Current & Past Volunteer Stories

Want to know what it might be like to volunteer abroad? 

Omprakash volunteers have been posting stories, photos and even videos from their time abroad since 2007. We now have an extensive collection of personal stories from volunteers who've worked with our partners abroad. You can browse through the most recent stories below or use the category selection tool to narrow your search. Alternatively click on the Stories tab for each organization we work with to see specific accounts from a particular organization. Be careful - you might lose a couple hours of your day in here! Happy reading. 

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Mountain cleaners (Waste Warriors)

February 06, 2013

Waste Warriors, India
Win Cowger

Volunteering was never exciting until I joined Mountain Cleaners in bagsu india. I stayed for one month in the summer of 2012. This was an organization that was small and understaffed but had hearts large enough to clean the town. I lead a few hikes and took part in small leadership roles that allowed me to grow in my own self confidence and organization strategies. With the now named Waste Warriors I was a part of something magic, a family where the only qualification of admittance was to be a person with a loving heart. Waste Warriors was an organization that helped me to grow as an individual more than I helped them to grow as an NGO. I think back on all the amazing times I had last summer...

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Volunteering Experience with Waste Warriors

February 06, 2013

Waste Warriors, India
Joshua Chiamba

After working with various NGO's, I volunteered with Waste Warriors for a month and was left pleasantly surprised with their transparency and oragnization unlike other organizations. It is a team of enthusiastic people who believe in their hearts that India can be a clean country. They are full of creative ideas and simple ways to implement their resources. The short term goals of the team were continuously met while keeping in mind the long term plan. .

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Waste Warriors - Shanti Varma (Ex Principal - Welham School Girls, Dehradun)

February 06, 2013

Waste Warriors, India
Joshua Chiamba

I am proud to be associated with "Waste Warriors" and agreed to be its President because the young volunteers involved in it, led by Jodie Underhill, are such an enthusiastic and optimistic work force, believing strongly in their aims, deeply committed to continuing with their work on an ongoing basis, and confident that they will make a difference. They have in fact actually already succeeded in disseminating information, and in energizing stake-holder communities to participate in the clean-up operations. I have no doubt whatsoever that "Waste Warriors" will continue to fill a real need, and will succeed in its endeavours to provide a cleaner, more hygienic India....

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Great learning experience, nice people

April 21, 2013

Hacienda Mérida, Nicaragua
Alicia Greene

I would go to Merida to teach again, I had a great experience. I really enjoyed my stay with a family in town and would walk to the hostel everyday for class. The kids were eager to learn, and some would show up for all three classes in a day. Even though I was only there for a short time, my relationship with the children became strong-and they taught me much more about their culture and language than I could have imagined. The hostel also had a lot of interesting people visit from all over the world, and the food and service there was great. Only local people worked there. I chose a family-stay during my visit. The family was very generous and included me in family events-like graduation, birthdays,...

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Teaching Experience

April 18, 2013

Hacienda Mérida, Nicaragua
Ryan Sarhan

Hacienda Mérida is a small hostel/hotel with an after-school program for volunteers to teach English as a second language to all ages of students. The owner is truly dedicated to making a difference in the community and encouraging to those who wish to get involved. I was there for three weeks and enjoyed my stay greatly and felt like I made a difference. The local students are a pleasure to work with, as they are so eager to learn. I highly recommend this program to anyone with a passion to make a difference in a welcoming, safe environment.

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Hacienda Merida Bilingual School Construction

April 10, 2013

Hacienda Mérida, Nicaragua
Aaron Chevalley

I am very impressed with Haciena Merida. They were organized, knew what they wanted, and supplied me with all the resources and materials necessary to complete the task. Their concern for the visitors, the environment, the community, and the future of the children of Merida is admirable. My experience was overall a positive one, I am proud to have worked with them and hope to continue. There are always challenges associated with running something as large and complicated as Hacienda Merida within the given context (Ometepe Island). My experience made me aware of these challenges, and I respect the people of HM and the work they do. I believe in their missions and I wholly support their initiatives in helping make a brighter future...

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Chance to help an organization that is determined to make a difference

March 31, 2013

Hacienda Mérida, Nicaragua
Louise Lynch

See above. I was inspired by the kids -- so optimistic and friendly -- the committed and conscientious other volunteers, and the director, Molina, a smart and determined man with a vision of how education can transform lives.

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China Operations

April 14, 2013

Education In Sight, United States
Justin Halpern

I have been volunteering with Education in Sight for 8 months in which I've helped coordinate logistics in China, led a fundraising effort for our project, and communicated with the Executive on a weekly basis. In total we have 15 volunteers in my region and they have been great to work with as well. Without the connection provided by the organization and the fundraising platform and support, this would not have been possible. I would recommend Education in Sight any volunteers concerned about vision care in their school communities or any donors looking for a great cause making a difference in the lives of students.

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Working with Education In Sight as a new and growing organization

April 14, 2013

Education In Sight, United States
Kristen Faiferlick

I began work with Education In Sight during its pilot year in Yunnan, China. In this year, we tested over a thousand students and gave glasses to over 300 students with subpar vision. It was incredibly rewarding to watch students who could not previously see clearly finally take notes without squinting at the blackboard. Since then, I have moved to Beijing and begun working with Education In Sight in their growth and development efforts. There are many roles to fill in a new but rapidly growing organization, and this has been an enormous opportunity for personal and professional growth. We have an aggressive growth model that will require help in many different areas, including interns and research assistants....

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volunteer at Mahelerecen

March 19, 2013

Madurai Health and Leprosy Relief Centre, India
a benedictus

We, my husband and I, started our work in India for a small Dutch foundation to provide access to safe drinking water to underprivileged people. During our work we came across the NGO called Madurai Health and Leprosy Relief Centre (short MAHELERECEN) headed by Mr Maria Xavier Turtius. \r\n \r\nI was also part time working for MAHELERECEN and I realized how important the work of them still is for the inhabitants of Madurai city and around and with how much passion and sincerity the current employees are doing their job. Therefore it would be great if the activities of MAHELERECEN could be extended to the surroundings of Madurai. \r\n\r\nMAHELERECEN actively searches for Leprosy patients and encourages them to take the necessary treatments. Additional activities like provision of shoes and referring...

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