I joined NGO Taxi as a volunteer for three months during the summer of 2016 and I can honestly say that it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
The work itself wasn’t too taxing and I was able to play to my strengths, plus I had the satisfaction of seeing the results of my work instantly and knowing that, even if only in a small way, I was helping to improve the lives of many people in South America. My work mostly consisted of writing content for the website and project information documents for potential volunteers, and I appreciated the fact that most of the time I was trusted to just get on with it. I also learned a lot about the administration and infrastructure behind these companies, a totally new area for me.
The HQ apartment is a nice place to work, very light and airy, and the couches are indeed comfortable! However, unless there is a meeting scheduled you can work wherever you want, so I often went to café’s to work instead. My fellow volunteers were all really lovely people, and those who were doing the internship worked well as a team. However, the highlight of the time must be our volunteer coordinator, who is one of the nicest and most hardworking people I’ve ever met.
The other thing which made it so memorable was the city itself. I joined a gym and a salsa school, I took Spanish classes, and by the end I had made several local friends. It was also really special to be able to fully experience daily life in a city on the other side of the world; to go to the same markets as the locals, use the same transport, and take part in the same festivals and community events.
All in all, a fantastic experience I will never forget.
