before and really getting to know its people. You'll gain new perspectives and insight into the culture and yourself. It's an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories that will be with you forever.

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An ideal program for anyone who wants an all-encompassing travel and learning experience. Volunteering with CCS Rabat allows participants to learn, volunteer and travel in a safe, culturally vibrant, wildly hospitable country. For Americans especially, deepening our understanding of Arab and Islamic culture has never been more important than it is today. The staff both at the CCS home base, as well as at volunteer sites are extremely knowledgeable and professional and become family to all volunteers. All CCS Rabat program coordinators are multilingual and have many years of experience working with volunteers from programs such as Peace Corps.

Staff lead Arabic classes, classes in the history and practice of Islam, Moroccan culture and even Moroccan cooking! Morocco is beautiful, has all every type of climate; snow peaked mountains, deserts and tropical coastlines. It is easy and safe to travel on your own (guided by the expert advice of CCS staff!).

The CCS program allows volunteers to feel as though they are making a difference, while being completely immersed in a rich and complex culture. Two years after completing my volunteer work with CCS Rabat, I still keep in touch with staff and volunteers. I would recommend this program to families and individuals alike. Rabat is an amazing city with something for everyone and the CCS Rabat staff is wonderful!

Program:
Location:
Posted: August 8, 2014
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
Age:
24

Oh, what an experience! It touched, my mind, body, and soul. The staff was very welcoming and hospitable; they were more than willing to help in any way possible whether it be with transportation, travel arrangements, health issues, comfort, language barriers, what clothes to wear and how to wear them, how to take a bucket shower, use the public restrooms, better appease your taste buds, etc., etc. I could keep going.

The children at the daycare/ preschool in which I was placed were just amazing. I was nervous at first not knowing what to expect from them, but it soon was realized that they are like all children. They laugh, cry, play, fight, and have the same needs and wants. The language barrier was my biggest concern, but with help from the staff, I was able to prepare myself with some basic Hindi phrases.

This program is so safe and so much fun. I miss everything about my time there; I can't wait to go back and/or travel elsewhere through CCS. There was always something to do and learn whether it be hiking the nearby trails, touring the Dalai Lama temple or Fort Kangra, yoga, learning the language and traditional dances, visiting McLeod Ganj and experiencing everything that lies within, and watching recommended Bollywood movies. CCS provides reliable transportation to all cultural events, and will even help establish safe and reliable transportation with personal travels.

The food is phenomenal, but I must say, takes some time getting used to, well, at least for me. CCS staff provides all meals at the home base, so there is no need to go out unless of course there's a special place in mind to try.

I have always had a niche for volunteering, but my experience in Dharamsala, India through CCS has inspired me to go big or go home. It was a real eye opener to global issues that need attention, some that I never truly realized until I was face to face with it. It was an experience on many levels. Not only did I get to explore a new culture within a new country, but I got to make a difference within it and myself too. I give all my thanks to Cross-Cultural Solutions!

CCS programs are a little expensive I will admit, but my experiences that I will take with me for the rest of my life are so worth it. There is so much good coming from CCS, they need the support to keep thriving and hopefully be able expand to further locations in need.

Program:
Location:
Posted: August 5, 2014
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
Age:
24

This was my second volunteer trip with cross cultural solutions and I loved it even more than the first. Overall I feel extremely safe traveling with this program and I think it is an excellent way for less experienced travels like myself. I feel as though they do an awesome job of showing you the highlights of the country while also giving you insight into the culture beyond just the tourist attractions. This is definitely a great program to deal with.

Program:
Location:
Posted: August 3, 2014
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: Hailey
Age:
21

What an enjoyable, amazing experience I had as a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer in Rabat, Morocco. Home Base was so comfortable. That entire staff was always so accommodating. It was very comfortable, I always felt safe, and any questions I had were always answered. It was really a pleasure to volunteer teaching English. While working with each student and school administrators it was a great opportunity to share in cultural stories, and have fun during the entire process and time there. Although in a volunteer-teaching role, I learned so much!!

What a beautiful place and wonderful people; and I look forward to returning. I feel so fortunate to be able to volunteer in general. But the opportunity to volunteer abroad and have exposure to different cultures reminds me of our sameness, and also how much bigger our purposes are here. I am humbled and blessed.

Program:
Location:
Posted: July 20, 2014
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: le2lifeLE
Age:

I accompanied my teenage daughter for three weeks of volunteering in Dharamsala. Overall, I would say we had a very good experience. I loved India, and the children and teachers at the childcare where we worked were wonderful. We were the first volunteers at this site, which was somewhat undeveloped, which proved challenging. We were able to identify some of the issues that needed to be addressed beyond the time we were there, and hopefully moved everyone toward developing a curriculum.
We were well looked after by the staff: picked up at the airport, fed, and generally made to feel secure. This was very good, because I had never volunteered or been to India, and it was pretty overwhelming for me. It was very overwhelming for my daughter, but she also liked the experience on the whole.
We lived in a flat with several other volunteers. While I liked them personally, I found it difficult to live in a dorm-style setting after having my own home for many years. The food was simple and healthy, although far too spicy for my palate. It took a couple of weeks before the cook was able to tone it down to the point that I could eat the vegetable and pulse dishes. I would be interested to volunteer again, but I would like to do it in a way that allows me more personal space and freedom.

Program:
Location:
Posted: July 17, 2014
Overall:
8
Support:
9
Value:
8
Age:
58

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