Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Heather
Hometown: Norwich
Destination: Ecuador
Project type: Conservation
Organisation: Frontier
What were your impressions of your destination?
Ecuador is a beautiful country, the people are very welcoming. Quito is however a daunting city and I would advise other travellers to be very cautious.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
Frontier did not put me on the project that I signed up for. I managed to organise to be transferred (with difficulty). The centre that I stayed at was interesting and I did enjoy my stay.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
I shared a house with another volunteer that arrived a week later. It was very comfortable.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
No. Not only do I believe that they put my life in danger, but I also believe that they took advantage of the local Ecuadorian family that I stayed with, and that they misguided me and ignored and completely disregarded every single one of my complaints. I am doing a degree in wildlife conservation and saved up so hard to go on a 'safe and educational' trip. In my opinion Frontier offered me neither. I am absolutely disgusted and I would not recommend them to anybody.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
Definitely not. The family ended up being out of pocket.
Would you recommend the project to others?
No