What’s a United Planet Quest like? Authentic, immersive, transformative, and comprehensive are a few words our alumni use to describe our Quests. We could try and tell you how it is, but we feel our alumni can do it best. Below are just some of their most recent United Planet reviews that share why our alumni say we have the best volunteer abroad programs.
Enrolled and interested in speaking to a past volunteer directly? Contact Us.
Tiaralei Cade
Volunteer Abroad in Spain
I had a good experience with my Quest. It definitely allowed me to get experience with working with patients and immersed me in a different language, which was difficult but also a good learning experience…the best part about the Quest was becoming close to the other volunteers and patients and hearing their stories.
This Quest helped me to become more culturally aware and was related to the career I would like to pursue in the future.
Bridget G.
Virtual Volunteer, Mali
I am grateful for the wonderful experience I had as working as a virtual intern. I learned about the Mali culture and current situation by reading up on the internet about current events and the history of the country and the culture. I succeeded in giving the organization an internet presence (on Facebook and Instagram), so they could share their fundraising link.
I am interested in women’s issues and plan to study marketing. This internship allowed me to help an organization that aims to help women and children and I was able to gain marketing skills by making pages for the organization on social media and sharing the fundraising link.
Krista P.
Volunteer Abroad in Peru
If there is one thing that I have taken away from this experience, it is to be thankful for what I have and the life I live. JaeLyn and I worked at Club Corazon, an after school program in the projects for underprivileged children. It was a reality check. So many of those children are put to work to help provide for their family or are put in charge of their younger siblings when they themselves are too young to be unsupervised. Despite not having a “typical” childhood and having so little, they were some of the happiest children I have ever seen. They melt my heart, and I miss them already!! Oh, and Machu Picchu was pretty cool too!
Haley M.
Virtual Volunteer, Mexico
I had an excellent experience with my United Planet virtual internship. I worked with a nonprofit organization from Mexico, creating an educational social media campaign about the importance of international volunteering. Through my experience, I learned a lot about international volunteering, intercultural communication, and peace.
Alaina H.
Virtual Volunteer, Ecuador
I am so thankful for my great and unique experience working with United Planet and my Host Organization. I was able to experience working with people in Ecuador for a cause that means a lot to me. I learned about the organization’s culture and more about their mission. I’m so happy I could support their cause virtually, especially during a time when it is impossible to have face-to-face hands-on experience.
Towsif A.
Volunteer Abroad in Nepal
My three weeks in Nepal really flew by. I met the most amazing people while I was at Healthy Smiles. The staff were fantastic and I got to meet people from all walks of life from monks to ambassadors. And yet out of all those people, the most amazing people I had the honor and privilege of meeting were the children at OCCED. Whether it was me teaching them about dental hygiene or them teaching me how to speak Nepali I enjoyed every second of my time at the orphanage. I learned much more from them then I could have ever anticipated and that made my time in absolutely phenomenal.
Ethel G.
Virtual Volunteer, South Africa
Being a virtual volunteer has given me opportunities I never had before. Aside from being able to interact with people from abroad and to create relationships with them, I was able to express my passion through my work. Helping my host organization produce educational materials about oral health benefited me too as I was able to further my interests.
Additionally, I have gained and honed in on essential skills from this experience, one of which is teaching children. I have learned about the importance of civic engagement and educational and professional competence. All in all, I have had a wonderful experience with United Planet and my host organization in South Africa.
Kira T.
Volunteer Abroad in Italy
The best parts about my quest were the relationships I made at my school. I grew very close with the other teachers and the students; it was hard to leave them! The food and culture was amazing, and I loved taking the weekends to explore.
It has lit a spark in me and all I want to do now is to travel to more countries and experience new cultures!
My project treated me so well and I felt very welcomed by the staff, church members and students.
Overall it was an enriching experience that I will remember for the rest of my life!
Alexander V.
Volunteer Abroad in Peru
My quest was incredible! I had a wonderful time and will one day hope to come back again! I love Peru and Cusco.. I am so grateful for the great time I had. One thing that would have made it excellent is more accurate information and communication with the people in Peru. I wish Manfred wasn’t on vacation and a 19 year old intern wasn’t completely in charge. Otherwise, es bueno! Gracias por todos!!
My experience was incredible! I had such a wonderful time in cusco and one day I will definitely return! From Spanish lessons to beautiful children in the orphanage, I am so grateful and happy to have had such a fantastic time!
Christina H.
Volunteer Abroad in Mexico
It was an amazing experience; definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. I appreciated the mix of language and cultural immersion, living with a host family, local volunteering, and sightseeing.
My favorite part of my Quest was working with my children at Los Molinos. They were all so sweet, and I loved walking up the road to my project because the kids waiting outside would run up to me, calling “Teacher, teacher!” in English and latch on to my sides. I really felt like I was making a difference. I liked that the after-school program was completely volunteer run; I had brought string with me to make bracelets or “pulseras” and one afternoon we did this activity with the kids, which they really enjoyed.
One of the best experiences of my life! I love working with kids, even though they can tire you out sometimes; it’s always worth it.
Cassidy R.
Volunteer Abroad in Peru
The other girls staying at my host family will be friends that will last a lifetime, my host family was amazing and I made several other amazing friends.
Not only did I work with some of the most amazing kids in the world, I also made such great relationships with the other volunteers that I met there.
I can’t wait to go back and visit them. They were the sweetest.
Robert B.
Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica
United Planet was very on top of the organizational efforts. I was an annoying candidate to work with because I am very busy, so often tardy with responses.
But Yachen was always on top of me and flexible with my timeline. Then the actual quest was great!
Susana A.
Volunteer Abroad in Nepal
The UP organization did their excellent research to find me an ideal project especially I am Deaf and I am grateful that they placed me with the Disabled Service Association in Nepal to teach Deaf Nepalese children!
Kathleen C.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
I loved seeing a different culture from my own and being able to help in any way. I especially enjoyed working with underprivileged kids in the day care and the orphanage.
My best experience was being able to participate in indigenous medicine and seeing what kinds of practices the shaman preformed.The biggest hurdle was the language barrier, however, we had fantastic interpreters who made the transition much easier.
I knew that I would like Ecuador, but I didn’t expect to love it so much. Pablo made it easy for us to add activities to our schedule and change things around so our schedule worked best for us. Every day was a new and amazing learning experience.
Chauncey S.
Volunteer Abroad in Peru
This experience was incredible, and it far surpassed the experience I had on my first United Planet trip to Peru last year. I really enjoyed the fact that we were able to really engage in the Ecuadorian culture. The project was phenomenal, and our hosts really helped to make the experience so incredible. Our Spanish lessons and Ecuadorian lecture were very helpful and informative. Both helped to enrich our experience. The excursions were also very fun and informative, for we were really able to see how diverse Ecuador and its people are. I was so touched by the generosity of the teachers and students in our school, and I think that our coordinators did a great job of helping us work through the rough patches to accomplish as much as possible and really meet the needs of the school, while also making sure our volunteers felt supported. I would have liked to spend more time serving in Otavalo. Our time there was enriching and insightful, but the service there almost felt like an afterthought or like we were only checking it off the list. My quest experience really made me realize what matters in life: people and relationships. My experience teaching and playing with the kids made me realize that I am going into the right profession: teaching. I will strive to lead a life of service, not to just volunteer. I want to serve others and myself in all that I do. My United Planet experience helped me realize this.
Ivan O.
Volunteer Abroad in Peru
The one thing I loved the most about being abroad were the people. They were always so nice and kind and seemed to always being happy, especially the kids at the daycare. The culture in Ecuador is really different from the one in the U.S. That in itself is a lesson that I will never forget. No matter what problem I will be facing it will not compare to the kid that has to wake up possibly every morning in order to buy himself a candy he wants or maybe even help his parents to put food on the table. Witnessing these cultural differences has made me aware of the culture here. It seems to me that many (not all) individuals here in the United States can never be content with what they have and I have been guilty of that. Going to this trip was an amazing experience that has motivated me so much to study abroad, it is not even a question anymore – I will study abroad. I am not sure where but I will. Another important aspect that I took out of this trip was helping those in need. It has motivated me to keep doing great in school so once I graduate I can make a difference in the world by volunteering and helping the less fortunate.
Kirill G.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
My experience in Ecuador opened up a new door in my life. After just 5 weeks I became a valued community member and I know that I will be welcomed back whenever I wish to visit again. I have to return because I have amazing friends that will be waiting to see me again.
Patricia B.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
I spent June 23rd to July 2nd in Ecuador thanks to the AATSP’s partial scholarship with United Planet, a global volunteer organization. The first five days there at the Quintilian Sánchez School, I worked predominantly with seventh grade students (the oldest at this public school) and taught English basics like introductions, colors, clothing, descriptive words and numbers to 100. I worked on pronunciation and getting students to use language in chunks and short sentences, rather than singular words. I was told prior to arrival that I would be supporting the English teacher there and therefore, had not packed many teaching supplies. I had purchased some school supplies to donate like glue, pencils, erasers, and stickers, but I felt very unprepared for the school’s reality. There was no technology, so my entire curriculum saved in Google Drive was inaccessible and even when I made pictures to hang on the board, tape was a challenge to find around the school.
I was always able to reach out and talk with someone at United Planet.
Esther S.
Volunteer Abroad in the USA
This program really made me think about how many things I take for granted and it made me humble myself even more than before.
This program changes you completely, whether it is emotionally, physically or mentally , it can even be all three. Once you go, you can’t be the same person you once were before the trip
Ian B.
Volunteer Abroad in Ghana
My Quest was amazing. I left Ghana feeling like I had made an impact on people’s lives, not just for providing them with healthcare at my place of work, but also for sharing my experiences and living with them for a month. We both learned a great deal about the differences in culture, helping to break global boundaries and share similarities. I enjoyed my place of work; the staff were friendly and very easy to get along with whilst giving me the support to learn valuable skills and also to impart some knowledge of my own into their way of working. A highlight would be my excursion to the monkey sanctuary and Wli waterfalls – both amazing places to visit. I would do it all again in a flash.
I have made friends who I will no doubt stay in contact with forever.
I learned to live and work in a culture that is so different to my own.
Eden C.
Volunteer Abroad in Ghana
I enjoyed learning about Ghanaian culture and history. I enjoyed being exposed to the differences in health care between Ghana and Canada. Yet it was hard to accept the lack of resources. It made it difficult to be optimistic and made me feel a little hopeless. Seeing people in poverty I could not help but feel like there was not much I could do as an individual. But I also learned to look on the brighter side of things and be appreciative of what you have. The Ghanaian people are in poverty, but they often have smiles on their faces and do not dwell on what they do not have, rather they are thankful for what they do have. This has changed how I view the world and my life. I enjoyed the excursions to the Wli waterfalls and monkey sanctuary which allowed me to see the natural beauty of Ghana. I also loved meeting the other volunteers and creating memories and friendships that will last forever.
Chaelim Y.
Volunteer Abroad in Ghana
When I first arrived, I received no itinerary as I was told beforehand, so I basically had no idea what we were up to for the first two days that we were spending in Accra before heading to the project site. This isn’t also too big of a concern, but Yaw’s wife (I was not told he would be gone for the first few days so his wife would take us to places) always showed up late – like 2 hours late – apparently because Ghanaians are terrible with time (?). As for me, living in the Western side of the world, I am used to being at least 15 minutes early, so I would be very, very tired during any plans since I would prepare myself but everything would be delayed. However, my experience in the project site, specifically the orphanage, was excellent. Everyone was friendly and I had a nice time volunteering and bonding with the children of all ages and staff members. I also really went on 1 excursion since I was there for 3 weeks, but I wish that you guys made more time and coordinated something else for me. But I am very thankful for what I have experienced and happy that I was able to earn this opportunity. Thank you, Ayaka and Yaw.
Stacie S.
Volunteer Abroad in Ghana
This experience was incredible… really really amazing. Words don’t describe it actually! The medical quest was overall very enlightening and really makes you think about and appreciate working in the United States versus a third world country. Living and actively participating in the daily cultures and routines of Ghana has taught me innumerable life lessons. I wanted to go to on this Quest for work experience and to see a bit of the world I had never seen before, but came back with a whole lot more. This was a very rewarding experience, and one that I will never forget.
Madeline L.
Volunteer Abroad
What I enjoyed most about my quest was being fully immersed into the culture there in Ho from eating meals with my hands, bargaining at the local markets, learning a little bit of the language they speak there Ewe and forming relationships with the locals. My favorite experience while I was there was going to church there. The singing, dancing, and drumming from the choir with everyone’s energy, I just smiled I think for the first hour I was there. I felt connected to the community and felt like I understood a little bit more about their culture by going there.
Isabella H.
Volunteer Abroad in Denmark
I truly had the time of my life in Denmark and that is all thanks to United Planet finding me an amazing host family and an amazing job.
I had the time of my life in Denmark. My six months went even better than I ever could have expected! I really enjoyed living with my host family as over time they became a second family to me and I want to come back and visit them. I also really enjoyed my job as I created bonds there that I want to come back and visit and I also have some of the children texting me which is sweet. I did find living in such a remote area challenging as there were very few people my age there, but that just caused me to get to know myself better. The best experience for me was actually getting ready to go home as it was then that I truly realized what an impact I had in my time there and how much I would be missed and that made me feel good. My quest has impacted my life in the best way as I now want to volunteer more, want to become a teacher, and want to travel more.
I loved my school and they made me feel so loved. I already miss them so much and I want to go back.
I was so inspired by this journey and I can’t wait to have another experience just like this.
After doing the quest I am more self confident and I am more sure of what I want to do in my life.
Laura D.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
United Planet was able to help me overcome my nervousness of traveling to South America for the first time. The pre-departure support I received from the Program Coordinator was very helpful to calming those nerves. My quest to Ecuador was an eye-opening experience. I felt a lot more comfortable in myself traveling alone, learning the local language (which I was a beginner in) and interacting with the locals and learning cultural experiences. The quest helped me experience Ecuador in a way I never would have before. I took part in the Environmental Sustainability project, whereby at YanaCocha I stayed for three weeks in the Wildlife Conservation Quest. The quest helped me become more adaptable, confident, patient and increase my problem solving skills. I enjoyed every moment there and would absolutely volunteer with United Planet again.
Natasha T.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
My experience was excellent because I was exposed to many different things. From the health system in Ecuador to their culture, to even politics. It was a very great opportunity. The staff, the host family, the hostel, the food, etc.. Everything went as planned and I enjoyed every bit.
I very much enjoyed working with the kids at the daycare. The kids knew us for such a small amount of time, but they accepted us. I felt like I knew them for a long time. Especially because they were so amiable and enjoyed our presence. I loved working with them and seeing their smiles. Their smiles are one of a kind..
Emily W.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
The highlight of my united planet quest was getting to visit an orphanage and playing with the children there!
Lorraine S.
Volunteer Abroad
I enjoyed this quest because it pushed me. It pushed me to practice my spanish, it pushed me to become more independent, and it pushed me to become the person I am now. I know that I’m a person who needs to be pushed in order to face up to a challenge, and im glad that my Quest pushed me. Because of this push, I know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to.
Noah G.
Volunteer Abroad
My quest opened my eyes about what happens around the world. I established amazing relationships with people who I will remain in contact with for a long time.
Throughout the whole experience, United Planet was very helpful and I felt very prepared before, during and am excited to tell people about the trip while I’m home.
This trip was absolutely life changing. The tastes, smells and cultural experiences were something I will never forget. I am forever grateful to be able to experience such an amazing adventure so young.
Jordon T.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
Playing football with the locals of Otavalo, meeting college students in Quito, and attending a wedding in Otavalo will be my most memorable experiences that I had while being in Ecuador. I think my favorite parts of the trip occurred while being in Otavalo. There I grew closer to my team members, I had a better interaction with the locals and members of the community, and the service that we did there felt more meaningful. I also really enjoyed getting to know our tour guide Gaby which was very easy to do since she was always right by our side when we were volunteering and I really appreciated that. Honestly she is a really great person and is a great representation of how wonderful the people of Ecuador are.
Joshua M.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecudaor
I had an amazing experience in Ecuador. My favorite part about the experience was getting to connect with the people in Ecuador. It was great learning about their culture and language. Our tour guide Gaby was amazing! She was always there to help and answer questions and was right along with us serving the community.
Chelsea D.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
The whole experience was very organized and well run! Our coordinator Pablo and our interpreters Jenny and Gaby were amazing also!
Such an AMAZING experience and worth every penny! From the clinical time volunteering to the excursions we did on our free days it was all a blast. Everything was so organized and planned out. Our hostel was close to everything and in walking distance to shopping and restaurants. It also felt very safe! The hardest thing was the language barrier because none of us spoke Spanish! The Spanish lessons and salsa lessons were so much fun!
Luca B.
Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador
The In-Country support in particular allowed for a smooth transition into life abroad, and the relationships that the program allowed me to form with other volunteers made my experience absolutely unforgettable.
What I enjoyed most about my Quest in Ecuador was getting to know so many genuine, compassionate and kind people throughout my trip. From the pre-departure support in Boston, to the In-Country Coordinators, to other UP volunteers, to tour guides, to local Ecuadorians, and, last but not least, my host family, I was touched by such a warm and collaborative environment overall, and I had never experienced such a beautiful thing on such a large scale before. Everyone I interacted with before and during my Quest was helpful and supportive, and my experience would have been very different if so many people had not reached out to me during the program. I also loved being able to experience so many different aspects of service in Ecuador in such a short amount of time. The In-Country Coordinator provided much freedom and flexibility in the itinerary, which allowed me to see and do so much more than I had anticipated, which was quite the pleasant surprise.
David J.
Volunteer Abroad in Denmark
This was a very good experience for me because it allowed me to learn and discover things in a different mind set. I loved everything I have seen and experienced here. So that’s why I said very good.
When I lived back home I didn’t really have a positive view on life. I had a lot of things that weren’t figured out yet. When I came to Denmark and worked with my organization I found more of myself through it. Being independent and traveling through this amazing journey made me more of who I want to be in life. I wouldn’t have been able to feel this proud of my work and myself without this organization.
Everyone was kind and welcoming. Though we all didn’t really come from the same background as we all did, we all had one goal and that was great enough to pull us together. I loved meeting everyone in that group and hope to see them again one day.
These were very helpful with understanding cultural differences. They were also cool to see how everyone else thinks coming from different backgrounds too.
Pearl S.
Volunteer Abroad
The projects I was involved in taught me so much about hospitality and spreading love
I loved the people. One of my projects was teaching at a very poor school so it could be extremely challenging at times, but I grew stronger and learned the language and was so proud of them when they could speak in sentences and play games using English. I loved being with a host family and being involved in their lives and activities. The Quest has been an exciting, challenging, stressful, eye-opening, rewardable, and an unparalleled adventure.
I would love for others to experience what I experienced
Taylor P.
Volunteer Abroad in Denmark
My Quest Project made my experience simply excellent. From the beginning Filipskolen embraced me into their community and included me as one of their own. There was never a feeling of separating of me & them; I always felt like a loved, respected, and valued volunteer and member of their community. I truly feel like I not only helped to contribute to an already thriving school community, but I also feel that the Filipskolen community gave so much back to me. Without knowing it they taught me to have confidence in myself, to trust my instincts, and to have faith that I can excel as an ESL teacher.
Completing my year-long Quest with United Planet has enabled me to start the life and career path that seemed like a pipe-dream only two years ago. Volunteering, traveling the world, and teaching ESL have been goals of mine that I’ve always dreamt of accomplishing and this past year I was finally able to achieve them. Volunteering in Denmark this past year as taught me that the world has so much to teach us and that we are doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t open our eyes, hearts, and ears to learn from them. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to follow than to lead, and that leaning on your fellow colleagues for support isn’t weak.
My quest made me realize that we are stronger as a team than we are an individual, and real change comes when we embrace each others differences and similarities, working towards a common goal that benefits all instead of one.
Manya C.
Volunteer Abroad in Cuba
What made it excellent was the people. On the UP site, Kait really helped with all the prep work and understanding what to expect, even with the vagaries of planning this particular trip. On the ground, Theresa was an excellent travel companion and host.
The best part of the Cuba quest was the people we met in Havana. The local partner team is a group of helpful, friendly, and open people–I felt like I made some real friends in such a short period of time. Because of them, I felt welcomed and taken care of–they understood the nuances of the local culture and anticipated our needs and concerns. The team also pulled together a group of interesting, thoughtful, and impressive individuals for us to connect with and talk to about local culture, history, entrepreneurship, etc.
It also helped me understand a little bit more about income disparity and how people are basically the same no matter where the live or how much they make. Intellectually I knew that, but this showed me that in person. Visiting the homes of two locals and seeing how many people live in their home, how they navigate the ration system, etc. feels like it just opened me up to truly understanding more than I did before. That wasn’t the only time I had that thought on the trip, but it really was such a lovely way to bring an end to the experience.
Emily L.
Volunteer Abroad
The quest was truly a life changing and remarkable experience marked by excellence.
I feel this program gave me a wider perspective on life and helped me grow immensely as a human. I came out of the experience a more independent, sympathetic, and selfless person that I had not been before.
I would recommend this to a friend because the program gave me the best experience of my life. United planet gave me the confidence and tools I needed to have a successful volunteer and cultural immersement experience that helped me grow as a person.
Emily W.
Volunteer Abroad
What I enjoyed most about my quest was being able to see the smiles, we put on the children’s and women working in the daycare. To see the kids playing outside and chasing bubbles, trying to pop them, laughing and yelling when one got popped. The smiles that the daycare workers had when we donated supplies they needed and could use for a good amount of time. We put up a fence on the side of the playground where the kids could’ve easily fallen over and get hurt by cactuses they had or fall and get hit by a rock.
Our volunteer project was great. I honestly wish we had more time, to be able to do more work and make it a safer environment for the children and workers.
Everything is going so great here, I have finally settled in and am making friends mainly thanks to my host sister. I like my host project a lot, the kids are really cute and even though I don’t always know what they’re saying we are able to communicate pretty well. I started my Portuguese classes at the local university and I tested out of the Basic 1 class since I spoke Spanish and I get to start with Basic 2. I’m definitely ready for the winter to be over, but I’m told it will get warmer just in time for my birthday in October!
I’m so glad that I chose Santiago, Chile as the location to do my quest because it has so much to offer. The people were extremely nice, the country was beautiful, and it was a great way to give back to a community while learning more Spanish and seeing another country. I stayed with a Chilean woman named Maggie who made delicious meals, told amazing stories, and was patient with my understanding of the language. Each day I went to the daycare by bus from 9am-2pm for volunteering. I worked with the younger kids, got to play with them, and sometimes teach them words. They were all so adorable and I learned so much about children. Even though it was only a week, I think it still makes a difference for not only the kids, but for me. In the end they would sometimes call me ‘Mama’ or ‘Papa.’ It made me realize what a big deal it really was. In addition to volunteering I had the time to explore in my afternoons and the weekends. In Santiago I recommend taking the teleferico up to the top of San Cristobal. It has gorgeous views. Santa Lucia is another park with great views and across the street from that is the centro artesanal shops where I found a beautiful leather bag for not much money. All in all my quest experience in Chile was amazing and unforgettable. I got a lot out of only ten days and I’m grateful for all of the people I met and the experiences I had.
Santiago, Chile is an amazing city. It is bursting with culture, food, music, and so much more. It is very easy to navigate using micros and metros, as well as taxis, Uber, and walking within neighborhoods. There is so much to do and see! The Chilean people are welcoming and always willing to share a part of their culture. Chile is rich with adventures and is a beautiful country! Everyone involved with my quest was amazing. From my host mom, to the in-country coordinator, to the daycare I worked at. The staff at the daycare were welcoming and so appreciative to have some extra hands. There are too many experiences that were inexplicable to choose just one. From the interactions with the children, to exploring the city, to the food. Being a professional Speech-Language Pathologist on this quest, I was very grateful to have been connected with a Speech-Language department at a local university. It was so fulfilling to meet and discuss the profession of speech-language pathology with other professionals of a different culture. There were some differences in the way in which the profession operates in Chile, as compared to the US, which ws so interesting to learn and discuss. It would be amazing to have a speech therapy quest in Chile in the near future. I would come back in a heartbeat. I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about my time in Chile. I was extremely tempted to extend my stay to continue exploring. Next time!
United Planet is able to bridge the gap between independence and dependence. Although the quest was an immersion quest, I never felt like I didn’t have support. Amazing organization!
My experience with my host family, the support both in country and back in Boston made my experience very good! I think what would have made it excellent would have been to include spanish classes in the price of the quest as I know it is done for some other quest countries. This would have been beneficial since I was the only UP volunteer and could have met some other people.
My second time as a UP volunteer was completely different than my first quest. I never thought my time in Peru could be matched but Chile exceeded all my expectations. My time in the classroom with the children was both rewarding and challenging. I loved coming in every day and seeing how hard the kids worked at to learn english. The english teachers were also welcoming and encouraging in the classroom. I felt like I was actively making a difference in the kids’ lives and the constant hugs and smiles from the kids only added to the excitement of each day.
I believe any time you are on your own in another country you learn just as much about yourself as you do the country you are visiting. My quests have given me the experience to understand the world around me and my place in it. The people you meet, the volunteer work, the cultural activities, they all give you an experience of living life outside of your comfort zone which helps you as grow as a person
What an incredible experience I had on my Quest. I was a challenging, humbling, and rewarding experience. The most challenging for me was going to a place where I had no understanding of the language and feeling thrust directly into the culture as a quest is so different from a tourism trip.
The greatest highlight of my Quest was the relationships with the people that I met: the students, teachers, staff and parents of the school children. It was a true connection although we did not speak the same language we still were able to communicate through smiles and body language. I felt like part of the community or rather more like family. I was welcomed with open arms and was showered with love and excitement for my visit. An also the greatest highlight was meeting people where they are school, work, community an see first hand that people are people; striving to achieve a better life, take care of their families and have balance. It was amazing that I felt at home and did not feel a lack of anything.
My quest has left me with lasting friendships and memories that will continue to give because the people I meet on my Quest are now a part of my life forever. It also taught me that some of the abundance that I have in my life is not a necessity. I enjoyed living a bit of a simpler life on my quest. It allowed me to be more center and to focus with in and see where I could make adjustments in my life. It also help me to open my mind and heart even more to people that I may not think I understand but learned that all people have more in common then what they think and believe.
My trip to China was a life changing experience. Everyone I met was friendly and inviting, especially the other teachers at the school. The only regret I have is not spending more time there. That being said, I still grew as a person teaching in China. Being immersed in a different culture changed my views on interactions between people, and showed me the value and beauty of language.
Everyone at the school was so friendly and caring, it made me feel right at home. I loved being able to work with the students and grow as a teacher.
I very much enjoyed my adventure in China. The school was wonderful, especially the other teachers. They were all very friendly and welcoming, helping me to feel right at home. The Quest doesn’t really follow the itinerary or advertisements on the website, but I found it to be much better. I enjoyed the loose structure, and the freedom to explore as I pleased. Truly, the highlight of my adventure was being with the students. They captured my heart while I was there, always eager to learn and get to know me. The vast majority of the pictures I took on this trip were selfies with the kids. Really, the people of Changsha are extremely kind and understanding, and will help you if you just ask for it. This has strengthened my resolve to complete my TESOL degree and return to China as a full time teacher.
I experienced a totally different culture in the best way possible. It made me very excited to go out into the world and experience as many different and new things as I can.
I experienced what it felt like to be a minority who doesn’t speak the language for the first time, and that was a powerful experience. I feel like it made me better able to empathize with the immigrant and refugee students I teach in the United States.
I met so many amazing people, both my fellow volunteers and the kids, whom I would never have had the privilege of meeting if it weren’t for this program. I also got to experience a culture completely different from my own and I got to do it with people who became like family.
I met people on this Quest who I love like best friends, even though we were only together for 3 weeks or so. Both the American and Chinese volunteers are amazing people who I feel blessed to have met. It was really fun doing all of the touristy things in Beijing with the rest of the American volunteers, and we became pretty close even before going to the school. Once we got to the school, we got to meet our kids. They are amazing. I was astounded everyday in class by how fast they picked up new things and how much they already knew. They filled all of the teaching days with joy and laughter, and I am so grateful to have been able to teach them. We made countless runs to the little shop at the bottom of the hill and spent countless hours playing cards, folding origami, and just hanging out. When it was over I cried my eyes out when saying goodbye to everybody. I love them all and I miss them so much. This was one of the best experiences of my life. If you are debating whether or not to do this Quest, do it. You just need to keep an open mind and I promise that you’ll have one of the best times of your life.
John B.
Volunteer Abroad
United Planet did many things well in preparing me for this adventure but the best thing they did was set expectations. I knew what to expect I knew it was going to be hard. They repeatedly told me to be flexible. To jump right in and be assertive when it came to participating in my quest. By reading this information from UP and emailing my mentor and reading the blogs I was prepared, I brought the correct things, and knew how to overcome some adversity.
Overall a tremendous experience. I never could coordinate something like this on my own. You need somebody like United Planet to coordinate and expose you to these countries.
I had a great time in Changsha, China! Living with the local people was very enriching, because it was different from where I live. I’ve learned lots of things in those three weeks. Not only how to teach or stand in front of a class of minimum fifty children. I also learned about the Chinese culture, the local (spicy) food and of course the beautiful (but oh so difficult) language. The Chinese education system is different from the one in Belgium. I think experiencing those differences was very interesting. In other words, I got the chance and opportunity to see life from another perspective. An unforgettable experience!
Starting the Quest, I had absolutely no experience with being a teacher. I did have the experience of standing in front of groups, giving educations. Simply that experience was nothing compared to teaching a class of 50 children aged 6-12. If I compare myself from the first day to my last day, I’m proud to say I’ve learned a lot. Not only teaching English an sich, but also keeping the children interested while I really was enjoying the teaching. This Quest made me more self-assured. I’m really happy I made the decision to do this Quest. An unforgettable experience!
Felt so amazing being able to connect with so many people and to be apart of their culture
This trip in Costa Rica was my first trip alone really far away from my home. And for the first time it was extraordinary, it has increased my desire to travel and to give my help where it’s needed. I have met some wonderful people from all other the world which really helped me opening myself to others. The staff at La Marina was really nice and the work was constructive and interesting! My host family was really kind and amiable, they introduced me to their way of life which was fascinating! I will always keep them in my heart. I have seen some beautiful places and the memory of it will stay in my mind forever! I had some bad moods but now I realize that it’s totally normal and it’s part of the great adventure of travelling abroad to unknown places!
My trip in Costa Rica was an amazing experience, I have waited for this for so long and now I’m really happy.
It really gives me the desire to do some more volunteering abroad and to give my help where I can.
My project was good for the most part, but it became repetitive. I also felt that my project and the receiving organization did not communicate very well. There was a period of time where I did not have a supervisor at all. My experience would have been excellent if there had been more communication between me and my project, and my project and my receiving organization.
My Host family accepted me into their home as one of their own. We truly became a family during the year I spent with them. I was expected to be at all family events and they even took me on vacations with them. This gave me a chance to really get to know the Costa Rican culture at home. They helped me tremendously with learning Spanish also. In my project I bonded with the senior citizens. I worked mostly with the women and we learned to appreciate each other. Sometimes work was repetitive and would seem pointless, until I would take vacation days, and upon my return, the residents at the Nursing home would welcome me with smiles and hugs. It took me a while to learn Spanish, but once I got the basic building blocks down I could get around well enough. Overall, this year of volunteer work was the best experience of my life. I changed in so many great ways and grew into my personality.
Before I traveled to Peru, I was very nervous. Mostly because it was my first time traveling to a country where I knew absolutely nothing about the native language. I was also nervous because everybody scared me about living at 11,000 feet of elevation in Cusco, Peru. However, traveling to Peru taught me a very important lesson about how easily humans overestimate their concerns and fears. I learned Spanish very quickly because I was 100% in it mentally and after my body adjusted to the high altitude, I even played soccer! Sometimes you just have to jump in and that’s really what I did – even when we went whitewater rafting. The hospital experience was fantastic once I found a way to ask the questions I had and push past the language weakness. Another important lesson I took away from Peru was how much people love a person’s curiosity and effort to become one of them – by pushing yourself to speak the language, eat the food, and respect their values. Will I do a United Planet Quest to volunteer abroad again? Absolutely!
I never would have imagined that this experience would have changed my life so much. Being able to see a different part of the world and engage in a different culture was beautiful every moment of every day. The struggles that we faced made me realize a new aspect on how to handle situations and learn from them. I have found my passion to serve others and see the world.
My experience was incredible and so far exceeded my expectations. In the short time that I was in Ghana, I felt completely immersed in the community, I was able to enjoy local tourist sites, I felt very independent, and I had excellent communication with my country coordinator… I felt so immersed in the culture and got to experience different excursions and tasks. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Between the beauty of Peru and the kindness of the people both in the United Planet program and in my project, I cannot truly state one single thing that was the best part of my Quest. I think that is because United Planet gave me the opportunity to find a home away from home in Cusco, working with children and meeting people through my Spanish school. I have thought a lot about how the time I spent in Peru has changed me. And I have come to the realization that I live now without stress. In Peru, there was no emphasis on time or punctuality, which although is a wonderful attribute, is handled differently in America. The atmosphere of “let it be” or “take life as it comes” was surprisingly liberating after leaving a country where bills, student loans, and keeping up a job to help with those things is so stressful. Living without worry came easily in Cusco, and I am finding that I brought a bit of Cusco back with me in how I now interact with the world.
What I enjoyed most about my Quest in Ecuador was getting to know so many genuine, compassionate and kind people throughout my trip. From the pre-departure support in Boston, to the Country Coordinators, to other United Planet volunteers, to tour guides, to local Ecuadorians, and, last but not least, my host family, I was touched by such a warm and collaborative environment overall, and I had never experienced such a beautiful thing on such a large scale before.
United Planet was able to help me overcome my nervousness about traveling to South America for the first time. The pre-departure support I received from the Program Coordinator was very helpful to calming those nerves. I felt a lot more comfortable with myself traveling alone, learning the local language (which I was a beginner in) and interacting with the locals and learning cultural experiences. The Quest helped me experience Ecuador in a way I never would have before. [It] helped me become more adaptable, confident, patient, and increase my problem-solving skills. I enjoyed every moment there and would absolutely volunteer with United Planet again.
WOW! Truly an unforgettable experience. Volunteering abroad in Peru far exceeded my expectations…. I took Spanish classes every morning and my teacher was so nice and understanding. In the afternoons, I volunteered at an orphanage. I was only there for a week and did not think I would make an impact on the children but bonding with them was the best part.
I experienced a completely different culture and lifestyle. It made me realize that there is so much more in the world than Boston…If I were to go back and do my Quest again, there is not a thing I would have changed. The experience itself changed me for the better.
The best part of this experience was seeing the happiness and smiles on the faces of the community members we were helping. Those moments were priceless and really affirm the reasons for why it is so important for people to become aware and get involved with community service domestically as well as internationally. This experience was one of the best parts of my college experience and I gained new life-long friends and memories that I will cherish forever.
This Quest has been exciting, challenging, stressful, eye-opening, rewarding, and an unparalleled adventure. I loved the people. One of my projects was teaching at a very poor school so it could be extremely challenging at times, but I grew stronger and learned the language and was so proud of the students when they could speak in sentences and play games using English. I loved being with a host family and being involved in their lives and activities.
United Planet has provided me with an experience that changed my life. The staff were kind, supportive, and encouraging throughout my whole trip. They have helped me to become a lifelong partner in global connection and international outreach. There are no words to describe my appreciation and gratitude.
United Planet offered me a chance to bring a bit of hope into the world. What I did during this past trip may have been small in the big picture, but for the children I helped, I know this was exceedingly important. That alone proves to me that this trip was a success.
I can’t even begin to put into words how incredibly thankful I am for this opportunity. This experience had taught me many life lessons and has made me view life differently. It also helped me be more open minded. Volunteering my time in the community for that short time will not only have an impact on the lives of the children I worked with, but it will forever have an impact on me. I learned new things about myself. My favorite part of the trip was working with the children; rather if it was reading English books or playing games or making bracelets or participating in the level 2 English class discussions…it all helped me realize how such little actions can have huge impacts on their lives. I learned about the Tanzanian culture first hand. I really enjoyed living the life as a local. It really helps you get the full effect of how their life really is. My host family was so welcoming, and my host brother became one of my best friends. I built so many new friendships. I strongly encourage you to take a step outside your comfort zone and experience life outside of your country. You won’t regret it!
I have always been bothered by people who come back from life changing experiences and simply say “it can not be put into words”, but I am beginning to understand where they are coming from.
I am a new graduate Registered Nurse from California. I felt a comprehensive volunteer project would be an outstanding opportunity to not only gain some experience in my profession, but to help a healthcare clinic deliver necessary care, and become more competitive during my job search. I also wanted to live abroad, practice my Spanish, and travel – I feel that I accomplished all these things, and made some awesome friends in the process. I learned that traveling the world to volunteer as an RN is something I want to continue to do in my nursing career, with organizations like United Planet.
I had a very enjoyable experience in Kathmandu, Nepal. The best part I loved about Nepal were the people there. Despite the relatively challenging living condition, all people I met in Nepal were so lovely, nice, sincere, and so satisfied with their lives, especially the children in the orphanage. I just could not help falling in love with the children – they were cute, happy, smart, free of sorrow; their bright eyes and warm smiles had driven away all of my sadness. I enjoyed every moment playing with them, studying with them, seeing them making fun of each other and laughing. I could tell that they also liked me very much – on my last day, one of the boys came to me and gave me a paper rose, a paper butterfly and a greetings card with a poem written by himself, which touched my heart very deeply. I really hope I can have the chance to see them again.
I walked away with tears in my eyes because I was so upset to say goodbye to the children I had met while in country. Knowing I was able to make such an impact in such a simple way of giving back to the community makes me want to continue to give back in every way I can. I was able to immerse myself in the culture of Peru and I am so incredibly happy to say I enjoyed every part of the culture. Despite lack of running water at times, I felt as though the community welcomed our entire group immediately. I enjoyed educating the children, as well as playing with them as often as possible. On the last day of our volunteering, we ended up at a site that we were not originally scheduled to work at. After a medical screening with an in-country doctor, we realized one of the boys had a serious life-threatening infection with only two hours left of his life. With our help, we were able to get the boy to a private hospital where he was put on antibiotics and is now able to live a happy and healthy life. This specific boy, in addition to all of the other children we worked with has made a serious impact on my life and I will never forget the amount of satisfaction I felt after helping these children. I know that I have just reached the tip of the iceberg, but I plan on continuing my service to others in both my community and abroad.
Teaching is an amazing experience because you learn so much about yourself while doing it. In fact, I think participating in the China Summer Quest has secured my decision of becoming a teacher. Furthermore, the people you meet are all amazing.
I could not ask for a better way to spend three weeks. The people you meet and the adventures are unlike anything you could ever imagine. It exceeded any expectation of mine. The combination of learning Spanish, volunteering, and experiencing the culture of Peru made it an unforgettable journey. It has definitely made me want to travel more!
My experience teaching and playing with the kids made me realize that I am going into the right profession: teaching. I will strive to lead a life of service, not to just volunteer. I want to serve others and myself in all that I do. My United Planet experience helped me realize this.
It was an amazing experience; definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. I appreciated the mix of language and cultural immersion, living with a host family, local volunteering, and sightseeing. My favorite part of my Quest was working with my children at my volunteer project…I really felt like I was making a difference.
This experience was unlike anything I’ve ever taken part in before. I got the opportunity to immerse myself in an entirely different culture, world, and continent. My favorite part of my Quest was how open, respectful and grateful all of the members of the community that I lived in were. They all thanked us for our time, constantly mentioned how much we were impacting them even in just a short period of time, and really made us know that we were appreciated. I also loved that I got to start learning a new language. It was definitely challenging having the language barrier there and not a lot of people around that spoke English, but it forced me to critically think and try to communicate with others who do not share a common language.
My biggest regret was that I did not make my trip longer. Costa Rica was amazing! I loved every second with the kids. I felt a connection to several of them very quickly, and they reciprocated as well. I made great friends and connections with the other volunteers, which was the biggest and warmest surprise of all. It was so nice to meet people from around the world and different circumstances. I got to travel some and see and do new things. I went to the most beautiful beach, Uvita, and the ‘whale’s tail.’ It is this part of rocky beach that sticks out into the ocean that we walked on and out to at low tide. It was amazing. We also went to the river and went swimming in the pools under a waterfall surrounded by deep jungle! I slid down the waterfall a few times; it was incredible. I went zip lining in a jungle the day before I left. It was gorgeous and unlike anything I have ever experienced. We had the most fantastic time repelling down waterfalls, hiking, and riding long lines high through the trees. I ended up doing every single thing I hoped for and had listed in my head before going. It solidified some life goals and ideas I have been developing for a while now. I am so happy and for the first time in a long time I am really excited about the unknown future. I can’t wait to see where this life goes.
China Summer was definitely one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever taken part in. I met so many wonderful people and learned a lot about myself as a person. The hardest part of China Summer was saying goodbye to the school, to the kids, and especially to all the other volunteers, whom I feel I now have an undeniable and special connection with. I feel certain that I will take part in the China Summer program again in the near future.
United Planet has helped me connect more with my Chinese roots and led me to mature in my own life by introducing me to students with whom I’ve forged connections that transcended age and background.
Fantastic experience. Great support and help throughout the whole process. Going to Nepal was a culture shock for the first few days but after that it was such an amazing experience. My host family was better then I could have ever imagined and all the children at the orphanage were so sweet and loving. This experience will forever be close to my heart, and I hope I can continue to visit the orphanage on a yearly basis.
The China Summer program might be the most unforgettable experience in my life. I need to thank my students for teaching me about life and give me such valuable memories.
The community welcomed me with open arms. Our host family was excellent, they did not speak English but somehow we still managed to communicate and I have been in contact with them regularly since my return. The staff at the school also welcomed me with open arms and were always available to answer questions, and share part of their culture and daily lives…It was the people I met along the way that made my experience.
Once again, China Summer has made my summer unforgettable and has made me longing for more! China Summer never fails to make me forget about all the troubles at home and the preoccupations that come with life outside of China Summer. Every year, I am still amazed at how this program can bring around twenty American and Chinese volunteers who are from different backgrounds and all have different personalities together to all be friends. What makes the trip so remarkable and memorable are the relationships built with the students, the local residents, and the other volunteers.
There is nothing greater then learning and growing from others. This entire experience I believed I was going to go help these people and better their lives. In fact they helped me and bettered my life.
Fe Yunca Puncu in Cai Cay, Peru is ran by people filled with love, life, and hope for their community and the world. They are people I look up to and I only wish that I can be half as amazing as they are because if I am I know I can make a difference. The knowledge I have gained through this experience cannot be sought after in books. This experience will forever stay with me not only through memories but in my heart through the love I received from everyone I encountered.
I absolutely loved where I volunteered, so much that I hope I can go back again. The people and kids where I worked were so wonderful, and I loved that I was completely immersed in Spanish the whole entire time. I felt like I was really able to get to know a lot of the kids, and the only bad thing was that I had to leave.
My volunteer Quest was a rewarding and eye-opening experience. While some of the cultural and language differences were confronting at times, I believe being placed outside my comfort zone was an invaluable part of my experience.
The trip is not only based on what you do but who you do it with. My experience was made amazing by the people I was surrounded with and United Planet. Going to Romania was amazing, a short two week trip that will be the start to the rest of my life.
The Quest was an unforgettable experience. The host family was supportive, and they helped me adjust to the new culture. I was able to practice my Spanish and learn about the culture.
Volunteering in Romania was definitely the best experience I’ve had so far in my life. By working at the orphanage, I gained independence and responsibility. It is impossible not to love these kids, and I believe that I will go back some time soon.
My alternative break in Romania has been my most cherished memory in college so far. All of my experiences that I have made and shared with other engineering students have been unforgettable and truly amazing. This trip has inspired me to want to keep traveling and exploring different parts of the world, and to learn more about different cultures every chance that I get.
My host family accepted me into their home as one of their own. We truly became a family during the year I spent with them. I was expected to be at all family events and they even took me on vacations with them. This gave me a chance to really get to know the Costa Rican culture at home. They helped me tremendously with learning Spanish also.
My Quest to Peru is an experience I will never forget. It opened my eyes to see things farther than my own community, and brought a new perspective on life, that otherwise I would not have gained.
My Quest was one of the most horizon-expanding experiences of my life to date. I would definitely consider doing another Quest with United Planet and discovered that I have a passion for going abroad and immersing myself in other cultures.
My time in Tanzania was everything I hoped it would be. The people were amazing and the children and teachers I worked with are unforgettable. At first, I was overwhelmed by the language and hustle and bustle of the city. But after only a few days, and with the help of my phenomenal host family, I felt as though I belonged there. The only thing I didn’t like about Tanzania was having to leave!
The clinic I volunteered at was by far the biggest thing that I took from my Quest. The children taught me just as much, if not more then I taught them. Working there everyday was the definition of cross-cultural understanding. Each of the children impacted my life in a different way and I will forever be grateful for everything United Planet gave me the opportunity to experience throughout my Quest.
The whole experience was incredibly rewarding and having support from start to finish was very reassuring especially going somewhere like Nepal on my own. I would love to do another quest as i learnt so much for this experience about another culture and more importantly about myself.
Volunteering in Tanzania absolutely changed my life! Working with children every day who want nothing more than to learn and for you to teach them was the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything and I already miss my host family!
What I enjoyed the most about my trip was getting all of the hands on medical experience with kids that previously had very little healthcare. I enjoyed seeing their faces that were filled with joy and excitement and the feeling that what my fellow volunteers and I did made a difference.The impact this trip has had on my life is irrevocable, being able to do some real good in this world is a rare occurrence and to be a part of it was amazing. Being able to help men, women and child that truly need it and leaving them with supplies to continue taking care of themselves is something I will always remember.
While I volunteered at Centro de Salud Ttio, I learned so much about the Peruvian subsidized healthcare systems, since the state hospitals are a hub for the state insurance. Everyone I talked to, whether it was a doctor, a secretary, or even the patients themselves were willing to share about their experience and knowledge with the system–so much so, that I was able to put together an entire research paper with my findings on the system and ways in which people think it could improve. I couldn’t get over how most everyone I encountered open and willing to share. They really offered me a window into their culture and their experience.
Everything that I experienced on this trip, exceeded all of my expectations. I don’t think there was a single moment where I wasn’t enjoying myself or experienced boredom. Because of that I feel that China Summer has been the best summer experience I’ve ever had.
I found the trip to be such an eye opening experience. I’ve traveled to other countries before and seen areas stricken by poverty, but being integrated with the people and directly helping them offered a whole new experience. Children were lining up to get their fingers pricked for blood glucose levels just because they wanted to get a band aid. Things like that are so eye opening. It felt amazing to help people. We saved the life of a young boy who would not have known he was dying of an infection if we hadn’t gone their to volunteer. Situations like that really put things into perspective.
I have never fallen in love so hard and so fast as I did with my host project in Romania, from the moment I got out of the car I knew the four weeks I would be there would be the best four weeks of my entire life, and I have not only United Planet for that but the volunteers I shared a home with, and the wonderful staff of project. Coming back home was the hardest thing I had to do, in Romania I now have a family I love and care for as much as my family here. Words cannot describe my happiness and gratefulness for getting the opportunity to meet people that are so incredible.
It was really lovely. I left wishing I had more time…I thought the extra opportunities volunteers were supplied with were really great, though the best part was definitely the people I met, my host family and the men I was working with at my project. I found myself noticing my comfort zone expanding, as I gained friends, knowledge, and experience in where I was, what I was doing, and what I wanted to be doing. It was a really great experience to be working hard at something, feeling unsure and a bit overwhelmed, but just keeping chugging along, and letting life take you as it would.
If I got the chance to go back, I would take it in a heart beat. Never have I felt so close to people and with a culture in those two weeks. Thank you United Planet for a great experience.
I loved meeting the kids and getting to interact with the families in our neighborhood. It was great that we stayed in a non-tourist area so we could get a more authentic feel for our country. The most difficult part was adjusting to the cuisine and helping children in need of medical attention. I’ll always remember this trip and the way it changed my view of the world.
For those of you who think “this is just another orphanage project” everyone’s experience is different and until you work in one you can’t understand truly how rewarding and life changing it is. The kids taught me so much about what family really is. In the houses they all love each other, the mothers treat the kids like they are their own, the kids are like real siblings, and they fight just like a real family too. I feel so grateful that I was able to spend four weeks with the kids, laughing and playing, and honestly just being there for them. That’s what volunteers go to do, to give whatever they can. All the kids want is someone to love them and being that for them is something I’ll never forget.