  Chris and Erika
Having been traveling as a couple for a couple of months throughout South East Asia we yearned to dedicate some time to an orphanage or somewhere where we could feel as though we were a help to those in need, preferably with children. Arriving in Goa absorbing the nightlife party scene we befriended a volunteer of CWT; numbers, emails, drinks and good times were exchanged.
Acquiring accommodation a stone’s throw away from the beach and a motorbike for transportation, we later found out could fit three people snuggly, we whizzed up the coast passing vehicles and livestock alike to the mirage-like Mango House appropriately named as it rests amongst a tropical rainforest.
Daily we prepped and enjoyed the amazingly tasty food the lovely kitchen staff prepared before venturing to the slums greeted by the best group of excited children. Even if you are not a particularly touchy person, these kids bring it out of you. The powerful healing nature of reciprocal contact, be it from the many paddy cake games to piggy back rides to full contact soccer matches, seriously filled our hearts and souls every day. A truly hands-on experience; dirt floored slums leaves fingernails with a nice browned French manicure and the mud from the pitch stays like henna. Being in the medical field back home I personally enjoyed tending to the children’s boo-boos, even when they would just make them up to get some TLC.
Extremely memorable relationships will stay with us forever, between fellow volunteers, the awesome staff, and the smiling reasons for the entire charity – the kids.
  Anna
“I sit and watch the photos I took during my time as a volunteer at Children Walking Tall. I have a big smile on my face and all I can think of is how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to work for three months for this wonderful charity.
I remember my first day, feeling a bit lost and watching all the other volunteers who seemed so confident and comfortable in their work. My first thought was – what on earth can I contribute with, apart from being me? Soon I realized that I did have something to give and that the beauty was that we all had, regardless of age, knowledge or background – together we were a fantastic team! I have to admit, sometimes planning the days ahead or working with the kids was a challenge for us volunteers, but with the support and love from the staff and Robert, it was never a problem. And I should not forget to mention, we had fun!
A strong memory is some of the kids who welcomed me with a smile and open arms on the very first day without even knowing me. There was an instant bond that grew stronger, sometimes even without a common language. It is an absolute fantastic experience when words are not essential and there is an understanding through signs, smiles, body language etc.
I cannot in words express how fortunate the kids at Children Walking Tall are, who are under the staff and Robert’s guarding, caring, and loving wings. I was even more fortunate to have had the opportunity to take a small, small part for a short, short time. It has given me self confidence, made me humble and given me the best of memories.
Love you all and miss you tremendously!
Anna, Sweden”
  Mareike Kruse
The first thought that comes to my mind when thinking about volunteering for CWT is : ’I loved it.’
The children are amazing; each of them has their own little character. During my time I learned much more than just their names (what is, by the way, not as easy as it sounds!). I learnt about them, their families and their backgrounds, the children also taught me so much.
It’s not always easy to deal with the situation and the circumstances you get to work in at the slums. Seeing drunken and abusive parents hitting their children or not caring about their belongings really can make you sad and feeling helpless.
Watching the development in some families without being able to do something can be really hard (even if you try hard), especially seeing how hard the kids suffer at times.
But the moment there are little hands grabbing mine, arms reached out to be picked up or spun around, the hug of a child around your neck, huge smiles and a ‘Myka, Myka’ welcoming me in the slums… Laughter, Giggling and Joking. This children have probably given me more than I could ever give them in just teaching me to be happy, whatever the circumstances you may live in, how hard life might me at the moment… to give love, the only thing they have got is the biggest present to be given!
How bad I might feel, suffering from the heat, sickness or being homesick the children always cheered me up and showed me that life is what you make of it… And sooner than I ever thought I would be smiling again without even noticing it..
Education, medical treatment, food, that is all important but much more than that it is love and a smile that matters most for the children. In being a loving and caring person in their lives you may change their lives much more than cleaning their wounds…
Showing each of them what a worthy and wonderful person he or she is! As I have said, working for CWT wasn’t always easy, staying in India isn’t and might be, from time to time, harder than you might have thought it would be, but it is worth it!
So all I can say, telling you about my experiences with CWT is : ‘I loved it!’ and I can’t wait to see the children again in April!
For all further volunteers some tips in advance:
i) Give yourself some time to get used to the work at children walking tall! Don’t expect it to be brilliant from the first day on, it might take some time to get used to everything and the circumstances you will work in.
ii) Learning names can be much easier if you sit down together with the children and writing down their names.
iii) Never hesitate to ask! Ali, the staff or Rob are always willing to help!
Mareike (Sweden)
  Tanya Brinklow
I decided that I wanted to do something worth while with my life and take some time out of my normal day to day life. So I searched the Internet and came across Children Walking Tall , I did my research and decided this was the charity for me.
I packed my bags left my loved ones and came to India for 4 months.
I worked at Children Walking Tall for 3 moths and had the most wonderful time and met some really fantastic people, The staff there are a remarkable group of people and do a wonderful job. My experience there was working in the slums due to licensing delays but I felt in a strange way I was very privileged to be there, I loved working with the children and their families who, without the support of the charity, I'm sure there lives would be very different.
I got so much from my time here and discovered skills I never knew I had. I would like to say a big thank you to Rob, his team and of course the children for letting me have the opportunity to be part of Children Walking Tall and I would urge everyone to take sometime out of there lives and do something worth while !
Thanks again Rob and take care of yourself
Tanya x
 Annette Grace
I first fell in love with Goa when I was on a 2 week package holiday in 2007. I spent my time lying round the pool, doing the tourist trips and lazing on the beach. However, I was quite disturbed to see young children working on the beach, selling newspapers, fruit and jewellery to the tourists and begging on the high street. I spoke with some other tourists and a couple of them invited me to going along with them to visit a children’s day centre run by a UK based charity. As soon as I met the children I decided that one day I would like to be a volunteer. When I got back to the UK, I did some research on the internet, but I started to have mixed feelings, as there seemed to be a lot of emphasis on religion and I could not understand why I was being asked to pay to be a volunteer! I almost gave up on the idea of volunteering in Goa but I did some more research and it was then that I came across the impressive web site of Children Walking Tall.
Another holiday in November 2008 and I made my first visit to the Mango House. Oh yes, it was not just their website that was impressive, it was everything about them! Now I started to think more seriously about volunteering, but cautious as ever and not wanting to make the wrong choice I asked Rob if I could spend a day with the children. Rob agreed and during my holiday I spent a few hours with staff and volunteers teaching morning school in one of the slums. I loved it and felt immediately at ease with the children. I have lots of experience with children, both as a parent and grandparent and professionally, having spent seven years working with socially excluded and vulnerable teenagers. However, I have never experienced children like the one’s I met through Children Walking Tall. What a joy they are, always smiling, always so polite and showing respect and so enthusiastic to learn. I now feel so humbled and honoured to have spent time with them, but meeting the children that first time and spending a few hours in the slum was the deciding factor to volunteer. I still had six months to go before retirement but now I really had something to look forward to!
Rob suggested that a useful time to volunteer would be during the monsoon season. I have friends who live in Goa and they had often told me how beautiful Goa is during monsoon. They assured me that it doesn’t rain all the time and told me that there are lots of benefits e.g. lower prices, cheap accommodation etc. I was a bit nervous, as I have always been frightened of thunderstorms and was worried about silly things like what should I wear on my feet! I booked my flights and accommodation and arrived in Goa at the beginning of June 2008. I wasn’t worried about meeting the children as I already knew how wonderful they are. No my biggest worry was how to get from Mapusa to the Mango House. Would I be able to find the right bus? I did and I spent the next four months travelling to and from the Mango House on buses – and that was a wonderful experience in itself. I just loved listening to the Bollywood music!
My first three weeks were spent in the Mango House and I found it quite daunting being the new volunteer. Everybody else seemed to know what they were doing but staff and volunteers were very supportive and I soon felt at ease. A number of volunteers left before the start of the monsoon and soon we were down to three. At that time I was the only female volunteer and I seemed to spend most of the day supervising showers and getting very very wet. I couldn’t believe how such small children enjoyed spending so much time in the shower. Sometimes it was a real trial to get them to come out! I think back to my own children and grandchildren and it was usually a trial to get them in!
Due to licence delays, we started to visit the slums on a daily basis. We distributed around 80 meals each day and we set up school in one of the slum houses. NO PROBLEM! It was a bit hot and when the rains came the roof leaked but the staff at Children Walking Tall are never to be defeated and a few minor repairs to the roof and a ceiling fan soon fixed the problem. We would spend the first hour helping the children with their homework and then we would do a craft or sports activity. Before leaving we would give out fruit and administer first aid to a variety of injuries. I found this a little scary at first, as even though I had done first aid courses in the UK, these don’t prepare you for the type of wounds and infections that you come across in the slums. However, Ali or Rob were always on hand for advice and thankfully more serious injuries and infections are in the minority.
When more volunteers arrived, we started a morning school for the younger children and what a great time we had. I was lucky enough to be there at the same time as Barney, a primary school teacher who brought his wonderful teaching skills and excellent ideas to the schoolroom. I soon found myself happily settling into the role of classroom assistant. Other volunteers came from different walks of life and each of them brought something of their own interests and skills to the project. At the end of the day it was back to Mango House and the washing up. Now I cannot claim to have enjoyed that daily chore but now I’m back home washing up a few dinner plates seems to take no time at all!
One of the highlights of my time at the Mango House was being invited back to the slum in the evening time to share in the families’ Diwali celebrations. They have so little but they welcomed us into their homes and offered us a meal. Other highlights of my time there were the trips we did to the beach, the Water Park and Mayem Lake. The children really love these outings and you get a lot of satisfaction from seeing them running around, laughing and enjoying their childhood. Something which many children in India never get the chance to do.
I’ve always done things late in life as I did not have the opportunity to take a gap year or travel when I was younger. I was 51 when I went to university and completed a degree and 61 when I volunteered for Children Walking Tall. So you are never too old to follow your dream. In fact it doesn’t matter what age you are, whether you are taking a gap year, a career break or in retirement, all you need to volunteer is a love of children, lots of energy and enthusiasm and a reasonable level of fitness.
The Mango House is a truly amazing place and works because of the dedication and hard work of Robert and his staff. They have made such a difference to the lives of children in the slums of Mapusa; not only to the children but their families too, who really appreciate the help they receive from Children Walking Tall. But of course the other reason it works is because of the volunteers. If you are looking for a charity to support then please chose Children Walking Tall and do consider coming out in Monsoon time, I really enjoyed it. Children Walking Tall certainly do everything they claim and much much more. I really miss the children and staff at the Mango House and every lunch time I miss that fantastic meal. Saroja you are the best cook ever!
 Barnaby Brown
On my first morning at Children Walking Tall, after being settled into my lovely beach side apartment by Rob, I was set to the task of pencil case filling. “What are these for?” I ask the CWT teacher. “The school children.” she says. “We give them out in June at the beginning of the school year.” It was August! Well lesson number one was they like to be prepared.
In the afternoon we headed down to the slum to give out the food and take care of any medical needs. I was greeted by smiling faces and raised arms. Not for cuddles or a welcome hand shake but to be spun. Round and round and round. Lesson two these children love to be spun around, a lot!
From day one volunteering at CWT involved a lot of learning. Something, as a teacher, I love. No matter what your age, experience or background I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't come away from CWT having learnt something that will stay with them forever as well as great sense of achievement.
Aside from the learning there is also lots of fun to be had. The beach trips are something magical. Holding a child's hand as they run into the sea for the first time and stop and stare mesmerised by the waves or succeeding in building a tunnel after the fourth attempt. Best of all, of course, watching Rob being burred in the sand by a team of 8 children.
Thinking up engaging activities for the children was also fun. Helping the slum school kids make a kite or a car out of cardboard and the watching their smiling faces as they marvel at their achievements.
On top of all the fun with the children there is also the social side. I made some great friends while volunteering. Together we got to see some of the beautiful and amazing sites of India.
I have really enjoyed volunteering. It will be an experience that will inspire me both in my career and life. I would definitely recommend it.
 More Volunteers Experiences From 2009...
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