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Quotations From Volunteers

Below are some quotations (sorted by country of service) excerpted from reports from volunteers who participated in VFP projects over these past years.

Select Quotes By Country

For ease of use, you may use this menu to select quotes by country:

Argentina	Australia	Azerbaijan	Bangladesh
Belarus	Belgium	Bolivia	Bosnia
Botswana	Brazil	Bulgaria	Cambodia
Canada	Chile	China	Costa Rica
Croatia	Czech Republic	Denmark	Ecuador
Egypt	El Salvador	England	Estonia
Finland	France	Germany	Ghana
Greece	Guatemala	Haiti	Honduras
Hungary	Iceland	India	Ireland
Israel	Italy	Japan	Jordan
Kenya	Latvia	Lithuania	Madagascar
Malawi	Mexico	Mongolia	Montenegro
Morocco	Mozambique	Namibia	Nepal
Netherlands	Nigeria	Northern Ireland	Norway
Palestine	Peru	Poland	Portugal
Romania	Russia	Scotland	Slovakia
Slovenia	South Africa	South Korea	Spain
Sweden	Switzerland	Tanzania	Thailand
Togo	Tunisia	Turkey	Uganda
Ukraine	USA	Vietnam	Wales
Zambia	Zimbabwe

Thailand

Argentina

"…on the last day I learned that our work in the community has inspired some of the young teenage guys to write a play about the problems in their barrio - drugs, alcohol, steeling and discuss solutions to these problems. We inspired them to make changes with in their own lives and neighborhood. It was so exciting to hear and see." Kate Balzer / Argentina - 2005

Australia

"We returned from Townsville in February and had an interesting experience to say the least- that's a good thing! Overall, the camp was safe, had excellent accommodations as workcamps go, and there was an air-conditioned mall in walking distance (We were there at the height of their summer, 110 degrees, 100% humidity). Big FYI- We were unprepared for the fact that it is a very conservative religious boarding school and found the politics surrounding the issue of religion and Aboriginal culture a constant topic of conversation. The nice thing is that kids are pretty much kids wherever you go and on a one to one basis they were fun." Amy Timm / Lysa Twardosz / Australia - 2002

Azerbaijan

"My experience was a very positive one. I had many opportunities to see just how welcoming people of this host country can be to strangers and to those of a different culture. Highlights from the experience included being invited to the homes of national volunteers, even attending a village wedding! Possibly we were fortunate in having very active and keen local volunteers from the host organization…We learned much about Azeri culture and found them interested in our countries and us. Few spoke English of course, but the local volunteers were able to provide translation." Carol Crabtree / Azerbaijan - 2002

"I would definitely recommend working in Azerbaijan for anybody who's interested. The work you do will make a tremendous difference for the people over there - particularly the children. A few warnings, though: the workcamps come with tremendous physical and emotional hardships. You will have to be willing to do without hot water and electricity for most of the time, and of course without toilets. Bottled water is scarce and usually comes in carbonated form; you will mainly be drinkingtea withsmall amounts of soda and fruit juice. If the gas didn't work, we would sometimes have to go for hours without drinking anything (this didn't happen often though). There are bugs everywhere, especially mosquitoes, and quite a bit of disease, so hypochondriacs should stay away. You willalso get quite dirty. Working with the children can be difficult in the sense that you begin to develop close relationships with them, and then you go and visit them at home and see the abject poverty that they live in and begin to feel very upset to say the least. The seeming hopelessness of the situation can also be very demanding. That being said, let me also say that after a few days you don't even really notice the physical difficulties, and even a city boy like me managed to adapt in no time. And just the opportunity to meet such wonderful people like the children in our classes and their families was worth all of the heartache.The volunteer'slife will never be the same after you work in Azerbaijan, and hopefully neither will the children's." Simon Russell /Azerbaijan - 2001

Bangladesh

"We started our hike to villages by walking along the railroad tracks. When we arrived in the villages we were split into three groups, with one or two foreigners in each group. I was unprepared for the extreme poverty that we saw. The children had large bellies from starvation. Their teeth were a dentist's nightmare. They laughed lots, despite their obvious pain. We came to this village to build latrines, as the villagers had no bathroom facilities and still relieved themselves in their rice fields, causing sickness. We installed twenty latrines in total. Each latrine needed a hole that was 6 feet deep. We spent the majority of our time digging, but when we needed a break we entertained the children through silly slap-stick humour. When the hole was ready, we carried five cement rings and placed them in the hole." Victoria Westcott / Bangladesh - 2004

"I believe that in the short time of the camp, substantial good was accomplished. The infrastructure improvements to the village, though not glamorous, were tangible and immediately usable. And the 53 people with restored vision in one eye will lead fuller and more productive lives as a result of the eye camp. This made the experience a highly rewarding one. It was also a unique way of learning about rural life in this friendly and untouristed country, not to mention about ophthalmology." Matthew Butler / Bangladesh -2001

"When I graduate, I want a job that will give me the flexibility to do this type of work around the world. I want a type of job that will give me the satisfaction that I had returning home from the clinic each day. I'm not too much closer to knowing what that career will be, but at the very least my priorities had solidified." Laura Graff / Bangladesh - 2001

Belarus

"Overall, this was the least fun camp I've been to, but the most valuable. It put a lot in perspective for me. I know how lucky I am in my own life, but in Las Vegas, I keep finding myself surrounded by people who seem to think it's tragic that they're not richer, skinnier, more beautiful, more talented, more everything. I met people in Belarus who don't have the option to be as irresponsible as I watch so many people being here, and kids who are thankful for everything and anything they can get from the world. The smiles I got from these kids in Belarus were genuine, powerful, full of positive energy that made my life better, even though I was the one who was supposed to be making their lives better. I'm sad that this sounds corny and sentimental back at home here, in a country where smiles are polite, meaningless, expected, devoid of what I'm reminded is their potential." Andrea Gregovich / Belarus - 2004

"This was my first workcamp. I thought it was one of the most interesting and intense experiences of my life, and I see myself as fortunate to have wandered into it. The time I spent in Belarus was worth, in my mind, a graduate degree in Eastern European studies, with a minor in the Russian language. I would like to return to Belarus at some point, and have heartily recommended (almost to the point of browbeating) both VFP and the Belarus experience to all my friends and acquaintances. By the way, you could easily get by there on $20 for three weeks." Percy Toop / Belarus - 2001

Belgium

“I feel so inspired by my time with my new international friends and the projects we did together.” Bronwyn Steinberg / Belgium ~ 2007

"This was the 1st workcamp I had ever been to and was one of the best experiences of my life. All the people in the workcamp who had attended other camps said it was the best one they had ever been to. Our workcamp leader told us that the people who visited us from the parent organization said our workcamp had the best atmosphere too. What I loved about this camp was how comfortable everyone was with each other and how quickly everyone bonded." Mark Fridman / Belgium - 2004

"…another volunteer and I constructed a mezzanine floor and shelves to better organize their equipment and supplies. My 'partner' was from Togo and did not speak English, I didn't speak French (still can't either), but we were still able to work as a team with very little difficulty." Colby McCormick / Belgium - 2004

"I just returned Saturday from the Belgian workcamp at Arthur Regniers Centre, and wanted to let you know it was the best. Of the 3 camps I have done over the years it was by far the best organized. We volunteers had thorough instruction and support, the right balance of work and leisure, good accommodations, regular meals, etc. We even had free rail fare to travel to different cities on the 2 weekend days-don't know if this generosity was from the centre or from the accomplished Belgian volunteer agency. And of course the work itself was very meaningful, for everyone concerned. There were lots of tears upon leaving...Just thought you'd like to hear about a great success." Suzanne Schultz / Belgium - 2003

Bolivia

".my workcamp experience was one of the best of my life, in fact it changed my life. It was definitely a good experience to find out how well I function in a foreign environment; it's good for someone who is thinking of living abroad or joining a longer-term volunteer project. It is an experience which will live in me forever and which no one will understand unless they experience it themselves." Jill Zabloski / Bolivia -1997

Bosnia

"Overall Bosnia was an unforgettable experience. Here was this place so devastated and destroyed yet what I found there was some of the most beautiful people I have ever met. They seemed more real to me, unspoiled by the things we take for granted in the west. I think I left a little piece of myself there which only means I have to go back." Hau Truong / Bosnia - 1998

Botswana

“Thank you for a truly memorable experience. It shall stay with me for a lifetime.” Shelly Thompson / Botswana 2007

"During one conversation with the British volunteer, Josie, she and I shared our similar sentiments, expressed by her statement: "I expected this to be completely different. I thought that these children would need us to be here; that there would be some apparent, pressing need for our presence, but it's like we need these kids to help reverse our ideas of what this camp would be like rather than vice versa." This section of the camp was absolutely incredible and it ended far too soon. Yet in the week that we were there, the volunteers new to workcamps came to understand that the preconceived notions that we entered the camp with - that these children would be destitute and clearly yearning for something only we could give them - was honestly an arrogant and ignorant assumption. In learning that, I think that we were able to bond more genuinely with the kids in a way that sometimes allowed them to talk about their (seriously heart-wrenching) pasts, but in the same moment brought us together in a sort of camaraderie that makes anyone feel like a child again. " Sarah Starr / Botswana - 2006

"Overall I would say that the International Botswana Workcamp to West Hanahai this April 2004 was a success. The reason is that both the people in the village and the volunteers benefited from the experience. Some of the work I was personally involved in included: weeding for an organic garden, digging out roots, hauling away branches, drilling holes for netting fixtures and cleaning up construction debris from around the chicken house intended to provide eggs and serve as a small business for the village of West Hanahai. In the process I feel that I made some friends in the village and learned a great deal about life without electricity or running water." Tricia McInroy / Botswana - 2004

Brazil

"I was one of the dental volunteers during the Aug 1-14 mission at Codo. I just wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to try out something that I have always wanted to do. I am very appreciative of you and your family, and what you have established in Codo. I also wanted to say that I had a great time in Codo, and had always planned to do some sort of volunteer service when I become a dentist. Codo, was the perfect place and I don't think they can ever have enough help. The objective of this email is to ask you for some advice. I know you are a very busy guy, but I hope to get a reply from you when you can. I plan to perhaps have some sort of plan for going to Codo in the future on a regular basis (once I am a practicing dentist). I am still not 100% sure where I would go to provide a service but I would like to travel to Codo a few more times over the next few years to see if it is the place. I plan to go back to Codo this December if possible. I want to go back to volunteer some more, and to also learn the city and language better." Daniel Deheshi / Brazil - 2005

"Overall it was only my first workcamp and I had a wonderful time. I will definitely do more volunteering in the future. Thank you VFP for giving me such a unique experience!" Theresa Doan / Brazil - 2005

"This was my first volunteer experience, so I really have no means of comparison. I do know that for my next trip, I will ask more specific questions about the actual volunteer duties. It was quite obvious to me that Fundamed had plenty of experience in hosting volunteers because they were exceptionally accommodating. I also know that ours was the first non-professional group and largest group Fundamed had attempted to host. I would hope that next time Fundamed will be able to probe the community to find specific activities that would be beneficial to the community and the volunteers. I think a smaller group would have also been easier for the Fundamed to handle. Nonetheless, I am grateful to Fundamed and VFP for allowing me this incredible experience, and I am confident that with a few modifications, the experience could be even greater for the next set of volunteers." Lailone Iliili / Brazil - 2005

Bulgaria

"On a trip to Sozopol we met a gentleman who inquired who we were and upon explaining we were a group from a Sophia orphanage he insisted on paying our way (30 of us) on a boat tour of the coastal harbor. We met people like that all the time." Bob Melaragno / Bulgaria - 2003

"The staff and volunteers worked hard to give the kids a variety of activities with limited monetary resources. We went on hikes (including an overnight hike with the older kids), did a variety of arts and crafts, played games, did sports, and even went swimming at the local pool at the base of the mountain (although we had to walk the 6 kilometers up the mountain to get back to camp)." Bob Melaragno / Bulgaria - 2001

".... we had 10 girls and 23 boys. The older ones did a good job of taking care of the little ones. Overall, the kids were quite responsible and creative. Some of them had been victims of physical and sexual abuse but were surprisingly resilient, friendly, and outgoing." Bob Melaragno / Bulgaria - 2000

Cambodia

"The experiences that will be with me forever are the smiling faces of the children…my trip to Ankor Wat, my visit to the family of the cyclist in Phnom Penh, the comradeship of the group…and the look of the children as I was leaving." Ed Cohen / Cambodia- 2000

"They were now teaching me, not about development, education, politics, but about life - how to live it, how to find the beauty in each piece of the canvas…I had such admiration for these young souls…" Jessica Lenz / Cambodia - 1999

"...I can appreciate that bad things do not happen all the time in Cambodia, that they are just the anomaly, not the rule; that most people just want peace and safety and a future." Felicia Stewart/ Cambodia - 1999

Canada

"We did such jobs as repairing floors, plastering walls, fixing holes in the greenhouse roof, putting up a basketketball hoop, and we helped prepare the food and the community center for the big celebration of life. The community had invited neighboring communities and expected at least 1000 people to attend. We spent some time working alongside Ahousaht residents sewing regaliz for the dancers, making cedar headbands, cooking and setting up for the all day affair. We were fortunate to be able to participate because it was a potlatch as well as a testimonial of youth to fact their difficulties with drink, drugs and suicide. The community appreciated our efforts, and we were invited to one family's home for an evening gathering. We also hosted a thank you dinner for the families the night before we left the island." Carolyn Shapiro / Canada - 2005

Chile

"The experience in Chile was unforgettable. I met people from around the world, and despite our language differences, we all were able to communicate and become good friends. I feel good knowing that my name is inscribed in the cement foundation of a bridge I built in the Chilean countryside. How many young Americans can say that?" Kevin Maillard / Chile - 1995

China

"Before I volunteered, I believed that not speaking the same language would be a barrier to forming friendships overseas. Clearly I was mistaken. Despite all our differences in culture, language, traditions, and tastes, the villagers were people just like I am, with feelings, compassion, and a sense of humor. With just a little effort and ability to laugh through the language barrier, we all worked together, improving the village and sharing our cultures. I learned to better appreciate the cushy lifestyle I have in America, but to also appreciate the simpler life. Just because people make a low income and do not have the technology and entertainment I have in the United States, does not mean that they do not value, cherish, and love life. The villagers work hard for what they have, and seem content with life." Katharine Peters / China - 2006

"This experience was absolutely amazing. I cannot express to you the level of… of… satisfaction, happiness I received from volunteering at the workcamp. It was more spectacular than anything I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Our group of volunteers had become so close. We had bonded immediately, and I had such fun with them. I miss them dearly, especially for those precious late-night conversations that we had. I miss the village too. They welcomed us so warmly, and I became accustomed to the lifestyle and the daily routine there. It became my whole world for those two weeks. I hope very much that someday, I will go back to visit Xinjing Village, and that someday, we volunteers will meet again." Xue-Wei (Mimi) Cheng / China -2005

"I am so happy and grateful to everyone who worked hard to make my stay possible and wonderful. The experience was truly magnificent and the friends I made were such caring, open, joyful people who constantly made me laugh and feel a part of the community. They have taught me so many lessons about what life in Hainan Island, China is like as a child, man, and woman. Thank you for the once in a lifetime opportunity." Amron Skowronski / China - 2005

"Overall it was a really positive experience though, and I would definitetly consider doing another workcamp of this type. We not only got to see what life was like in the village, we also visited local schools, attended a wedding, and toured other towns and nearby cities. We formed friendships with the children despite the language barrier, and I feel that their cultural awareness and desire to learn English has been expanded because of us." Emily Longworth / China - 2004

Costa Rica

"This was my first workcamp experience and it was the most amazing experience of my life. We were 12 people from different countries all over the world and different languages, English, Spanish, and French. Despite the language barriers, we were still able to communicate and work together so well. We were the first group to begin this project at the Cacho Negro Ecological Center. In 2 weeks, we built a trail in the rainforest, dug ditches, and planted trees. We worked with pouring rain, the hot sun, muddy roads and paths, bugs, no electricity and cold water and results were so rewarding. It completely amazed me how such a small group of people of different backgrounds and languages can accomplish so much in such a short period of time. The workcamp served its purpose and even went beyond. We all came out of it with a new appreciation for the environment, Costa Rica, and each other. In the end we formed new friendships, memories, a bond to Costa Rica, and a passion to help the world. Its really nice to know that we took the first steps toward a future for the ecological center, where all peoples can one day appreciate the natural world and learn from it as we did. This experience changed my life and I will never forget it. I now have a newfound drive to continue working as a volunteer for as long as I can. Mary Lee / Costa Rica - 2004

Croatia

"The most memorable times during the two weeks were the conversations with the volunteers, usually in the evenings as we were relaxing, discovering details of each others' lives. The experience and memory of this camp brings me so much fulfillment. I am so grateful such organizations exist, and plan on participating again in the future." - Judith Hunt-2006

"Because of some leadership and logistical problems, the Ozalj work camp finished, I think, with many volunteers feeling frustration and a lack of completion. From my perspective, though, this work camp was a smashing success and learning experience for both Ozalj and the volunteers, even if we didn't pick up as much garbage as we had hoped we would." Andrea Gregovich / Croatia - 2002

Czech Republic

"I had an amazingly wonderful time there. Really, it was the most fun I have ever had. I would actually really like to fill out one of those reports and send you guys pictures for the people who go there in the future. My experience in Prague really inspired me to learn at least one other language and hopefully more in the future." Miranda Gerzon / Czech Republic - 2004

"We played hard and we worked hard. There was amazing camaraderie and wonderful singing and laughter as we worked. I particularly enjoyed theexperience of learning about each other's cultures and learning some of all the languages…I would return to this camp in a flash" Nell Rodgers - 2002

"I recently participated in CZEINEX2.3-01, a workcamp based in the town of Veltrusy, in the Czech Republic. It was an excellent experience. I found the camp was well organized and our time was well spent. The people I met provided me witha new view of the world, exposing me to the ideas and opinions of people my age who have grown up in cultures both similar and very different than my own. Ultimately, by spending time with these people I realized that there was not all thatmuchdifference between us. Moreover, I found volunteering a very rewarding experience. I discovered that as a tourist, by nature, youspend time exploring a place you have no realright to be. As a volunteer I was consumed by a sense of purpose.As I walked down the street I felt as though, for two short weeks, I was a real member of the community. This sense of belonging was unlike any I have felt. Thank you VFP for providingthe opportunity for me to have this very special experience." David DeFranza / Czech Republic - 2001

Denmark

"We led activities for young children and experienced the culture of a remote Danish farming island while living in a school building. The experience was successful and worthwhile." Peter Royce / Denmark - 2001

"Our function was to help in some of the labor intensive and unskilled aspects of the construction. Most importantly the laying of the sod roof. Let me tell you, it was labor intensive. We had to lift heavy rolls of sod up on the roof and lay themand pack them, in the rain and mud more often than not. Everyone said they left with more muscles than they came with. In addition to that we painted with sweet smelling pine tar and learned how to make a plaster wall out of clay and use straw as insulation and a number of other interesting kinds of work. When this house is finished it going to be great." David McCarthy / Denmark - 2000

Ecuador

"...my experience in Ecuador with FEVI was really a great one. I learned much about the culture and people of Ecuador while learning about myself at the same time, and I gained so much more than I expected. Maria and her family are doing an excellent job bringing new students and experiences to the country, and I hope to stay in touch with them to receive updates about the special people I met while I was there..." Ingrid Carlson / Ecuador - 2005

"I have learned so much. But there's a lot more that needs to be done within the poor communities of Ecuador and in other parts of the world. What I did does not even touch a tenth, a hundredth, or even a millionth of the work that needs to be done. But by doing so in the company of young adult volunteers I was with, I hope I have inspired them in some ways, just as I was, by them, that volunteering and traveling can go hand in hand at any age. That learning through adventure and helping does not stop at twenty or forty or sixty four which I am. I hope that they continue to do so in the many years to come." Cory Gozar / Ecuador - 2005

"I did make friends with a lot of Ecuadorians and I was able to travel all over Ecuador on the weekends and after the placement-I even spent a week in the rainforest! All in all, it was a great summer, and I would recommend this workcamp to anyone who would want to do volunteer work in a Latin American country." Julie Bally / Ecuador - 2004

"While I was there I really felt like I was living for the first time. I felt like I was finally putting so many years of foreign cultures, international politics, and Spanish language to use….The time and money I spent to go on my trip to Ecuador could not possibly have been better spent!" Katherine Wright - Ecuador - 2003

Egypt

" With the current situation of the United States in Iraq one can only second guess your decision to go to the Middle East. Volunteering gives the volunteer the perfect opportunity to give people from foreign countries "true insight" into the citizens of the countries they are from. At the project daily gave me an opportunity as well to better understand the world around me. Working together with so many other volunteers from around the globe visually explained to the people that we can all work together. To cooperate, listen, and understand other people point of view and interests. The Egyptian friends I was able to make will hopefully be friends for life. In our conversations I learned much about the history and cultural diversity of this ancient country. It was easy to feel very comfortable amongst all these people as they were extremely friendly, funny and welcoming. At camp my schedule was a rotation of one day in the kitchen, another in sewing class, and lastly tree planting. These activities were always full of many children eager to learn more about you and to somewhat help. It would be impossible not to enjoy this work with a smile on your face. The language barrier of communication at camps like this is up to the volunteer to work at. Trying to communicate in Arabic showed the children that I cared to communicate thus sparking their curiosity in my language of English. Again, this just shows that we can work together. The fun you can have with an experience like this regrets you to face that last day of goodbyes. The people and the memories you shared together with them although brief will be in the minds and hearts of both forever. Fortunately, I could close this camp sad to say goodbye to Egypt, but eager for the new faces and challenges of Kenya." Kirk Chauncey / Egypt - 2005

El Salvador

"The Honduran Conservation Corps that ran the project was well informed and had good leadership. I especially liked participating in a project where the vast majority something like 12 of 16 volunteers were locals, well in this case Hondurans, so as it was foreigners in El Salvador but much more locals than us gringos." Steven Andrews / El Salvador - 2001

"This trip was definitely one of my best experiences. There are very few foreigners in Honduras and El Salvador. Most of them are volunteers. This is probably part of the reason why local People are so very friendly. It was very easy to strike a conversation with a fellow foreigner or a Honduracian. This created very open atmosphere, I felt like there were no ‘psychological' borders between people." Roman Torgovitsky - El Salvador - 2001

England

"The entire experience was probably the best in my life. There were 11 volunteers and we were working in pairs in several youth clubs in London. I spent half my time with the special needs group, kids with learning disabilities, and the other half with what the club called mainstream youth. The work was basically hanging out with the youths, and sometimes supervising them on trips. For example we went fruit-picking one day and to an amusement park another time. The kids were mildly interested about all of our [the volunteers'] lives but I think there were mostly excited to have people from outside the community to interact with because most of them had never (or rarely) spent time outside of their community in east London." Anastasia Kostrominova / England - 2005

"I had predicted that I would enjoy my two weeks at the Peace Centre, but I could not have predicted how well organized the Centre is or how well its staff would take care of the other international volunteers and me!" Kelly Maynard / England - 2004

"They are there to have fun and realize that there is even fun to be had! For many of the children, this may be the only holiday they experience in their childhood." Sabrina Aldridge / England - 2003

Estonia

“Overall it was an excellent camp. I would suggest any volunteer to participate in it. What made it so great was the director. She involved myself and the other volunteer in all aspects of the camp. Kaidi would translate anything and everything for us. She even translated a movie for us. Possibly the best director of all I have dealt with. She liked to play practical jokes. She will get exactly what she deserves next time!!! The teachers at the camp were very good and most spoke good English and did often for us. The kids were always kept busy with activities and learning. Kaidi insisted the children learn something daily. Good food was three times a day.” Tom Searl / Estonia - 2007

"When Maria smiled and held me after I finished my last work at the same time as usual, I was satisfied yet thought I did not want to leave my children there. I wish there would be more work camps for disabled children, so that I could have more children for me and come back to them someday." Megumi Iijima / Estonia - 2005

Finland

“As Marko, one of the work camp participants, put it, Kuusiluoto Island is a little piece of paradise. It takes three minutes to walk from one side to the other, but I feel that there have been so many memories made there in the short two weeks of the camp it could be a continent of small but beautiful moments shared by a dozen people. Each moment as vivid and gorgeous to me as the person that helped make it. It was one of the most valuable experiences of my life, if not the most”. Maria Degtiarenko / Finland - 2007

“My experience there was—and pardon my sounding like a Hallmark card—absolutely life changing. I have worked at addressing the issue of world peace and world hunger since I was in middle school. It has always been in the back of my mind and even since I was about 13, I knew that I would focus my entire life and career at making this world a better place (again, I apologize for the Hallmark card I seem to be writing.) I have even worked with groups on these issues outside of my state and even outside of the US before. Before Finland I had been to Philly, California, and Romania all in an attempt to work with other people who felt the same way I did and had the same hopes and aspirations. But there was something about doing it all in Finland that happened to make a greater impact on me. Perhaps it was the fact that I was the only American in a group of 15 campers and counselors. Maybe it was because I slept on the floor of an ancient train station turned into a Peace Station. Perhaps it was because I was traveling overseas alone for the first time. Or perhaps, and most likely, it was the timing in my life. I am 21 and about to enter my last year of college. Since day one at school I have been anxious to get out and actually do something in this world—do something for this world. As the college years crept by I began to panic at the realization that being a writing major does not bode well for a career in promoting peace (unfortunately, being a writing major doesn’t bode well for a career in anything.) Then I had the even greater panic attack at the realization that I wasn’t even sure there was a possibility for a career in the promotion of peace! But after spending two weeks with some of the most amazing people I believe I will ever meet, my worries were calmed.” Julianne Appleton / Finland – 2007

"It was amazing and wonderful. I found energy…I found many new friends…I found a growing respect for people of all kinds…I found a new lease on life for myself…and I found another spot on this globe where loving, caring people take time out of their lives to try and bring a little bit of harmony to this rapidly spinning world." Cliff Beyer / Finland - 2000

France

“It was also a very rewarding experience to work with the other international volunteers. Their idealism and energy kept the project interesting and dynamic. I formed many close friendships with people from all over the world; from Mexico to Korea, from Moscow to London to Lebanon. We all had more in common than one might have guessed; our common commitment to peace and pluralism opened the door for a common ground that made our differences important, but surmountable. Many of us formed very close bonds which will never fade.Through this experience I learned much about myself and my capabilities. Although I have traveled the United States extensively and held many different jobs, this is the first time I have completely left my 'comfort zone'; I went somewhere thousands of miles from friends and family, where no-one knew me, starting totally from scratch in a new situation. I had studied French assiduously before going to France, but I was unable to really communicate until I had the immersive experience. The social norms of physical contact, affection, and personal space are different there, and it took personal flexibility and adjustment to become comfortable in my new environment. However, I grew to love the people, the culture, and the environment in which I had placed myself. I became comfortable with the French language to the point where I can now go to a strange city and navigate alone, take the subway, shop, and talk to people in the street, all in my “new” language! Now that I know how rewarding it can be, and I have taken the first, most difficult step, I plan to volunteer for a new project every year, and am working to encourage volunteerism on my own time. I shall always carry and cherish the lessons I have learned, the friends I have made, and the discoveries I have made about my self.” Tim McKernan / France ~ 2007

"These workcamp experiences have all been absolutely wonderful (gee, I've used that word a lot!). I would (and have) recommend them to anyone with some flexibility and a sense of adventure as well as a desire to do some good in the world. (But best of all is what the experience does for the volunteer herself.) They are truly life broadening. And even though I am usually the oldest, and much older than most of the other volunteers, I always feel welcome and an integral part of the group. I am already contemplating my next, as well as dreaming of returning to Paris to see the garden in bloom!" Joanna Liss / France - 2005

"I participated in two of the teen workcamps in France this summer (one in Barbaira and the other in Bessines), and you connected me with the only other North-American participant for Barbaira, Tess from Colorado. In regards to all that, I would just like to say a very sincere THANK YOU for everything you and VFP have done. It was an absolutely amazing experience and a great segue into future volunteering for me. From Barbaira especially, I forged great friendships with people from so many different countries who I am still in frequent contact with. The volunteers not only enjoyed each others' company, but we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture of the village who were so involved they had dinner with us some nights! The animateurs/leaders (Franck and Jean-Marie) were intent on providing us the best experience in the village and France, we always had some exciting festival to go to or activity with the villagers to coordinate. I owe a lot of this camp's success to the leaders. In terms of the work we did, it was basic masonry and not too straining as you could choose the level of work you did. We worked in the forest of the Alaric mountain, and working only in the morning prevented us from dying in the Mediterranean sun!
One thing I would request for the vfp website is to specify that this camp was mainly in French instead of English as it says in the description. There was some translation in English, but the coordinators really only spoke French. This was fine for me, but some of the people who came (from Italy, Mexico) expected the camp to be run in English and had a hard time with the translation at times. That aside, this particular camp was fantastic and I am so grateful to VFP for helping me find it!" Amy Johnson / France - 2005

"The month I spent in France was probably one of the best months of my life. I really enjoyed working alongside volunteers of all different nationalities as well as with the inhabitants of the village. As I often mentioned to my friends at Gourgeon, I can think of no better way to travel than through a workcamp: I met wonderful people, got a workout, visited interesting local sites, built relationships, and constructed a wall as a symbol of international goodwill and cooperation." Mika Nagasaki / France - 2003

"…through your organization I participated in a workcamp outside of Paris, in a town called Roissy-en-Brie. I just wanted to write a quick note to thank you for facilitating the most wonderful experience I've had in my life. The camp was nothing like I expected but I got more out of it than I thought possible. It humbled and empowered me, taught me more about myself and others than I imagined, and introduced me to people who became my family. This was my first trip abroad and I couldn't have had a better experience or imagined doing it another way." Joy Jackson / France - 2003

Germany

"My stay in Passentin was from 19 June to 13 August 06. The leader of the Slavic museum-town where I volunteered was extremely nice and helpful; the other workers there were very nice as well. I was enthusiastic about helping the children groups which came; and learning about the various aspects of Slavic lifestyle of 1200 years ago; about learning the German language better - and the workers appreciated this, helping me find opportunities to help out and learn." Christopher Hunt / Germany - 2006

"I initially wanted this experience to meet international people, to explore a region of the world, to practice my German, to have fun and to volunteer. I came away with a better understanding of myself and of others, of current situations in the world, of the different realities facing many people at home, and of the goodness that exists so freely in young people across the world. It hurts very much to be exposed to people that have changed my outlook and perception of the world and then to have left them after only three weeks." Tanya Bindra / Germany - 2006

"When anyone asks me how my summer went, I can hardly contain my excitement as I smile and say, "AMAZING!" The experiences I had, friends I made, work accomplished, moments shared...everything was so great! Every day had some new adventure, and I loved spending time with such wonderful people who could make any activity, no matter how mundane, loads of fun. I'll never forget going grocery shopping for no fewer than 130 meals, riding the buses, cooking dinner, and of course, our work on the playground. Not only did we get to work with an extremely kind and wonderful group of construction workers, but we got the unique reward of seeing our efforts grow from under our hands. Seeing the children scream and laugh and above all help each other play in the playground we had built gave me one of the best feelings in the world. I think back on my trip with a smile in my heart and a feeling of pride and joy and gratitude. What I gained is immeasurable, from the friendships to the experiences to the lessons learned. I am so grateful to have gotten this chance." Susan Steinman / Germany - 2005

"…something else happened to me which was amazing. As a Jew, I have always had a problem with Germany and with Germans. Now I realized this was stupid. This is not Nazi Germany, these are not militant people. My prejudice was ill-founded and it hung on. For this reason I decided to go to Germany and settle this account with myself. I did not really discuss it with anyone, it was my problem and my business. I worked with Germans, I talked with Germans, I walked the streets of Dresden and felt the pain and the culture of the city. And I worked on an old farmhouse which had been badly hurt by the flood of 2002. And I emerged a different person…a woman who no longer harbors those old feelings and anger. And I am very pleased about my new feelings.
Connie (our leader) was amazing. This was a life-changing experience for me and I want to do it again." Jessica Rains / Germany - 2005

Ghana

"All the Ghanaian volunteers were the best, and I would recommend VOLU just for the people alone. Every volunteer was friendly, fun and genuinely excited to show a foreigner around. Whenever we left the village to do some exploring, a Ghanaian almost always came with us to ensure we had a guide and assistant if we needed it (I can not tell you how nice this was when it came time to figure out what bus I needed to take to get home). The Ghanaian volunteers also made it their duty to tell me of Ghanaian traditions, history, politics and life. Some of my favorite times at camp occurred when the work was all done and I was able to sit down and talk to a Ghanaian volunteer about life and culture." Josh Serfass / Ghana - 2004

"I experienced a truly different way of life. I gained a broader understanding of the world. I lived without running water for a month. The Ghanaians have a beautiful culture and such rich traditions…The strong belief in the importance of their ancestors, I found to be something lacking in America." Barak Bar / Ghana - 2003

"I was challenged physically and mentally on this trip, and for this I know I am a stronger individual now. I have made friends and had experiences that I will cherish for a long time and surely never forget." Jaye Blakely / Ghana - 2003

Greece

“As a work camp, our most obvious accomplishment was the complete physical transformation of the school and the thorough cleaning of two beaches. However, I believe the most rewarding feat was developing a profound mutual respect for each other, allowing us to become a very tight-knit family. We came as fifteen very different people from nine different countries, but by sharing our cultures, languages, and views, we became one cohesive group. This was helped by the honest, open-minded environment that our camp leaders encouraged. Never in my life have I bonded with so many people in so little time and to such a degree; even the veterans among us (some of my peers had already participated in four other work camps) expressed surprise at the level of familiarity and friendship we achieved.” Haotian Cai / Greece ~ 2007

"I just spent the past two weeks (May 29 - June 11) at a workcamp in Athens (GreCvg16-05) and I would like to provide some feedback regarding the camp as well as thank VFP for helping to facilitate what was in many ways a truly awesome experience. Independent of the location and work, the camp itself, by uniting an international group of individuals with diverse perspectives and personalities (yet all motivated by a desire to volunteer) made the trip extremely worthwhile. I doubt that in any other setting could I have formed such close and interesting friendships in such a short period of time." James Maguire / Greece - 2005

"After graduation from college I decided that this was the time in my life to take a chance and do something that would serve to improve the lives of others. I found out about Volunteers for Peace and chose the Amvrakia camp because the work sounded interesting and the location sounded amazing. When the camp description said "a small mountain village," they really meant it! For about two weeks ten other volunteers from around the world and I got to experience what it was like to truly live like a Greek. The people in the village were some of the nicest people I have ever met, they all went out of their way to welcome us with open arms and plenty of food! We stayed in the old schoolhouse of the village and the living conditions were definitely very basic, but none of us really minded it. We spent most of our time outside, either working, sitting around talking or going on hikes around the mountainside. I am pleased to say that my favorite part of the experience was the people I met and the friends I was lucky enough to make. I have never before experienced anything quite like being around ten people whose first language was not English. It was amazing the things we learned about each other and how quickly our preconceived notions were completely erased. We all formed a bond that I know will stand the test of time and distance. All of the volunteers were there to make a difference and I feel very fortunate to have shared this experience with such a kind, caring group of individuals." Erin Walley / Greece - 2005

"Honestly, it was the best experience of my life. I made memories and friends during my camp that will last a lifetime." Kristina Karavatos / Greece - 2003

"My heart sings at the memory of my group, the Kelesidis family and my rich experience in Giannakahori. I believe that for everyone involved in the work camp it was a profound experience. We learned about ourselves, about the group, the Greek culture and agriculture. Thank you for providing the opportunity to take part in such an incredible experience." Effie Elfer / Greece - 2002

"John Coleman, who was in charge of the project, deserves a lot of credit for all the things that we learnt during our stay and, without him, the workcamp would have been certainly less interesting. He is a Professor at Cornell University. He teaches in the Department of Classic Studies and he wanted to share his knowledge with us. Thus, he managed to organize short lessons on Greek language and Greek history. He also explained to us how the city was born, developed and died. It made it even more exciting to work on the archeological site because suddenly, the site had a life on its own that we could imagine and understand a little bit better. With regard to the food and the accommodation, I must admit that I have never eaten so well in my entire life!! It was simply fabulous" Sylvia Biss / Greece - 2000

Guatemala

"Overall, this turned out to be a wonderful and educational experience. Perhaps the best part was the education of being "thrown together" with eight other people that, on the surface, I had nothing in common with, and getting to know them and learn about their culture, and seeing how beautifully we were able to get along and support each other despite our very different backgrounds. This was something that I would recommend, and one that I am eager to experience again." Sydney Long / Guatemala - 2002

Haiti

My first day in Haiti, as we had just arrived and were all sitting down to dinner, a girl who had been staying there for about 2 months began excitedly telling us stories of her trip. Some of them were exhilarating. Some of them were depressing. But she said one thing that never left my mind for the rest of my stay there: “It is a depressing situation, but there is a lot you can do by doing very little.” And I went on to find out just how true this was. The Haitian people have a spirit and energy that I could not begin to describe with words. Over the three weeks I was there, it sunk into me slowly and I realized, after the trip was over, that there was not a moment after that first day I was there that I was ever angry or afraid. For some reason, these emotions had simply escaped my body. As for the organization itself – the people who run it are saints, and I feel as though even though I was only there for 3 weeks, I now have a home away from home. The kindness and hospitality from not only the people we stayed with, but also their friends and other housemates were amazing. And because they were so connected and involved in their community, we were able to see and do things most Westerners wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience: visiting a local orphanage, participating in a Voodoo ceremony, getting to see a boxing match, etc. We engaged in a language exchange with some school kids, and were able to learn some Creole while making a friend at the same time. You could probably guess this from all I’ve written so far, but it was the best 3 weeks of my life, and even though I’ve been home for 2 weeks now, my heart is still in Haiti. It affected my life, not in the way I would have expected, as a sudden, profound experience. But instead, it seeped into me, left some kind of permanent impression that I didn’t know was there until I walked off the plane in Miami and saw the way I lived. It was an amazing experience. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Brian Dunlap / Haiti ~ 2007

"I just returned from a work camp in Haiti and it was the most exciting, inspiring, and fun two weeks of my life. I learned a great deal about Haitian culture and history, ate authentic Haitian meals, and was able to hear about and witness myself many of the struggles that the people there are presently tackling. It is so easy to get discouraged when in Haiti, seeing its current state. However, our group was extremely fortunate to meet two incredible people, Yoleine Gataeu and James Philemy of Neges Foundation, whose hands-on and practical approach to education, medicine, and the overall betterment of the community of Leogane, serve as a shining example to anyone who feels overwhelmed or unsure of where to start in helping Haiti." Megan Fojtik / Haiti - 2006

"In conclusion, this trip was a challenge, both physically and mentally. It was also a fantastic learning experience. The Haitian civilisation is rich in history, with influences from Spain, France, and Africa, which make it such a unique country. I met amazing people from different backgrounds, each with different opinions and I am richer for it. I have never seen a group of disparate individuals bond so well and so quickly, in situations that were naturally foreign to us. I began this adventure wondering if it was for me, and how I would react. It is the best experience I have ever had, and one that I will never forget. My gratitude and respect goes out to those who made it possible, and who continue to strive every day to create opportunities for people who don't have them. You all have a wealth of ambition and are exemplary because of it." Anthony Wintheiser / Haiti - 2006

"My life has changed and the outcome is that I am a better person because of this experience, now even more willing to give of my life to help others in need." Monica Jensen / Haiti - 2006

Honduras

"My time was spent with about 40 other volunteers. Except for me, a woman from Nicaragua and a man from Ecuador, all of the volunteers were from Honduras…Honduras is a beautiful country. Much of it is clearly untouched so many of its natural resources have not been tapped into. All of the people I met were incredibly friendly, eager to help and befriend an American whose Spanish isn't all that great…It was an experience of a lifetime and something I recommend for everyone who is up for adventure and has an interest in helping others." Alicia Sussman / Honduras - 2002

Hungary

"My work camp experience taught me to slow down and listen to the strongest voice inside of myself. I also experienced being a part of a group in a whole new way. All of the trials that we went through in our work camp group brought us so close together. It was a unique bonding experience. The work camp was challenging in the highest way. I really found myself aware of the path I want to choose in life. I felt like I had been sleeping for years and I had just become awake. It was truly life-altering." Mary Elizabeth Schuring / Hungary - 1998

Iceland

“Doing international volunteer work is a perfect way for me to travel, because I loved meeting people from all over the world while getting to know a country and culture with more depth than you can achieve as a tourist.” Bronwyn Steinberg / Iceland ~ 2007

"The Hvammstangi camp was very well organized. The generosity of the local community was impressive. I truly enjoyed the interaction with the local community and the activities. The local organizer, Arnot (works for the community of Hvammstangi), was excellent. I would strongly recommend this camp to other volunteers." Dawn Murphy / Iceland - 2006

"What a great experience. Would you believe a town of 1500 people serves free food to 40,000 at their fish festival. They do not even allow any vendors at their festival unless they are giving away their food. We worked with the school children who work in the summer at "work school" to make the town beautiful for the festival. The Thursday and Friday before the festival the 16 volunteers packaged 40,000 fish portions in aluminum foil to be grilled. We worked with three of the most famous chefs in Iceland who, yes volunteered their time to the festival. I enjoyed working at a festival because we were working with the local Icelandic people and developed friendships with them." Patricia Nauman / Iceland - 2006

"… all the volunteers in our group got along with each other. You would always see huge groups of us doing all the activities together, whether it was hanging out in the kitchen playing games (cards, or famous people on sticky notes on the head, etc.) There was always a new fun game to keep us "energized". We would be seen up late every night hanging out. I even learned how to speak some Japanese! It was so cool. I spent so much time learning about other people. The camp leaders had a lot of fun games for us to play! And they arranged for a few night activities as well. We would often go to the Hot Springs to hang out after a day of work. We rented cars and drove to the Blue Lagoon, we hiked up Mount Esja. It was so cool.We went out both Saturday nights too. I was so sad to leave everyone behind. But we made envelopes a few days before we left with our names on them and everyone wrote plane notes to read on the plane rides home. It was really touching. The whole experience was amazing, and I can't wait to go somewhere new next year!!" Suzanne Lak / Iceland - 2006

"My camp was in Patreksfjordur in the West Fjords region, and it was the most amazing trip I have ever taken!! We worked on rebuilding and marking old hiking trails in the isolated village, and we were so lucky to work in such a beautiful and dramatic natural environment. There were huge cliffs, gorgeous beaches, and endless lava landscapes that took my breath away. And I was so happy to meet 13 other like-minded young people from Europe and to share this experience with them! I made friends that will last a lifetime and I will never ever forget this trip. Thank you so much for your work to make these opportunities available to people like me!!!" Elizabeth Gwin / Iceland - 2005

"The leader of our camp was terrific and went out of his way to provide us with opportunities outside of the work environment. We also met an amazing Icelandic man who paid for us to all go to the blue lagoon and around numerous other Icelandic sights; by and large, the people we worked with were very kind and incredible, I will miss them greatly. The work we did differed a lot from the job description, which said that we would be cleaning and creating hiking paths and various other jobs. We planted trees every day (7 of us planted 18,000 of them!) which is obviously a terrific thing to do, but it felt very tedious after oh, about 10,000. Overall, though, I was very happy with the work we did, even though it was difficult." Raphaela Levy-Moore / Iceland - 2005

India

“My experience with FSL was something I will surely never forget. The people and culture of India is absolutely amazing and something that can not be explained in words. Joy and Dinesh went out of their way on many occasions to make our India experince the most it could be. I would recommend FSL and VFP for anyone looking to explore India in a way that it off the beaten tourist path. Thank you for helping me to achieve this experience.” Nick Wilson / India ~ 2007

"working together is the only way were ever going to make it in this world. We have to stop thinking "I" and start thinking "us". We are all in this together." Bradly Snow / India - 2005

"I don't think I have ever, in my entire life, had such a gratifying experience as I had in Kundapur, India in the FSL workcamp…it was not the kids that made me completely lose it twice a day and run outside to wipe my eyes and take a step back; it's the conditions in which they live. This house, the "school" looked straight out of the television commercials- "can you help this child?"- you know the ones. Dirty floors and unsanitary 'toilets.' The kids all have lice (and I got it, too) and terrible sores all over their bodies. There are four Indian women, the "caregivers," but they refuse to touch the kids, and so the ones that can't move, well, don't. No hugs, no smiles, they just bring the food out when it's time and then go back to chatting with each other. The last volunteers painted the walls and drew some murals, which really helped. They also gave them some clothes and toys yesterday, but they weren't there today- we think the caregivers stole them. You can't judge them, though, they are poor women with children of their own and they see it just as a way to make money for their family- in a way, there're just as miserable and merit having some volunteers at their houses, too! Still, though, they could TOUCH the children for the love of god. They're human!!…FSL is a budding organization with some excellent ideas. A promise was made to us that there would from now on be a volunteer at the Jahpti house, and I hope that promise is upheld. I wouldn't trade my time in Kundapur for anything, and I look forward to beginning my next camp in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in a month. Thank you for granting me this exceptional opportunity to make a difference." Lizzie Rushing / India - 2005

"Volunteering in India was absolutely amazing. I did the tsunami relief through FSL India in Tamil Nadu. I did not feel that two weeks was enough time for me to really make much of a difference, but I was able to experience many aspects if the tsunami relief in the villages surrounding Karaikal where we stayed. The first work that I did was to participate in meetings with women's groups, the language gap was frustrating - but I learned a lot from these meetings. I also participated in the Cash for Work Program where we helped dig irrigation canals in two different villages; this was probably my favorite work because not only did I enjoy the physical labor and the fact that it was clear that I was making a difference. Also we had a lot of contact with the villagers; in one village we danced and played games with the kids on our lunch break, and in another we were surrounded by children all day, and also made friends with a family who invited us to a function at their home - quite a great experience. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming, and despite the language barriers I felt like we had some interesting and at times amusing dialogues. I also helped out in childcare centers, with boat building, and with painting the temporary shelters. Some days were more productive than others, but overall it was a great experience, all of the volunteers were wonderful people and our group leaders were kind and very helpful." Samantha Goresh / India - 2005

"This was my first work camp experience, and it was unique, powerful, and incredibly rewarding. Not only were the projects that were available to the volunteers relevant and important, but the manner in which they were implemented were thoughtful and collaborative. At this particular camp, a volunteer could select from a range of options; from working at an orphanage, to construction and painting projects, to medical camps, to infrastructure development. One of the most compelling and impressive components of the experience was the incredible variety of volunteers from all over the world - I felt honored to be working with them. Some of the challenges of the work camp included learning to live with several other people in tight quarters, and overcoming unexpected obstacles in daily activities. Generally speaking, however, I think it was important to adopt a lifestyle that was similar to those of the communities we were trying to serve. I cannot stress enough what an integral and important role VFP played in my decision to participate and the effectiveness of the organization's approach to worldwide service. By partnering with local organizations rather than establishing on-the-ground operations of its own, VFP enables volunteers to participate at a considerably reduced cost, meanwhile maximizing the efficiency of the actual programs. I am grateful to have had this experience, and feel confident that it is something I will remember for the rest of my life as one of the most important things I've done." Kristy Milligan / India - 2005

"As this program continues to grow, they will need more and more volunteers. I cannot stress enough how effective this place is at directly appealing and education the children of the lowest social class. The struggle in this area of the country remains significant- Keshava has seen violence in the past, and his neighbor was murdered many years ago for being sympathetic. Fortunately, the area newspapers are aligned with Spoorthi, providing much needed assistance. Further support can come with more and more foreigners visiting this remarkable village. I was so taken at how righteous Spoorthi was that I made a significant financial contribution before saying goodbyes. It is my sincere hope to return to Kundapora, though next time with a video camera to record Keshava's struggle for a just homeland. I would heartily encourage more volunteers to spend at least two weeks in this exceptional camp- an effective and encouraging use of one's time." Neil Routman / India - 2005

"As I write today, I've been back home for almost a week now; butI still smell the spices in the air, hear the kids laugh, see the rickshaws run all over the place... India has entered my heart and I feel it won't leave any time soon. As far as the teachingexperience with the children, that wasa life-changing one for me. Again, I got so much more than what I gave, and I'm already planning on doing another camp during my next vacation time from work. " Tullia Calcagnille / India - 2005

"This road trip was an incredible learning experience, where I not only gained knowledge about the environmental state of India and the Ganges River, but had the opportunity to talk to people I would never have otherwise have had a chance to talk to. I made connections with people from all over the world, gained experience in public speaking, practiced my French, and explored a country that is deeply a part of me. Gaining the opportunity to explore a country and her people without feeling too much of an outsider was great. I felt as though this trip has transformed me as an individual, but ultimately it was the change that we did (even though perhaps only a small change) has made me whole and feel confident that anything, really, is truly possible." Colleen MacPherson / India - 2005

Ireland

“This summer I decided to do a volunteer vacation and after a lot of research chose Cuisle from Volunteers for Peace. Before I left I was nervous because I did not know quite what to expect. I am extremely relieved and happy to say that I made the best decision this summer by choosing both the Cuisle program in Ireland as well as to go through VFP. Everyone was accommodating, helpful, and more than friendly. I would definitely participate in another volunteer project”. Debi Ledoux / Ireland – 2007

"I just wanted you let you know that the camp in Newry, North Ireland was excellent. The people in charge were great to work with and had great things planned for us to do with the kids. We got to go kayaking, the Dublin Zoo, and pier jumping after a beautiful walk threw the mountains. The leaders even organized a day trip for the volunteers to see the country side and learn more about the struggles of North Ireland." Christopher Barnhill / Ireland - 2005

"Our group had 2 volunteers from Belgium, 2 from Ireland, 2 from America (including myself), 1 from Italy and 1 from Morocco. The people who managed the center where we worked were amazing. They tended to all of our needs and opened their hearts to us. There couldn't have been nicer people for whom to work. They definitely added to making the volunteer experience that much more enjoyable." Karin Sandmel / Ireland - 2003

"In short, I think the community made every effort to make us comfortable and to supply our needs. I would go back to Ballytobin in "flash." A HUGE thank you for all that you and VFP does. I continue to recommend to many that they connect with you for a new and wonderful experience. Nell Rodgers / Ireland - 2003

Israel

"The workcamp for me was a great experience. It was my first workcamp and my first time overseas. I did not really know what to expect, but found the workcamp to be a wonderful time. The organization did a great job of organizing the camp and more importantly (for me) educating the participants about the conflict in Israel/Palestine, in particular the plight of the Palestinians who live within Israel. It was really an eye-opening experience for me. The arab people embraced the entire camp and treated us with the utmost hospitality. They were always willing to host anyone and discuss the realities of being an Arab in Israel. For me this was a critical part of the trip. I got to hear their stories first hand and experience a little bit of them they were retold. This really gave the conflict a human face." Jimmy Wells / Israel - 2005

Italy

“After these two experiences, I plan on participating in workcamps every year. I can’t think of a better way to travel, meet newe people and work for a good cause. It is amazing on how your outlook on the world can change when you have friends that live in every corner.” Angela Speece / Italy ~ 2007

"My trip to Naples made me feel like I was changing the world for the better even if I was just making a difference in one small elementary school in one small suburb in one small part of the planet. My trip has helped me make major decisions about my career path and I will be signing up for child development classes in the near future at our local community college to become a teacher. In addition I have contacted an Italian tutor to begin learning more advanced Italian language skills. I have kept in touch with some of the tutors and spoken to them about coming back and working at the same camp with the same kids." Gina Luz / Italy - 2006

"I went to renovate a fountain but found a threshold from a 4th century (or before) sacred temple. The fountain was a meagerdrip that came out of a pipe underneath a road. But in previouscenturies (through the 17th century) women gathered water from that spring and walked into the woods where a centuries old altar poked its way out of the forest. They rubbed the water on their breasts so they would have good milk for their babies. On the first day the volunteers from VFP and their participating country's groups, saw only the two large stones surrounded by rubble. There were volunteers from Turkey ,Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, France, and Canada. Fourteen of us all together, three women in their late 50's and 60's…..the rest were between the ages of 18 and 23. We worked hard with pick axes, trowels, hands and fingers. We sat in the dirt day after day, supervised by two archaeologists from Pescara, and dug that temple and a subsequent medieval church, out of the rubble. We found large pieces of Roman Columns, a threshold, bits of pottery and glassn and door entrances. There was a lot of excitement because we unearthed more than they expected. The mayor of the little 300 person town of Abbateggio came often. The photographer from Pescara came. An important archaeoligist who fairly quivered with excitement. The head of the Pescara museum dug with us. And we kept digging. And that was fabulous. The rest was problematic. Things were not really well planned in terms of getting us around. There was never enough transportation. When there was, it was late...very late. When my friend and I arrived in the nearby town after traveling for two days to get there, we were not picked up for two hours. One evening we were told there was a folk festival in nearby San Valentino but the head of our group said she had no idea how we would get there or back! We had too much free time……the kids loved that. They partied until 3:00 every morning and then almost fell over in the dirt the next day while digging. The mix of older (!) and young was not a problem. The hours were. The kid's hours were different than ours…the music blared into the night. The food was pasta and more pasta. No protein! We were housed in a preschool and everything was little……..for 4 year olds…..including the toilets! The less said about that the better. The town was superb. Little streets dotted with old people after the hot sun went down. No restaurant, no little store. Outside the town at the top of a hill was a little bar and a little shop where you could buy a few items. We were certainly made to feel welcome by the village people, the adorable 36year old mayor, the vice mayor, the young Italians on their scooters. This was the first year for this Legambiente work camp. Maybe they can iron out the kinks next year." Jessica Rains / Italy - 2006

"I got to see places and meet people that I otherwise wouldn't have. I felt like an ambassador of sorts, as some of the people I was with had never spent time with an American before. As always, I learned a lot, both about myself and others, and I'm already looking forward to next year." Lina Lenberg / Italy - 2006

"I took part in the the work camp ItaLeg60-04 in Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Italy in August. The workcamp was a great experience - I met some friends I'll keep indefinitely, and I have wonderful memories that I'll treasure. Aside from bonding during work, we also were able to teach each other our native languages, and enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains together. Volunteer work camps are definitely something that I'll keep in mind in the future when I have time off school! I'm glad that I spent my vacation this way." Eric DeGiuli / Italy - 2004

"My workcamp experience was one of the most satisfying and certainly unique experiences in my life…" Judy Merchant / Italy - 2004

Japan

"This workcamp has been fantastic, I have made new friends from all over the world and had the time of my life. Again, I am so thankful for the VFP program. It is affordable and an awesome program. Thanks a lot!!!" Andrew Weiss / Japan - 2004

"I will not forget the great kindness that was shown to me and fellow volunteers no matter where we went and who we met. The generosity of the Japanese is world famous, and now I know why. A beautiful people they are indeed." Roger Persad / Japan - 2004

"I'm convinced that if more people took the time and energy to learn about the rest of the world, there would be more peace and less votes for those who enjoy keeping the war engine going." Jeremy Benhammou / Japan - 2003

Jordan

"The work camp in Jordan in June was an incredible experience. There were 4 of us including the work camp leader Amir and we were at the orphanage helping in painting the railings to the stairs and playing with the orphan children about 5 days a week. All of us got on with each other really well even though we came from different backgrounds. One guy is from the States, another lady from Greece and I'm from Singapore. It was an interesting mix of culture and minds. We had a chance to understand more about the local culture, religion and traditions by having a chance to speak to the headmistress of the orphanage and her daughter. Another interesting event was that we got invited to Amir's cousin's wedding. I had a chance to witness a traditional Muslim wedding where the men and women were separated in different rooms. In the rooms where the women were, some of them took of their headscarf and shapeless black gown to reveal a stunning beauty. They literally let their hair down and danced. We were invited to join them in the middle of the room full of Arab ladies to dance their traditional dance. Natasha- the other volunteer from Greece and I were the only foreigners in the room but we had an amazing time cheering, clapping and dancing." Janice Njoo / Jordan - 2005

"I had a wonderful time in Jordan and would go again in a heartbeat. I felt totally safe and more immersed in the local culture than any other time I have been abroad. There was a good balance between work and play and plenty of opportunities for us to experience the country in ways tourists can't. The work at the orphanage was about what I expected. We painted and had a little time to converse with the children. Perhaps the most important consequence of the camp was the effect of the amount of conversation we had with the locals concerning world affairs. I truly believe that sending young Americans there affects the view many of the locals hold about our country in general." Dylan Kytola / Jordan - 2005

Kenya

“The school children were obviously the best part of the program. From the first day they saw us, their stares were also a sign of apprehension. But that soon passed and their wonder and amazement towards us was refreshing. They were so full of life and spirit amidst some of their situations. Seeing them every single day made me feel as if they were a part of my family. They even bestowed upon me a nickname, “Black America.” For them is was so hard to believe that Black people, like myself, existed outside of Africa.” Romaine Charles / Kenya – 2007

"I participated in a ‘Volunteers for Peace' work-camp during March 2006 and had a fantastic experience. The 3-week long camp was organized through a Kenyan organization called the Centre for International Voluntary Services. The twelve participants in the camp came from around the world - Australia, Germany, Japan, Kenya, and myself from Canada. Together we worked with various groups in a small community that was five hours north of Nairobi (and had a breath-taking view of Mount Kenya!). We worked with several women's groups, assisting them with farming tasks such as planting passion fruit trees, harvesting corn, spraying pesticides on coffee plants, and feeding animals. In addition, we worked with three elementary schools, teaching and helping students. The camp also offered an excellent opportunity to learn about Kenyan culture, by allowing us to freely interact with local community members on a daily basis.

The leader of the camp was very open-minded and flexible, and allowed and even encouraged us to contribute ideas and opinions. We had the opportunity to assist in the preparation of the camp's daily work schedule, and to plan weekend activities together.

Our accommodation was clean and comfortable, and I felt safe and secure at all times. All participants contributed to the preparation of meals, which allowed us to learn about Kenyan cuisine (which is delicious!). My experience with Volunteers for Peace and the Centre for International Voluntary Services was unforgettable and humbling!" Laura Swift / Kenya - 2006

"I wanted to express my gratitude for your organization and helping me accomplish this amazing dream. I could not have asked for a better workcamp experience, it was all I wanted and more. I know 3 weeks is a short time but it truely changed my life. It was very hard work, but working along side widows, other volunteers and other Kenyans to build an orphanage gave me the best feeling I have ever had…..I had the time of my life and will forever be a better person because of it. Now that I have been to Kenya and seen how generous and amazing the people are there I can never turn my back on them and it will forever be in my heart."

You don't need to be rich to be generous, gracious and inspiring I learnt that happiness comes not from money but from within your Heart.

Simplicity contains the most beauty in life and life isn't about possessions, but about possession and distributing love and togetherness.

Even if two people do not speak the same language they can always express love and thanks.

One vision is enough to bring 2 worlds together as one.

Two hands, 3 hands always make work lighter and people rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing

Children are impressionable, but they are also the most resilient creatures on earth,

Children don't need fancy toys or even shoes to have fun but give them a ball and some string and they will laugh for hours.

I learnt that mountains might not meet but people do and it takes more than a mountain or an ocean to wash away your love.

Superiority fosters fear and hate but interaction leads to communication and intertwined. It is possible to live a life genuinely helping the lives of those in need.

No one is useless in this world that lightens the burden of another.

And the most important thing I learnt from Africa was to lend a hand and show your care, if you make even the slightest impression on one person's life is to make all the difference in the world and much more!! Amanda Donnell / Kenya - 2005

"I wouldn't change my experience in Kenya for the world. To construct a school literally from the ground up is a rewarding challenge for a most just cause. It is important for the people in Kenya to recognize the needs of future generations. Through our hard work we showed the people of the community what it means to work together and go forward. To leave this camp again was very sentimental knowing that all these people will remember the people that helped build their school. As it was many people there had remembered the last volunteers from 1992. More and more I realize that surely I can not change the world alone, but together we can make an impact. I would leave here asking God to look after all of the friends I had made there." Kirk Chauncey / Kenya - 2005

Latvia

"Wow. All I can say is that my two weeks in Latvia were amazing. I have only wonderful positive things to say about my experiences. I highly recommend this program to anyone who might be interested. If I won a million dollars today I would volunteer all year long." Vanessa Larsen / Latvia - 2003

"The children are etched in my heart and will be in my memory the rest of my living days. Three weeks of living with so many other nationalities gave me information and insight that could never have been taught to me in a book! I truly enjoyed it even though it was challenging at times! I had a remarkable experience and appreciate VFP and what it stands for." Mary Kay Fallbeck / Latvia - 2001

Lithuania

"It was an enriching experience in so many ways. The reason for making this trip with VFP was to truly experience the country and not just be a tourist. By living and working in Kaunas I was able to eat the local foods, some even grown in our garden, live the daily lifestyle of hand-washing clothes, cooking local foods (without a microwave!) and working in the church and garden using simple tools. The added plus was living with other work study people from other countries and building our own sense of community under the guidance of Juras our leader." Ruth Anderson / Lithuania - 2004

"…provided great experiences and introduced me to countless good people. It will not be an experience I will forget. I will likely do workcamp in the future because of this." Prashant Goel / Lithuania - 2003

Madagascar

"I'd be happy to serve as a reference for anyone thinking of going to Madagascar. There was only 1 other volunteer (She was Italian) that joined my program. However, the NGO had another volunteer program that attracted several French college-age students. Our paths crossed every now and then. Most of the other volunteers were dissatisfied with the NGO because they felt they were not doing enough real, meaningful work themselves. I think this is a common problem with volunteering in 3rd world countries. There is no lack of skilled and unskilled labor, but there is a lack of money for materials and other hard costs. The reality is that volunteers are needed for the money they provide, and in exchange they receive the experience of life in a foreign land and the feeling of being a goodwill ambassador. I think volunteers working in very poor countries need to understand this before making the trip. Volunteers do not perform any service that is not readily available. Volunteers simply fund the projects and the NGOs organize them. I had a great time and I was thrilled to be where I was and interacting with the people I met. It was a disappointment to be surrounded by grouchy, disappointed volunteers brimming with complaints." Annie Jarvis / Madagascar - 2005

Malawi

"I would definitely recommend both VFP and AYISE Malawi to individuals interested in volunteering ONLY if they are aware that they may be the only non-local volunteer (and this should be emphasized greatly). Despite a lot of ups and downs, I had an amazing experience." Shelley Soong/ Malawi - 2006

Mexico

“I went primarily to learn about turtles, help save them, and have a cross-cultural experience. All of these goals were met, though I probably learned less about turtles academically since my Spanish was not fluent. The experience was extraordinary though and catching eggs from a mother turtle as she lays them is something I won’t easily forget. I am really glad that I went on this expedition and am eager to sign up for another at the earliest opportunity! Thank you for making it possible for people to do global volunteer work on a limited budget. It is definitely work worth doing!” Sarah Stapleton / Mexico ~ 2007

"Most importantly, I learned the way of living from people who have different backgrounds and the way of thinking. I learned from others and taught them of my way of living. I felt a great sense of joy when I taught them some cultural backgrounds and basic expressions of my language, Korean and learned from their language and cultures. We could build a real friendship by exchanging our own cultures and languages. We were all the ambassadors of their own countries. Now, back to routine life, I feel much more refreshed than any moment in my life before and I am ready to live in a different way. I strongly recommend this camp for the people who need a break so that they can get energy from people and live with refreshed mind." Young Jae Jeon / Mexico - 2006

"Casa de la Imaginacion has endless possibilities for creativity, cultural education, and team building. The children are an inspiration as is the village of Yelapa." Dana Gregg / Mexico - 2006

"I really appreciate how VFP and VIVE give an opportunity to the young to share and do something for a better world .Bravo." Jean-junior Montout / Mexico - 2006

"For the February 2005 Turtle Camp, volunteers from Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Holland, England, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and the United States, united with teams of local volunteers from the nearby village of Colola, to promote the survival of sea turtles. …the Turtle Camp was a small action to increase the chances of survival of animals that are under threat of extinction. It also was a help to the economy of the village of Colola, and a boon to renew their enthusiasm for their rare natural treasure. It also provided an opportunity for volunteers from many nations to gain knowledge of and respect for turtles, Mexico, and the other nations from which the other volunteers came." Ross Studler / Mexico - 2005

"The conditions were not what the West is used to (for example most houses didnt have running water) but that did not bother me at all. The workcamp was set in a tiny village in Michoacan, Mexico close to the monarch butterfly reserve. Our project was to paint the workshop (interior and exterior) which we accomplished. On some days, we also worked with the ladies to print notebooks. The workshop was set up by a graphics professor from the city to give the locals the means to produce souvenirs for the tourists that come to see the butterflies. It's a way for the people to be in touch with their natural resources and have more appreciation for the reserve and surrounding area, some of which is on their common shared land. He hopes it will give them a little extra income and strengthen the community awareness to help fight problems such as illegal logging. The group of volunteers was pretty small, only 7 and the leader, but overall we got along well. The local people we stayed with were really wonderfull, and I had a lot of fun talking with them and playing with the kids, which were just precious, very friendly and curious and eager to help us. We had dances and parties and walks around the area. On one of the walks we even had a spontaneous clean up of the path. The place was just beautifull, in the foothills of the mountains and the view was superb. Plus I learned how to make tortillas and make cheese from fresh milk! During two of the weekends we had field trips to some other sights and towns (such as the colonial city of Morelia, Patzcuaro and pre-Aztec ruins). I'm really glad I participated in this workcamp, and definatelly the best part was the interaction with the people! Viva Mexico!" Simona Rosu / Mexico - 2005

"a tremendous journey and a life-changing experience." Danielle Dineen / Mexico - 2005

Mongolia

"Overall, the Mongolia camp I attended was a fantastic experience. The local coordinator, Baatar, was very attentive to the volunteers' needs and did his best to ensure that we all had a positive experience. I am extremely pleased that I chose to participate in this camp and I hope that I am able to attend another camp in Mongolia in the future." Dawn Murphy / Mongolia - 2006

"My VFP experience, at an orphans camp in Outer Mongolia, was not only rewarding -as a true, one of a kind experience- but enriching. This volunteer opportunity provided me with new, international friendships, a learning and teaching experience, and many heart-warming memories. Under the given circumstances, the children were fantastic. Everyday they were fully willing to participate in organized games and English lessons, both of which were organized by volunteers. The games were organized by six French Scouts -who were terrific- before and after morning and afternoon tea. These games (mini-olympics, octopus, frisbee, dodgeball etc..) were highly successful and greatly missed after their departure. My sister, mother, and myself (Canadians) were responsible for the English lessons held each day. As well, there was a young American girl -also associated with VFP- who assisted us. There were 3 lessons each day; a boys, girls, and advanced class. The food and accommodation was harsh, but livable. My group had the privilege of mattresses, while the French had to make do with odd spring sets. As well, the rooms proved to get very cold at night.. However, they did provide a roof over our heads and a quiet environment! Washing also proved difficult, as there was little water in the stream.. For a short while, there was also a water shortage and I quickly grew sick of salty tea and milk. But at the end of the day it was all worthwhile, as a one of a kind, unforgettable experience." Emma Houston / Mongolia - 2005

"…the workcamp was an amazing experience. One thing that did surprise me was how sad I was to say goodbye on the last day. Even though the camp was only two weeks long, I became very engaged with the future of the children and the country. It sounds trite, but it truly changed the way I look at the world and my role in it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in this program! So many volunteer programs are prohibitively expensive. Please keep doing what you're doing, giving people on a budget a way to serve!" James Brennan / Mongolia - 2005

"Entering the work camp on the first day I was slightly overwhelmed by the thought of working on a farm with 15 teenage boys for two weeks. What would the work be like? Would the kids be more than I could handle? How will I remember all of these names? I hoped for the best, unloaded all of my things, and before I knew it I was in the middle of a Frisbee game, a soccer match, and wrestle mania. At that moment I knew it was going to be a really great experience. As the days passed, everyone at the camp got to know each other and I became comfortable with this new way of living. We all worked hard in the morning and evening, yet there was enough free time for us to really get to know all of the children and other volunteers. My favorite memories of the work camp involve spending time with the children in the field, singing traditional songs every evening, having dinner with the other volunteers, and taking part in activities such as birthday parties and sporting events. After the work camp was finished and the volunteers returned to the city, a small group of us visited the actual orphanage to say a final goodbye to the children we had shared the past two weeks of our lives with. While there, we were greeted warmly by dozens of children who benefited from our hard work and my eyes were opened to the difference we had made while on the farm. I am very proud of my efforts, and I look forward to having more opportunities like this in the future." Tony Roth / Mongolia - 2005

Montenegro

"my lesson, in a nutshell: the power of attitude, of openness in the face of an unfamiliar, and sometimes even scary reality. Despite logistical problems, my camp experience was highlighted like the beautiful Montenegrin countryside." Diana Prelevic / Montenegro - 2003

Morocco

“It would be impossible to summarize and do justice in a few paragraphs of the 15 day Inter-Cultural Exchange and Trekking Program with the Chantiers Sociaux Morrocains, but if I could say just one thing it would be “Go”. Go to learn about this complex, ancient and important culture. 15 days will just scratch the surface of Morocco’s compelling culture. Like the colorful mosaic tiles one sees in mosques and minarets there is no way to count the delights that await the traveler in every souk in every doorway. To be a volunteer and not a tourist brings you face to face with the people who live and work and make up the rich tapestry of Morocco. I now have a family in Rabat and another in Imlil. I hope to return next summer and teach. And for those contemplating this Trekking Program I challenge you. Can you make it to the top of Toubkal, Africa’s highest peak? Try and see!” Cynthia Torroella Merrill / Morocco ~ 2007

"Our volunteer group within the Sefrou camp included two Italians, seven French persons, two Americans (including myself), and nine Moroccans (including the coordinator). We were also aided by the staff at L'Association Musulmane de Bienfaisance Sefrou-Ville (Muslim Charity Association of Sefrou). The two main work activities we completed while in Sefrou were painting, landscape maintenance, and cleanup. We repainted, spackled, and refinished a majority of the center's walls. We cleaned up debris and maintained the center's main vegetable and tree garden, and we also removed the waste and general clutter from the center's secondary outdoor spaces. We were also required to complete other necessary daily chores, such as dish washing and dining hall and kitchen cleaning. Our days in Sefrou were ordered between work in the morning, free time in the afternoon, and other activities in the evenings. Our extracurricular activities were organized primarily for cultural exchange and we used that time to learn more about the other volunteers and their home countries. We spent a great amount of time visiting the common and uncommon sites of Sefrou. These included the medina, restaurants, marketplace, bathhouse, souks, schools, and retirement center. We also took periodic trips to Meknes, Fes, Volubulis, Moulay Idriss, and Ifrane. The better part of one day was spent hiking through the Middle Atlas Mountains surrounding Sefrou; it was a fantastic experience. In the course of our travels we were able to see historic imperial sites, modern suburbs, and popular tourist destinations. In short, our excursions helped us see a very complete picture of this country of contrasts. In general, the work that we completed was not demanding and fairly disorganized, but we left Sefrou feeling like we had accomplished something, and more importantly, that we had offered a personal service and friendship to those who live and work at the center. The intercultural exchange was excellent in that I came to know Moroccan, French, and Italian people on a very personal level. The experience in all ranges of communities also presented the broad spectrum of culture which is Morocco." John Ryan / Morocco - 2006

"I had a wonderful time in Jemaa Shaim. The people were kind and friendly - although a very conservative community and it was interesting to meet the Commandante of Police, the women of the Hammam and to walk the weekly souk as the only white person - and having grey hair certainly brings its share of attention!" Valerie Ward / Morocco - 2004

Mozambique

"We planted over 1000 trees, cleared the beach thoroughly for miles and did some community education about our efforts. In terms of participation, it was all up to the individual and how much effort they wanted to personally add. As with any clash of cultures we had some disagreements. However it was made up for by enthusiasm, connection, teamwork, spirit, perseverance and understanding. I made some very fine connections because of this opportunity, faces and places I will never forget, capturing a warm place in my heart." Benjamin Birney / Mozambique - 2003

"OW! You can all feel proud that you're doing good because you helped spark a profound love for Africa. I'd traveled a lot before but never have pictured myself living in a place. I am already searching for a way to get back there for longer, and actually I spent my last week there trying to contact the airline with a million different excuses to delay my ticket." Colin Deschampes / Mozambique - 2002

Namibia

"Well, my favorite thing about the trip was the people I got to meet and work