How did you discover VoluntEars?
2 of my sons had been to Nepal with VoluntEars previously.
Why did you join VoluntEars?
To support 2 of my sons so that they could share the experience of volunteering in Morocco.
Why did you choose the Morocco trip?
It was a long weekend which felt the right length of time and because my eldest son knew some of the people attending.
What were you looking forward to?
Experiencing a deaf school/day centre in a different country. Seeing what opportunities deaf children are given in Morocco and letting my sons see how that compares to their experiences growing up in the UK. Seeing how my sons would manage going on a totally different type of holiday. Seeing Morocco safely with a knowledgeable guide who could share his experience of the country and culture.
Were you worried about anything before the trip?
Yes. How my middle son would manage in such a busy place with very little downtime. Whether I would be able to manage to look after both sons well enough to let them benefit from all the amazing opportunities they were going to be given.
What words would you use to describe your experience in Morocco?
Incredible, emotional, wonderful. Amazing.
What was your funniest or most memorable experience?
The camel ride had me in hysterics from start to finish. Terrified when it stood up and convinced I’d fall off but quickly loving it all. Except the naughty camel that kept nibbling my leg.
What did you enjoy the most on the trip?
Not having to think about where to go, how to get there, what to eat. Having someone to take care of all the organisation allowed me the opportunity to look after my son’s needs and enable him to get the maximum out of the trip. I loved seeing my other son’s independence grow as he moved to be with the other VoluntEars rather than stick with me. I loved how friendly and welcoming everyone was.
How do you think you benefitted from the experience?
Being able to take Dan abroad to a totally different country and to enable him to take part in so many new experiences has had a really big emotional impact on me. I never would have thought it possible for him to have managed to be as involved as he was throughout the trip and he regularly tells me how fantastic it was. Both lads loved being surrounded by deaf friends and seeing signing so naturally.
What did you like about the VoluntEars trip?
I loved how well organised it was and how all the tiny details had all been sorted perfectly. I felt everyone was safe and had ample opportunities to do whatever they wanted to without feeling awkward. I loved how knowledgeable Richard [VoluntEars Director] and David [VoluntEars Communicator] were and how friendly and approachable they were for all the volunteers.
How could we make the trip better in the future?
Keep doing what you are doing.
