Working Professionals Voices

I thought it was very enlightening. It was a great opportunity to travel to a country and meet new people to interact with. ... Some people say Russians are either very warm or keep to themselves, and I had the opportunity to meet both types of people and it was great. I respected both attitudes. I enjoyed every minute I was there. Every day when I woke up, I was just so excited to work and do my assignment; it was just a phenomenal experience. I would love to do a program every year.
Barbara D'Louhy, Age 40, Paralegal

It was an amazing experience. I was able to live directly with those from Ghana, to learn to cook some of the wonderful Ghanaian foods, and learn as much of the language as possible in a six week timeframe.
Laura Coliton, Age 37, Teacher

I really enjoyed Costa Rica. I am exploring retirement there. I loved the people and the commitment to sustainability, the lack of materialism, the sense of community, the universal healthcare, and the simplicity of life. [We] focused on what was important, in what touch and caring (the things a person can give no matter what their economic status) can do for children. It was a much healthier living for me as well. I ate like a horse, but all healthy, walked everywhere, lost five pounds, and enjoyed the people.
Mary Huff, Age 52, Engineer

I found the people of Ayacucho to be so very kind, patient, and overall just a joy to be around. It was a humbling experience. It sounds cliché but I really came home with a new understanding of just how blessed I am to live the life that I lead. It certainly makes me want to do more for those in my community and the world around me.
Christina Woodard, Age 34, Peru Volunteer

I would definitely do CCS all over again. The fact that we lived among the community and what we did benefited the community was really special. I don't think I could just travel to another place now and just visit. So many tourists travel to different places and just exploit the community's resources and leave. CCS is the way I want to travel now.
Kevin Wilkins, Age 25, Tanzania Volunteer

I will remember the staff at CCS and my fellow volunteers, plus the variety of experiences encountered on the trip: from the first language lesson (I am not the greatest Russian speaker!!) to the evening talks on Russian life and politics, cultural trips, to the great food, coffee, ice cream, bread, to the Cucumber Festival (a must for every town!), the kids' willingness to work with us, the caring staff at the orphanages doing their very best in what could be difficult situations, to the elderly people still smiling and welcoming us into their lives despite the hardships they faced. The whole visit was great, plus the other friends (volunteers) I met on the trip made the experience very worthwhile.

The nine weeks I spent in Yaroslavl was from the very beginning well organised, fun, and moving in so many different ways. I met so many kind and interesting people in Russia that "thank you" does not seem appropriate. It was a great experience and one I will repeat. Nadia’s team deserve great credit for what they achieve in supporting the volunteers in their placements, and ensuring our experience is varied and always interesting. My placements were enjoyable, moving, and rewarding.
Dick Michael, Age 54, Russia Volunteer

It is the first time I have ever done something like this and the experience has demonstrated to me that I can be confident some of my business skills are transferable to other fields should I decide on a career change!
Richard Armstrong, Age 41, China Volunteer

As a result of Cross-Cultural Solutions' skill in matching volunteer skills, interests and hopes to programmes, my volunteer time in Thailand and in Peru exceeded expectations. I spent no longer than 6 weeks in each place, which of course, feels not enough, but I did feel that the time I spent with street children in Bangkok and with children in the poorest district of Lima mattered in their day to day experiences. While in terms of large-scale politics or economics, or material contributions such as establishing a well for water or setting up an engineering plant, I can claim nothing. In terms of being alongside such disadvantage, learning about its causes and helping to make the daily experiences of those children creative, fun, and most of all, safe, I feel confident that my presence did matter.
Helen Barr, Age 44, Thailand and Peru Volunteer

Every day when I woke up I was just so excited to work and do my assignment; it was just a phenomenal experience. I would love to do a program every year. I just want to continue with it and make it a yearly event for me.
Barbara, Age 40, Russia Volunteer

I had never traveled internationally before and I had never traveled by myself before, so this was a huge jump for me! I remember being so nervous on the flight over to India and it seeming so difficult, but on my flight back it just seemed so easy! I think I've gained a lot of confidence from this experience.
Diana, Age 37, India Volunteer

As an organization, I found CCS to be VERY well organized, honest with the descriptions and information that was given to us. The structure of the program provided just the right amount of hand-holding that I needed to pursue my goals for my five weeks of service. The in-country staff was VERY dedicated, caring, and professional. Beyond the teaching, the cultural programming and little extras that were planned for us were extremely well thought out and very enjoyable. Finally, financially, I know that each dollar was spent well. The health insurance, food, transportation, and accommodation exceeded my initial expectations!
Gretchen Franz, Age 34, Tanzania Volunteer

Definitely volunteering with CCS is the way to visit a country. The in-country staff helps you make a smoother transition into the country. Having CCS as a Home-Base to come back to was a relief and always comforting. I felt free to roam in Thailand, but I knew the staff was quietly there watching out for me. This made Thailand feel like home even though I was in a strange land.
Neasha Evans, Age 28, Thailand Volunteer

I've recomended CCS to so many of my friends - people like me who are working or in business and looking for something a bit more - mainly because I have no reservations about you. From beginning to end CCS was wonderful.
James McAdam, Age 32, India Volunteer

I think that the "mini stint with the Peace Corp" phrase is really accurate. I'd always wanted to join up with them and this was a great alternative for me. I think international volunteerism is so important. I believe that this is the way that the world is going to heal. When you sit down with someone and talk about your marriage, your family, your life and you realize how similar we all are, I think people might start to think again before dropping bombs or declaring war.
Lisa, Age 40

I had such an incredible experience with CCS. Every day I spent in San Carlos was full of novel experiences and new insights. The mental and emotional stimulation was so constant. I was amazed at how much I learned about myself and about another culture in such a short period of time. The program does an unbelievable job of making it a dynamic, multifaceted experience.
Jamie, Age 28, Costa Rica Volunteer