Testimonials

Volunteer Testimonials

Scroll down for more

Welcome to SOLS Volunteers Testimonial page!

SOLS 24/7 has had a whole lot of volunteers from all over the world. We’ve had volunteers from Japan, Holland, England, Germany, Korea, Columbia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Latvia, India, Lithuania, Austria, Hungry, Vietnam, Sweden, USA, Netherlands and more…

We have had volunteers from as short as 4 weeks to as long as 8 years.

Below are some recent testimonials.

For those of you who have volunteered in SOLS 24/7 before and would like to add their testimonial here, please do email Danutcha Singh with your testimonial and photo: danu@sols247.org

 

 

Name:            David Gaviria and Sara Gonzalez    

Nationality:  Colombian

Volunteer in: Dili, East Timor

Period:            June 2009 – December 2009

Contact:          pipeg40@hotmail.com , sarisgonzalez15@hotmail.com

David and I decided to face a challenge to live together under different conditions from ours and share with other cultures. When we were about to leave our country and travel across the world to help those less fortunate, we had no idea that after six months living together in this place the “less fortunate” would be us… and we say less fortunate because we saw values from a developed community… Love, unity and respect are principles lacking in our community in Medellin, but in SOLS 24 / 7 you can easily find. So guess who´s lucky???

We were prepared to teach and help, but it was upside down, they taught us a lot. We got many of our best memories and the best friends.

SOLS 24/7 offers a complete system of education to every human being who is willing to form their integrity, giving back to society and committing with others. It is important what is taught there, and we are witness of the positive reactions it has caused on thousands of people. Students and teachers live in an environment of harmony, pushing themselves hard and learning to help others.

A year after having done our job, we are still discovering things and reinforcing skills learned in SOLS. In this cruel world full of injustice, SOLS 24/7 is presented as an organization that really wants to help the world. We were part of this organization and our minds and souls still are.

 

 

Name:           Christoph Biedermann

Nationality:    Liechtenstein

Volunteer in:  Dili, East Timor

Period:             1 September 2009 – 30 June 2010

Contact:        grimp@gmx.net

A big hello to all people interested in SOLS 24/7! My name is Christoph and I’m from Liechtenstein. I decided to make a break from my studies in order to work abroad. My goal was to face new challenges by having new experiences and a completely different life. I wanted to go to a very special place so I chose East Timor… and indeed I found my special place as well as my challenges!

I’m completely satisfied with the work of SOLS, because it’s not only about providing a better education to underprivileged youths by teaching them English or computer. It’s especially about changing their minds, giving them values, giving them a perspective in their lives. This is what these people really need to come up in life! Moreover, SOLS is not only giving them dreams but is actually providing them opportunities to achieve these dreams. They can become teachers, get more responsibilities and even go to other countries to gain new experiences. So right now I’m living together with around 30 teachers from Cambodia and Malaysia and from my heart I can say that SOLS made them better human beings! All of them are truly disciplined and warm hearted people, living by principles and doing their best to work on themselves to become even better people. It’s a real honour to me to know each one of them, because from the first day I arrived they treated me like a member of their family.

What I like about this organisation is its dynamic character. Not stuck by so much administration, SOLS is always changing and moving on to provide a better service for all the students. Not only the students can benefit from this but also all the teachers including me. The last weeks, as an example, I had the possibility to set up a new business program for the students. If you’re really looking for challenges and opportunities you’ll find them. But experience in teaching is not the only thing that I can gain here. SOLS makes me think about myself. What is my goal in life, how can I achieve it and what potential lies inside of me? To some extent the same thing as to all the students happened to me: I woke up and realized what is possible in this life. I don’t know how my life is going to look like, but I know that SOLS influenced me in some way so that in 30 years I’ll still remember these days.

 

Name:                    Tim Spijker

Nationality:            Dutch

Volunteer in:          Melaka, Malaysia

Period:                   11 September 2009 – 7 December 2009

Contact:                 timspijker@gmail.com

The experience from working as a volunteer in SOLS 24/7 is indescribable for me. To help young and poor students with their learning process is a really fulfilling job. This voluntary work was a great eye-opener. Of course I knew that there was a lot of poverty in the world, but to work within an environment like this was completely new for me. The students were super! So friendly, hospitable, and great fun to mix around with. It is amazing to realize that there are so many wonderful people in this world. The team members in SOLS 24/7 really create a family environment within the school where volunteers and students feel like home.

Besides the experience as a teacher, there are so many more wonderful experiences you will get as a volunteer in SOLS 24/7. A tourist only sees the tourist attractions of a country but will never experience how the country truly is. As a volunteer at SOLS 24/7, you will have the opportunity to really get in contact with a new culture, to visit the students’ houses, to meet their family, to learn traditional dances, to learn about their religions, to visit temples with the students, to celebrate cultural festivals, and so much more. After I finished my voluntary work, I really felt I was leaving my new brothers and sisters behind.

It was a great honor for me to work for this great organization. I feel blessed that I learned so many things and got so many fantastic experiences. SOLS 24/7, go on with your wonderful work and hopefully we will meet each other again in the future.

 

Name:                    Viktoria Prodan

Nationality:            Hungary (Austria)

Volunteer in:          Melaka, Malaysia

Period:                   29^th October 2009 –  End of January 2010

Contact:            viktoria.prodan@gmail.com

Dear Potential Future Volunteers!

My name is Viktoria, I was born in Budapest (Hungary), moved to Vienna (Austria) at the age of 13 and studied there after high school International Business Administration. In the second half of my studies, I joined AIESEC, the world’s biggest student-run organization providing the platform to young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. After diverse experiences in this organization, I wanted to go on an internship abroad and found in our database the opportunity to come to Malaysia and be part of SOLS for a while. From the moment I was visiting the homepage, I really started to like the organization, what they aim for and how they provide development possibilities for youth to become skilled, responsible, disciplined and socially conscious individuals.

Right from the moment of my arrival I felt warmly welcomed through the students, the other international teachers and the whole SOLS team in Malaysia. We had interesting conversations and I am very happy to be among these students and the teachers – open-minded, warm-hearted, diverse personalities with a passion for personal development.

In SOLS Malaysia, I am teaching the students Mathematics and Sales & Marketing, sometimes I am joining their English classes as well and it’s a very good feeling for me being able to contribute to the learning of them. Through all different kinds of interactions, conversations, I start to see more from their backgrounds, their motivation and indeed, SOLS provides a wonderful opportunity for students who want to become someone and study, understand more about life.

I am enjoying being part of this organization, to get to know the diverse mentalities of the “whole family” – how SOLS is often referred to and my experiences here in Melaka are an important enrichment for my life and a meaningful learning experience for me as a curious person searching for sense in life .

 

Name:             Nguyen Kim Truc

Nationality:   Vietnamese

Volunteer in: Malacca, Malaysia

Period:             30 April 2009 to 06 August 2009

Contact:           vickyings@gmail.com

Hello everybody, my name is Nguyen Kim Truc. I volunteered in SOLS during my summer vacation when I was second year university student. During my 3 months at SOLS, I had chance to teach English, Mathematics, Computing as well as Internet. These activities had helped me to develop my confidence and communication skill so much. I had broadened my mind and learnt things that I’ve never learnt in school. Staying in SOLS Malaysia was the best time for me to immerse myself to other culture such as Indian and Asli culture. It was also the great chance for me to meet and make friend from all over the world. During the time I stayed there, I did have chance to get closed with so many East Timor friends, Japanese, British, Canadian, Cambodian, Latvia, Lithuania and of course Malaysian.

Overall, the internship was a very fruitful experience. Working in a team with people from different countries was challenging but it was very refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable. Volunteering in SOLS had also taught me to have a broader mind and to be more tolerant of others. Be less judgmental and more open-minded. That is the only way we will get ourselves ready for new experience that will create memories that last a lifetime.

 

Name:                    Frank Wijchgel

Nationality:            Dutch

Volunteer in:          Melaka, Malaysia

Period:                   1 September 2009 – 15 November 2009

Contact:            Frankwijchgel@gmail.com

Hello dear reader of my testimonial! My name is Frank Wijchgel. Before I went to SOLS 24/7 I had just finished my university education. During the last years of my education, the idea and the wish to travel and do something for less privileged people started to grow and grow. For me SOLS was a good place to make this wish into reality.

In my opinion, SOLS offers a very good opportunity to help the local youth to develop their skills and character. I have worked in SOLS Malaysia for three months. These months gave me the nice feeling that I have been able to contribute to the development of the school and the students. My main task was to teach Computer skills to the students. Besides this I helped to teach in English classes, I helped students to prepare seminars, helped to improve the computer lab, set up a cleaning schedule for the school and helped teaching the students how to clean the school and be disciplined.

Most of all I enjoyed all the social contacts with all of the students and the other (local and international) teachers. They really showed me the warmth of the Asian cultures! Besides this I have the feeling that I have not only been able to help, it was also a learning experience for myself.

 

Name:             Diana Zamurajeva

Nationality:   Latvian

Volunteer in: Melaka, Malaysia

Period:            2 June 2009 – 31 July 2009

Contact:         zamurajeva[at]gmail.com

Life seemed to be stable and easygoing until I realized that I miss something important – being on my own in a different environment and fulfilling my inner social responsibility – two things I had on my mind since long time. So I went to the other side of the world literally and figuratively.

I spent 2 months in SOLS in Melaka, Malaysia in 2009 and it was beneficial experience of local people being so close to them – living together, eating together and learning together. They learned computers and mathematics with me and I learned patience and empathy with them.

While volunteering in Malaysia, be ready to get Malaysian way of life, follow the flow and you will feel in short time how relaxing life can be. Keep in mind – food in Malaysia is gorgeous and people are friendly, try to be the same in return. At school – be ready for lack of privacy for your volunteering period as you sleep and live together with students, be ready for constant heat wherever you are and be ready to feel the blessing of cold shower. I enjoyed my stay in Melaka, it’s hard to forget the cooling evenings on the roof of school together with teachers from East -Timor singing songs and playing guitar; or a trip to the beach 90 km away just to get a swim with couple of teachers and students.

 

 

Name:              Kamil Uhlir

Nationality:    Chech

Volunteer in:  Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia

Period:             June 2011- September 2011

Contact:           kamiluhlircze@gmail.com

The world is full of opportunities and there are always new places to discover. And there is also a place, where you enjoy every last minute, do what you love, meet great people and keep on developing yourself as a professional as well as a human being.  For me, this is SOLS 24/7.

Want to discover Malaysia and travel around? Sure thing! Want to go deeper into Asian society? SOLS is the place to be! Want to gain practical work experience? How about SOLS? Want to help the underprivileged? Ahem, did I mention SOLS? Want to get some motivation for your future? Talking until late night about all kind of topics is a usual thing here! Want to learn something about social entrepreneurship? Learn from the top people at SOLS. Want to be surrounded by kids eager for education? Want to experience tropical weather? Want to test your teaching skills? Want to experience shopping at local markets? Want to… It is only up to you, what you take out of your stay at SOLS! You will be offered anything you can think of!

It will not be what you expect… It will be something MUCH MORE!

 

 

Name:              Niek ter Horst

Nationality:    Dutch

Volunteer in:  Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia

Period:              July 2011- October 2011

Contact:           niekterh@gmail.com

After 4 busy years at my University I was really looking forward to do something completely different. Thanks to some connections at my University I came in contact with SOLS 24/7 in Malaysia. Their hospitality made me very eager to volunteer in Kuala Lumpur. And let me tell you, it was the experience of a lifetime. SOLS is a really professional organization with an amazing familiar touch. I really had the feeling  that I was a part of the team from the moment I arrived. I had a great couple of months helping all the students with their lessons and developing a new teaching program.  During my stay I realized how lucky I was that I got the opportunity to go abroad and experience different cultures. Not everyone gets this possibility, and I’m really glad I could help to teach the youths at SOLS 24/7 and develop their skills in many different ways.

Besides that, the Malaysian people are amazing, the culture is really great and the opportunities they give you at SOLS will let you discover the Asian culture for its full 100%

Volunteering at SOLS was a great experience and I’m still glad that I took this chance with both hands!

 

 

 

Name:              Berry Busker

Nationality:    Dutch

Volunteer in:  Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia

Period:              July 2011- October 2011

Contact:           berrybusker@hotmail.com

University programme gives students the possibility to go abroad and work within a foreign organization. I really wanted to grab this opportunity to go and do this! Thanks to some connections from my University I came in contact with SOLS 24/7.

24/7 is an amazing organization, which gives volunteers the unique possibility to experience real Malaysian culture and to help their society. The moment I arrived, I noticed their hospitality and their way of life. SOLS is in fact one big family where people come and go every day of the week. The people who work at SOLS are all very passionate and about their jobs. All the teachers are also fully committed and respected by their students who are all eager to learn from them. During my stay I met many students and I helped the organization by writing a new teaching program. Being back in Holland I realize how fortunate I was that I had this great opportunity to go abroad and experience Malaysia with all its cultures and traditions. SOLS made this happen and I am thankful for that. If you ever have the chance to go abroad please go for it, because its an experience of a lifetime! Love and Unity!

 

 

Name:             Amelleia Leo

Nationality:  Malaysian

Volunteer in: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Period:             May 2011 – July 2011

Contact:           amelleialeo@hotmail.com

I volunteered at SOLS 24/7-GDI Cambodia from May – July 2011. During my ten week internship with SOLS 24/7 -GDI Cambodia,  No week was the same. Everyday was so different, intense, unique.  There was so much to learn, so much to enjoy! The physical challenges of adapting to different living conditions, the blazing heat, humidity, cultural differences were rather challenging but all these have helped  to build my endurance in living in a foreign country. SOLS 24/7- GDI Cambodia is an oasis of love, friendship, family and happiness. The mechanism of  the school is run  in a way it just gently taps  you to think further, to see beyond, to dare to dream and explore the unknown, to reaffirm and love yourself for who you simply are. It was in SOLS 24/7- GDI Cambodia that I experienced love and forgiveness in the most simplest yet profound ways. I met pretty amazing people, namely Mr. Meach Houn Powerful, a humble leader and a great friend. I owe an amazing, fulfilling internship to Counselor Dhinu for letting me be myself and trusting me to carry out various duties and co organise ‘The Social Awareness Week 2011′ with Lisa Kippers. I could put to practise the subjects I had learnt in university and improved my communication skills. The experiences I have had in SOLS 24/7-GDI Cambodia has truly given me more insight that we should hold strong to values and love and unity is vital in our society today. Its  truly a melting pot of cultures and its quite a fun roller coaster ride understanding and just mingling with everyone from different cultures and backgrounds. My time in SOLS 24/7-GDI Cambodia will always be close to my heart, and though I may not be there to continue,I will always be there in one way another supporting the school in Cambodia. For those of you reading this, trying to decide for an awesome life changing journey or simply need a break ? Look no further, this is it!

 

 

Name:             Ekaterina Radnaeva 

Nationality:   Russian

Volunteer in: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Period:             September 2011 – December 2011

Contact:           basagan13@gmail.com

When I was studying at the University I was plagued by thoughts to go somewhere and make a difference. As AIESEC suggested me to go to SOLS 24/7 I decided to use this opportunity. I really think that I’m very lucky I did not change my mind. Now I can understand that I did not have any exact goals when I was making my decision but I liked SOLS from the website and AIESEC sources and I just felt that it was mine. I wanted to go and try. And as a result of this decision I loved all the teachers and students from the bottom of my heart.

When you go there you will find very different people with different lives and be free to talk about many interesting topics. All the teachers really care about the students. The teachers try their best to give the students a good education and change their character so the students can find their place in this world. The students are very, very friendly and happy to study. They respect and listen to the teachers.

I have to mention the SOLS 24/7 principles. They are to avoid judging people, to be a friendly happy family all together and keep on trying your best. The teachers and students make a lot of different activities together from the movie/social night to cooking group. So it feels like a big good family. It was the most memorable journey in my life. And I am sure I will never forget those lovely days I spent in SOLS 24/7. Those people really want to improve life of every human being and by the way they helped me a lot. I just can say “Thank you very much, SOLS!”

About Malaysia, you need to get prepared for spicy food, a great deal of places to visit and very friendly people. You will see how so many different cultures are intertwined. In Malaysia you will get the opportunity to communicate with Indian, Chinese, Orang Asli, Malay people and so on.

My mind and soul will be forever with SOLS 24/7.

Name:              Lisa Kippers

Nationality:    Dutch

Volunteer in:  Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Period:              23 April 2011- 23 July 2011

Contact:           lisakippers769@gmail.com

Hello there, I’m Lisa and I volunteered at SOLS 24/7, GDI Cambodia from April-July 2011. For my study Communication Science, I was given the chance to go abroad for a few months to test my knowledge and to get more experience. I am very grateful that my University helped me contact this amazing organization.

My goal was to help people in need as much as possible, while experiencing a totally different life and culture, with all its challenges. And I experienced all of this in Phnom Penh Cambodia, at SOLS 24/7, GDI.

SOLS has been the most challenging, yet amazing experience in my life. The love and warmth I got from all the volunteers and students, made me feel at home right away. I’m so thankful for all the great people I have met. SOLS also challenged me in so many ways, adapting to the Cambodian weather, the different living conditions, the cultural differences (also the ‘asian’ way of working) and many more.. But all these challenges made me into the person I am today. SOLS has taught me what it means to be loving and forgiving. It has shown me to be grateful and not to take things for granted.

Thanks to Counselor Dhinu, Mr. Meach Houn Powerful and Amelleia Leo I had an amazing, challenging and fulfilling internship. I have developed my communication skills in many ways and organizing the ‘Social Awareness Week’ with Amelleia, was a highlight of my internship.

I’m very blessed and thankful to have been part of this organization. And I hope they can continue their good work, by giving youth hope, knowledge and discipline to excel to their full potential. SOLS and all the people I have met while working in Cambodia will always have a special place in my heart!