There is so much I have to say about this project but I'm worried anything I do say will sound clichéd as it really was the best thing I have ever done. All of the volunteers I met signed up for this trip for different reasons, whether it was a break from the daily grind at their job back home, a gap year, a thirst for travel, or a way to give back to the world. For me, I had always dreamt of travelling to India but kept making excuses for not going. There was always something: my job, my family, my health, my home. Eventually I realised that the longer I left it, the more things I would have tying me down and I might never have the opportunity to do something like this again. So I did something crazy and I signed up for a couple of weeks Community Education in India. I'd never travelled alone, never been away from home for more than a few days, and certainly hadn't travelled anywhere as far away as India. And it was the best decision I have ever made. I was completely taken care of & supported every step of the way by the UK POD team (no matter how many stupid questions I bothered Gemma with!) and was instantly welcomed with warmth and love by Ravi, Gaurav & Neha at the volunteer placement. They always went out of their way to make sure myself and the other volunteers were looked after, whatever questions we had or support we needed. They bent over backwards to help us, and I cannot express how grateful I am to them for their hospitality and their drive to bring change to their communities. Their approached every project with optimism, dedication and love, and their energy & drive was completely infectious. Although a lot of the situations we saw children and their families living in were heartbreaking, their joy and kindness overwhelmed any problem they had. It was an absolute joy & privilege to meet and work with every single child and adult. Although I was on the Community Education programme, they taught me more than I could ever have known before I booked this trip. It truly was the most rewarding experience you could ever have & I urge anyone with even a remote interest in volunteering abroad to try to break out of their comfort zone and book themselves a journey. It’s a bumpy ride, but the destination is so worth it! After all, where else could you start your day watching the sunrise from a mountaintop temple, enjoy some rooftop yoga before breakfast, contribute to life-changing education at school, watch the sunset from the legendary Monsoon Palace, enjoy a traditional Rajasthan dance and puppet show and finish the evening with dinner overlooking the peaceful lakes of Udaipur all in one day? (True story)