Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 5

Leslie and Thibault are the most incredible hosts and I could not recommend them more. They are warm and welcoming, incredibly knowledgeable and hardworking and so much fun to live with. The projects I was able to help with taught me so many skills from animal handling to carpentry and everything in between. If you want to contribute to a beautiful property with wonderful people and a picturesque location I would highly highly recommend Leslie and Thibault. I’m already excited to come back and help more!

Kai war eine große Hilfe (quasi meine Vertretung draußen bei der Versorgung der Tiere als ich krank wurde). Er hat alle übertragenen Arbeiten selbständig und zuverlässig erledigt. Besonders hervorheben möchte ich, dass er ordentlich ist und sich nicht nur nicht vor Putzarbeiten scheut, sondern diese systematisch und präzise erledigt. Besonderer Dank dafür. Kai ist ein ruhiger und besonnen handelnder Mensch, was bei den Tieren besonders wichtig ist. Ich danke ihm für seine große Hilfe und wünsche ihm das Beste. Sollte er wieder einmal in der Nähe sein, ist er ein gern gesehener Gast. Kai was a great help (essentially covering for me when I was sick, taking care of the animals). He completed all assigned tasks independently and reliably. I would particularly like to emphasize that he is tidy and not only doesn't shy away from cleaning work, but also completes it systematically and precisely. Special thanks for that. Kai is a calm and level-headed person, which is especially important when dealing with animals. I thank him for his invaluable help and wish him all the best. Should he be in the area again, I would be happy to see him.

David is a really nice guy, with a very happy caracter, openmind and he like a lot to be in a nature and hiking!. Also adaptable of the diferent style and he is the best baker i knowed! He teach fo do a veey nice breas that now i loved! Strong man and always helping at home. Muchas gracias por todo espero que todo te vaya bien!!!!

Well it was very funny, very delicious, very helpful, that’s enough. You are always welcome here

Álvaro's stay with us for over a month couldn't have been better. From the first message, everything was easy, and Álvaro's friendliness and availability were unsurpassed. He is a very independent person; you just have to explain what you want, and then everything gets done. He works very well both alone and in a team, helping immensely with all the necessary tasks, from manually weeding the vegetable garden, using the brushcutter to clean the garden, helping with the installation of the new solar system, painting the walls of the house, helping in the kitchen and house tasks, preparing our Airbnb cabins for guests always with a smiling face and immense kindness. I highly recommend Álvaro to all hosts and wish him the best of luck in his future adventures. He will always be very welcome here in our home. Thank you very much!! David

Ho trascorso due settimane ed è stata un’esperienza davvero significativa. Il posto è immerso nella natura e offre un ritmo di vita più lento e autentico, che ti permette di riconnetterti con le cose semplici. Il lavoro è stato vario e gestibile, sempre accompagnato da un clima di collaborazione e rispetto. Ciò che fa davvero la differenza sono le persone: accoglienti, disponibili e genuine. Mi sono sentito parte di qualcosa fin da subito. Porto via con me non solo bei ricordi, ma anche nuove prospettive e tanta gratitudine. Consiglio questa esperienza a chi cerca un ambiente vero, fatto di condivisione, di persone e natura. Grazie Komal e Eraldo 😊

Sam & Sally are exceptional hosts! They've built themselves a little paradise in nature. Both always had an open ear for us and were easy to get hold of if we had any questions. During our first week, we worked around the house, on the olive field and sitted their house for a long weekend. During the second and third week, we worked together with Sam at the old mild. There we cleared the courtyard from all-consuming brambles and built a floor inside the house. The workday and the work itself were very structured, which we appreciated greatly. All the work was never done in a hurry. Sam has a plan and a bigger picture in mind, so we always knew what our tasks were and had all the necessary tools and equipment available. We really enjoyed seeing the results of our work and experiencing the impact it has made. It was really interesting and amazing to built a floor inside a house! If there were any difficult tasks around the mill (such as moving concrete beams onto the first floor), Sam always took responsibility for them and did not simply pass them onto us just because we were the volunteers. Additionally, he always made sure health & security standards were met as good as possible. He also made sure we didn’t overexert ourselves physically, for example by explaining how to lift heavy stuff safely. This made us feel safe doing all the construction work around the mill. We also learned how to solve problems that arose during our work and make do with what we had. We worked 5 hours each day (with a coffee break in between) and then had lunch together. Sam cooked really delicious vegetarian food. Not a day went by without us asking him for the recipe. After lunch, we had free time for the rest of the day. During that time we relaxed in nature, hiked up the mountain and enjoyed the view of the Sierra Nevada, or went to the village by bike. We really relaxed during that time and felt at peace. Django, Borat and Spike were there with us from time to time, and we showered them with love. We stayed in the cozy bungalow next to Sally and Sam's house. As it was still a bit coldish in the evening, we heated the bungalow using the fireplace in the living room. Sam & Sally went grocery shopping once a week for us. You're responsible for keeping the place clean and for all meals other than lunch. Sam and Sally, thank you so much for everything! We fully enjoyed the time and felt at home in your paradise.

J'ai passé un séjour très intéressant chez Guy, du 8 au 27 février. ​La maison est à Mandray, pas à Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Comme il n'y a pas de bus dans cette zone et pas de voiture disponible, c’est un peu difficile de se déplacer. Heureusement, Guy a été très gentil et a fait de son mieux pour m'aider avec le transport. J'ai même eu la chance d'aller à la montagne pour faire de la luge dans la neige — c'était merveilleux !!! Guy est amical, intelligent et drôle. C'est un vrai touche-à-tout, "jack of all trades" : il m'a montré beaucoup de choses en informatique, cuisine, jardinage, menuiserie et plomberie. J'ai beaucoup appris et je suis très reconnaissant. ​Il est aussi très fier de tous ses anciens Workawayers et se souvient de leur travail. Bravo à tous et merci encore à Guy !

My friend and I stayed here for a week. The environment is very beautiful, and the cat is incredibly affectionate and adorable! Doris is an excellent cook, and everything she made was delicious. We even had the chance to try some local dishes that we had never tasted before. Although we don't speak much German, we still had a great time playing with Doris's younger daughter. The whole family is very kind and welcoming. We also learned a lot about German culture and had meaningful cultural exchanges during our stay. It's a pity that we only stayed here for a week. Thank you so much and we truly appreciate everything.

We spend 3 weeks with Heidi in Cocora. The location is very remote, which was perfect for us. We really loved the calm atmosphere in the mountains, the always changing weather and of course the company of the animals. Heidi was always present and the communication went friendly without problems. She was generous, to give us a private room, which was very comfortable. We agreed to the rhythm 3 days work and one day free after, which was good for us to visit Cocorna for shopping, go to the river nearby or hike to the waterfall. We supported Heidi in the kitchen, in the garden and with other small projects as cleaning windows and the pool. Alina also was helping her with social media. For me especially the tambo was a great place to meditate and relax in the hammock with the dog Oso joining. The moments sitting together at lunch or dinner with a guest Sebastian, Heidi, the kids, the cats and Oso we will keep in mind for a long time. It was a really inspiring time. Thank you Heidi for the great journey! We can definitely recommend this and may come back another time.

Dear future volunteer who's reading this now… if you're not sure about applying yet, then let me tell you this: DO IT! It's so worth it. I admit, maybe just saying that hasn't convinced you, so I’ll go into a bit more: From my very first day here, I felt very welcome by both Amanda and all the many animals The island is beautiful and just starting to bloom, and I had the most amazing time. Now that Easter and warmer, sunny weather are right around the corner, I really wish I could stay longer. There is something really special about the farm and the island: a kind of calmness and peace that only being in nature can give you, even when she’s blowing wind and rain in your face. And I didn’t realise how desperately I had been missing it until I set foot on the farm. This place gives you space to be present in your surroundings, to slow down, and to consciously and unconsciously step away from the screens and constant input we usually have back home. The work is physical, and it will take you a few days to settle into the rhythm of life and nature on the farm. But once your heart starts beating along with it, it stops feeling like a chore and becomes something else entirely: a way to be outside, to help, to live and simply exist alongside all these different friendly lovely animals, and to end each day with a real sense of accomplishment. There will be many small moments that stay with you. Waking up to the rising sun and opening your door to ponies quietly munching in their field. Taking the dogs on a walk through green hills. Lying in the afternoon sun, reading, while one of the cats does the same next to you. Or falling asleep to the light tapping of rain on the roof all to look up at the amazing Milky Way(less likely in the coming months, sorry :D). Lunch is home-cooked, healthy, and tasty. For breakfast there’s toast, cheese, peanut butter, milk, musli and tahini available. I highly recommend a musli-tahini-peanut butter-bowl ;). On your days off, you’ll get to explore the beautiful main village, enjoy a coffee and some delicious baked goods from one of the local shops, go for a walk along the beach, or simply enjoy the island while it’s still calm before the start of the tourist season. More than anything, this project has become a very special place to me, beyond simply being a farm that cares for ponies. It feels like a home away from home and one that I will definitely return to. (Also because I need to see how the renovation work on the volunteer room turns out! - New door, window, kitchen area etc.) Thank you, Amanda, for creating and sharing this space. I deeply appreciate the strength it takes to continue this project and to keep opening your doors to new people, while carrying your own grief after the tragic loss of your partner and co-founder. It’s something I genuinely admire. Thank you for taking the time to really get to know your volunteers, and for sharing your knowledge about horse behaviour, farm life, and the realities of living on a small Greek island. I truly valued every conversation we had. While there may not have been constant daily chit-chat, due to the need for you to have space and time to manage your grief, the quality and authenticity of conversation and communication that we were able to share in this short period of time have meant a huge amount to me. Thank you to the ponies, the cats, the dogs, Heidi the goat, and the seemingly infinite number of chickens for filling it with so much love and presence just by being there. So please, dear future volunteer, if something in my review here feels right to you, I encourage you to scroll back up and click “Contact host,” so that you too can become part of this project, which (and I say this with certainty) will become more than just a Workaway experience. With love, sincerely,
 Mara

My friend and I stayed there for a week, and we had a really good experience. Everyone there was so heartwarming and friendly, and we felt really welcomed when we arrived. Also, the food is amazing, and the view is beautiful too. Khrystyna and Rafal helped us a lot and we had meaningful conversations. I really really appreciated it and I feel so lucky to have met them. The experience changed my lifestyle and gave me another way to see this world. Hope everything the best for you!

I stayed at Richard’s place for 2weeks, and it was my first Workaway. He is very funny and made my stay really enjoyable. The place is surrounded by nature, and I also had a great chance to experience the local culture!!

Matthias has a good sense of humour and it was a lot of fun staying with him. My friend and I felt truly welcomed, and we also learned much about the German culture. There's not much work and the cats are sooo adorable.🤩 I really appreciate it and I will definitely go back there if it's possible. There are too many things to be thankful for. But I think I don't have to say more, it was simply the best!

Un superbe séjour de 3 semaines avec les enfants, les autres workawayers et Kelly. Des sorties et visites en groupe dans la joie et la bonne humeur. Un merveilleux Noël dont je me souviendrai par une immersion complète au sein des différences culturelles. Ça n a pas été toujours facile mais la communication a permis un très bel échange de pratiques d enseignement et de belles amitiés au delà de nos différences. Je recommande à tous que ce soit pour une première expérience ou pour enrichir une expérience.

Agnes and Rob are great, if you love dogs you’ll enjoy your time with them. 😊

Ayane is a very cheerful and bright girl. She is very dedicated to her studies and was studying Arabic every day. Since she had to learn all the house tasks in a short period of time, I think it must have been challenging for her. However, she has an excellent memory and was able to pick things up very quickly. She is not particularly strong physically, so vacuuming and mopping sometimes took her a bit more time. Especially with mopping, she often used one hand, so it occasionally felt like the pressure wasn’t strong enough. She usually came home around or just after 8 p.m., so most of the cooking help was done by Päivikki, a Finnish woman she was working with. However, Ayane always helped with cleaning up after meals. Since she is still young, there were times when Päivikki, who is in her 60s, took more initiative. But I believe that when Ayane needs to manage things on her own in the future, she will handle everything properly. Her vacuuming was quite thorough, and she made sure to clean even the corners carefully. Ayane is also very good at building relationships. She is intelligent and knowledgeable, and can easily keep up with conversations on a wide range of topics, even among adults. Talking with her is always enjoyable, and she brings fresh ideas that reflect her youth. At the moment, there is also a 19-year-old boy from the UK staying here, but compared to him, Ayane is much more mature. The speed at which she corrects her mistakes really shows how strong her memory and understanding are. She is kind and open-minded, never holds negative feelings toward others, and is always friendly to everyone. She treats people equally regardless of their nationality, and her openness is something that makes her very likable. She also has a great sense of fashion and wears pastel-colored outfits in different styles every day, which was lovely to see. I hope that this sweet Ayane will grow into a wonderful woman and come visit us again someday. Although our time together was short, it was truly enjoyable. Thank you so much for coming to stay with us.

Fue una excelente voluntaria: responsable, amable y siempre dispuesta a ayudar. Se integró muy bien en la finca y aportó una actitud muy positiva. La recomendamos totalmente

I volunteered here for 15 days, and it was truly an amazing experience. The eco-village is massive, with so many activities happening around the ashram, making every day engaging and meaningful. The food was really good, and I had the chance to meet many wonderful fellow volunteers during my stay. It’s a space where you can relax, grow, build spiritual connections, and feel close to nature. I was also responsible for creating a video for the ashram, and I sincerely hope I was able to give my best during those 15 days. There were just a couple of areas that could be improved. The dormitory could have been cleaner, as it didn’t feel well-maintained at times. Also, having Wi-Fi access in the dorm would be helpful, since we had to go all the way to the reception area to use it. Apart from these small drawbacks, everything else about the experience was truly wonderful.

My experience as a volunteer in Arusha was a complete 10/10. It was one of my first times in Africa, volunteering through Workaway. From day one, they welcomed you warmly, making you feel like one of their family. Special mention goes to Veronica, the volunteer coordinator, who picks you up at the airport and takes you back. She and Ruth are two lovely women who, after finishing work in the office around 7:00 PM, stop by the volunteers' accommodations to spend some time with you, play cards... and that's much appreciated. Besides them, special mention goes to Joseph and the entire office team. I worked on an educational project in schools, and the experience was wonderful. Both the teachers and the children welcomed you warmly from the very first day and were delighted to have you there to help them. But one thing to keep in mind is that they're not looking for you to teach for a few weeks. Instead, they want you to use your time there to teach the teachers techniques for the future so they can teach the children. I brought them school supplies, which they were thrilled about, and I left my computer there for a teacher who needed it much more than I did. The volunteer house is very nice, with space for about 12-14 people, a bathroom with a European-style shower, and everything is very basic and comfortable for the volunteers. The food they cook is delicious and plentiful. Finally, I'd like to emphasize that it's a tough experience, but one that teaches you a lot, especially if you go alone. If it's your first time in Africa and your first time volunteering, I recommend going with someone you know or making sure you'll be accompanied by another volunteer during your stay, because the experience is very different when you're alone versus when you're with someone.