Volunteer stories

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

My name is Karen and I’m a 2B legal studies student. I went on a volunteer trip through GoGuatemala for 11 days.

What was the reason for this trip?

I was always interested in going abroad and doing this trip. I was inspired by WeDay and Free the Children however I decided against Free the Children because I didn’t like the format of their trip. I chose to go with GoGuatemala because it’s more about service learning, bettering yourself and hopefully while you’re doing that you can help people along the way.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through St. Jerome’s university and not so much the process was simple enough.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

The people I worked with were awesome there, I still keep in contact with all of them to this day. I did many different things. Some example would be some manual labour such as moving gravel and doing some painting, gardening and teaching some English to the kids.. In most instances it was whatever needed around the orphanage.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience?

It made me so much more grateful for everything I have. Over there they have everything they own in just a tiny box while here we have so much stuff we can take for granted. Also, it made me put a much stronger emphasis on family when I came back, everyone there is so caring and take you in as if you’re family.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

As I mentioned before the emphasis on family makes it much different from here in Canada, they also start there day earlier with a big lunch in the middle and a light dinner.

Did you have any travel opportunities while you were there? Interesting experiences?

I did have a chance to visit some of the town we were on the outskirts of a town but that was about it.

Did you experience any culture shock or reverse culture shock?

I did experience some, at first it’s sort of like the honey moon phase but when I looked at it everyone is just really poor and that was an adjustment to make. I don’t think I was there long enough in order to have reverse culture shock but it was definitely more evident. On my second last day some friends I made there found a McDonalds at 4am to watch the Canada national team play which was different for me and then when I got home it was hard to just jump right back into my routine.

What was the cost of your trip?

Overall, it was around $2000 with everything included, flight, accommodation and food. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

My name is Kierra and I went on the Go Guatemala student volunteer trip for 11 days over reading week.

What was the reason for this trip?

I had never done anything like this before and I wanted to force myself to get out of my comfort zone and try something for the first time.  

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through St. Jerome’s university. It was not difficult to arrange, at first I had to fill out an application and then go through a small interview process.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I loved the people I worked with, they were so supportive and I built a strong connection with them over my time there. I worked in what you could call an orphanage however it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was almost more like a school campus. I did landscaping there which meant pulling weeds and so on but other people were in the kitchen. Also, when we weren’t doing our usual jobs we were interacting with the kids there which was an amazing opportunity, they were always so happy to see us.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience?

Looking back on the experience it definitely broadened my perspective and it made me more grateful for everything I have because they were so happy with so little.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

Not so much, everyone’s English there was good enough that there was no problem with communication. The only thing is that it was hard getting used to not eating your usual dishes because in Guatemala you have rice with almost everything so that’s an adjustment.

Did you have any travel opportunities while you were there? Interesting experiences?

I did have some times to explore the Mayan culture a bit and it was something I’d recommend to check out.

What are your future plans?

I’m hoping to have more experiences like this one and continue to look for ways to make differences no matter how big or small they may be.

What was the cost of your trip?

The total cost came out to be $2200-$2400 however there were tons of scholarships out there so the financial burden wasn’t something to be worried about as long as you applied. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

I’m in my second year studying SMF at St. Jerome’s. I went to Guatemala over reading week during my 1B term.

What was the reason for this trip?

My sister was quite the inspiration to me, she had visited Kenya twice so I wanted to do something like that and if I went to Guatemala they told us we’d get to work with kids and I wanted to do that. 

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through the St. Jerome’s community and my don in my residence went to Guatemala and she spoke to me about the trip as well.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I went with about 20 people, there was a mix of St. Jerome’s students and high school students. We worked at an orphanage and each day a certain number of people had to be on certain jobs. Most of the time I chose to clean the play yard. When they laid down the grass they didn’t clean up the bottles and garbage that was there before so kids would be playing in a field of grass often times. I worked very hard to clean that up and I became very passionate about it as well.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience?

Overall it just made me more grateful for everything I have because these kids are so happy and they literally have no possessions.

Did you experience culture shock or reverse culture shock at all?

I didn’t really get culture shock but coming back was hard. When I came back I found it hard to express what I had experienced because it’s not necessarily something that can be put into words.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

One difference I noticed right away was the amount of dogs you would see wandering the streets and you could always see their ribs which was a sad sight. Language was sort of frustrating at times, I went in trying to speak Spanish but that was difficult so by the end of the week I was using hand gestures and generic phrases to communicate.

What are some tips you have for other volunteers?

My tip would be to go into the exchange with an open mind. I know for myself I went there thinking I knew exactly how to make a difference but then those opportunities weren’t available to me so I had to find other ways to make an impact.

What were some of the relevant costs of your trip?

The trip cost around $2000 and I brought $200 as spending money when I was there and that was plenty. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

My name is Alannah and I went on a volunteer trip to Mexico for four months through a religious organization affiliated with UNICEF.

What was the reason for this trip?

It was mostly about the opportunity and I just couldn’t say no to doing something like this. I wanted to do some volunteering before I went on exchange and this was the best time to do so.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found this opportunity after I had finished my senior year in high school and at times it was difficult because I was new to the process but I figured it all out.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I worked at an orphanage and most specifically with the 0-5 year old group. In the mornings I would help them get ready, shower them, feed them and then send some of them off to school. The one that didn’t go to school we’d usually take outside to play with. During the day I’d usually be doing chores around the house which meant two to three hours of mopping and sweeping. Once the kids got home at noon we’d continue playing outside, the kids there loved the dirt and even with new swing sets available they’d still roll around on the grass and dig holes which was hilarious to watch sometimes. 

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience?

I definitely a lot from my experience. The main thing is that I love kids and I don’t want to something in my life if it won’t involve kids. Before this trip I had never worked with them before but I’m thankful I got to on this trip.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

The people at the orphanage were very religious while I am not so at time this created some tension but we still accomplished a lot together. There weren’t any language barriers as I think I picked up Spanish quite quickly, however it did make for some funny experiences. For example, my roommate at the orphanage in fact it was my first one ever was a 65 year old Peruvian lady who spoke no English. We actually became quite good friends despite the language barrier but at times she would get so frustrated with me and throw her hands up in the air because she would speak so fast in Spanish I would have no clue what she’s saying.

Did you have any travel opportunities while you were there? Interesting experiences?

I did, one of my Canadian friends I met there had her family come down and they took me on their family vacation. It was an awesome experience except I learned one important thing on the trip, never eat Mexican street as my stomach didn’t necessarily agree with it. 

Did you experience culture shock or reverse culture shock at all?

I did have some culture shock when I got there. It was so different, there’s so much violence, it’s so hot and the language is different. One thing that made me angry was that at the orphanage everything was donated to them so the kids there would be getting a piece of bread and a glass of milk for dinner which isn’t enough. Also, most of the kids there aren’t even orphans their parents just drop them off there, this made me really sad but you do get over it after a while. I did have reverse culture chock as well, it was very tough to get back into my routine once I was at home.

What are some tips you have for other volunteers?

My main piece of advice would be to bring a friend along. It was very tough for me being by myself at times and I think if I could have had more of a support system while I was there things would have gone a bit better. You should also practice speaking their language and make friends with the locals there because they can show amazing things.

What was the cost of your trip?

The total cost came out to be $2200-$2400 however there were tons of scholarships out there so the financial burden wasn’t something to be worried about as long as you applied. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

I’m in my fourth year in SMF at St. Jerome’s and I went to Peru in 2012.

What was the reason for this trip?

I had never travelled before no I wanted to try something different before I lost my chance. Also, the trip wasn’t for too long, only 16 days so the commitment was just right for me.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

Absolutely not, St. Jerome’s pretty much did the majority of it for you. You had to fill out the application and then do the fundraising and that’s about it.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I went with 10 other university students from St. Jerome’s and they were awesome. We stayed in mainly three different places. The first being Lima where we learned about the Oscar Romero center, walked up the mountain and saw how people lived. The second city we stayed in was Chiclayo where we helped build a pilca which is a water irrigation system for farmers. We would sleep in their community center which was essentially a concrete floor with cardboard covering the windows. Also, when we would sleep the kids would poke their hands through the walls to try and grab us which was funny but kind of adorable as well because they would not leave us alone. The last place we visited was Cusco which is where we met Ricardo. Ricardo was a boy with only one leg and practically a wooden stump for his other. After the trip with the help of some intermediaries we fund raised enough money to give to Ricardo’s family so that he was able to get an actual prosthetic leg. This was an amazing thing to do because often times when I was there I felt like I wasn’t helping very much and it because hard to physically see the impact you’d have. With this you could see exactly how you made a difference and I thought that was very special.

How has the experience benefited you?

This experience has made me more aware of my purchasing habits for sure. We worked with a company called CafeFeminino or ProAsa and they sell fair trade coffee. I’m definitely a supporter of fair trade coffee now and I frequently purchase it in the St. Jerome’s cafeteria.

Did you experience culture shock?

The main thing that shocked me was the amount of poverty that was clearly evident. Also, the contrast between the rich and poor. The first night we stayed in a nice room, while outside there were people who were sleeping on cardboard with nothing over their heads, definitely a hard sight.

Were there any cultural differences?

Their work ethic is extraordinary and they are very innovative. For example, the hole we needed to help dig was nearly done by the time we got there because they’re such hard workers.

What are some tips you have for other volunteers?

My tip would be to allow yourself to reflect on your experience each day. I would recommend keeping a journal and making an effort to write in it every day. You do get opportunities to share in a de-briefing session each night, but this will allow you to organize your own thoughts and have something to look back on a couple months later.

What were some of the relevant costs of your trip?

The trip costs around $2000 and a lot of your meals are made for you free of charge so I didn’t end up spending very much money when I was there. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

I’m in my fifth year in SMF studies and I went to Peru for 15 days.

What was the reason for this trip?

This kind of opportunity was made known for me so I decided just to go for it because I was interested in social work and the idea of service learning.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through St. Jerome’s and it was not difficult at all they made the process really simply and easy to follow for everyone.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I worked with Café Feminino in Peru which meant I had to visit many different communities along the mountainside. Most of my work involved bringing supplied to the coffee farms in order to improve their processes. I’d also help out with digging irrigation systems and sometimes picking the coffee.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience?

I think this experience really opened up my eyes to what I want to do in the future. It inspired me to take some of my past trips to Guatemala and Uganda.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

I didn’t have any Spanish going there so that was one barrier when it came to communication but I did have a couple friends with me who knew Spanish and you’d be surprised by how much you can pick up through gestures and voice tone.  

Did you experience culture shock or reverse culture shock at all?

I did have some reverse culture shock when I came back. I worked at a greenhouse where they would throw out lots of food so coming back that became very hard for me to handle because I now understand how much work went into making food.

What are some tips you have for other volunteers?

My main tip would be to learn the language more than I did. I knew barely anything so having the knowledge of saying thank you and other simple phrases would have been very beneficial to me before I went.

What was the cost of your trip?

I went on this trip a while ago so the cots aren’t exactly relevant anymore but applying for scholarships and doing lots of fundraising can help cut down on costs significantly. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

My name is Kierra and I went on a three week volunteer exchange trip to Peru for three weeks.

What was the reason for your choice of destination? 

I chose to go on this trip because I wanted to try something a bit different then what I’ve done in the past and challenge myself.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I too found this opportunity through St. Jerome’s and it wasn’t difficult at all the process was easy to follow. We even had pre-departure meetings once or twice a week before we left.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did.

I worked with farmers in the mountains. I picked from coffee trees all alongside the mountain range which got very tiring over the course of the day. The farmers there worked for Coffee Feminino which is a fair trade coffee company. The farmers were extremely warm and friendly there. I also went and visited those in the crime and judicial system and those who were struggling with alcoholism and tuberculosis which was a rewarding experience.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience? 

Like my last experience to Guatemala it made me more grateful for everything I have. More evidently though it made me more conscientious when buying products, ensuring I buy fair trade because I know have witnessed first-hand the kind of work that goes into making a cup of coffee. 

Any tips for people who are going overseas?

My advice would be to immerse yourself in the culture there, I’m willing to guarantee that you’ll enjoy yourself much more and have a far greater experience.

Did you have any travel opportunities while you were there? Interesting experiences?

I didn’t have many travel opportunities but I did have some interesting experiences. For one, there are no bathrooms or showers in facilities so that was definitely an experience and something to get used to. Also, in Peru a delicacy there is guinea pig so that was a unique thing to see despite never trying it personally. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went. 

My name is Will, I am in my third year in the Global Business and Digital Arts program and I took a volunteer trip for three months to Peru.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through the Beyond Borders program at St. Jeromes. Before I could go I had to take two courses, RS 283 and RS 383 in order to get prepared for my trip. For my trip, I put down destinations I was interested in and then they would place me based on my preferences.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did.  

My official title was “Special Project Manager”. I had two different typical days. The first one would go like so: I would wake up around 10 and start off by visiting the production plant in Chiclayo. Next, I would do some web design and digital media for their website and I’d also work on some slide show presentations and help produce coffee. The second I would go visit one of the five district communities that Café Feminino had and I would help the manager there help pick from coffee trees, take pictures and talk to them about the process. In some cases you have to drive around five hours to get to these communities and the walk to the coffee fields took over an hour.

How has the experience benefited you? What did you take from the experience? 

It helped broaden my perspective and helped me gain important business skills that I can use going forward. It taught me that life doesn’t have to be so hard all the time and sometimes you just have to let things happen, it taught me to simplify life.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

One of the main cultural differences I took away was the way everyone treated you. Everybody was so kind to one another and even my boss treated me as if I was her own son. There were no real language barriers however I did make a deal with the local university. In exchange for an hour of Spanish lessons per week I would help the English class there with their studies.

Any tips for people who are going overseas?

The main tip I would give someone is to just go with the flow. Don’t say no to an opportunity just because it sounds weird or different. Many of my best experiences such as going to a Disco came out of me just saying yes and seeing what happens.

Did you have any travel opportunities while you were there? Interesting experiences?

While I was there I did have the opportunity to visit many of the non-tourist sites which I enjoyed very much. After my trip was done my family came down and we did the whole tourist thing which was cool but not as enjoyable as the little towns I got to visit during my volunteering.

What were the costs of the trips?

In terms of food costs, lunch would cost anywhere from $3-$4 and dinner was even cheaper. The amount of food you got for your money was much more than what you get here in Canada. In terms of the costs to come over, they were fully covered by the scholarships I applied for so money was never an issue. 

Please tell us about yourself and where you went?

I’m in my fifth year in SMF studies and I went on a volunteer exchange to Uganda for three months.

What was the reason for this trip?

Due to my previous trips to Guatemala and Peru I had come to know about myself that I loved advocacy work. I wanted to continue to do that but really I didn’t care about my destination, I had no thoughts about going to Africa until they actually placed me there.

Where did you find the opportunity, and was it difficult to arrange to go over?

I found the opportunity through the St. Jerome’s Beyond Borders program. In order to go on this exchange you had to take two courses before coming so that was an extra step to take and my visa was only for 90 days when I was there for 102 days so that was  frustrating but not too difficult to change.

Tell us about the people you worked with and tell us about the type of work you did?

I worked with other social workers at an orphanage in Kampala. Most of my tasks included getting supplies for the kids such as books and pencils while also running weekend programs for all 150 of the kids who would come. The area I stayed in was rather HIV stricken so we spoke to the children a lot about prevention in order for them to make the correct decisions in the future.

Were there any cultural differences or language barriers?

This experience gave me more direction in regards to what kind of work I want to do in the future. I am now involved in the HIV society of Cambridge and it too made me realize the impact I can have on others as well as vice versa.

Did you experience culture shock or reverse culture shock at all?

The accents were tough at first but I eventually got used to them. One thing that was clearly different from Canada was the friendliness of everyone, people would always come up to me and start talking most likely because I was a bit different than the general crowd but still it was nice.

What was your best experience?

I’d have to say going on a safari on my second last day there. We got to go into the jungle with these “trackers” who would find these gorillas and we got to watch them for over an hour and it was one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen I still can’t believe how human like they were. Also, some of the food I had there was spectacular, they have a dish there called Matoke and it was essentially a cooked banana that they would peel similar to that of a potato, it was delicious.

What are some tips you have for other volunteers?

I think it would be to try and put some thought going into Africa. I know we generally think of all of Africa as the same but rather each country has their own unique characteristics and Uganda is no exception.

What were some of the relevant costs of your trip?

In order to g o on the trip you had to deposit $2000 and then you had to fund raise another $2000. The costs there were not very much at all, for example a 20 minute cab ride would cost the equivalent of $0.50 here which is essentially nothing.