Volunteer Vacation Testimonials

“It was very rewarding to work with the community center and have an amazing time with the local families. It was an amazing experience for our family and sharing new experiences with my 4-year-old daughter. She already wants to do India next!

There was a great balance between seeing things and helping with projects. It was nice that Federico gave us late afternoons to rest and shower before dinner. Travelling with a 4-year-old made those rest times very important.

The best part of the week was Federico and the families! Federico was an amazing host, making us feel at home and so knowledgeable about local plants, wildlife, and customs. It was so great to have him as a translator with the families, and you can tell he has strong relationships with them. The families were so welcoming and authentic, and it was a highlight to get to know them. The food was SO GOOD, and it was really sweet of them to make vegetarian food for us. 

Thank you so much for building this program. You can see the good it has done in the community, and it was so educational for my family! The families were so welcoming, and it was amazing to cultivate such authentic connections after so short of a time (even with a language barrier). We will treasure the memories forever and hope to be lifelong friends with our coordinator.”

Amy Corp
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
November, 2024

“I was very lucky to have a great group of women working with me. You will be working on tasks you don't know how to do yet, but you pick things up very quickly. I can now say I can use a sander, drill into steel, and stain wood!
On our last day, several of the women who live in La Flor came together to give us coffee and pastries. I would've felt proud of our work either way, but seeing their smiles and recognizing the time they took out of their day to thank us for our work connected the work I did to the people it would affect. Sitting with them and feeling their gratitude was among my favorite moments of the program because I didn't need to understand each word they were saying to know how thankful they were. I truly feel I can say I know the culture and interacted with it.”

Eleanor Faems
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
August, 2024

“Costa Rica Orosi ValleyThe project at the community center and church was meaningful to the community, and therefore it was meaningful to us - we appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the restoration and beautification of these important structures. The visit to the school was also a highlight. My observation is that both my children and the Costa Rican children were impacted by the experience.
The opportunity to connect with members of the local community and experience a level of cultural immersion was the best part of the program. We met individuals and families of all ages and generations, each with their own interests, passions, and stories to tell. We gained exposure to the language, family life, typical homes and businesses, schools, church, farming, and so much more.
A highlight was visiting Paco's farm - it was beautiful, and we enjoyed bearing witness to the pride and joy he felt. My kids loved their time at the local elementary school, connecting with kids of all ages through play and comparing the US vs. Costa Rican way of life. They learned how much they had in common! And it was wonderful for all the kids to practice English/Spanish together.
We chose to participate as a family, and this was the perfect project for us - everyone had work to do that was appropriate for their age/skill level and allowed them to grow. We worked both individually and together, which was great. My daughter has already spread the word about Globe Aware to her friends and is interested in returning to this project with one or more of them. I haven't had a chance to think about which other programs interest me/us, but we are definitely interested in learning more and considering the options!”

Jennifer Maniscalco
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
July, 2024