The grounds at orphanage was beautiful. There was a play area (basketball court, a swing and a slide) with plenty of space for the children to run around and a shed area to sit. I had a room with an attached bathroom and a common sitting area. The area is safe. Though I wouldn’t go out by myself at night. There is a security guard at night.
![Volunteer Belize Orphanage Review Joan Calvert](/images/feedbacks/belize/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan-01.jpg)
1) What was a typical day like at the program?
Start helping in the kitchen around 6:30am (flip tortillas, fry the fry-jacks set the table for breakfast). After breakfast, wash the up the dishes, and help the cooks with lunch. When I was not needed in the kitchen, I would go and help in the Preschool and occasionally help with the laundry. I taught basic Math and English daily to three boys who were not in school. In the afternoon I helped the cooks prepare dinner and helped the children with homework. At 4:45pm– 5:00pm. The tables were set for dinner. (assisted the cooks to dish up meals and set the tables)
![Volunteer Belize Orphanage Review Joan Calvert](/images/feedbacks/belize/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan-05.jpg)
2) Please describe the project site, including living conditions and meals. Did you feel safe?
The grounds at orphanage was beautiful. There was a play area (basketball court, a swing and a slide) with plenty of space for the children to run around and a shed area to sit. I had a room with an attached bathroom and a common sitting area. The area is safe. Though I wouldn’t go out by myself at night. There is a security guard at night.
![Volunteer Belize Orphanage Review Joan Calvert](/images/feedbacks/belize/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan-02.jpg)
3) What was the most challenging thing you experienced as part of the program?
Preschool was the most challenging experience. I helped the teacher (around 10in total) who had a class of around 30 children (4-5 Years old). Whose attention span lasted no more than 3 minutes. A couple of them did not speak English which was even more challenging. Also there were three boys in the home who were not in school when I started volunteering. It was a challenge to get them to sit down and study. After being here for eight weeks, they got into a routine where they study with me for approximately two hours a day. Issac knows his times tables (2 – 12), addition subtraction, subtraction, multiplication and long division. He is keen to learn to learn. His brother Rygel is 6 and can write his numbers from 1-100 as well as 2 and 3 times tables.
![Volunteer Belize Orphanage Review Joan Calvert](/images/feedbacks/belize/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan-03.jpg)
4) Any tips or information volunteers should know before traveling to this program (from your personal experience)
The children are very well looked after. They were caregivers (which I wasn’t expecting) at first I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to do. I saw there was a need in the kitchen as the cook prepare three meals a day for the children. As I got to know the children (the younger ones), I noticed there was a lot of them that didn’t know basic math. Being here for eight weeks some now know their times tables but many don’t.
![Volunteer Belize Orphanage Review Joan Calvert](/images/feedbacks/belize/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan/volunteer-belize-orphanage-joan-04.jpg)
5) Would you recommend this program?
I highly recommend this program it was a very satisfying and rewarding experience. I will miss the