OIS-Associação Kêlê Program

Volunteering in São Tomé taught me more about humility, empathy, and adaptability. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, was incredibly rewarding. Seeing each one of us grow, I learned a lot from this experience, and I’m very glad I got to be a part of it

Working with the local children made me aware of the many challenges that cannot always be understood from a distance, and it demonstrated how meaningful human connections can be in creating positive changes.

More importantly, I came to realize that education is not simply about teaching material, as it deeply consists of sparking curiosity, building confidence, fostering critical thinking, and aiding individuals to have the accessibility to shape their own paths.

Seeing the students’ growing interest in the English language in such a short period of time reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from showing someone what they can achieve.

This will definitely remain as one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences for us. The best part is being able to build genuine connections with the students and seeing their confidence grow throughout the week. Any small impact that we might have made, such as witnessing them developing stronger interest and engagement in learning English! I was surprised by how much interaction and mutual learning took place despite the short duration.  The experience gave me a real sense of achievement, and a deeper understanding of their culture and local community. There was a great balance between volunteering and cultural experiences, which made the trip immersive and enriching. Some of these experiences were especially striking and eye-opening seeing the realities of life in São Tomé.

–Kyra

The project definitely exceeded my expectations in every aspect. The stay was amazing, the children were focused, classes were organized, food was good, and the nature was one of the best I have seen in my life. The best part of the project was being able to get another perspective in the classroom and understand the processes and difficulties that every teacher goes through. What was equally gratifying to me was knowing that we were able to have some positive effect in the lives of those children and (some) adults. This effect was noticeable to me because even though we have come back to Portugal, two of the children have reached out, asking me about how and when the online session would start.

–Enerel