Workaway reviews, feedback and ratings

This was my very first host family and also the first country I travelled through completely on my own for a longer period of time. Because of that, it was incredibly important for me to find a place where I would feel comfortable, safe, able to grow as a person, and still have fun. I honestly couldn’t have wished for a better start. From my very first day, I was welcomed with open arms. Rawinia is an amazing host and an incredibly strong, warm-hearted person. Every single day she gave her absolute best for her children and for me. Communication was always open and honest, she trusted me from the beginning, and she made me feel like a natural part of the family rather than just a helper. We spent a lot of time together with the kids, doing activities and daily life as a team, but at the same time I always had space for myself, freedom, and independence. Our days were well coordinated, and Rawinia always made an effort to show me the area and include me in family plans. The kids are full of life, energy, creativity and emotions. Through them, I learned so much about myself. Especially patience, flexibility, and embracing chaos with a sense of humor. Of course there were occasional arguments (as in every real family), but they are all incredibly loving and genuine. One thing is for sure: it was never boring here and that is exactly how I imagined my adventure. I will truly miss all of them after this time. This experience shaped my journey in such a positive way, and I couldn’t be more grateful. And last but not least: thank you for all the shared evenings, meaningful conversations, and well deserved Gin & Tonics 🍸

Wilfred was an exceptional volunteer and a true blessing to our host community. He stayed with us for six weeks and demonstrated outstanding passion, commitment, and integrity in supporting the objectives. Although it was his first time staying in a placement with multiple volunteers, he coordinated effortlessly with everyone and quickly became a pillar of teamwork, discipline, and positive leadership. Wilfred is extremely reliable and result-oriented. He was always on time, fully committed to his responsibilities, and consistently followed through on tasks. He communicates clearly and transparently, respects local norms and cultural values, and places great importance on aligning his ideas with the decisions of the hosts. His ability to listen, adapt, and blend his own initiative with host guidance made working with him both effective and stress-free. His impact on education was especially remarkable. Wilfred worked closely with teachers at our local primary school, assisting with classroom teaching, child engagement, and daily school activities. He taught the children many beautiful songs that they continue to sing to this day, creating a lasting emotional and educational impact. Through his dedication, Wilfred positively influenced the learning environment of over 100 children. Wilfred was also deeply involved in our Elderly Companionship Program, where he visited elderly community members, spent quality time with them, offered companionship, and assisted with basic support needs. His patience, empathy, and respectful approach were greatly appreciated by the elders and their families. In addition, he actively participated in community gardening and environmental activities, including cleaning public spaces and picking trash around the community. He showed strong environmental awareness and a genuine desire to contribute to a cleaner and healthier living environment. Wilfred also played a key role in the completion of a teacher’s house at the Primary School. He successfully coordinated a small fundraising effort, helped procure building materials, and actively participated in construction work, including tasks he had never done before. His willingness to learn, work with his hands, and step outside his comfort zone was truly inspiring. Despite being in his 60s, Wilfred has the energy, strength, and work ethic of someone far younger. He is open-minded, cooperative, easygoing, respectful, and brings a joyful spirit to the team. He adapts easily to local conditions, is flexible with food and living arrangements, and treats everyone with kindness and respect. We are deeply grateful for Wilfred’s contribution and highly recommend him to any Workaway host. He is dependable, thoughtful, hardworking, and brings both skill and heart into any community he serves.

I spent a wonderful two weeks with Mylene and Jean-Paul at their farm in Monein. They are just the most hospitable and generous hosts, warm and totally engaging. They are also some of the hardest working people I’ve met. They are literally constantly on the go, and not just with the demanding tasks on the farm. It amazes me to watch them juggle their work, and their active social lives outside of the farm, which include being very involved members of the local community, as part of a local choir, and running a fabulous bed and breakfast. My tasks were varied, and quite enjoyable that I couldn’t call them work. Mylene and Jean-Paul mostly let me decide what I would like to do for the day (usually just a few hours in the mornings). I had helped a little with the animals - feeding the cows and cleaning the chicken coup, but mostly pruned the vines in preparation for winter. I was lucky the two weekends I was there that they had events lined up, and I was invited to join them, and their friends. By the end of my stay, I had gotten to know their friends quite well, one of them even kindly offered me a ride to Pau to catch my train. I am so very grateful to be made to feel like I was part of the family (from the very warm and affectionate matriarch Mamie to their gentle majestic dog Patou who made sure I didn’t get lost when we went for a walk in the woods), and their fun and gregarious friends. Merci pour ce merveilleux séjour à Pesaulhe. J’espère vous revoir en France, ou à Singapour ;-)

I'm very late with this feedback, but I spent a week at Shan’s place in August. From the first moment, I felt warmly welcomed and respected. Shan gave me a place to breathe and just calm down after some stressful travels. The work schedule was flexible, and I could work on projects that interested and motivated me. I could organize my day according to my needs and adapt my work so that I always had enough time to explore the area. Shan did more than his best to ensure that we had an incredible time at his place, which I really had. He always made sure there was plenty of food and that it was varied. As volunteers we could borrow his car to explore the stunning surroundings. It was important to him that we felt good about the work and he offered us different types of work so we could choose depending on how we felt. Even though Shan was busy, he always made time for us volunteers. We watched the sunrise, spent the evenings together, and had a great time. Overall, Shan is a very open-minded, easygoing, self-reflective, and loving person. He always listened carefully to our stories and seemed interested in cultural and personal exchanges with the volunteers. Thank you, Shan, for this wonderful time!

Christina and Lukas came as first time workawayers with no feedback, so it was an unknown. We had lots of positive communication before they arrived so we felt very positive about them coming. We had to ask them to arrive earlier than planned due to a situation with our housesitters whilst we were away for 6 days. They took instant control of all of our animals with ease and confidence and kept us informed until we arrived home. They are a fantastic, intelligent and charismatic couple who love to help wherever they can. They work very very hard using their thoughtfulness and intelligence at all times. They pick up new skills very easily and with enthusiasm. Any host should be happy to receive them . We have been hosting for 14 years now and Christina and Lukas are one of the most outstanding couples we have had the pleasure to meet.

Pauline stayed with us forabout 4 weeks, and in that short time, she made a very strong and lasting impact on our community. She was an exceptional volunteer, highly committed, kind-hearted, and proactive in everything she did. At the Primary School, Pauline worked with children aged 9 to 12, supporting them mainly with English reading and basic computer skills. She was very patient, engaging, and effective in class, and the children connected with her easily. One of her most inspiring initiatives was introducing an exchange program between the children in our community and those in her home country. This was a real eye-opener for many of the kids and broadened their understanding of the world beyond their community. Pauline was also actively involved in our Elderly Companionship Program, where she visited elderly people, helped with food support, assisted with medication, and spent quality time with them. Her warmth, respect, and compassion were deeply appreciated by the elders and their families. In addition, she contributed meaningfully to our Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene program, helping with the distribution of reusable pads and teaching girls about menstrual health. She handled this work with sensitivity, confidence, and care, making the girls feel comfortable and supported. Beyond these programs, Pauline worked hand-in-hand with another volunteer to raise funds to help finish a teacher’s house at Livingstonia Primary School, which we truly appreciate. She also helped at the farm, supported household activities, and was always willing to assist wherever needed. At home, Pauline was wonderful to host. She was very clean, tidy, and organized, enjoyed cooking her own meals, and often helped with shared cooking as well. She communicated openly whenever she noticed an issue, which made coordination easy and stress-free. Her enthusiasm even led her to spend some of her own money to ensure activities ran smoothly, something we deeply admire and appreciate. Overall, Pauline is a very good person with a warm and kind heart and a genuine desire to help others. She is responsible, enthusiastic, respectful, and easy to work with. We highly recommend Pauline to any future Workaway hosts, she would be a valuable addition to any project or community.

Jordy and Niki were exceptional volunteers whose contribution went far beyond what we initially expected. From the moment they arrived in Livingstonia, Malawi, they showed genuine commitment, initiative, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the community. They independently identified the urgency of completing an unfinished school building in Gavala village and took it upon themselves to design, organize, and run an international fundraising campaign in Germany. Through their own planning, coordination, and promotion, they successfully raised approximately €1,870 - an amount that exceeded local expectations and became the financial backbone of the project. Because of their efforts, the school was able to: - Complete the roofing of the classroom block, protecting the structure from rain and making it usable - Equip classrooms with desks and chairs for the first time - Plaster and paint the exterior walls, improving both durability and appearance Their work directly transformed an incomplete structure into a functional learning space for children in a rural, underserved community. Beyond the financial impact, Jordy and Niki demonstrated strong leadership, excellent organizational skills, reliability, and cultural sensitivity. They worked very well with local leaders, community members, and our organization. We are deeply grateful for their contribution, which will have a long-term positive impact on education in Gavala. We highly recommend Jordy and Niki to any future hosts, they are proactive, trustworthy, and truly committed to meaningful community development.

My first experience and it has been great. I enjoyed the easy way of living of Ti Lan Haï, the attention she gives for all the living. I was very well recieved and felt confortable in her beautiful house facing the sea. I learned news plants from her garden and did my best to help. She is much good speaking english than me. A massive thank you for all of my stay (I hope to come back ;))

We are so grateful for the time we spent at Buds and Irenes place. They and their daughter Roberta are wonderful people and whatever the work is or what is going on, we can only highlight how welcomed and appreciated we felt throughout our whole stay. We spent 7 Weeks there including Christmas and New Years which can be an emotional time as travellers in a foreign country, far away from family and friends. Bud, Irene and Robertta just did a great job as hosts, involving us into their social life by introducing us to many of their friends and inviting us to all the events that take place in little McBride. And even though we were just travellers we felt like we were a part of their community over the time we stayed there. We got to know McBride as a town with lots of community events going on and many friendly people, besides the beautiful mountain scenery it's in! The cabin we slept in is super cozy. The food was good (we mostly cooked our own meals). The workload was very fair. They make sure you are not being overworked! We highly reccommend them as hosts.

I had an amazing time spending three weeks volunteering at this hotel in the beautiful Drakensberg. From the moment I arrived, Shelley was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made me feel at home straight away. The work was varied and enjoyable. I mainly helped during breakfast and dinner, interacting with guests and supporting the restaurant. During my first week, I also helped with some maintenance tasks, and towards the end of my stay I helped in guest entertainment, including bingo and quiz nights, which was a lot of fun. I had a very comfortable private room, and two meals per day were provided. The entire staff — reception, admin, bar, restaurant, and housekeeping — were all lovely, supportive, and great to work with. The hotel is set in a stunning location, surrounded by the Drakensberg mountains, and the atmosphere was warm, social, and welcoming. This was a really rewarding Workaway experience, and I would happily return and highly recommend this host to other volunteers.

It was such a wonderful and heart-warming time having Matilde with us. I truly enjoyed every moment she spent here helping and sharing daily life together. She brought so much positivity, kindness, and warmth into our space. Thank you for your beautiful smiles, your laughter, and all the help you gave with such a caring heart. It was a joy to have you around, and we are very grateful for the time we shared. Wishing you a Happy New Year and all the best on your journey ✨🌿 Strong​ feet -​ strong​ body​ -​ strong​ mind -​ free spirit​ yeeeea

It was such a wonderful time having Zuzanna with us. Even though her stay was short, it was truly meaningful and left a lasting impression. She is kind, open-hearted, respectful, and very easy to be around. Zuzanna helped with great care and a positive attitude, and she blended naturally into our daily life and community. Thank you so much for everything you shared with us — your energy, your help, and your presence. You are always welcome back, and we wish you all the best on your journey 🌿✨

Raymar stayed with me for 10 days, I am really grateful for his help. In terms of work he is very efficient, his stay was very productive. He's a professional gardener, he cleared a big field of land, pruned trees and made firewood, a hard working man. Responsible puntual, clean and organised. He is very easy going, good sense of humor, appreciative, respectful and polite. I enjoyed his stay with me. A highly recommended workawayer!

absolutely brilliant time and was taken care off well.

I had a great time at Yvettes shelter! She really cares about all her animals so much and you can really give back to all the beautiful souls! It can be a tough, things can go wrong and it's important to do your tasks responsibly, because otherwise you can endanger yourself/others/the animals, so be aware of that. Also, the living circumstances are simple but with all the love around you, you easily forget about comfort. The amount of work was very moderate, you always had the option to take some time of/go to town etc. but there’s of course always something you can do, so taking initiative is always welcome. If you truly care about animals and don’t mind it getting loud and dirty I’d completely recommend!

I got to Candy two months ago now. I arrived hopeful and left with a bit of a broken heart. It’s hard to put into words all the outstanding experiences I’ve lived through during my stay. I left my home and my family early on in my life and this felt nostalgic and emotional. Candy and Greg are such lovely, generous, warm and welcoming people. They kept me company, made me laugh, took me on adventures. Willow is a little gremlin of a puppy and she’s her own persona. I’ll miss her, her snoring and her gas a lot… and she was a true support dog for me during our daily walks. Bonnie, Eva, Jewel, Sapphire and Opal are all wonderful creatures, they tested me and made me grow, and were of comfort when I needed. Before getting to Candy, I hadn’t really been so much in contact with horses and had a different approach to them. They have incredible energy and are capable of great connection. I realise now how clear their language and signals are. You just need to… listen. And Candy showed me the way. I’ll cherish every moment and memory and I’m sure I’ll see them again during my travels. The best Workaway experience I’ve ever had by far.

Anna was the first host I stayed with through WorkAway, and she set the bar extremely high. I am usually pretty shy, but from the moment I got off the bus and met her, she was nothing but welcoming and hospitable. Whenever work needed to be done, Anna got straight to it and worked hard alongside you. Being out in the garden was always educational and refreshing, while in-door jobs like painting were accompanied by great conversation and music. She also made great food and shared me with some amazing remedies for illness, many of which I now use. Anna was kind enough to entrust me with her dog Emilio, who I enjoyed taking on long walks to find scenic spots to relax and write. Being my first WorkAway stop, I greatly appreciated how encouraging Anna was. Being well travelled herself, she knows the region, which places are great to visit, and how to get to them. Only with her help was I able to explore the many spectacular locations in Southern France. Beyond that, Anna was great company, in many ways reminding me of the Grandma I never had. I hope you are well and thank you for the privilege of being your guest!

Leon and Paul were 5 star ⭐️ Workaway’s. You would never know it was their first Workaway experience. They were both hard working, friendly, respectful and were excellent communicators. We would gladly welcome them back again. I highly recommend them to any hosts.

Bibi! She is such a friendly, open-minded, flexible, and reliable person! During her tavel, she came to our farm and helped us twice – first time in October and the second time in December! So she got various experiences here, such as cleaning and renovating the old house and building the new tree house by bamboo and some other natural materials from the jungle here, and weeding and harvesting in the paddy fields. She is so friendly and always smile, and was welcoming the new people, offering the coffee for other members, some more things to be mentioned though. 😊 Her first time was in the rainy season here, and her second time here was in the beginning of the dry season. So, in her second time here, the weather and the temperature was very different from the fist time. It must be so hot for her but she was always ready to go into the fields and help us. She never forgot to tell her appreciation for the foods. That made us happier too. We are really glad to have her again and had more conversations and got to know more about each other.As she mentioned she will be back here this year or sometime soon, we really look forward to it! Also, hope the other Workaway hosts will welcome her during her future travels and hope you will enjoy the time with her in her beautiful projects. Thank you so much again, Bibi! See you soon and excited to have more laughs and coffee together! Makan makan!

So much was achieved by Nic during the 3 different occasions he stayed at my abode. Waterblasting, sanding, painting, handyman work and more- you name it, Nic can do it! If there was a problem I couldn’t find a solution too, Nic attended to it and got the job done at a professional level every time. 'Too difficult' or 'can't do' is not in his vocabulary. No supervision is required in which I was able to leave him to it independently and get on with my day. My home exterior has never looked better as it has a new lease of life thanks to Nic. He even voluntarily worked overtime to get the job finished! He is very easy going, friendly, independent, hard working and reliable. With him being fluent in English, we had many in-depth conversations, and laughter during his stays. Thank you Nic for being of such great help and your lovely presence.