GIVE Volunteers

Wow! Coolest and most different experience of my life. Very adventurous, culturally immersive, and on the move. Reach villages you would never get to traveling on your own. So many incredible aspects of the trip including teaching English to elementary school kids, assisting with permaculture on an organic farm, hiking, caving, interacting with elephants, completing crafts with women in the villages, etc. GIVE is an incredible organization that travels responsibility and does a great job explaining their intentions and the behind-the-scene details of everything on the itinerary. Everyone who goes on these trips has an adventurous and giving heart, which leaves everyone bound to bond. I learned so much about Thailand, myself, and the world on this trip and would go back in a heart beat. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!

Traveling to Laos this summer 2019 has been such a beautiful and unforgettable experience. The second I arrived at Sop Chem, I immediately felt at home. The locals are so welcoming and genuinely want to connect with you. A key lesson I learned was that love overpowers any language barrier. While in the village, I learned about Laos and Khmu cultures. To become even more immersed, there is a homestay. This was my absolute favorite part of the trip. I stayed with a family that had a thirteen year old daughter named Nali. Throughout the night, another volunteer and I helped her cook dinner and asked her questions about her life. From then on, she always referred to me as "sister" when working on the permaculture plot with me or at the Baci Ceremony. This ceremony is so unique and powerful because it is where the whole community and volunteers express their gratitude to each other.
After leaving Laos, I experienced the Thailand Elephant Add-On as a responsible traveler. This was eye-opening to be able to learn from locals about ethical elephant tourism and conservation. We were able to interview local mahouts and elephant experts. I learned a lot about the mahout-elephant relationship and the misconceptions that exist. When we got to one of the local guides village, his elephant came running towards him, and it was beautiful being able to witness their deep connection.
I can't recommend traveling with GIVE Volunteers enough. All of the guides are kind-hearted, hard working, and well-trained teammates that truly make the experience so much fun. These trips get you out of your comfort zone so that you can grow, and the relationships you form last a lifetime. I continue to talk to my group and guides from the Thailand GIVE trip when I went last year in Summer 2018.

This was an awesome trip, and one of the most challenging but fun things I've ever done before. I loved the guides who were part of our trip, as I think they really made the experience as fun as it was. I feel like I really made some important and lasting connections while here. I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone who wants a good adventure, as there is quite a lot of independence to explore where you are staying. Additionally, the culture component of this trip is really strong, which is something I really enjoyed. I felt like the community really enjoyed our presence and wanted to learn from us as much as we wanted to learn from them. It was overall just an unforgettable experience, and I loved everything we did, even when I felt incredibly challenged.

This trip successfully immerses the participants in the culture of the area and provides first hand experience of local community life. The guides do their best to help the volunteers understand the cost of living up in this region, not only in financial expenses but also physical and mental tolls. The region was heavily affected by the 2015 earthquake, history, religious artifacts, families, and livelihood were lost as a direct result and it has been a long four years healing from the impacts. Though there are still very visible scars on the landscape and the people themselves they have not let the effects stop them from pressing on. Their strength is inspiring and I could only hope to one day be like them. I personally hope to return to the region in the future and continue to help them grow, cherish, and maintain their culture.

This trip was better than I ever imagined it to be! Everyone I met throughout this experience was so welcoming, caring, friendly, and it really felt like a big family! The guides were very organized and created an environment where everyone felt comfortable. The relationships they created with the locals was so amazing to see and allowed us to truly get a cultural experience by the lessons taught by the community. Every aspect of the trip, from the transportation to the tea houses we stayed in, was very well planned out and the experiences we had were unforgettable. At each place we had the chance to visit, we were welcomed with open arms and warm hearts! Our group was always laughing, having fun, and getting to know each other while being surrounded by the amazing scenery! GIVE is a one of a kind family that I am so thankful to now be a part of!