Mexico

I spent one month in the Original Volunteers Project in Mexico, two in their project in Peru and six weeks in their project in Ecuador. The first thing I will say is that I had an incredible time. I met some amazing people, had some incredible experiences and overall thoroughly enjoyed the projects.

However, if you are looking into doing any of these projects I would recommend getting in touch with the coordinators in the countries rather than using Original Volunteers for the following reason:

If you book directly with the coordinators out there you will be working on the same projects however it will be much cheaper. For example, in the ELIM orphanage in Peru I was paying much more than volunteers who had come directly and were paying the rate that the coordinator was asking for. Not only that, but the volunteers who had come through Original Volunteers (myself included) had paid the organisation before arrival and this money had not reached the orphanage. I was also told when I arrived in Ecuador that the coordinators there had had the same issue in the past with Original Volunteers not sending them the money the volunteers had paid.

My other issue with Original Volunteers was the vagueness of the descriptions of the projects themselves. I went out to Mexico not really knowing what to expect but assuming I would be working with underprivileged children. This wasn't the case. We were working on three projects there; one in a kindergarten, the second with disabled teenagers and adults and the third in a women's home. The children we were working with three times a week in the kindergarten came from wealthy families and the center itself was well-staffed, clean and catered to the children's every need. It was clear that our help was not needed there and we spent most of our time just sitting in the classroom while the teachers taught the children. The other two projects were great and I would have liked to have spent more time working on those ones had there been a bit more structure.

My time in Peru was excellent and if you do choose that project be prepared to get totally attached to the children in the orphanage (they are so adorable!) I would highly suggest taking part in this project; accommodation is provided and they are happy for you to explore Machu Picchu and all the amazing sights nearby in your spare time. Again, I would suggest you book it directly via their website; I will put the links at the bottom of my review.

Lastly, the projects in Ecuador were fantastic- totally different from anything I had ever experienced. If you like a bit of adventure and being taken out of your comfort zone this would be the place for you. I was working in the jungle with rescued animals for one month and then spent two weeks living with a community and learning about their customs and traditions.

So overall, I would highly recommend the projects I took part in but I would not recommend using Original Volunteers to do them.

Here are the links to the projects themselves:

http://www.fairien.at/english/volunteer-peru/

https://www.ecuadorvolunteer.org/en/

There's no way possible to write a review that can accurately capture the marvelous experience that is SOL. I actually studied abroad in Costa Rica the semester before going to Mexico, and they were both fantastic! They're completely different, but both worth every minute. The program is extremely affordable yet still manages to offer everything a student studying abroad could imagine: cultural activities, excursions, immersion, awesome classes, and fantastic teachers. The support system is incredible as well! Sol also lets you basically design your own program. You choose your classes, housing situation (if you want apartment, dorm, or host family), and activities. Sol really sets you up to experience the cultural in a way that works for you yet also brings you to a higher level of confidence and independence. I highly recommend Sol Education Abroad for any level of Spanish speaker and world explorer!

My experience with Projects Abroad in Mexico was great! It gave me the opportunity to met likeminded people from all over the world and make friends for life. Projects Abroad set me up with an amazing host family. They were so welcoming and taught me about Mexican Culture while improving my Spanish.

The Projects Abroad staff was very helpful during my time there. They showed me around the city, organized group activities and were there to answer all my questions.

For my project I worked with a local organization that promoted community rights. Here I was able to learn about local issues as well as use my skills to help their projects. The project was everything I was looking for!

Overall I loved my time with Projects Abroad and in Mexico!

Our week-long alternative spring break trip was focused on public health in Guadalajara, Mexico. I was a bit nervous to travel by myself, especially because I didn't know exactly what I would be getting myself into at first. The PA staff had been in contact with me prior to my departure, but I feel the online guide could've been more useful and pertain to my trip specifically, instead of encompassing all trips as a whole. Once I landed, I felt incredibly safe with all the staff members, as well as my host family. I never once felt that my safety was in danger, even at our different outreaches or at night. Rosa, a staff member, was with us the entire week helping us get settled in, attending every outreach, giving us a tour of Guadalajara, and so much more. At our outreaches, we interacted with local doctors to perform head to toe assessments and administer medication. I was able to be as involved as I desired and utilized my Spanish quite a bit! PA gave me a week that I will never forget through incredible programming, a wonderful staff, and a fantastic host family.

Projects Abroad provided me a way to see the medical field in Guadalajara,Mexico. I was fortunate to see so many cool things. It really affirmed my career path and made into a strong, young woman. As soon as I signed up, Projects Abroad supported me every step of the way. The host family I stayed with was incredible and I really enjoyed getting to know them. The only thing I would have done differently would be to extend my trip!

At only 16 years of age, Projects Abroad made it possible for me to volunteer in Guadalajara, Mexico, for 5 weeks, providing me with the perfect balance of support and flexibility throughout. After searching the internet tirelessly for an economical program that could accommodate teens, I decided to go with Projects Abroad because it is entirely up to you to choose the dates and duration of your volunteering abroad.

This was my first time alone in a foreign country, but the supportive staff and my lovely host family made this feel even safer than home! I spent several hours before and during my stay with individual members of the staff, who offered routine check-ups, gave me some great tips for cultural immersion, and watched out for me 24/7. If I was sick, they were at my house within a half hour and ready to take me to the doctor. When I had a dilemma at the airport, they were patient and flexible to help me resolve the issue. And of course, my host family became like a second family to me. An older couple, they took me under their wing and treated me like their own daughter, and the accommodations were very adequate and clean throughout my stay.

My actual volunteering project was working in a nursery where I cared for and taught toddlers English and Spanish. It was very well-organized and everything I had hoped for, and I know I left an impact on the precious children there. Of course, I made lifelong friends with fellow volunteers, and the organization hosts multiple events per week in order to bond with the other volunteers that come from around the world! Bottom line? I hands down recommend Projects Abroad, as they made this 5 week excursion into the best month of my life!

As a future medical student, I wanted to gain some experience working in the industry before committing ten years of my life to extra schooling. Working in Mexico was a great way for me to practice surgery techniques, learn to diagnose patients, and get a taste of what I would be doing in my residency program following medical school.

I was nervous about traveling to Mexico for two months because I did not know anyone in the country and I would be working in an industry that I had little experience being a part of (not to mention I did not speak much Spanish). However, Projects Abroad made me feel so comfortable before I left and made sure that I had all my questions answered and that I knew exactly what to expect when I arrived in Mexico.

When I first arrived in Guadalajara for my two month medical internship, I was immediately greeted by a member of the Projects Abroad team and taken to my accommodation. I was then shown around the city by the Projects Abroad staff and they introduced me to the people I would be working with and ensured that I knew how to get to and from my workplace without any problems.

I felt very well taken care the entire two months. The staff in Guadalajara were always there to help me if I needed it, any time of day, all days of the week. They even organized various community service projects and fun outings for the volunteers so that we could take a break from our busy schedule and get to know each other. I got the chance to release newborn sea turtles into the ocean on one of these outings.

I had a great experience in Mexico and I thank Projects Abroad for all that they did for me. This is a great company with employees who truly care about their volunteers.

If you want a life changing experience I recommend you to volunteer in a GVI program. That’s what I did. I really needed a change in my routine, so I apply for the national scholarship and fortunately I got the job. I have to say, those 3 month I spend living in Pez Maya (Mexico, Quintana Roo) were incredible. I got the opportunity to experience amazing adventures like when I swim with a group of 12 dolphins for hours or the time I encounter a bull shark or the incredible dives in the cenotes.

The activities we did in the volunteer program like cleaning the beaches of Sian Kaan, going to Punta Allen town to give English classes to kids and adults, helping with the turtle project looking for eggs and the study of the coral reef were really rewording.

If you love adventures or want to make something different for a change I really recommend these types of programs. You will get the opportunity of living in a paradisiacal beach and you will make a difference for the environment and the community. This will change your way of seeing life in a good way.

I enrolled in a Spanish program with a home stay in Cuernavaca through Amerispan 12 years ago and was very pleased. That's why I decided to repeat the experience with my two children (age 9 and 10) and husband, this time in Puerto Vallarta, because that's where they were offering classes for kids. The school itself was decent, but the accommodation was unacceptable. The rooms were too hot (no air-conditioning) and dirty, and we were facing a small but very noisy street where people were selling tacos, playing music, children were blowing whistles and dogs were barking until 3am in the morning. We couldn't sleep for 4 straight nights and then moved out to a hotel for 2 nights. We then left the program altogether. We basically stayed 5 out of the 13 days for which we had paid. We asked for a refund for the second week we weren't going to use at the very beginning of our stay and Amerispan refused. They offered another accommodation which was worse than the first one. They are overpriced (we paid $257 per night for the whole family, including the classes, vs $99 per night in a 5-star hotel) and unkind. A big disappointment!

Sol was the most cost-efficient program my university had to offer, but no amount of quality was sacrificed. The academics were excellently challenging and engaging and the university administration was very attentive. My Sol site director always responded promptly to my questions and concerns. She lives in Oaxaca and is available by phone, email, or can meet with you in person. When I came to her about certain academic problems, she accompanied me for emotional support when I met with my teacher. My director helped explain the situation and propose solutions. Together, the three of us resolved the matter quickly and effectively. My director is bilingual in Spanish and English but when dealing with my university, she often gave me the option to resolve my own problems because she knew I spoke Spanish and that I had come to practice it. I really appreciated that. If I was ever uncomfortable, though, she was happy to step in.

Outside the classroom, I really enjoyed the cultural activities Sol arranged for us. These included dance classes, a beach trip, museum tours, and craft workshops. This was a great way to experience Mexican culture and bond with the other students in my group. At my host family home, I felt completely integrated. After a long day of classes or group activities I liked coming home to speak Spanish with my host mom over meals in a way that was more natural than a classroom. My host mom made it a game that if we spoke anything but Spanish at the table, we received "punishments." These were always fun, though, and might require that we tell a joke or story in Spanish, do a dance, or play charades. I was even invited to family events like birthday parties that made me feel included in a genuine and completely comfortable manner. On weeknights and weekends during the semester I would go out with Oaxacan friends I'd made at school. My study abroad experience felt well-rounded and balanced nicely between academic and social components.