Success Stories

We used workaway for the first time last year and hosted 4 young volunteers from Latvia who stayed with us for 4 weeks. They were also new to Workaway so we had a few teething problems but all in all it was a good experience.We had no idea what to expect but they, Sanita, Yanis, Kaspar and Viola, were very hard workers and we were happy with the amount of work they carried out, They were also very ingenious and came up with some great ideas. We intend to host more volunteers this year.

A year ago I signed up as a host for workaway. Since then I had several workaways staying with us, some of them students taking some time off to travel or professionals in their sabbatical year.From the social point of view, it is nice to meet people from different part of the world, share thoughts, experiences and opinions. All of our workaways have been extremely nice to my 3 children and were very well accepted by them.Regarding the jobs they can do, the best is to be flexible and see what skills they have and how to use these skills. There are lots of university degrees and excellent professional skills in computer, languages or health who want to get their hands dirty and like to check out hard, physical work. But it is hard to find someone who really has experience in handy jobs such as building, carpentry etc.At the moment I have a lovely German-American couple helping me with household, children and making a beautiful mosaic terrace.

Tawnie  came to us from Arizona. We loved her! Our two daughters became very attached to her, and sent her back to Arizona with pictures of green grass and Scottish trees! Thank you Tawnie and Workaway..

I joined workaway a a host looking for people to help with my eco project a I was overwhelmed by the amount to do after my partner and I had split up, I have had a number of helpers some fantastic some I was glad to see the back of, but our major success story is Dave and Georgia contacting us through the scheme. From the outset I knew that this was different! Dave is an very talented carpenter and lovely guy and Georgia his girlfriend is one of the loveliest people I‘ve ever met! As my circumstanes changed and I had to come back pretty much full timeto the UK; They have now pretty much taken over overseeing the project and living there, even looking after my dog for most of the time while I cant be there! I may otherwise have had to have her put down :-( Work Away is great!! As long as you are clear with any helpers before they come about what you expect from them and they are honest with you about what they can do, then it should all work smoothly. and maybe you‘ll be as lucky as me and get some new amazing friends and colleagues too!

I lived my first exchange in Kerry (Ireland), with a lovely English family. I spent two months(spring 2009) helping with their poly- tunnel and vegetables beds. Also helped painting the house and homeworks.They was lovely with me, introduced me in the irish culture and help me with my English.I was very lucky in meet this wonderful hosts, now I have good friends in Ireland.

I joined last monday and 2 days later, I hade 2 good contacts.

I find the website very EFFICIENT
The only thing is that I feel sorry not to have known it before ....

I would suggest a few pages in different languages in order to be known WORLDwide.. (its coming.... Workaway :))

Congratulations
the 18 euros are really worth investing

After being let down by two travel buddies last summer, i was left thinking what am i going to do. I study architecture and had spent the summer working in an office and other various jobs and really needed a break. I decided to just bite the bullet and travel alone. The Euro against the pound was pretty strong but i felt as a 21 year old female i didnt have many other choices than to travel in europe as a first time experience of travelling alone.My lack of funds and friends lead me to work away. I sent out about ten personalised messages to various hosts in Spain, Italy and Greece and ended up getting many responses. I eventually chose to work at a Farmhouse Hostel in Italy. As soon as i got there i knew it was the best decesion i had ever made. The place was literally breath taking, and the people were relaxed and generous. I think the host/volunteer ethos will lead you to these kinds of people. The work was as advertised and very enjoyable to help out and make peoples holiday more enjoyable. I met countless amount of people from around the world and i now feel i could stay anywhere and someone who i met would have a bed for me. If your thinking about workaway but unsure then try it , something that makes you scared can end up being the best experience of your life.

Ten extra pairs of hands...I register on a site called workaway.info earlier in the summer.  The deal is that you provide food and accommodation, and your volunteers will work for 5 hours each day, 5 days a week. I had no idea how much interest there would be with a project like ours…  but quickly discovered that a calendar was necessary to organise visitors.Up to today we have hosted Jess, Rosie, Sian, Caro, Helen, Rachel, Rosie (2 - our research shows that 66% of English women are called Rosie), Esther, Matt and Andrew… ten people…  and only three people have ever left!We started in June with individual visitors - though the house was often full with family, friends or the Global Agents for Change (team of 20 riders plus film crew). We doubled our numbers when Sian and Caro were here at the same time… then Rachel arrived as well. Caro and Rachel have formed a crack baking team - they’ve really shown us how far you can go with the new oven - with a constant production of cakes and pies to keep our energy levels up.Currently we have Rosie and Esther here too … they had been volunteering at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales for the past year.  I have heard a lot about CAT so it’s wonderful to have visitors who have spent a considerable amount of time there.  It’s been really great to compare notes with them about all sorts of eco technology - high and low.Sian is leaving today. She has worked like a trooper and is incredibly strong - she also blasted a lot of my students’ stereotypes about women… her job back in Australia was working in explosives in an iron ore mine - and her ovaries are fine!* Sian single handedly shifted tonnes of rubble away from the kitchen & we suspect would have dug her way back to Australia given too long. We now have a cellar with lighting and a concrete floor, walls in the hallway, stripped and varnished floors in all the bedrooms, a hot shower, washing machine, oven and freezer - (all post Sian developments). She’s been great fun to spend time with and we’ll really miss her sense of humour.  Our plots to keep her here have so far failed - (finding a Czech for her to marry - for example) but we hope she’ll come back some time.It has been really useful seeing how the house operates with 7 visitors… though Matt and Andrew (also from Australia) have their own camper van so I didn’t need to find a bed for them. Andrew has contributed way more experience in chopping wood than I was expecting from a design specialist!Over recent weeks we’ve eaten some really fantastic meals (though, now, cooking for nine, people are a little more daunted by the task!) and been introduced to the idea of desserts (not at all usual for us two). We’ve heard lots of new music and been educated in many different ways. By the end of October we’ll be down to one or two visitors and things will quieten down for mid winter - I can’t now imagine  with only us here!

Thank you Workaway, I had a wonderfull experience in Arizona with Betty and Rusty, wrangling in there ranch and discovering the life and legends of the old west!!!now Workaway is part of my life style!!!

We‘ve been hosts for various volunteer organisations for the last 20 years. I suppose by now we‘ve had well over 500 stay with us and they‘ve all helped either to run our business or build the Quinta itself. We‘ve learnt an awful lot from them and we hope that they in turn have learnt from us too. Obviously some have been better than others, but many have come back several years in a row and many more are now our friends - which bodes well if we ever want to take a holiday! This year it‘s to Mexico to stay with Pancho and Liliana who came to us for a two week stint and stayed a year and a half .....; I make no bones about the necessity for hard work or longer hours than other hosts. However, honesty pays off and it‘s far better that volunteers know what they‘re getting in to and no-one receives any surprises. In return for the longer hours though there are advantages in that we‘re flexible within reason with the time, the place itself is very beautiful,with a good atmosphere, and there are lots of activities for volunteers to make the most of in their down time.Every year is a success, (as we‘re still here), but this year was particularly good as far as volunteers went. First we had Tosten from America, then Brandyn from Canada, Tim and Paul from the UK, Marie Pierre from Canada again, Heather from the States, ("Unh hunh"), Belinda from Australia, Matt from New York and Melissa from Maine ... and it‘s still only September. We‘ve normally had more than this during the year but this crowd have been so good, so helpful, so willing and such fun to have around that it‘s made the whole Quinta hum with life and laughter and the hard work that‘s had to be done has seemed easier, more enjoyable and more satisfying.With our season now winding down we can start to take a look back over the last 9 months or so and see what‘s been achieved both physically and mentally here. It‘s good! Better than that, it‘s bloody marvelous! I‘ve seldom got to this stage in the year and felt such happiness, and a whole lot of that I attribute to the wonderful people we‘ve been lucky enough to have had help us throughout the year. I hope that some of them‘ll get to read this and understand the appreciation we feel for all they‘ve given us.

My friend Heather and I went to work on a lavender farm in Normandy,  for a week in September. It was the most incredible experience ever! The owners of the farm, were so nice and welcoming. Working in the lavender fields was lovely too, surrounded by that wonderful smell. Bob taught us all about the process of distilling the flowers into oil, and Corey gave us so many good ideas for visiting places in the nearby area. Every night we all had dinner together and laughed and talked over some amazing dish or other (they were able to accommodate my being vegetarian and Heather vegan) and, of course, incredible wine. If you‘re interested in working in northern France at all, i HIGHLY recommend it. A few points of advice: it was kinda cold by the time we went in mid-September, and I hadn‘t brought many warm clothes, so either going earlier or just packing more would be better. Also, we brought bikes, which was lovely, but the roads around there are CHALLENGING for biking. Actually, that doesn‘t even begin to describe it. Just prepare for a workout.

I just found this site through and am blown away. You have created a truly unique community. There are sites like this but none which include such a wide spectrum of opportunities. Not only that but your site is easy to navigate & very informative. I want to go tell everyone I know about it.
Again, Thank You!

I spent a month volunteering at Sanilles, Spain and had an amazing time. We did so many activities and I felt like I was part of the family. I learned to cook so many amazing dishes and practiced my spanish (although It is my first language). This experience was priceless and I plan to continue volunteering all over the world.

Our first Workaway volunteer has just left after a month with us. Elise was
from France and helped us with the horses, our vegetable garden, pond
project and painting. During her time here she visited the Centre of
Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, took a boat trip out to the bay to
see the dolphins and wildlife, walked the coastal path from Aberaeron to New
Quay, went by bus to Cardigan and spent many happy days in our local town of
Aberaeon with our other volunteers. Our next Workaway volunteer arrives on
the 2nd of October. :)

We recently had two great Aussie guys staying with us for a couple of weeks helping us with many jobs on the property. They are both great workers superb company and new friends for life.If any hosts out there are lucky enough to get these two young guys ......you will not regret it!Thanks to Rob and Charlie.....you are both welcome anytime.

Our first two workawayers have been brilliant. Thanks so much! As well as being a great help with getting stuff done on our project, showing them around has really helped me re-appreciate where we are here.Many thanks!

I really enjoyed visiting your web site and got fascinated by the idea behind it! I was always thinking if something like this exists on the Internet and finally I found! Really, your site is great and you`re doing a brilliant job! I`ll definitely register and try to find some place to go, because I love traveling and meeting new open-minded people from different cultures.

I've had a tremendous response through Workaway for volunteers.So far this summer about ten people-all of them good workers and good company who've fitted in well with our community ideals.

I have been a host for some years now and had some wonderful workaway guests who have not only worked hard but also been great company. I am still in touch with several of them.
It is a great website for both parties please keep it going!

When I found this site I was blown away! I am so grateful that this website is here to give myself and my boyfriend  the opportunity to see the world.
Brit, USA

I have friend in Italy right now working on a villa and he is having the time of his life.

I‘m so excited to know that this exists! I love to travel, but the most rewarding part is being able to really feel at home with the locals.

I intend on using this site for my next journey to Europe.  It opens doors I would have never thought possible.

I simply wanted to say thank you for creating such wonderful opportunities for people to see the world in a different fashion!

Juliana

My time with Workaway was the best traveling experience of my life. You learn a great deal more about the cultures and countries you visit when you actually stay with the people in that country. One of my favorite qoutes from Mark Twain says it best. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." I have hopefully made some lifelong friends and will continue to travel through Workaway and make many more.

 

Thank you.There are so many companies that try to make profit from young people like me wanting to have an experience of other countries and cultures and charging them thousands of pounds to go and live in another country. I know there are lots of people like me who are more than happy to do some work in exchange for food and board instead of having to pay expensive charges to these exploitative companies.

We put our names on Workaway.info hoping to find someone to help look after our stables for a couple of months. The response we had was incredible, in the end a couple of Swedes on there year out came and lent a hand. They ended up staying for 4 months and we are still regularly in contact! John,Myra and Tom (and the horses!)

I found workaway whilst researching for a trip to Europe, What a find! instead of the 3 months I had saved for I was able to stay for almost 9! and managed meet a variety of great people. Thanks and hello Ingrid in Germany.Steffi,Oz

My dream was to go to Seville and learn flamenco not only did I do that but I also stayed and worked baby sitting with a lovely family who are coming to visit me next year in New York I also learnt loads of Spanish.. Gracias

Hasta Luego, Caroline,NY

We had a couple of Canadians to stay with us and help in the garden...what a difference they made. Within 2 weeks they had cleared the garden, cut the grass weeded and dug over a couple of new beds and as we all shared the cooking we learnt a few new recipes as well. What a great idea!! Jean and Mark, Avon,UK

Two Australian lads stayed with us and helped me replant and area behind our house I managed to do in 2 weeks what would have taken me 2 months!. Stephen,UK

We wanted to travel Europe, but were on a limited budget, through Workaway we managed to contact people in England Spain and France, we got to know a lot of new people eat as lot of new food we worked loads BUT we couldn

I wanted to learn English in England but the schools I find were very expensive. I find a nice family in Southampton and helped care for their children in the mornings and go with my friends in the afternoon and learn a lot of English.Jose,Barcelona .Espa

We put our names on Workaway just to see the response we got. We received emails from America,Australia France and India! Eventually we invited a couple of to stay from the US. They repainted our house whilst we were at work and we all went off at the weekends together camping.Les and Paul UK

We have now been hosts for 5 different "workawayers" they have all been different and really helped us re organize our house One New Zealander who had just qualified as an architect and was on a year out even designed our extension for us!!! jamie,London England.

Wanted to let you know that the day after you put my details on your site I had an immediate response. A very nice Welsh couple came for two weeks...they were travelling around Europe for a year in a campervan and were glad to have a warm bed for a bit...they were charming and very helpful. The day they left I had an email from Tony. He came for a few days before going on to Granada. He was also great and an excellent worker! Angela. Vejer,Spain

Thank you for making it possible for us to meet someone through your website. We have found a friend in Portugal that is so kind to assist us in our relocating there. It really makes life more pleasant and the transition easier to have someone to talk to in Portugal. Again, thank you for providing this service.

I want to thank you and your company for the information you have provided. I was able to find a lovely woman in San Pablo, Spain who I lived with and worked for this past summer. I had an amazing experience and have Workaway to thank for. I will definately recommend this service to travellers in the future. Thank you and good luck for the future. Yours sincerly. Kellie