A Teresa - For many years I had fantasised about spending December on a white, tropical beach on a remote island. I finally found my slice of paradise in the Seychelles when my dream came true last year, though not exactly in the way I had envisaged. [46] I had been feeling burnt out from work and wanted to escape winter and learn new skills. Volunteer projects seemed a good option. Narrowing my search criteria to marine research helped cut down the thousands of options out there [43] and I eventually joined a coral protection project to help determine the long-term impact of rising sea temperatures on the ecosystem. Within 24 hours of our group's arrival, we lived and breathed coral, not just under water but also in the camp - with 52 coral types to master and up to three research dives a day. If there was a downside, it was the seemingly endless chores in the camp, but I didn't mind. But the experience was, overall, incredible. I stretched myself beyond my wildest imagination [50].

B Patricia - Imagine spending the summer as I did, working on the edge of an active volcano in Hawaii. I had once been on a ranger-guided walk there with my family. I had been terrified. However, as I relaxed I slowly realised that the ranger's job was something I'd like to do too. So a few years later I applied and got a volunteer ranger job. I found living there surprisingly laid back, as well as exciting. After a crash course in geology, I was given the volunteer ranger uniform and began the job. On the first morning I found myself in front of a group of visitors. Suddenly, I was the "authority, delivering a talk on the volcanic past and present of the islands. As a volunteer I was making the park come alive for the visitors, and they in turn made Hawaii come alive for me [47].

C Helen - After months of study, I wanted to get away for a bit. My dad is an artist and often does paintings of tropical birds. I'd always wanted to find out more about them [49]. From the internet I found that a farm which breeds parrots was looking for volunteers. I arrived in the middle of a panic situation - a storm had knocked the electricity out, and the generator, needed for keeping the eggs warm, was nearly out of petrol. After visiting several garages we found some and dashed back just in time. I really enjoyed my stay. Some hosts lay down strict rules on the amount of work expected but luckily mine, Darryl, preferred to set out projects which he wanted my help with [51]. Most of the time I did basic maintenance jobs and fed the birds. "They can break coconuts with their beaks and they'll take your finger off so be careful,' Darryl advised. [45] So, I chopped bananas and then used a long fork to pass the fruit in to the birds without risking my fingers.

D Kate - During my stay in Guatemala, I volunteered to work on a plantation. One day, my supervisor, René inspected my scratched hands and asked gently if I needed gloves [48]. I gathered my strength and told him that gloves might indeed help. Then I grasped my knife and resumed my attack on the invading roots that were constantly threatening to drag the fragile new cacao plantation back into the rainforest. In the sticky red earth, everything grows - the trouble is that it is rarely what you planted. [52] Walking through the plantation, René had to point out to me the treasured cash crops of coffee, cacao and macadamias. To my eye, they were indistinguishable from the surrounding jungle. Every day I caught glimpses of little waterfalls and vividly coloured butterflies between towering bamboo. The air was always heavy with the sound of insects. [44] It was a great experience. 

43 A  44 D  45 C  46 A  47 B  48 D  49 C  50 A  51 C  52 D