“ My volunteer experience was amazing. It was life changing to be able to experience a completely different culture from my own and see how the other half of the world lives. My trip left me filled with gratitude for what I have as a Canadian but also inspired by the resilience of the Kenyan people and how they are still able to find joy in the hardest of times. I am very happy with my experience with Volunteers Without Borders. I learned so much and also had the opportunity to apply and practice skills relevant to my education and career path. As I am in the field of social work, I feel through the trip I gained experience and new perspectives that I am excited to bring back and apply to my work in the social services industry in Canada. ”

" It is not easy to find words to describe what I have experienced while volunteering internationally for two months in India. An experience so enriching and moving, that helped me realize that we can be happy with so little. Joining a program with Volunteers Without Borders allows you to get in touch with the reality of what underprivileged people encounter daily. You get a taste of culture by living with host families and visiting various places in the country. The fact that I was able to take part in so many different projects such as a disabled school, an orphanage, a school for slum children, an ultrasound clinic, was amazing. I spent most of the time helping out in the school for street children, and even though the children and I did not really speak the same language, communication was not an issue and I got really attached to them. These children were filled with joy, and by wearing uniforms and having a place to be during the day like regular children, they just get to enjoy all normal things that children enjoy like learning, being creative, making friends and so on. During my stay in India I met inspiring people who devoted their lives to helping others and making the world a better place. I strongly recommend to everyone who wants to help others, or as a matter of fact, help themselves, to come to India and volunteer abroad. "

" My name is Tiffany, I'm 22 years old and from Australia. I volunteered abroad in Pokhara, Nepal. Once I arrived, I met the children at the home and there were 9 of them altogether. We took them on a picnic to the park next to the lake and had an amazing time. Just to see them smiling and having fun at the simplest things was gorgeous. I could see myself growing to love the place and not wanting to leave. The Director and his wife were very welcoming and made me feel very comfortable. There were also two other volunteers staying at the orphanage with the children. Pokhara is a beautiful Lake-side city with everything you need just 20 minute’s walk from the orphanage. The mountains surround the lake. There are a lot of things to do here, like trekking, paragliding, sightseeing, rafting and just relaxing. I'm very glad I decided to volunteer in Pokhara, I hope you decide to come here too! It's different and challenging; but it's something I always wanted to do and was so worth it! "

" My idea half year ago was to just find a volunteer internship in Canada and strengthen my professional skills I had to offer. I found the website and got in contact with Kevin, who is the Founder of Volunteers Without Borders. We talked at great lengths and he explained a few of the many incredible programs they offer and found the perfect placement for me on a Sea Turtle Conservation Program in Sri Lanka. It was a three week volunteering program in Sri Lanka and it was a blast! I was fortunate enough to meet great people, get involved in some worthwhile work and afterwards, travel around Asia, writing blogs and doing more than I could have imagined. I would recommend this experience to anyone or everyone wanting to help out and try something new. I would recommend Volunteers Without Borders because it was all very easy, fast and without problems. The information provided by them was excellent and was a perfect placement! "

" My name is Justin Ben-Hain and I volunteered in India for about five months. Initially, I worked with the medical projects, by working in the hospitals and ambulances, and assisting the doctors and patients while gaining valuable medical experience. As I continued my volunteer abroad work, I decided to work with some other volunteering projects, along with the medical projects. I taught at a school for underprivileged children, and also started a first-aid program for the children there. I also visited several orphanages and interacted with the children very frequently. My international volunteering experience has completely changed my life: I am eagerly awaiting to go back to India as soon as possible to continue to help those in need, in both medical and social advancement programs. The volunteering program has made me re-evaluate my needs in life, and I have found a true inner happiness and peace during my stay in India. "

" Dear volunteer, it was great having you with us. The love and compassion with which you interacted with our children is indeed remarkable. Your childlike ways have won their hearts and mine too. Kevin, you are part of our family and every child here sees in you a loving brother. I feel your volunteer international project is inspired by your spirit of selfless service and it will really take off. I am impressed with the speed your organization grown. Wish you all the best where ever you are. You are in our thoughts and an inseparable part of our life's experience. One seldom meets souls so pure. We are indeed fortunate that God sent you our way. God bless you always. "

" This program in Nepal with Volunteers Without Borders was an amazing experience. Volunteers Without Borders organized everything for me and it was so easy when I got there. My time as a volunteer in Nepal was absolutely wonderful both at the orphanage and all around it. I have never been to a community that is so trusting and honest; it is the perfect place for first time travellers who are getting out of their comfort zone. It is very safe everywhere, even at night, and everything is close by so it’s not hard to get all of the essentials that you need. The Project Director and his wife really treat you like family while you are in their country. They understand that there are many cultural differences that you are not accustomed to and they try their best to accommodate you in any way possible. They will also take you on trips to the market place or to places with beautiful views, as well as help arrange things like treks and trips. As for the orphanage, the kids are wonderful. Aside from being super cute, they are very responsible for their age and get joy out of very simple things that most first-world children don’t. They have the imaginations of the early 90s kids and anyone before them because they do not rely on technology for entertainment. They love to do things like go for picnics in the park, make superhero masks out of paper, and play games that involve competition. They sometimes need help with homework and learning English and it is always fun to help them with both. Luxuries that they enjoy are chicken, popcorn, candy, toy cars for the boys, and makeup for the girls. Those items are easy to buy and cheap from a volunteer’s perspective, so it is nice to buy it for them. Being at the orphanage provides a learning experience not only for the children, but also for volunteer.s You can learn so much from being around the children. If you are concerned about ending up at a “bad” orphanage, I can definitely say that this one checks out. The children are treated very well, their living situation is good, and their bellies are always full. So, all in all, I would highly recommend the Nepal orphanage program with Volunteers Without Borders. "

" I had the opportunity to volunteer in Kenya for 3 weeks with Volunteers Without Borders where I was able to participate in several projects. The first week I volunteered at an orphanage, where I helped prepare meals, assisted with chores and played games with the children. The second week I volunteered in a medical dispensary program where I helped assist health care workers and prepared medication for needy patients. For my final week in Kenya, I was teaching math and English at an elementary school. This was my first time volunteering abroad and these three weeks have changed my perspective and outlook on life. Volunteers Without Borders provided me with exactly what I wanted to do there and I felt completely safe and secure during my placements and with my accommodation at different home stays. I would definitely recommend Volunteers without borders for an experience of a lifetime when volunteering abroad. "

" In my mind, Volunteering is the best way to explore the world and learn about its different cultures.  It teaches you to look at the world through different eyes, opening them to new wonders. My first experience volunteering was with Volunteers Without Borders in India. As a volunteer there, I taught English in a rural community. The level of poverty shocked me but I was amazed to see just how happy the children were. Kids will be kids and it was beautiful contributing to their fun. They did not need I pads or gadgets, only just their imagination. Volunteers Without Borders opened my eyes to the experience of volunteering abroad and after my experience in India, I realized how powerful it was and wanted to continue volunteering in other countries. The next program I volunteered on was in Ecuador where part of my duties was installing toilets, I had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be hard physical work but it was well worth it as the rewards were plentiful. I was the only female volunteer at the time so the women and children of the village would shower me with their gratitude. I would practice my Spanish by speaking and playing with them. They would give me the little rice and fruits they had as a gesture of their gratitude. I went home exhausted, but so happy to have influenced their lives in such a positive way. I was able to visit so many different regions of Ecuador and meeting its diverse people. What a great program and experience. I would highly recommend this program to everyone and anyone looking to make a difference. "

" I went to Nepal and volunteered abroad at an orphanage located in Pokhara. It was an amazing and rewarding experience. The home was built of rock and bricks with marble floors and counters. The home had 8 children from the ages of 4-12, and a Nepalese house mom. As a volunteer, I helped teach the children about proper hygiene such as brushing their teeth, bathing on a regular basis, and changing their clothes daily. I helped around the orphanage with gardening, washing clothes, cooking and teaching the children at home basic English reading and writing. I wanted to do something for the children in the orphanage so before I went I collected donations at work and had a large duffel bag filled with things for the children. I had balls, play dough, clay, foam airplanes, toothbrushes, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, stress balls, workbooks, story books, addition and subtraction tables, basic elementary reading and writing books, an inflatable globe, sparklers, and much more. The look on the children's' face when I opened the bag was unforgettable. It was amazing to see what simple things like a pencil and eraser could do for a child when they had so little. The directors of the organization were grateful and hung the Canadian flag which I brought for them up in the orphanage. The four older Children were fairly good at English and were really motivated to learn the language. I could have spent every minute I was there writing the alphabet and counting with them. The younger children were able to write the alphabet from A-J while the older children could do the entire alphabet both upper and lower case plus count to 100. It broke my heart when I found out that one of the children were not attending school, because they couldn't afford to send her and she was a girl. I put a lot of time into working with her because I could tell she wanted to go to school. My experience in Nepal was more than I could ask for. I experienced the true reality of the country while living with the locals and participating in their daily rituals of both spiritual and religious activities. Nepal is a beautiful country, a place full of extreme poverty but with the breath-taking scenery of the Himalaya mountains. Spending time in a country of such poverty where the people are happy with nothing has opened my eyes to a completely different world, and was an unforgettable experience. I will always have a place in my heart for Nepalese people. They are so loving and thoughtful. If life hands you the opportunity to join a program with Volunteers Without Borders in Nepal or any other country, I'd highly recommend it as it will provide you with a life changing experience you will never forget. "

“ My trip to Kenya definitely changed my entire outlook on life. It was a huge culture shock to travel there and see how people live on the other side of the world; the culture and way of life there is so different from Canada and it was a really eye-opening experience. This trip and the people that I met along the way have taught me so much, and I feel incredibly grateful for the experience. So many memorable moments-volunteering at the health clinic, the safari excursion, and visiting downtown Nairobi to name a few. My favourite day was actually the day we visited the Kibera slum; it was so fascinating, yet horrifying at the same time, to see firsthand how people can survive on so little. The houses were made of dirt, the population is cramped together in such tight quarters, and there is garbage and sewage everywhere. As soon as I got home that day I started researching slums because I just found them to be so interesting. This program was one of the best experiences of my life. I definitely gained a better understanding of life in Africa, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for what I have as a Canadian, and a great appreciation for the Kenyan people who work so hard to make ends meet. I also made a ton of new friends at my volunteer placement and with my host family. Overall, I feel that I have gained a greater respect for different cultures as well as their beliefs that I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life. “

“The experience has had a profound impact on my life. As a teacher, I found it compelling to observe different methods of teaching and with fewer resources, and even more so to observe the learning that emanated from these lessons. I was also astounded by the incredible focus and joy that sprang from the simplest of activities for the children. These children were so extraordinarily creative themselves and often used the limited resources available to design their own engaging games and activities, in which I was lucky enough to be included. It has given me a new perspective on teaching AND how children learn. The experience also influenced how I look at every day life and helped me to appreciate more the privileges that I sometimes take for granted asa working, middle-class citizen of Canada. Being included in the children's play was probably the most memorable part of my time with them at the orphanage. I was always invited into their circle, whether it was to participate in a structured game or an innovative activity that they had made up themselves. The children made me feel accepted and special, regardless of the language barriers. They were patient and understanding and I always felt welcome. I was not surprised when I started to cry during my "thank you" and "farewell" speech, but I was surprised that the children matched my emotion and cried right along with me.”

“During my placement I told my family everything about the time I was there (in Ecuador) and they were grateful and appreciative for keeping me safe, guiding me and showing me the most wonderful time in your beautiful country!”