The Golden Path: Recent Comments

Comment on Voluntary Links

2009-04-09T17:05:09Z

Hi Hayley,

No I haven't volunteered through them personally, but do consider my sources to be reliable. However I note and thank you for your input of your experience with them, which was clearly positive.

Hope you enjoy the summer, happy travels

Cath

Comment on Voluntary Links

2009-04-09T08:57:08Z

Hi,

I came across your blog whilst looking for reviews about ecoteer.com as I am thinking of using them to volunteer this summer.

I just wanted to say that your advice is great and much appreciated as the more information the better when you're going away to a foreign country.

However, I have noticed you have made reference to i-to-i on several occasions in a very negative way. Have you ever volunteered through i-to-i? I used them to work in Ghana last summer for a month of teaching and although I do agree that they are a rip off I totally disagree with the allegations you have made on this blog. I can vouch for the fact that you do not stay in "5 star accommodation", in fact you either stay in homestays or hostels whilst on your project. They are of the same standard as most of the locals stay - e.g. no running water or electricity etc. and are not in the tourist spots of the country. We were infact in the worst area of Accra and even the locals were surpirsed that we had been placed there.

Although i-to-i charge through the roof and do not donate all the money to the projects they also do not advertise that they will. They are a profit making organisation and make that clear on their website. i-to-i offers volunteers the opportunity to work on safe and reputable projects and take full responsibility for any problems you have with your allocated project. They provide volunteers with 24 hour help and support if needed which some of the others do not.

Again, I wish to stress that I do not agree with the money they charge but I am glad that I used them for my first time volunteer experience. Even as an experienced backpacker, going to a rural area in some of the most poverty stricken countries can still be daunting and I thank i-to-i for supporting their volunteers to do this.

Hayley

Comment on Voluntary Links

2009-01-28T09:26:19Z

Hmm any other opinions on this chicken and egg question would be great. For me I just think you can pay an inordinate amount of money and go with one of the large "recognised" companies like Raleigh, or you can go with a smaller company, pay less, take the plunge, but not pay for weeks on end until you are on the project and are happy with it. In backpacker land, certainly in Central and South America, and I would expect in India, Asia and Africa if you start out in the back packer haunts, getting recommendations is a very good source of information. Try the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree as well.

I still think the amount of money charged by the UK companies are not reflective of the experience you get, you can often get it cheaper. In central and South America. If you can find projects tied to American Universities then at least you pay in US$ not £.

Oh and avoid Eye 2 Eye like the plague, I have heard various allegations towards this company, including money laundering, 5 nannies to each child in the orphanage, (go figure), and staying in a 5 star hotel with not much to do, in the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami which the volunteers were supposed to be helping out with.

If you are worried about taking the plunge treat your visit as any other backpacking expedition. Navigate your way in and be prepared to navigate your way out. You can do this if you know where you are, even if it is inaccessible. Have them pick you up from somewhere you know of. Given that you are likely to be whisked off to some remote location, don't have them pick you up at 4 am at the airport!

But don't be scared, I have never heard of a completely illegitimate organisation as yet. Most of them have there hearts firmly in the right place. Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet!

Comment on Voluntary Links

2009-01-27T22:28:59Z

Hi! The above comments have been very useful. I'm looking for a volunteering experience for summer of next year and was wondering if anyone had anything to reccommend? I've done Camp America and found that amazing, so m now looking for a similar, scheme, but with a volunteering emphasis; conservation work would be ideal. But I'm a bit wary when it comes to picking a company... any reccommendations would be much apprecaited! :-) thanks!

Comment on Utila Island, Honduras

2008-11-12T20:37:31Z

I think that's so alsome that he did that for you god bless

Comment on Closing Down Blog

2008-08-12T09:46:47Z

...and you're just going to keep going, growing, living and loving. Keep it up girl, I'm proud of you!

Comment on Turtles R Us with the Chicken Torturing Conservationists, 19-27 April 2007

2008-06-01T09:59:28Z

Hi there,

No you were definitely NOT imagining things and I still stand by what I wrote.

I just had the annual newsletter actually and see that Rob has now taken over. I have a lot more time for Rob than anyone else there. I happen to know that Rob has actually had the balls to stand up in the name of right and wrong before now, and it landed him in a situation far stickier than it did me.

However I don’t think the people working on the project will give him the respect that he deserves

The bottom line on this place remains does the overall good intent make up for the craziness of what goes on there?

I certainly wouldn’t recommend it, and personally I think that the places website is massively misleading.

I'm sure you had an educational experience at least, but maybe not in the way you envisaged. Well done for volunteering anyway. If no one ever tries, nothing ever happens.

Cath

Comment on Earthquake! ...........Copan, Honduras to Antigua, Guatemala

2008-06-01T09:44:09Z

Hi Ryan,

I managed to find this for you:

Hotel a place to stay

5a Calle Poniente Callejon Landivar, 42

(Antigua, Guatemala)

7 832 06 35 - 5 610 87 14

I have no idea how to dial the above codes but I hope it works! (try the international operator).

To be deadly honest my favourite hostel in Antigua is the Black Cat, hands down, but if there's good deeds to be done good luck to you.

Well done for rounding up the school supplies. Let me know how it goes!

Cath

Comment on Turtles R Us with the Chicken Torturing Conservationists, 19-27 April 2007

2008-05-30T00:47:28Z

Hey Catherine, I found your blog through a message you'd put on the Thorn Tree Forum in Lonely Planet. Found it really interesting as I'm just back from 2 weeks at the project and even though the organisation has (kind of) been handed over to the locals, there still remain a lot of the attitude/organisation problems you mentioned. It's nice to hear it wasn't just us imagining things!

Comment on Earthquake! ...........Copan, Honduras to Antigua, Guatemala

2008-05-15T01:19:56Z

Catherine,
hey there, I was in Antigua about a year ago and stayed at Hotel Place to Stay. I'm trying to track down Raul, but i can't find any contact info.My girlfriend and I are going down in August and want to donate school supplies to a school around Atitlan, but we need to send the package somewhere and I know Raul well enough to send it there..In one photo, I saw that you are at Raul's place.Would you happen to have any contact info?? --Ryan