I started my GLD program in Bali on September 2019 without expecting anything. What I have experienced at the center went beyond my expectations. I taught English to children from different backgrounds and I acquired many skills thanks to this humanly enriching experience. In almost six months, I grew, I left the country with many memories, I built a bond between the children and the community—and I'm really proud of it. Bali is an amazing place with different cultures, religions and people, I hold dearly in my heart the many shared smiles and kindness from people. I leave Indonesia not only with a renewed state of mind but pleasant memories to last a lifetime. I have learned a lot not only from people but about myself (personally and professionally). This experience will be etched in my memory forever."

"My time at IHF’s Nakuru center was unfortunately cut short due to a family emergency, however, during my brief time I had the incredible opportunity to see this amazing organization’s work in action. The moment you arrive at the center you recognize it as a home and the people who work and live there as a family. The volunteers and staff were all very friendly in their greetings and open to helping me converse in Kiswahili. It was very nice to meet the children at the center. I spent a lot of time with the youngest child in residence who very sweetly and consistently demanded cartoons. I also had the opportunity to meet my mentee, Mercy. We had a lot of fun playing card games on my last day. It was lovely to meet all the children and to feel like one of the family. Overall, despite my short stay in Nakuru I gained memories that will last a lifetime and I will continue to support the organization from afar by being an at-home volunteer. I will continue helping by organizing fundraisers and supporting the public relations work of the organization."

"Hello! My name is Budi. I joined IHF as a volunteer teacher when I was in the second terms at the Local University. I was teaching Aflatoun the Social and financial education and English. I study Nonformal Education and feel very excited to share and implement the lesson from University. Day by day through cheerful day at the center, I was interested to be Co-director and helped Lissa and Siti to manage the center. I like playing instruments, Guitar, Drum, Bass, and Cajon. Do you know? I am involving the children to sing together at the center!

As a Volunteer I am trained to be a leader of society by joining IHF. Global Leadership development is a perfect program for me and other young people in Indonesia and all over the world to improve their skills and leadership. I learnt a lot of lessons from IHF even from the children. Leadership, management, education, Budget and many more. I believe that Education is the key of life changing. Come join me and other GLD at IHF, let’s make an impact!"

"I have joined and worked with IHF since 2014, but took a break after some time to finish my studies. My interest of working in NGO, Education and with the children makes me come back to Medan Center. I started as a Local Volunteer then GLD. It made me knows about IHF working system better by time and this experience is good to share with our new volunteers about how IHF works. I’m interested in teaching and working with children and being in IHF is a good decision for me. I have experience as an English teacher in one of international schools in Medan, although actually I’m basically a dentist.

Sometimes providing a free dental check up for the student’s parents and the children gives me a little happiness since dental check up is quite high in this country. I’m just happy to be able to share what I can to people that helping others won’t be always in material by giving them money, but also could be with the skill and service to reduce others’ difficulty."

"IHF Medan is an important landmark on my path as a human. I was always under the impression that Africa was hot yet Medan taught me how greatly mistaken I had been. The local co-directors, Budi and Siti, saw to my comfort as reasonably as possible and also helped me adjust to a culture and language that was completely foreign to me. They introduced me to the friendly, yet initially shy, local volunteers and children. The children’s parents were always smiling and we had great fun trying to understand each other when we found ourselves without interpreters to help us out.

The set up here was very different from Kenya in that it was not a children’s home but rather a learning center – the school going children and youths would come after school to get assistance with English, Maths and Basic Computer classes. The fans would be blowing and we would be playing between classes or having discussions with the older children. There was always so much energy as more of the younger children attended classes and reduced as they got to the higher classes – this, sadly, is a reflection of what happens at schools as well.

I loved working with Budi and Siti as they gave me perspective from the local angle while tried to share from IHF’s perspective, sometimes we just had to laugh at ourselves and then continue. They were always willing to teach while being open to learn and embrace the greater vision and find ways of making it applicable to the local needs and set up. I enjoyed the meals, music, laughter and the sensitivity with which they worked with me. IHF Medan is another eternal trimming on my heart."

"I was lucky enough to visit the International Humanity’s Foundation Kenya Centre for three weeks in August 2019. It was my first time visiting Africa as a whole and working with a grassroots NGO, so the prospect was very exciting and also nerve wracking! I arrived early morning and got picked up from the airport by another volunteer, he drove me up to Nakuru. The journey took about 4 hours and it was an amazing way to see and really begin to imagine what life is like in Kenya. On arrival there were several friendly faces to welcome me, and I was shown to my room to rest until I was ready to get stuck into the centre. Over the next few weeks I really settled into the centre, and immersed myself in the culture.

During my time at the centre there were a range of opportunities to support the centre as a whole, this included assisting students during their prep, liasing with other members of staff and maintaining the centres grounds. I learnt the value and importance of using your own initiative and thinking creatively in regard to making a sustainable, long term and positive impacts within the centre itself, this has allowed me to continue to support IHF even after my volunteering experience on the ground.

Similarly, whilst in Nakuru I explored the local areas and took some time out to become a tourist, this allowed me to go on my very first safari around Lake Nakuru, which was spectacular! Overall, the experience was one of a kind, but particularly the most enjoyable part was getting to know the students at the centre, they all had such big personalities, it was amazing to get to know each and every one of them! With this, on reflection I am so glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with some truly amazing people, of which the centre is full of! And I’m excited to continue to support IHF and the wonderful students that they inspire."

"The experience in Kenya with IHF was one of the most significant in all my life. To be honest, I cannot say that it was easy; first, I had to challenge myself regarding the cultural shock because Kenya and Italy are very different under many levels. For example, I have been through many ethical dilemmas and most of them are still open. Did I do right? Am I really making a difference here? My life-style and social rules can adapt here or should I change my behaviour?

A part from these initial difficulties, the children taught me the “Hakuna Shida” philosophy, that litterally means “no problems”. They taught me that it’s all about the perspective that we have towards them. IHF’s experience set up a new mental framework; I am more propense to help, I trust more others, I give more respect to my parents and I am grateful to be simply alive!

When I came back home, I dreamed about Kenya all the time and still I keep the Kenyan flag bracelet on my wrist. I was very happy to hear that the children appreciated my volunteer service there, but on the other hand, I feel that I could have done better. So, this is not a real goodbye; I hope to come back to visit them soon!"