uVolunteer had all these expectations met. They worked with me so I was placed in a homestay I would feel comfortable in. I ended up staying with a young family who was very welcoming and excited to have a volunteer stay with them. The people of uVolunteer also made sure I became familiar with the city I stayed in without constantly holding my hand.
I was nervous about my first day of volunteering at an orphanage in a city called Palmares because I had to take a bus and really didn’t know where I was going or what to expect. However, a uVolunteer worker came along with me to show me which bus to take and where to get off and walked with me to the orphanage. He also stayed with me my entire first day to help me get comfortable. I hadn’t expected this and was really appreciative. I was confident enough to make the trip and find my way alone the next day.
The children I worked with at the orphanage ranged from the ages of 2-13. I had taken several years of Spanish in college but hadn’t retained much. However, the children didn’t seem to notice my incorrect grammar or phrasing. In fact, they did most of the talking and just wanted to see that I was interested and involved. Actually, practicing your Spanish with children has it perks, considering you’re not afraid to make mistakes or be corrected every other sentence. My role there was basically to be with the children and give them attention by interacting and playing with them. They soaked up all attention.
You were free to organize your own activities and I would recommend bringing simple things, like books or puzzles, playdough or coloring books. Even the simplest things excited them.
I actually appreciated the relaxed environment because it required me to put thought into how I would spend my time with the kids. The children were all very well behaved. The “tias”, who watched over the children, were great guardians and appreciated my help.
If you love interacting with children and bring enthusiasm to your project, you will get a lot out of this volunteer experience.
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