My Nonprofit Reviews

Cross Cultural Solutions gave me an opportunity to discover my capabilities and find, what I am confident, is my true calling in life. As cliché as that may sound, it really is true. My experience with Cross Cultural Solutions challenged me in ways I don’t think I could have ever been, unless, perhaps, I was to join the Peace Corps (and get accepted). With Cross Cultural Solutions, everyone can be accepted. I wanted a taste of overseas volunteering in a setting I could feel comfortable and safe in, yet still feel that I was actually contributing something other than my money. Cross Cultural Solutions doesn’t require you to volunteer for any specific amount of time (unless you chose the intern or insight abroad program) because they realize volunteers want to be in control of the time they are donating. This is a major benefit because the volunteer (ages 16 I believe-100) can make this choice when applying to Cross Cultural Solutions. Not all volunteer organizations offer this opportunity and make the process much stricter and in my opinion, less appealing. I chose to go to Cartago, Costa Rica for 12 weeks (the longest period I believe you can go for without extension) and do some self-discovery along the way. I might add that I had never been to Costa Rica prior nor had I ever been out of the country for more than two weeks. The ‘hotels’ as Pat calls them or home bases, are safe and welcoming places for volunteers to live in while abroad in a foreign country. It was in the home base that I learned to utilize my minimal Spanish speaking skills (which grew significantly, thanks to the Spanish classes provided twice a week) as well as integrate myself into the Spanish speaking community. When I wasn’t volunteering, learning how to cook cultural foods, practicing my Spanish with our wonderful cooks and practicing dance lessons with the in country dance instructor, I used some of my free time to walk to the local gym at the local University, which was very cheap I might add, and immerse myself in Costa Rican culture even more. The Tech University down the street gave me an opportunity to meet students my age (23 at the time) and learn about their lives from a non tourist perspective. Students were, for the most part, happy to share their stories with myself and other volunteers who showed an interest in learning. I can say honestly that what you put it as a volunteer is what you will get out. There were volunteers who used their free time to nap or read or write while others, like me, immersed themselves in the new and foreign culture right outside our bedroom doors! I was very happy to have the opportunity to work in two placements. One placement was a nursing home setting (which always smelled like fresh laundry and had a wonderful staff) for the abandoned elderly. The other setting (which I actually requested when applying) was a home for HIV infected people. I have a strong interest in the medical and disease field so this was everything I could want, as a person without an MD. I worked at the HIV home three days a week and at the elderly home twice a week. Pat is ill-advised to say that volunteers work minimal schedules. I personally worked on a few weekends (by my own choice) and worked more than the required amount of time per week because I wanted too. I know another volunteer from Canada who also gave up weekend travel time to work at her placement with children because she wanted too. I must reiterate, what you put into the experience is what you will get out x 10. I chose to work on some weekends, with the permission and support of the staff, because I was completely and totally emotionally invested in my placements. Yes, the program is not cheap, by any means. However, unless you are ready and willing to independently travel abroad and find a place to volunteer in alone, this is the program for you. I am not sure if Pat considered that in country staff as well as the placements (I think) and activities provided (though not required), need funding. Considering the notion that Cross Cultural Solutions is a program that allows you to volunteer in a third world country and because of that, they need your monetary contribution to host you. There is nothing shady about Cross Cultural Solutions. I also want to touch on something else Pat said: “The volunteers stay in these hotels, engage in recreation activities, and work minimal schedules as volunteers with in country groups that Cross-Cultural Solutions refuses to identify except to volunteers that have paid.” Pat, why is the idea that Cross Cultural Solutions doesn’t give the identities of these people away until expenses are paid for, so significant to you? In country staff are not a cluster of natives who committed crimes or did time behind bars. If you pay, you are paying for a great deal of experience, adventure and self discovery. The identities of these people should be preserved for their own good. If you read the website, you can get a detailed list of where you are going and who you are staying with. If you have questions, why not call an alumni volunteer? That’s what I did. In fact, I called three and they gave me all the information I wanted and more! Cross Cultural Solutions needs to maintain the privacy of in country staff, perhaps, for their own sake. To gain knowledge on in country staff and whatever else you might be eager to know, you can 1) call alumni 2) call Cross Cultural Solutions directly 3) go to http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/countries/latin-america/volunteer-costa-rica/cartago.aspx or the country of your choice. It takes no time at all! I have chosen to make a profession out of helping people as a social worker. Not everyone will find their calling through a Cross Cultural Solutions experience, however, they will learn more about themselves while working with the people and what they are actually capable of doing when placed out of their comfort zone. To create a program where a volunteer is able to participate in numerous aspects of country life is to raise awareness as to what is out there as well as teach the volunteers how they can be instruments of change.

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