Here are some shared experiences from past CCS volunteers...

Jennifer - Russia
This whole experience and all the people we met in Russia are something I'll never forget! I definitely want to go back someday, and I certainly left feeling like I was so much more capable and independent than I ever could have dreamed. This trip really made me want to get involved, not just in international volunteering, but in different cultures as well. For myself, I really just suddenly saw the world for what it is — so much bigger than me or my community, or even my country, and that was revealing. But most of all, this trip really took me out of my "comfort zone" and that's something I really think everyone should try just once, because it's such a priceless opportunity to learn about yourself and others, and really we all are a lot more similar than we are different!

Stephen - Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
So what is the legacy we leave? That is the question I ask myself as i pack my bags and prepare to head back to Miami. First, I can say proudly and without exaggeration that our little group of 11 souls (Yes, I am counting you Heidi and Nathan) have had a lasting impact on CCS and the little town of Moshi. We have inspired our volunteer program to change and adapt. We have made new families. We have set not only high standards, but left behind inspiration for the new volunteers who have arrived. We have delivered 14 babies. We have taught long division. We have hugged orphans with Malaria. We have taught them the words to “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” We have written grant proposals and brought struggling families beans and rice. We made chips. We have captured their images in photographs and their stories in words. We have given a little girl back the use of her arm. We have given an entire school exercise books and pencils. We have built wardrobes and shelves and some strange type of garden. We brought a young, dying girl home for her last Christmas. We helped a man with TB get to the doctor so he will be around for his daughter’s wedding. We have given hugs and kisses and parts of ourselves to these amazingly generous people. We have given hope and taken hope back with us in return.

Daniel - Tanzania
Well, after being home for a couple of months and looking back and reflecting on my trip to Tanzania I have really changed. I was part of the Moshi group and worked at schools and orphanages. It was amazing because I was teaching to kids about the same age as me. I am 13 years old and I had the most amazing time of my life. People might say that I was too young and didn't learn much but let me tell you that I probably learned a lot more about the culture than most did. Some of the kids looked to me as a friend and we played together and they showed me all the secrets in town. Also, the kids at the orphanage were not as scared of me as they were of the adults. So if you have a kid who really wants to go but you are worried, let them go because I know I have changed and I am willing to bet they will to. Sometimes big things come in small packages. Remember - just one friend can change their world and ours. Kwa Heri ("Goodbye" in Swahili).

Charles - Russia
All in all, it was a wonderful and an amazing experience. Before I went to Yaroslavl, I said this to myself, "If I could bring a little joy and a little happiness into somebody's life over there, the trip would have been worthwhile." I hope I have accomplished that. But more importantly, I have gained a lot in return; that three week experience has enriched my life far, far more than I can ever imagine. I would go through that experience again and again and again. The staff — Nadia and all six interpreters — are all wonderful people to work with. They go out of their way to help us volunteers, even way after the normal "office hours." They have all earned my respect and admiration. I love them dearly. I would recommend CCS to anyone who is even remotely contemplating doing volunteer work. There is no finer organization.

Orla Mckee - Peru
I would very much advocate international volunteering; it is such an enriching experience. It was a perfect opportunity to experience a country from within, in an environment that was very safe. The variety of placements offered by CCS gives people from all walks of life something to get their teeth into. I am in the healthcare setting at home, where your hard work is rewarded when you can measure, over time, the difference you make, which can be a long drawn out process. Being part of CCS and the program in Lima and Ayacucho I have to say has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in the past 10 years of my career. It is an instant reward. As I reread my emails and journal it is obvious the people of Peru have made a wonderful impact in my life and I can only hope that my time with them, along with previous and future volunteers' time, will go a long way in impacting on their lives.

Kathleen O'Donnell – Costa Rica
CCS was the most amazing experience I have ever had! I have never felt so good inside as I did in the short two weeks I worked in San Carlos. I will forever cherish everything I learned while I was there, and I will never take for granted the little things in life ever again. I would describe my experience as a two week long rush! Every morning I woke up, I was so excited for what I was going to accomplish in the next 24hrs. I loved every bit of my experience. Working with CCS gave me such a warm feeling inside. When I got to San Carlos I felt a little lost in my life, but when I left I had such a handle on what I wanted to do with myself. CCS was the best thing I have ever done.