ISV - Volunteer Projects in South Africa

I went to South Africa to help out people who are less fortunate and I left there a different person. I learned so much from the people there and I left with a whole new group of friends from around the world.
This was my first travel experience. I still remember the day a ISV recruiter walked into my math class and started telling me about the program. Right then I knee that I was going to go to Africa. My life hasn't been perfect and I knew the people I'd be helping have had their struggles.
It wasnt until I was there and I saw a little girl eat the core of an apple. It was gross. We grow up thinking you can't eat it, but in Africa food is scarce and wasting any part of it is nonexistent. You eat what you can get and you don't complain.
Africa was truly amazing and even though it cost a lot of money...every penny was worth it!

Besides meeting all of the other students, meeting the Project Leaders and the Adventure tour leader were AMAZING! We all grew so close to each other and it felt like each of the two weeks we spent with them was a life time. Each and every one of the students there felt we could reach out to the leaders if we ever needed to talk. All the hiccups in the road felt like nothing because they handled everything so smoothly and always kept us informed. They showed us how to have a good time with any experience, from cold rides to the work sites to jumping off cliffs! They taught us how this is the time to become the person we want to be, because this is a once in a life time thing, maybe not traveling or volunteering, but that specific moment. It was unique, and we knew we could conquer our fears with the support of everyone around us because we were a team that became a family. Everyone there helped me grow as a person.
The volunteer work was just as memorable! I can never look at birds the same, now that I have seen how beautiful, peaceful and unique they are! Another thing I can't look at the same? Trees. I've gotten up, close and personal with some of the coolest, but pokiest trees ever! I've got scars from all the trees that were a pain to measure, but at least I've got every day reminders of the truly amazing, hard working time I had in South Africa.

My trip with ISV to South Africa was incredible. Not only did I meet some amazing people but I was able to give back to the country I was visiting while traveling. the first two weeks were spent on a nature reserve going on habitat assessments, game drives and stargazing. We were even able to spend time at a local school with children who were genuinely excited to learn.

The second two weeks were the adventure tour and there was never a dull moment. Between surfing, elephant encounters,game drives in Kruger,horseback riding, caving and swimming with dolphins you were gauranteed the trip of a lifetime. We were also given time to shop at local markets and experience the culture.

The best part of the trip for me was in Swaziland where we bought gifts for a local orphanage and spent the afternoon playing with the children. Nothing felt better than seeing the smiles on their faces.

It was a great experience, especially for who have not traveled on their own before. As the trip is quite expensive, I would definitely recommend fundraising a lot for it, but it was worth it in the end. It was such a humbling experience learning their culture and providing sustainable kitchens for the community to use. I bonded with people all over North America with the same goals and passion for adventure. Great trip!

This trip went above and beyond my expectations. I was a first-time out-of-the-country traveler, but I felt like I had been travelling for years because the trip was a fantastic blend of comradery, exploration, and excitement. Months after the end of our trip the memories we made are still fresh and I think about the trip everyday. For me, the work we did was profoundly personal and everything I learned while I was there has only stoked the fire in me that wants to make a difference in conservation around the world. The work we did was all encompassing, we helped both the environment and the community, as well as had oodles of fun. Such an amazing experience I think everyone should try to have.

Working as a volunteer through ISV this summer was hands down the best experience of my life. I met some life-long friendships, made experiences I'll never forget, and felt like I made a difference in the world. It sounds clichè but I feel like a new person once I was completed with my ISV tour. I would recommend to any traveler out there who wants to explore the world while making a difference.

Travelling with ISV was an incredible experience that I strongly believe, has changed my life.
I volunteered in South Africa with ISV in the summer of 2015 and ever since I came back, I would not stop talking about it. I miss the people that I met during my trip and I always remember the impact that we made while being there and also the extreme adventure touring we had.
I volunteered at a nature reserve in South Africa for wildlife conservation and biodiversity and also got to take part in environmental education by teaching at an elementary school. Working with kids and seeing their reactions towards us was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had and it was so much fun too!!
After the two weeks, we went adventure touring and also had the chance to visit two other countries (Mozambique and Swaziland)!!
Everyday during the adventure tour was an insane adrenaline rush! We got to swim with wild dolphins, interact with elephants and other wildlife and animal rehabilitation centres and also got to experience scuba diving, jumping off cliffs in canyons and seeing some of the best nature views this world has to offer. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interesting in not only changing their own life but also create an impact on the life of others!

My recent trip to Africa ignited my passion for traveling, and I don’t think this flame will ever die. What I discovered through traveling is that the world is a much more beautiful place than I had ever imagined. There are many places I have been to, from Costa Rica to Spain to Mexico. All of these places hold their own unique beauty, but my heart belongs to Africa. Much of what I had heard of Africa was true. Many of the houses are not what would be considered livable by an American standard. In a nearby village from where I was living, a lot of the homes had no running water. These aspects never astonished me; what did was the people. These people welcomed me like I was a long-lost friend. What shocked me about these people even more was the joy they emanated. Although they owned little, yet their happiness was immense. Even the orphans I met in Swaziland radiated this joy. Like a ray of light, these people lit up my world brighter than I had ever seen it.
The students I traveled with touched my heart as well. I am a shy person, but I made so many friends on this trip who I felt like I had known my whole life. They are what completed my trip and made it one I will never forget.
Lastly, the beauty of Africa is breathtaking. The landscape is a mixture of jagged mountains and sparkling waterfalls interspersed with vast grasslands. There's something magical about Africa that I cannot explain. It felt like I was living in a dream. I will never be the same after traveling the roads that our ancestors once walked upon. Africa is the cradle of mankind, and it is a beautiful place.