Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings - page 7

My experience with Taiga-san, Tomomi-san and their family was truly life-changing. I stayed for one month, and my tasks were varied as the season transitioned from summer to autumn, which included: yardwork, maintaining the guesthouse for workawayers, general administrative duties for his shop and gallery, studio assistance (cleaning, clay preparation, creating workshop materials etc), and providing support during the annual Bizen pottery festival (set up, sales, translation). During my time, there was also one other workawayer who was a ceramicist, and despite my lack of experience in the medium, I was still able to support, watch and learn from both Taiga-san and his father. I not only learned a great deal about Bizen-ware in the process, but also about pottery of other regions and Japanese ceramics history overall. Taiga-san, Tomomi-san and their family are all extremely talented, worldly, generous and funny. Their daughter is delightfully inquisitive, perceptive and mature. Our conversations were wide-ranging, covering history and politics; contemporary art and our respective professional experiences; social norms and concerns in our respective cultures; language exchange (in particular, Okayama dialect 岡山方言) ; amongst other topics of interest. Spending time with fellow foodies also meant dinner parties with Taiga-san and his family, and I took great pleasure in sharing Cantonese cuisine as they taught me some Japanese home-cooking. Additionally, I was fortunate that my stay coincided with the local shrine matsuri, and I was able to attend a tea ceremony in Okayama city. Meaningful exchanges were not limited to Taiga-san and his family, but also extended to his friends and colleagues. I met other potters and villagers, Taiga-san’s former workawayers, and also the international students at the Bizen Pottery Center. As such, I was able to witness and participate in other noborigama firings, learn of other creative projects happening locally, and to really understand and appreciate what life in Bizen is like. In my time off, I was able to visit nearby Osafune (an historic centre for sword-making!), Kojima and Inujima too. I look back on my time with great fondness and deep gratitude. This experience has nourished my interest and curiosity in ceramics, which I am excited to further explore. More significantly however, I have gained long-lasting friendships; I very much look forward to seeing this wonderful family, and all the others that I have connected with, again very soon -- ありがてい , また後で！

My volunteering experience at Linda’s house was truly amazing and unforgettable. From the very first moment, she made me feel incredibly welcome—like visiting a grandmother or an old friend. Linda is a genuinely kind and warm person, and her hospitality goes far beyond expectations. The house is cozy and comfortable, the rooms are warm, and the food is absolutely delicious—she’s an excellent cook! What made the experience even more special was her vibrant social life. Linda often organizes small gatherings and invites interesting people, which gave me the chance to meet wonderful friends and enjoy meaningful conversations. If you enjoy social environments, you’ll feel right at home. The tasks were varied and flexible, mainly including gardening and cleaning. Linda always clearly explained what needed to be done, and the work was never too difficult. While she values getting tasks done, she is not overly strict about schedules, which creates a relaxed and balanced atmosphere. Another highlight was the environment itself. The house is close to the sea, so you can easily go swimming and enjoy nature. There are also lovely dogs and cats—perfect if you are an animal lover. On top of that, Linda generously allowed me to use her car during weekends to explore nearby cities, which made the experience even more enjoyable. On a personal level, this experience was very meaningful for me. Linda speaks clear English with a Scottish accent, and spending time with her really helped me improve my language skills. She is also an emotional and open person who loves to talk, making every conversation enjoyable and enriching. Overall, I had a fantastic time and felt truly at home. I hope to see her again in the future, and I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a warm, social, and authentic Workaway stay.

I stayed here for two months and had the most amazing experience. This was actually my first workaway experience and I think it will be very hard to beat that one. From the very beginning the communication was incredibly warm. Nique, the volunteer manager took a lot of time for me and patiently answered all of my questions which made me feel very comfortable even before arriving. All the hostel stuff is so helpful and friendly and they treated me as a team memeber from the first second. The hostel itself is very well organized and offers daily activities for guests. Organizing and running these activities is part of the volunteer role. The tasks are clearly structured: you “work” five days a week and have two days off. You always work together with another volunteer and for some activities like hikes, you even collaborate with the partner hostel, which is a great way to meet more people. The activities are so much fun that they never fel ltike work. These include hikes (Table Mountain and Lion’s Head), braai nights, game nights, movie nights, karaoke nights, market visits,and yoga if you are qualified to teach. On top of that, the hostel offers tours that you can join for free, which is an amazing bonus. Usually there are four volunteers at the same time and you share a room with them, including your own bathroom, which was great. I truly had the best time at this hostel and would go back immediately if I could. Thank you so much for everything! See you soon 🫶🏼

Dash has been our longest-serving volunteer on the program and is a fan favourite among the volunteer community. He is always giving 100% and is usually the last volunteer to leave the work site EVERY DAY!!! He's been a true pleasure to have with us in Nepal and would be an asset to anyone he works for.

As a couple who arrived in Netherlands newly and travelled abroad for the first time, we didn't imagine such a warm welcome and nice people. They are the best hosts one can have and we are lucky that our first experience coincide with their hosting. A lovely and admirable family plus an immensely beautiful land and surrounding.

Franc and Marco have been great to work and live with, I spent amazing four weeks at their place. They invited me with open arms to their little paradise and I felt welcome from the first moment. The house and the garden is beautifully made with a lot of details and it's incredible what a peaceful oasis they've created over the last years. You can really feel all the love and dedication they put into it. I was honored to create a mural at their entrance wall and I had the best time painting there. My working hours were very flexible and they had full trust in my work and with my time management. When I wasn't painting, I had cuddle breaks with the goats, feeding the chicken, or talking to the cockatoo and macaw. There are many other animals such as cats, turkeys, geese, peacocks, etc. I definitely recommend Marco and Franc as workaway hosts! Thank you with all my heart for for this incredible experience, all your trust, the good talks and delicious meals. All the best for your future projects. 💚

I stayed one week in early December with Tokuya-san, Yukiko-san and their family. Although it was a short period, I felt like I was part of their family right away, as they always made sure I had everything that I needed, and that I was well fed each day. I was immediately involved with the daily schedule of their household, with tasks primarily focussed on helping Yukiko-san, which included: tidying and washing up after each meal, cleaning the bathroom, refilling the humidifier, and folding and putting away laundry. I spent a lot of time with Yukiko-san, and had insightful conversations covering education and childrearing; our professions; societal and political attitudes in our respective cultures; amongst other topics of interest. This cultural exchange extended to sharing home-cooking, and Tokuya-san’s mother was even able to replicate one of my dishes after eating it just once! The children are very polite, intelligent and extremely passionate about sports. They are also quite worldly, having met many foreigners through regularly hosting workawayers. The older two have a very busy schedule, with extra-curricular activities occurring on weekends too, and the youngest attends nursery a few days throughout the week. Despite this however, there was still time to get to know them, whether it was providing English homework help, watching anime, playing Pokémon cards, or drawing together. I also managed to join a community event for the local children to learn how to make shimenawa (しめ縄 ) decorations, and attended their school sports day! Tokuya-san and Yukiko-san are both very flexible and offered ample time off, thus I was able to visit Nagano city, nearby Karuizawa, and even to see the snow monkeys at Jigokudani, and still be back for our evening meal together. I had a very memorable time with them, and it was made all the more unforgettable set against the snowy backdrop of Mt Asama. Until next time -- またね！

We wanted to stay 2 weeks at first but then decided to stay 3 weeks because of how fun the projects were and how well we got along with the host Sebastian. We didnt speak spanish at all but that wasnt a problem for Communication and over the time we stayed here we learned enough words to talk with the host. Also we got to experience amazing food and Sebastian also took us with him to Medellin on the weekend where we could then skate which was just perfect for us! The requierement for work hours sais 2 hours a day but it is extremly flexible, so if you want you can work way more and some days there is not much work at all. The days here fly by as you embrace the nature of the mountains, and the weather that varies between violent rain and burning sun and everything in between. We are all happy we had the Chance to have this experience and we already think about retourning some day. Sebastian was an awesome host that quickly turned into a friend who taught us alot in a very relaxed and friendly manner. Thank you so much for this journey of a stay and we wish you and the perritos and the pigs all the best! :)

Maylin was a very good volunteer and we are pleased she was with us for 2 months. She is zany, fun, and proactive. Our little boy said he loved her on day 1. They invented games together, had long chats, she prepared his meals (lots of pasta with olive oil and salt flakes), spent a lot of time outside in kiddie parks, dog park, and Plaza Mayor. Maylin also helped with dish washing and some cleaning, which was a great help. Thank you, Maylin. 𓇻

Staying with Mr Budi and his family was an unforgettable experience for us and we want to thank them for their hospitality and generosity during Ramadan. We went to the local highschool, where Mr Budi works, pretty much every day during our stay. We tried our best to engage in conversations with students and teachers (most students are very shy but others are curious and want to practice their English); Anna painted murals too and Ghazi refreshed the colour of most walls. Ghazi also had some informal Arabic sessions with a few villagers who were interested to practice. We always ate amazing food prepared by Mr Budi's mum, who was very sweet and caring. Also, around the end of our stay, we got to meet most of the family coming to celebrate Hari Raya at the village) - it was a great opportunity to see what they do at the end of this fasting month; praying together, fishing, playing drums at night, riding cars and motorbikes on a long parade through the village. We left with some really happy memories and we hope we made a change in some student's life or put a smile in someone's face when they will think of us in the future. Thank you Mr Budi, Auntie, Dede, Apri and all the villagers who welcomed us

Kim from Germany volunteered in my farm along with her friend for one week. They are friendly and did painting , tamarind processing euc in the farm . We spoke about the culture in India and Germany . It's very useful to the farm. They mingle with the workers in the farm . We enjoyed their stay in our farm. Thank you.

I cannot recommend Matt highly enough—he has been an absolute standout Workaway guest in every sense of the word. Right From the moment he arrived, Matt demonstrated a level of responsibility and initiative that is truly rare and mature. While I was away, he took full care of the property with complete reliability and integrity. Not only did he handle every task that was asked of him, but he did so meticulously and with genuine care. What impressed me most was his ability to anticipate needs and take action without being asked—whether it was changing water filters when levels were running low, maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the house, or ensuring the animals were consistently well cared for. Matt is exceptionally skilled and highly intelligent, with a Master’s degree in chemistry that clearly reflects in the way he approaches challenges. He has a calm, methodical problem-solving mindset and brings thoughtful solutions to whatever he takes on. You can trust him completely to assess situations and act wisely and effectively. Beyond his work on the property, Matt’s character truly shines. He is kind, respectful, and incredibly polite—an absolute pleasure to have around. He went above and beyond not just for me, but for others in the community as well. When a friend of mine lost their home in a fire, Matt stepped in without hesitation and dedicated many long days to helping rebuild—loading and unloading materials, assisting with construction, and offering his time and energy selflessly. That level of compassion and work ethic speaks volumes about who he is. He also brought additional value through his creativity and technical skills, helping with GoPro and drone work, capturing moments and contributing in ways that went far beyond expectations. Matt is one of those rare individuals who brings excellence, initiative, and heart into everything he does. Any host would be incredibly fortunate to have him. I would welcome him back without hesitation and wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for someone trustworthy, capable, and genuinely exceptional.

Good time good host. Nice location. Sole is a wonderful person had a really good time at her place and Coroico is amazing.

Ciaooo, I stayed with this lovely, inspiring and energetic family for 10 days, and I felt welcome from the moment I arrived! It is a beautiful house, a truly magical place. I stayed in one of the R&B rooms, which was clean, comfortable and had everything I needed. My main task was to help out in the vegetable garden by digging the soil and removing stones. This could be tiring at times, but never too much. I also occasionally took Sam out for walks. I really appreciated the flexible working hours, as this meant that I could take time off to visit nearby places like Bologna and Rimini when the weather was nice. The family kindly drove me to and picked me up from the station, making it easy to explore the area. Everyone in the family was incredibly warm and patient, and they were very supportive while I practised my Italian , especially Rebecca, who was a great teacher! Francesca constantly made sure I felt comfortable and always asked if I needed anything. She even showed me Castel San Pietro Terme and made me homemade Spritz, which I appreciate a lot:) Alberto is a fantastic cook who prepared very delicious glutenfree and vegetarian meals for me, so I got to try some Italian dishes (Risotto, Pinsa,..) everything was amazing! I also enjoyed our conversations as he knows a lot about history and politics. Noemi and Rebecca are both wonderful: open-minded, smart and very lovely! Sam is simply an adorable Goldie and I loved cuddling him so much. Sharing meals together and playing games afterwards was always a highlight and great fun:) Overall, I had a wonderful time staying with this family! It was the best possible first Workaway experience. I already miss you all and truly hope to come back one day. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone!

Corbin est young and he learned rapidly. He help us a lot in the garden especially at this period with the spring arriving . Thanks also for his delicious spaghetti's even if we didn't know , that it was a real US dish!

Gloria ha pasado a ser parte de la familia del Refugio. Las charlas, las caminatas compartidas, los momentos de cafe, mate, etc, pasaron a ser un bello recuerdo. Ha dejado su huella en el Refugio, me ha enseñado varias cosas. desde historia, hasta secretos de comida de pajaritos. Es imposible no recordar con ganas de que vuelva, cualquier momento pasado con ella. Hoy la recuerdo en mi jardin, porque me ha regalado una tijera que uso diariamente. Es una mujer Admirable, ojala la vida nos vuelva a unir.... Por aqui sera siempre bienvenida. Te queremos mucho Gloria Sandra y Mario.

Para una primera experiencia de voluntariado, no podría haber caído en un lugar mejor. La acogida de Nazareth es increíble, se vive en este remanso de paz rodeado de naturaleza y de animales adorables. Todas las personas, tanto los anfitriones como los voluntarios, son muy amables y acogedores. Es una gran oportunidad para aprender más sobre el estilo de vida aquí, descubrir la cocina colombiana y sus productos, y practicar el español. Es la mejor manera de tomarse un tiempo para uno mismo y, al mismo tiempo, compartir durante unas semanas la vida de una familia en las montañas. Muchas gracias de nuevo por la acogida y gran respeto para el jefe Santiago!

I had my first volunteering experience in Liljana's dog shelter, and it was truly amazing. I went together with a friend, and we both felt very grateful to be part of such a meaningful place. Liljana is doing a beautiful and inspiring job rescuing and caring for stray dogs. You can really feel the love and dedication behind everything she do for the animals. The work is not heavy, and everything is well explained. Lily, who works there, is always present to try give instructions and is very kind and willing to help at any moment (even when she dosent speak English). The accommodation was very good and comfortable, and the common areas were also really nice to relax and share time. Overall, it was a wonderful first volunteering experience, and I would highly recommend more volunteers to come and be part of this beautiful project.

I had a great week with Alfred and his family! The work is pretty nice, it's mainly cleaning, helping with social media and teaching English. after work you are free to do whatever you want, Alfred is very helpful and wants to undertake many activities together, such as hiking, or going to Bucaramanga. he has many ideas. it's good to know that it's a little bit far from the city Bucaramanga but there's a bus that takes you there, and if you are travelling during the night Alfred waits for you at the bus station, which is very nice of him 🙏 a good place if you want to relax in nature, go see the waterfalls or the Chicamochha canyon :)

We hosted Natalie for about three weeks. As it was a short stay, we asked her to help with babysitting from picking up our eldest daughter from the bus until dinner time. Natalie always played with our daughter in a fun and engaging way, making her very happy. What impressed us the most was that she did not treat children as just children, but respected them as individuals and communicated with them patiently. She is also very good at reading situations and quickly understanding what children want or feel like doing. On days when the nursery was closed, she even took our daughter to a pig café. She is very responsible, and we felt completely comfortable entrusting her with our child. We also spent time together going out for jingisukan and skiing. Although her stay was short, we shared many wonderful moments. She is a fast learner and highly responsible, so we believe she will do well in any kind of work. We truly wish her all the best in her future.