Partner Programs - Voices

Working with our Partner Programs effectively is a top priority. We operate year-round, providing volunteers or staff support to our Partner Programs. We invest a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the volunteer work is welcomed by the local organizations, and supporting their efforts toward progress.

Read what our Partner Programs say about the role of CCS volunteers:

Ludwig, a student at Marina Guirola (Guatemala)
When I went to my yearly school retreat the leaders told me that I was more open and outspoken and they wondered what had happened to me during the year. I told them that having the volunteers in the home had made me more confident and that they had helped me a lot".

Habitat Learning Center (India)
Volunteers have a great impact on kids in terms of confidence building. They have improved spoken English, grammar, and overall personality development. There’s a lot of difference between how the kids were before and after the volunteers stay.

Los Martincitos (Peru)
People in the community are pleasantly surprised to see that the volunteers visit the seniors in their homes. Also, the elderly feel very special because someone who they consider to be in a position of power and authority cares for them - that has a very positive effect on their self-esteem and their ability to cope with their often harsh living conditions.

Volta Regional Hospital (Ghana)
CCS volunteers provide companionship and one-to-one contact which is not always possible. They augment our staff; they teach us, and also learn from us.

X'ian Liushi Daycare Center (China)
Volunteers help the teachers with all kinds of hands-on rehabilitation exercises; this offers opportunities for the children to get to know the world better by spending time with people of different cultures.

The staff get to know that there are so many people who care for the education of challenged kids, and this makes them feel confident and positive about their own work. They are also able to get to know, communicate, and work with foreign volunteers, who make their lives more colorful and interesting.

INABIF (Peru)
Many of our children are eating better, the small children get more supervision when they play or learn, the older children get to learn English through songs and games. Additionally, the workshops conducted by the professional volunteers have enabled the local staff to better deal with emergencies (first aid) and other educational aspects of their work.

It is also very positive - the impact of volunteers in how the institution is perceived in the community - the presence of international volunteers supporting the activities enhances the profile of INABIF and leads the families to bring their children because they think they will get better services.

Woe-Aklorbordzi L/A School HIV/AIDS Awareness Club (Ghana)
Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteers have made a considerable impact on our organization by taking time to explain all the important points and giving vital information on the subject matter of HIV/AIDS.

Xi'an School for the Deaf, Mute & Blind (China)
There is no doubt that CCS volunteers offer assistance to our school's English education [program]. More importantly, they gave us the opportunity to communicate with the outside world.

St. Lucia Nursing Home (Tanzania - Arusha)
More people have access to care now, and when volunteers go to homes on visits, the patients are quick to learn and change from them.

Hogar Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Costa Rica)
For the residents, this experience has been wonderful for them because they have felt that there are other people in the world who care about them. Not even their relatives or family are as close to them as the international volunteers.

Cooperative Dept. (Ghana)
CCS volunteers assist us in rural development programmes designed to empower the underprivileged in society. The presence of CCS volunteers in the various communities we visit creates a very conducive atmosphere. Communities are especially eager to listen to us when volunteers are present. They are so delighted to be visited by volunteers and therefore react to teachings and other developmental programmes aimed at improving their living conditions.

Institucion Educativa Basica Especial (The School for Special Education) (Peru)
Each classroom in our school should have a teacher's aide in order to provide more individual attention to the students with special needs. The presence of CCS volunteers allows the teacher to spend more time with the students who most need their attention. We have also had volunteers who are professionals in the field and they have taught us new techniques and different perspectives to conduct our work.

The local authorities and other members of the community are surprised and impressed by the presence of volunteers from abroad. They learn about the value of volunteer work and appreciate more what we are trying to do.

Xidian University (China)
CCS volunteers gave lectures to the students on life and culture in the West, and how to learn a foreign language effectively. This broadens their vision and gives them confidence... They enjoy their lectures.

The volunteers' lectures make the students realize that language learning is pleasant and enjoyable. Also, their work here arouses the students' interest in the English language and the people who speak it, as well as the countries where it is spoken.

Keta Bright Future Basic School (Ghana)
Because of their frequent visits to the homes of students; knowing the problems of individual students and suggesting solutions, the local community has confidence in the CCS volunteers.

ARIE (Peru)
By sharing their professional and life experience, volunteers motivate local staff working with differently-abled children. Also, by providing direct support to the activities and services carried out by ARIE, volunteers enhance the day-to-day work, and contribute to the rehabilitation of our clients.

Although some volunteers can't speak or understand Spanish, they compensate this by extending their warmth in trying to communicate with the clients and their families.