Volunteers
Uplifting and invaluable
I have found voluntary work to be mutually beneficial – not only are you helping someone who really ...
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E-volunteering from home once a week was very convenient and enjoyable.
I would definitely recommend e-volunteering. It’s a great way to get to know people who live in a v...
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The experience has made me reflect
It was such a great experience. In various ways, the experience has been life changing and life aff...
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Great ideas...just helping to structure them
I was successful in taking Fatou's great ideas and just helping to structure them into a business pl...
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....rewarded with kindness and unforgettable memories
The support and guidance I received was excellent. I felt very safe and secure in knowing what was e...
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Wonderful and enriching experience
Thank you again to People and Places for providing me with this wonderful and enrichi...
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I thoroughly look forward to the third placement next year
"People and Places have been incredibly supportive throughout. We have had regular
meetings ...
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"It's not just a matching process
If I have to choose one word to describe how you (People and Places) work, I would pick engagement!!...
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They are great teachers and I loved being able to support them
Kate and the team at People and Places were very helpful, accommodating and efficient in
orga...
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Very friendly atmosphere
The accommodation at Tiger Mountain was superb. I was very well looked after on all accounts. There ...
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What was the highlight of your volunteer experience?
Mainly it was wonderful to be accepted as (almost) part of the furniture by the brilliant staff of t...
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Volunteering is the best thing you could do but only if you do it right.
Would you recommend volunteering to other people or not?
I would definitely recommend v...
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A trusted and respected name
People and Places is an organisation that is of particular interest to me because it is a trusted an...
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"most informative ..."
We work so hard here at 'people and places' to ensure that all our applicants and volunteers are wel...
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the best thing I have done since retiring.
the best thing I have done since retiring. Thank you to Sallie and Kate at People and Places.
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People and places is the organisation I'm most comfortable with after doing some research
"I have chosen People and Places because I want to be 100% sure that I'm matched with a placement I'...
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Appreciation for people and places from a new applicant
“I have wanted to volunteer abroad for a long time. I am very aware of some of the inequalities in t...
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India - volunteers’ work in Chitardai shows clear results !
LOVE this news about successful volunteers’ skills-share and achievements in Chitardai primary schoo...
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WOW - how special is this volunteer input in The Gambia !
This from volunteer Susie, working with ASSET in The Gambia:
"I had promised myself that I would ...
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Appreciation of our high standards
"If I do organise an overseas volunteer scheme, I will definitely be doing it with People and Places...
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I used to just wing it
a young student finds a path - thanks to volunteering with us
"Would you recommend volunteering t...
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I feel so much richer for having taken part. It is as if my brain has been re-ignited
on a personal level, the project was extremely stimulating and invigorating. Hard work - yes - but I...
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"in safe hands"
You will learn about yourself and perhaps be more interested in, and more interesting to others. V...
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You are a truly responsible company that delivers to its promises
I decided to volunteer again with people & places because you are a truly responsible company that d...
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No nonsense no fuss approach
“Just thought I would let you know that I have been very pleased with the help Delroy and Yinka h...
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I felt very prepared for this trip
Kate you are so organized and speedy with your responses back to me. I felt very prepared for this t...
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Negotiating the "minefield" ...
The following from future volunteer, Elaine - who has obviously been checking out many of the projec...
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Andrea at "half term / half time" in Siem Reap
I've just realised that already I'm half-way through my time at Grace House, 3 weeks school a...
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Volunteer Kevin - preservation of cultural heritage in Saint Lucia
towards the end of his time in Saint Lucia, volunteer Kevin talks about the results of his work with...
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Volunteer Pam - first post from Peru
"It was with some trepidation that late in January, I made the long journey from the UK to Cusco,...
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The scenic route to work in Cambodia
"More and more often I take the bicycle to school instead of the Tuk tuk, then I am flexible and can...
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Volunteers at work, rest and play - Saint Lucia
volunteers Kevin & Esme – a weekend off, and still found time to do some research !
“I ...
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MA student Anke reviews her placement - and gains a great degree !
carefully crafted student input can enhance their studies and research – as demonstrated by Anke,...
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"efficient ... professional ... attentive and personal"
Remember our first email?
“The process of creating a well-matched placement generally takes at...
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"p and p is a very special organisation"
I cannot praise this company too highly. I felt highly supported throughout, from the time I w...
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"P&P is one of the most ethical companies I have ever come in contact with."
My husband and I are about to return for our 5th volunteer visit to a rural South African scho...
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"....convinces me that i would love to volunteer through your company."
Dear Kate,
Thank you for a lovely and encouraging email!
I have read your ...
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My experience still shines bright
Nearly three years on and still my experience volunteering in South Africa still shines bright...
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"......you make sure that the volunteer’s skills match the community’s needs"
Your organisation gives me the impression that you make sure that the volunteer’s skills...
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"a professional company such as yourself gives me a lot of confidence
"I have been looking to do something like this for a number of years now and to actually ...
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"I truly found a rare happiness in the mountains of Nepal"
" So what can be said of my month stay in Nepal? Sometimes at night it would rain so hard...
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"Upfront....she was able to think outside the box"
I stumbled across the peoples and place website purely by chance and Kate was very responsive. When ...
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"Brilliant.....brilliant"
people and places were brilliant in supplying so much information before I went out there and I woul...
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"one highlight was seeing a local teacher change his style"
teacher Michael talks about his experience working with teachers in a township school.
watch ...
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Professional, friendly and positive
I have nothing but praise for the way that the entire volunteer experience was; from initial contact...
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How volunteering should be
I was happy living in the mountains, being part of the school and also the village community
...
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Exceptional personal service - so many highlights
These are some extracts from a post placement report by volunteer Nicki who went to Amar Jyoti...
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It was good to be so well looked after in Nepal
This is a recent email to our local partners at Shermathang school from volunteer Julie
...
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You will not be disappointed by what you get back
“The term ‘community’ never meant a lot to me until I became a Pioneer in Ap...
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volunteer stories from volunteers
check out slideshare youtube our blog facebook for volunteer interviews ...
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"few other volunteering organisations seem to provide this"
"• Providing a detailed breakdown of how our money would...
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"people and places are very thorough and everything was well planned!
Volunteer margaret talks about her time at Amar Jyoti School. Watch the video here
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” I felt very safe in people and places arms”
danielle aged 21 when she volunteered talks about her volunteer experience on Emmanuel a ...
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"I liked the concept of total transparancy"
Volunteer Nick talks about his many volunteer placements with people and places - he was our f...
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"an experience far greater than as a normal tourist "
"to see people with so little who have such joy"
Volunteer Nita talks about her e...
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One of the highlights was to be embraced by my homestay family
Lynn, a social worker, volunteered at emmanuel in Port Elizabeth. watch her video interview he...
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I know I will be providing something that's needed....
and that i have good back up.
Volunteer Yvonne talks about her volunteering experiences - yes...
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Watch a short video with education volunteer Michael
Michael worked on the schools support programme in port Elizabeth. watch his video here
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A video interview with volunteer Danielle
Watch a short interview with a volunteer here
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Among the lessons we learned
We’re home and we can’t stop thinking about the incredible school and township we left.&...
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'a two-way thing'
a few notes from a recent volunteer's report show strong local partnership:
Orientation and prepa...
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'go with an open mind'
I would say, to anyone thinking about volunteering, that you will have a wonderful experience. You w...
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Health care volunteer - "a day in the life"
No two days are ever the same in Emmanuel. It's difficult to put into words how a day actually...
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A volunteer warns against trying to do too much
As this was my first experience of volunteering abroad, there certainly seemed to lots to think abou...
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The Gambia - practical tips & advice
from one volunteer to another:
1) If you want to take a laptop you can use it in the air-conditione...
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Tiger Mountain & time off in Nepal
Accommodation: Very comfortable room, excellent service / help / friendliness from the staff, superb...
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More evidence of volunteers 'passing the baton'
First of all, thanks to P&P and previous volunteers for their useful and helpful advice.The form...
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At home in Nomathasanqua township
The food was not exciting but OK and a sandwich, lots to drink and 3 pieces of fruit was just right ...
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A previous volunteer sees real progress
"It sounds like it was an excellent group of volunteers who did some great work. Just rea...
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I'm feeling very much at home
I have had my first 2 days in the township and the warmth of the people and school staff is wonderfu...
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"very personal right from the start"
My interaction with People & Places felt very personal from the start, dealing with Kate regular...
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It would not have happened without you
It is truly amazing to see what you have been involved with in such a short time - many thanks...
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Immense satisfaction
I would like to thank Kate .. for affording me such an opportunity to enter a world I did not k...
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Something that will be with me for the rest of my life
I think that great thought has gone into each project that has volunteer placements and everyone inv...
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"Extremely welcome in her home"
My accommodation could have not been better, I was truly blessed to have been put with Mikie as she ...
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What a magical experience this all has been
The following is an exchange between one of the first volunteers at the school in rural Nepal and ou...
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Wonderfully honest and encouraging
This is just to keep you in the picture. We have now all met and had our orientation and our f...
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A returning volunteer is delighted by small changes
Normally, I do not like to return to a place because I am fearful of getting more disillusioned. I a...
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Why choose people and places
Most of all, I’m hoping to find a placement that will have a sustained impact – not just...
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Wouldn't swap the experience for an all expenses paid first class trip to paradise.
I applied in January and went in July - far too much time to get myself in a proper stew! But, havin...
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Follow the blog from 2 volunteers in India
Bob and Penny Wolfson are travelling to India to volunteer in March. Follow their blog here
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Quite unlike the experience of some friends
I'm so looking forward to working in the school and quite happy to take what comes. Years of e...
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Have gone native and lost interest even in rugby matches etc in UK
Hi Kate and Sallie
All well on the India front! A lovely sunny Sunday stretches ahead and I am catc...
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Help so pleasantly given
Many thanks for your latest e-mail.
It is almost time to go and I just thought I would tell you ho...
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Passion and commitment
After three trips with people and places it’s hard to put into words what it is people and pla...
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Admission from a volunteer
In retrospect the advice from Kate and from Paul ( people and places local partner in South Af...
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A Samata volunteers blog
Read Margaret's blog as she writes it in situ in November 2009.
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" You have opened the gates of freedom to us. "
This is an inspirational blog by returning volunteers The Kuglers in South Africa. The parent involv...
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Honesty and integrity
We've been impressed with the organization, honesty, and integrity of your program, both in the U....
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We tried to prepare ourselves for anything...but
Our appreciation for the integrity and honesty of both ( people and places and local partner Calabas...
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One profesional to another
Hi Geoff
I,m sure you must be feeling a whole range of emotions about your imminent visit to Missio...
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To be honest I had planned to go with another company
I loved the experience and got everything I'd hoped to out of it and more. It was fantastic to...
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Facebook group for people and places volunteers
We've set up a group on facebook - so to contact other volunteers, chat about volunteering and...
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Preparation
First and foremost a huge thank you to everyone involved in this remarkable experience. A friend gre...
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Networking
networking amongst volunteers is great! I recommend all prospective volunteers contacting someone wh...
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A teacher volunteer's blog from South Africa
For a diary of one volunteer's experience in Port Elizabeth.
Sue asks you to forgive the...
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A month at Missionvale
It all started with a small advert in a travel magazine, and it seemed in no time at all I was headi...
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These teachers are the most extraordinary group of people
Larry and Sara have been working with the teachers in grades 2-4, both in class and in afternoon sta...
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Work and pleasure in The Gambia
This from a volunteer in situ in The Gambia March 2009
This is a beautiful country and the people...
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Connecting people all over the world
Thanks so much for sending the pictures. It really warms my heart to see that the bicycles are...
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My time there as very very special.
Thank you, thank you thank you so much for the photos of my lovely Jo Slovo School. 1 year ago today...
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Irritations, conflicts, disappointments ...excitement and wonder
A piece of wisdom from one volunteer to another before they started the placement together
"I ...
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Too many thankyous
“And in terms of thank you’s… we’ve never felt so appreciated and “ov...
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For volunteers by volunteers
Our newsletter will now be the responsibility of a previous volunteers, Nigel has valiantly of...
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Incredible work
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you and good luck. You are enabling incredible work and development in t...
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5th Avenue Guesthouse
I called it the Garden of Eden… it was beautiful and the people were wonderful.
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Simple skills
In addition to building a five trailers, copying a cycle hitch and repairing a few bikes I hope I ...
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We feel our skills have been well matched
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Bali. Ron, Gayatri and the staff here have been m...
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South Africa ia a complex country
Xenophobia was a constant topic of conversation: One weekend I visited friends in Johannesburg, on S...
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The rewards
The rewards have been immense, I feel empowered to do much more voluntary work, I have a belief in m...
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Why people & places?
people & places were the only organisation I came across at the ‘One Life Live’ exhi...
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The needs were so great and we were so inadequate and very much fish out of water
Day One
Our brief is to focus on developing the capacity of the poorly-trained home based car...
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Getting Stuck in in Bali
....we have been very busy! We have learnt much about tropical fish and the marine environment. ...
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Dear Prospective Volunteer,
I have just returned from my second term at Emafini School in the Kwa-Dwesi Township near Port Eliza...
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Part of a team
We very much enjoyed our trip and really had a trouble free time. The timing of our visit seem...
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Did I have a lovely time? NO!
On returning home friends and family asked if I had had a ‘lovely’ time in South Africa....
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A myth and a truth
You only have to walk through the school to appreciate that they are far from sad, impoverished plac...
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