Jamaica

My experience with Projects Abroad has been really good. Right at the beginning, when I was still orientating myself about the different countries and different projects I could go to, I had so many questions and things I wanted to know more about. Luckily, there would soon be aninformation day in Amsterdam, where Projects Abroad and some ex-volunteers would talk about the organisation itself, the different countries and projects and their own experiences. By then I kind of allready knew I wanted to go to Jamaica to do the construction project, but they did not talk much about this specific project at the open day. Therefore, I  asked one of the staff members, if she could tell me more about the project and the country I was interested in, and she did since she had been to Jamaica herself. She also brought me into contact with an ex-volunteer who worked on another building project in Jamaica in which they also build a bathroom. I had some email conversations with this guy, who was named Pim, and we invited him over so that my parents and I could ask him everything we wanted and he was more than likely to answer all our questions. This really helped us out a lot, since my parents were a little bit afraid it would not be safe in Jamaica. Pim however, assured us that it is perfectly safe in Jamaica if you do not go out on your own (in the late evenings). 

After hearing about Pim his experience in Jamaica and all the stories he told us, I was sure I wanted to go to Jamaica. I had convinced my parents by then too to allow me to go there, which meant that I could sign up for the building teen special in Jamaica. It was really easy to sign up for the project, and Projects Abroad helped me out with every step, checked all the information with me and helped me out with the preparation. I also got my own website on "myprojectsabroad.org", where I could see my pay balance, find information about vaccinations and visas, write my own blog,  read about the project and my host family and find information about the country, my insurance, and a packing-list. Besides that, I could get into contact with my personal Volunteer Advisor, Maike, who would anser all my questions and help prepare me for my trip to Jamaica.

Once I got in Jamaica, the Jamaican staff of Projects abroad helped me out further. They had everything planned, from the taxi that would pick me up from the airport and bring me to my host family, to the weekend trips and the supervision wherever we went. Also after every two or three days or so, Projects Abroad would do a questionaire with us to check how we were doing and find out if there were any problems. I can only say that Projects Abroad has helped me out very well and I have felt safe and comfortable during my whole 2-week stay in Jamaica. I have had the time of my life in Jamaica, and I have had so much fun each and every day again, which was partly due to this well organised trip by Projects Abroad.

If I will ever be able to do some voluntary work again (which I hope I will!!) I would probably sign up again at Projects Abroad. The only remark I have about Projects Abroad is that during the teen special, they sometimes take the supervision a little bit too serious. We were not even allowed to walk over to the supermarket which was just around the corner or cross the street on our own to go to the bathroom. I personally think this was a little overdone, since we are not 5 years old anymore, but on the other hand I can understand why they are so careful and protective and it does give you a safe feeling.