Program Reviews

Whenever friends and family ask "How was your ISV trip?" my response is always the same: "It was perfect." It has been one month since I have returned from my ISV trip in Costa Rica and I can honestly say not one day has gone by without me thinking about my trip. Everyday there has been at least one moment that I have been reminded of how lucky I was to participate in my program, how much it has positively affected my views of our beautiful planet, how proud I am to have made a positive impact in the incredible country of Costa Rica and represent ISV, and/or how much I miss the country and people I met while there. I have also talked with the lifelong friends I made during my project and the adventure tour every day since. Each day in Costa Rica was incredible during my four weeks there, however ziplining next to volcan Arenal, white water rafting through the Pacuare River, and witnessing a mini arribada on playa Ostional are all my fondest memories. ISV changed my life for the better in so many ways and I cannot thank them enough. Sign up for an ISV trip this summer! You won't regret it.

Honestly, traveling to NZ with ISV was the best decision of my life so far. I have been to many countries with many different programs and also with my family and there was never a moment where I was unhappy in those 4 weeks. I made life-long friends who I instantly clicked with (and that's not super common for me). We called each other "whanau", which means family in Maori. We became a family from sitting every morning, afternoon, and night together sharing meals. We became a family by sharing the hard work we did for 2 weeks on Motuihe Island; I never enjoyed planting trees and track maintenance more in my life just because of the people I got to do it with. I did things I never would have done without their encouragement and lust for adventure (I went skydiving 19,000 feet AND bungee jumping!). We encouraged each other and supported each other and it made the trip a once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure. I love all of them and we still keep in contact :) . I thought the conservation work would suck but our leader and mom, Laura, made it something important and enjoyable, and I learned so much from our discussions in Top House (volunteer house) about our planet and what to do to make it a better place for the generations to come.

Also, NZ is the most beautiful and unique place in the world. The island we stayed on, Motuihe, is growing into what NZ looked like before immigrants ever touched it (which means no mammals!). I honestly cannot pick a favorite place. I fell in love with Motuihe and it's beaches and forests and kiwi birds and tuataras. I loved ever second of the Adventure Tour and I absolutely adored our leader Meg. Every second was filled with adventure and admiration for the beauty that I was surrounded with. We were so spoiled! Everything looks like it is out of a National Geographic magazine. It is the perfect place for someone who loves nature and adventure. It definitely makes you more independent and even though my iPhone broke a week and a half in, it wasn't even a big deal cause all the people I needed I was already surrounded with. I have no regrets from taking this trip. I just wish it could have gone on longer!

It's great for people who have never been out of the country because we do have structure and activities planned out for us, but you also get to explore the cities on your own or with friends and that's great too! It's great for anyone who loves travel and adventure. I fell in love and I wish I didn't have to come home. Never take a moment for granted and live in the moment! Get outside your comfort zone and fall in love with the most beautiful and unique place on Earth! I miss it everyday.

I loved traveling to South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique through ISV! It was unique that the volunteers were able to have exciting volunteers projects and experience the adventure tour throughout the month. It was a great way to meet people that you would have never met otherwise as well. Volunteering was definitely a life-changing experience, and it introduced me to new perspectives. I learned a lot as well including topics such as sustainability and climate change. One of my favorite experiences was bungee jumping in Tsitsikamma! It was an activity I would've never thought I would do, but with the support of ISV I tried something new and learned I can actually be an adventurous person. The adventure tour was definitely worth the cost. It was a great opportunity to go to three countries in two weeks with various activities to do. It included activities such as kloofing, caving, elephant encounters, and game drives, etc.. Each activity was lots of fun! It was nice to be guided throughout this traveling experience to ensure you see amazing places and try crazy things. We stayed at amazing accommodations with great service! There were always things to do when we were not doing activities. The food was also amazing! I had never been out of the country before, so this was a great way to introduce me to new things and other cultures.

I knew going into this trip that it would be an experience of a lifetime and that I would learn so much about a new culture, the world and myself. Every single day of the entire month completely exceeded my already high expectations. It was truly life changing and I'm forever grateful to have been apart of ISV. The adventure tour was insanely incredible and I went on adventures that I never thought I would go on but volunteering was no doubt my favorite part. Highly recommend!!!

Due to the particular design and experiences within the ISV Program, I have been encouraged to learn more about our world and how each and every one of us makes a global impact each and every day. Which certainly reflects the programs mission statement which is "to support sustainable development initiatives around the world through life-changing student volunteer and responsible adventure travel programs designed to positively change our world and to educate, inspire and results in more active global citizens." After being in extremely beautiful locations and learning about them individually, I also came to appreciate them in the same way locals did. More importantly, I discovered the potential threat many of the plant and animal species that were in danger and the types of effort it would take to preserve them. With hands-on contributions and even embracing new daily habits to conserve energy and water, I realized that our group alone could potentially make a significant difference for the entire world. For example, I was a part of a group discussion one evening during our volunteer project where we learned about the aftermath of global warming and the emissions of carbon increasing the ocean acidity. This directly has affected the Great Barrier Reef, by destroying already 90% of it as it has weaken the shells of plants and animals. After snorkeling there myself, the idea of stealing away the future of ocean life for the next generation to come began to sink it. While I don't live there and see the reef everyday, I certainly find it an extremely important part of our ecosystem. I didn’t want to think of it just as a tourist anymore, but rather as a person who truly cared about the impact and danger it could do to our entire ocean. It was at this moment where I realized that I was gaining knowledge that would help me become a citizen with a better global perspective. This is how traveling is meant to be done.

This program in Australia provided me with many great first experiences. This trip was my first time out of the country and I got to go to a country I have always dreamed about going to. I have volunteered in the past but never for two weeks or on a sanctuary, where I got to work with many Australian animals including some endangered animals. I participated in many things that I have never done before such as surfing, white water rafting, rappelling, and scuba diving. I conquered my fear of being too afraid to try new things and travel to incredible places because of this project. I made a difference in this world and met some amazing people that I hope to cross paths with again someday. I would not take back the experiences that I had working hands on with Australian wildlife and the pride that I felt when we accomplished something. This program has showed me what great things can happen when a group of ambitious volunteers work together to achieve something. I learned a lot more about teamwork and how to be a better team player. I have had many life changing experiences and would not trade them for the world.

This trip that I took last summer was amazing, it was life changing. The first two weeks we spent volunteering, planting trees and although we woke up super early it was worth it. When the two weeks were over I had felt so accomplished we all the work we had done. The next two weeks were just as amazing filled with black water rafting, white river rafting, whale watching, visiting Hobbition, OGOing, and so on. These are experiences I've never forget, I made friends with so many new people that I still talk to. I fell in love with New Zealand because of this program and New Zealand beauty.

My time on the ISV program in Costa Rica was life changing. The first week was a spanish immersion program. I stayed at a nice home stay and walked to the school everyday. I met so many great people, got better at spanish, and had plenty of adventures around town after classes. The second two weeks I went to Nancite beach to work with sea turtles. This was definitely an adjustment. We had to hike a mountain with our luggage and stay in a poorly insulated cabin. There was nothing cold except the shower water, and not much to do unless you were inventive. If you go on this trip i strongly recommend a deck of card or something to do. Since we were so secluded, I got really close with everyone in my group. It was such a great learning experience that challenged me physically and mentally. When we finally returned with our leg muscles and bug bites, we met back with the other groups and started the adventure tour. This was the best part of the trip for a lot of people. We got to do so many awesome activities and have free time in between them. I got to get out of my shell and talk with the locals who are very nice and laid back people. The people I have met on this trip probably made it worth it. Although the travel and sights and activities and experiences were amazing, the things I learned from talking with each person in our group changed me. I came out of it with a broader perspective and an attitude to do my part in the world. I have been making lifestyle changes ever since I have been back. I am finally becoming the person I want to be, and I couldn't have done it without this trip. I would definitely do it again. If you have an open mind, it makes it ten times better. Many things are as good as you make them. I strongly suggest keeping a journal and write in it everyday. Many people regret not doing it, and my journal is now one of my most cherished possessions. Have fun and pura vida!!!

Africa, the continent of endless possibilities and amazing adventures. As a child, nothing fascinated me more than when Nat. Geo. aired episodes of all the wildlife that engulfed the area, especially the Cheetah. I fell in love with it at first sight; suddenly my little hometown somewhere in the Atlantic was not enough, and would never be. Traveling the world and learning about wildlife and anthropology of the area is also a big part of what I want to do with my life in the grand scheme of it all. So when I heard that I could spend, not two, not four, but five weeks in Southern Africa, I mindlessly signed my name on that piece of paper for International Student Volunteers, called my parents, told them I was going, and began my countdown to the greatest five weeks of my life!

The first two weeks were absolutely phenomenal, it was hard work, but I loved every second of it. Ten volunteers all eager to get their hands dirty and learn about South Africa was all I could ever ask for. We lived in huts made from dung and concrete, deep in the African bush with virtually no sign of civilization, equipped with two bush guides and a project leader. After the first two to three days, we all got used to the sounds, temperature, natural order of things, and each other. We did bird point counts, which involved waking up before the crack of dawn, driving into a protected reserve, listening, watching, and documenting our feathery friends. The hard, yet most exciting part of the volunteer work was doing Vegetation Condition Assessments. Several instruments were assigned to the respective volunteers and we would have to map out a transect line via GPS, and get to certain points on the map, set up a data triangle with ropes and rebar, and conduct a survey on whatever vegetation fell within the data points. Not to mention, we also had free time and my favorite part, the "game drives", where we would enter the reserve and drive around looking for any wildlife that we could spot. The best part about this time were the volunteers; we got so close it was unbelievable. Instead of becoming friends, we became family, staying up late, telling stories of home, eating new foods, playing games, working together, looking out for each other, and most of all sharing in this wonderful experience.

The second two weeks were all about adventure! Transported out of the bush and back into society, and given to a Tour Leader, we didn't really know what to feel but we got introduced to 23 new people with, mostly the same experiences so we got along quickly, and soon, they were family as well. I thought Africa couldn't get any more fun, and then we hit the activities. Now we were learning about the cultural side of Africa, as well as more on wildlife. On top of it all, the views were so unreal that at some points I would shed a tear or two at how beautiful our world is.

The last week was excursion time, we lost 27 family members and picked up one. There were eight of us. We were all mostly good friends already, but became even closer over the last week. We laid back, embraced more activities and spent what seemed like an eternity together. Again, I loved every second of it. After a few more wild nights, eventful mornings, and heartbreaking goodbyes, my trip was over.

Over these 5 weeks I have done; over fifteen game drives on multiple reserves, walked with elephants, cruised many rivers, pet a cheetah, went to rehabilitation centers, hiked up steep terrain, stood on top of countless mountains, saw God's window, kloofed heights of up to 50 feet, cooked a few braais, ate some South African pancakes, visited an orphanage with the most amazing children, entered Kruger National Park, looked at the stars, went extreme caving, went scuba diving, swam with dolphins, surfing, camped out with lions, leopards, baboons, hyenas and other wildlife, ate native food, white water rafted, saw Victoria Falls, touched Zimbabwe, and most of all, had the most fun I've ever had in my entire existence on this gas filled planet somewhere out here in the universe.

What I'm trying to say is get out there, live the life you want, never settle. I love all the people that I got the pleasure of meeting over this time in Africa. The natives, the volunteers, the project, tour, and excursion leaders, the places, and the animals have been more than I could ever have asked for.

Cheers to Masebe, Zingela, Ikhaya, and St. Lucia. I love you all.
Oh, and the countries: South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe (technically).

It's never goodbye, only goodnight. Until next time. ISV SA - 2016.

This trip was amazing. The people in Costa Rica are so helpful and open to new people learning about their culture and how to speak Spanish. I remember when we went to the Waterfall Gardens and our guide stayed with me the entire time and helped me learn the animals' names in Spanish. It made learning Spanish fun and interactive and has greatly increased my respect for culture in other places. I would definitely visit this beautiful, nature-rich country again.