AfID - Pastvolunteers Site

Natalia (ACCA)
Peru

"For anyone who has ever thought about doing something like this – please do! "

Caroline (ICAEW)
Philippines

""The number one do and don’t is - Do it and Don’t think about it""

Keith
Vietnam

JJ (Remote Volunteer)
Sri Lanka

""This is a wonderful way of travelling!""

Gregory (FCPA, FCAANZ)
Laos

"It all still seems slightly unreal, almost as though we may wake up from the dream of it all, but on Saturday we will be off to Cambodia!"

Amy & Jonny
Cambodia

"One could view the addition of wading through floods and torrential winter rain as a downside, but a good pair of flip-flops and an attractive poncho adds to the experience!"

Monica (CIMA)
Vietnam

Melva (CPA Australia)
Nepal

Andy (CIMA)
Zambia

Stacie (ACCA)
Kenya

Jessalyn (CPA)
Cambodia

Tim (ACA)
Zambia

"Did we make a difference or lasting impact? We feel we did!"

Andrew (ACA) and Jeannette (CPA)
Tanzania

Tim, ACA
Kenya

""At one point a class of children suddenly came piling outside shrieking and very excited – a snake had apparently appeared in their classroom.""

Juliette (ACCA)
Zambia

Kate & Ruan
Botswana

Arne (ACCA)
Kenya

""Go for it! You are more likely to regret the things you don’t do rather than the things you do do""

Daniel
Rwanda

"'I would not be where I am today without my volunteering experience'"

Daniel (CA)
Malawi

"I would recommend a similar placement to anyone looking for the chance to do something different while giving back"

Anna (CIMA)
Malawi

Dustin (CPA Canada)
UK

Adrian (CIMA)
UK

"Volunteering for AfID really is a perfect introduction to the sector."

Rowena
UK

""The biggest pro is that I feel like the work I am doing has meaning and the impact is measurable and altruistic""

Amber (ACCA)
UK

Olivia, ICAS
Ghana

"I don’t think this is the sort of thing I would have done on my own, so being able to travel and volunteer together was really important to me"

Amy and Rory, ACAs
Cambodia

Harriet, ACA
Cambodia

Matt, CPA
Guatemala

"Hard to believe, but its five days since I arrived in Dhaka and am almost used to the crazy traffic and near 30C weather."

Michael (CPA Canada)
Bangladesh

"The colleagues here are so friendly, grateful and appreciative."

Ruby (CIMA)
Kenya

"Volunteering has left me with some great memories, having met some fantastic people making a real difference."

Alistair (CIPFA)
Botswana

"I woke to the wonderful site of half a dozen monkeys playing just outside my bedroom window!!"

Mark (ICAEW)
Malawi

"I was still using my brain but in completely different surroundings"

Kate (ACA)
Peru

"From my first day at PJL, every employee made me feel like one of the team."

Meghan (ICAS)
Madagascar

"Strolled in today and loved the energy of the town. But no coffee. Anywhere."

Phil (CIMA) & Natalia
Malawi

"I enjoyed challenge of working in a completely different environment"

Karim (ACA)
Uganda

"This will be my first trip to India and I'm looking forward to learning lots of new things."

Jonathan (FCA)
India

"I was very fortunate to meet such kind and wise people. They made my stay in Nicaragua very special and I thank them very much."

Agnes (ICAS)
Nicaragua

"I am finding people extremely helpful, and very patient with my terrible Spanish – 8% on duolingo only goes so far!"

Kerry (CPA Canada)
Peru

""Hopefully I can do something useful on the finance stuff while enjoying the experience.""

Dan (ACA)
Malawi

"Take time off to explore the country. Don't waste the opportunity!"

John (FCMA)
India

"Well done AfID. I truly appreciate all the support and initiative from you."

John (ACA) & Lester (CPA)
Cambodia

"Make sure you explore"

Chizoba (ACMA)
Cambodia

"Think about renting an apartment, even for short placements."

Carl (CIMA)
Cambodia

"AfID and YaLa Africa have been very helpful getting things organized."

Bob (CPA Canada)
Rwanda

"I learned so much about Kenyan culture and had the chance to visit some beautiful places."

Diane (ACCA)
Kenya

"I lived in an area I am interested in, worked in a language I love"

Matthias (CIMA)
Guatemala

Joanna, CIPFA
Cambodia

Lee San (FCCA)
Uganda

"Go with the flow as you can’t be prepared for everything."

Alexandra, ACA
Malawi

"Be realistic about what you can achieve."

Sally (ICAS)
Sierra Leone

"I have met and worked with some amazing people and shared some very special experiences."

Juliette (ACCA)
Vietnam

"Just training on Excel skills and how to keep proper paper records can be a significant change for small organisations."

Katy (ACA)
Malawi

"Say yes to everything! And ask lots of questions."

Emily (CIMA)
Nepal

Amy (ACA)
Tanzania

"A highlight was the children on their way to school in the mornings waving and shouting ‘good morning’ which was lovely."

Amy (ACA)
Tanzania

"My time in Uganda was extremely worthwhile in teaching me how to engage with others."

Phil (ACA)
Uganda

"Personally I find that disturbing your comfort zone and embracing new experiences is very invigorating."

Malcolm (ACCA)
Argentina

"The volunteering I did gave me the confidence to take on a larger, more permanent assignment."

Gregor (CA)
Cambodia

"Without my volunteering experience with AfID I'm not sure that I would have secured my first role outside of practice."

Louise (ACA)
UK

"Volunteering provided a great opportunity to learn more about the charity sector."

Sarah (CA)
India

"My advice is to go for it! You'll learn a lot and change your perspective of the world."

Hannah (CA)
Malawi

"I wanted to use my skills and experience gained in the private sector to benefit developing countries."

Jemini (ACCA)
Zambia

"It will be my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa and I'm not sure what to expect."

Peter (CIPFA) & Elizabeth
Malawi

"Getting some experience through volunteering is a good idea because it demonstrates your interest in the sector."

Kemi (ACCA)
UK

"I landed in Ghana just over three weeks ago and to say I was petrified was putting it mildly."

Olivia (ICAS)
Ghana

"I am amazed at how relevant my skills are – and by this I mean all the skills from the different parts of my career."

Chris (CA)
Argentina

"The team morale is extremely high which makes going to work so much more enjoyable."

Gerrard (MSc)
Malawi

"Do your research, follow your gut instincts, and use your common sense."

Laura (ACA)
Cambodia

"The sector is tremendously fulfilling. I am offered the chance to work with determined, passionate entrepreneurs on a daily basis."

Tyler (QBE)
Guatemala

"Dipping your toe in the water via volunteering is such a good way to gauge whether a wholesale change is the way to go."

Colin (ACA)
Malawi

"While I do enjoy having down times during my vacation times, this experience really allowed me to make a difference."

Matt (CPA)
Guatemala

"I decided to volunteer with AfID to determine whether I wanted to make non-profit work my long-term career."

Sarah (CPA)
Cambodia

"After I returned most NGO interviews recognised the commitment I had shown"

Will (ACCA)
Ghana

"The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it."

Nick (ACA)
Nicaragua

"I am really excited about being immersed in African culture, and I’m eager to get started."

Sarah (AAT)
Tanzania

"Off in the morning to Dakar in Senegal for another International Development assignment."

Malcolm (ACCA)
Senegal

"The Khmer people I have had the good fortune to meet and work with are all so kind, gentle and generous. I feel honoured to have had this opportunity."

Sophie (ACA)
Cambodia

"Work wise there is lots to do. Lots of competing priorities, wants and no plan. It’s my job to sift through it all and develop a plan."

Phil (BoC)
Cambodia

"Picked up at airport by Charlie and Janeth and we crammed everything and me into Charlie’s VW beetle."

Stephen (FCA)
Tanzania

"The most rewarding aspect of the placement was getting very close to the local staff. They are now my friends and I would like to work in Cambodia again."

Hiroaki (QBE)
Cambodia