Deirdre, a volunteer to Turkey, writes:

I spent the month of July volunteering in a care home for the elderly in Etiler, Istanbul. The staff were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. They were so open and willing to share their culture and their way of life with me. They immediately welcomed me into their working environment, helped and supported me throughout my time there and even though communication was difficult we got to know each other so well.

My homestay was with a family in Gehmehöy on the Asian side of the city. They were so welcoming and did everything they possible could to help me settle in and feel like I was part of their family.

On September 18, 2009 The Roscommon People covered Ciara Cunningham's story in the article The sad plight of an AIDS orphan. Ciara is one of the winners of EIL Travel Awards 2009. She have travelled to South Africa for nine weeks as part of EIL’s Global Awareness Programme, to volunteer with people living with HIV and AIDS.

In Africa there are 13 million AIDS orphans. “A generation of human beings who have never known a mother’s loving cuddle or a father’s guiding hand. These children will learn life skills in institutions rather than imbibe them from their parents” – Richard Dowden, ‘AFRICA: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles.’

Brona Higgins is a student from County Monaghan who spent 9 weeks on a volunteer programme in Nepal. She's shared with us an account of this life changing experience:

Nepal. The natives will continuously tell you it stands for Never Ending Peace And Love.

Cathal From Co Mayo kept a diary about his is experience of working at a volunteer camp in Rajasthan, India. Here's an entry from part way through his time there:

Hey all

Hope everyone is well and good and all ready to enjoy the May weekend. was pretty shocked when i realised it was 1st May as that means I am home later on this month. Now finish week 9 and beginning to feel the countdown to the finish line. I have come back up to Mcleodganj the village where the Dalai Lama resides for the weekend because i liked it so much last weekend. it is a real chilled out and relaxed place and I am completely fascinated by the Tibetan influence and the Buddhist monks. It is fascinating religion.

June Keohane from Co Cork has spent 4 months in Guatemala volunteering for ADISA, a centre caring for people with special needs.

I spent three months in Quito, Ecuador at the start of this year, as a volunteer of EIL. I found the first while to be very tough, being on my own without my friends and family around, in an unfamiliar place and submerged in an unfamiliar language. I had absolutely no Spanish before arriving in Ecuador but by the end, I was quite confident with the spoken language.

Katie Mahon from Co Wexford volunteered in Chile for 10 weeks in a center caring for girls from a disadvantaged background in the town of Temuco. She wrote on her experience just a few days after having left the center.

I've finished my volunteer placement and I was broken hearted leaving the Hogar in Temuco!!! Felt like the time went so so quickly, and it was so hard saying goodbye to all the girls and everyone working there knowing that I wouldn't see them the following day, or week or month........... it was like having another family!!! I can't believe how welcomed I was, how much everybody made an effort to make me feel a part of the whole group, and how much the Tias appreciated any bit of help they received.

Eleanor Reece is an Information Administrator from Dublin. In 2007, she spent 3 months in Florianopolis volunteering for the Vidal Ramos Fundation. This project supports children facing difficulties and keeps them off the streets.