HIV Grants Programme - Volunteer Comments

Rachel Doyle from the UK, Hope Trust
“After listening to all the recipients they all have a similar story – that having the business has enabled them to feed their families 3 meals a day instead of 1 or sometimes none.  To pay for the children’s school fees and uniforms and to buy medicine when they are sick. 
The other benefit which sometimes is over looked is the fact that now these women are providing for their families they are no longer obliged to remarry.  Many have said that they were being pressured into getting remarried and hence would no doubt have more children – helping to spread HIV and the likelihood in some cases of creating more orphans.  These women now have choice which they didn’t have before.  A choice that women in the western world take for granted.  This business is making a big difference to their lives and hopefully as time goes on their businesses will flourish. […]
I have really enjoyed visiting the recipients, which has been an experience that I will never forget.  Being invited inside Maasai Bomas for prayers and chai and listening to these women’s stories has been a privilege and an experience that you could never get as a tourist.” 

Claire Thornhill from the UK, HOPE Trust
“My host family was absolutely brilliant: all are very kind and looked after me very well. They brought me to weddings and on visits to friends and generally treated me like an honoured guest!
Living with a local family was the most challenging and often the most rewarding part of the programme. I think it’s extremely worthwhile as it allows Mondo volunteers to really engage with the local community and learn much more about the way of life. I’m sure the cultural exchange works both ways also.
I really appreciated the fact that HOPE Trust was run by local people. Supporting a charity like this is a much more sustainable way of facilitating change than working with a large international NGO.”


Nicola Reece from the UK, HOPE Trust
"Being able to provide to families who have very little hope, opportunities to improve their daily life, and being sure that they'll have enough food for the children on the long term is extremely rewarding"