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IFRE Volunteers Abroad

Why choose IFRE Volunteers Abroad?

IFRE Volunteers, a leading U.S. volunteer abroad organization, specializes in ongoing, year-round projects available from 1 week to 12 weeks in 20 countries throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. Wherever you choose to go, your IFRE volunteer experience will start with a one-week language and cultural immersion program providing you with an in-depth understanding of the local culture, basic language skills, regional issues and local customs. IFRE, a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization, is committed to providing you with a meaningful volunteer abroad experience that will change your life.

Founded
2006

Reviews

Default avatar
Pablo
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience in San Jose.

It has been a great experience so far and the team is very supportive.
Logistics could be improved : for example, pair up volunteers who live in the same house and have the same assignment to work on same shifts so that Uber costs can be minimized.
Buses are reliable, but complicated to transfer and return to point of origin .
Overall, great experience!
The family where I stayed was so welcoming and the food was delicious .
I particularly enjoyed the salsa class given to participants. I would recommend the partners to lower the cost of the program to draw more volunteers and potential repeats.

Response from IFRE Volunteers Abroad

Dear Pablo,
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the program enjoyable and that our team provided you with great support. Your suggestions regarding logistics are very valuable; we will certainly consider pairing volunteers with similar assignments to reduce transportation costs. We're glad you enjoyed your stay with the welcoming family and the delicious food! It’s wonderful to hear that you liked the salsa class as well. We appreciate your recommendation about adjusting the program cost to attract more volunteers and look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Safe travels!

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Simone
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching ICT in Zimbabwe

My volunteering program, come to an end. It was really a special experience.
The teaching activities in Shalom Primary School went over my expectations. When I arrived at school on the first day, I discovered that I was supposed to be in charge of the “7th Grade” of primary school. In Zimbabwe, primary school lasts 7 years and so at 13 years old you take exams and then you go to high school. August is a sort of revision period in which the students, who had finished lessons in July, go to school to review and prepare for the September exams. The principal decided to put me alongside the “7th Grade” teacher to give the kids the opportunity to have additional support in preparing for the exams. I had a very nice interaction with the teachers and with the class. As long as the languages spoken at home are Ndebele and Shona, all subjects are taught in English. After discussing the program with the teacher, we decided that I would review ICT "Information and Communication Technology", basically computers and software. It seems that my ICT (Information and communication technology) lessons were useful even for the teacher; kids always asked me questions and the "final test" showed a good understanding. It was a huge satisfaction, it means that they understood me and despite they having had very little time to study, they assimilated my lessons, there could not have been a greater emotion. I was happy to have been able to donate some of my time to these African kids, they, with the affection they showed me, certainly gave me much more than I was actually able to give them. I therefore reap the benefits of these very few weeks of volunteering, with the certainty that I will want to make myself available again, because yes, I taught them a bit of ICT, but being able to participate in their lessons, enriched me, a lot, listening first-hand to what they teach in a school in Zimbabwe was the deepest cultural immersion I have ever experienced.

I want to thank you all and all the local staff that supported me in everything at the house and in town, I felt at home.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go and enjoy Zimbabwe that is a super safe and friendly country
Pros
  • Zimbabwe is safe
  • Zimbabwean are friendly
  • The house is comfy
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Angela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An eye-opening experience in Nepal

I joined the volunteer program in Kathmandu and had the amazing experience of teaching in both a school and a monastery, the latter being one of the best opportunities I've had. I've learned tremendously with the monks and the children were the best students I could have ever asked for. I also had the chance to go trekking the Himalayas, namely the Annapurna Sanctuary Circuit, and all the preparations were very good. I loved my daily life of exploring the city and spending time with my "didi" in the hostel, with amazing food, fun conversations and impromptu dance moments and dramatic turns. I was not alone in the hostel and saw a good number of other volunteers coming and going, and definitely created frienships for life. The coordinator of the program was very nice and organized everything very promptly. I recommend anyone to join this program, especially if you would like to go on a spiritual adventure and self-discovery trip as well.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Definitely the trekking to Annapurna. I would never have trusted myself to stay in the mountains for more than a week, and here I am, finished and conquered my first 4130m.
Pros
  • Amazing food at very reasonable prices (dal baht power!)
  • The experience in the monastery was definitely a life-changing one
  • A lot of opportunities to discover Kathmandu (and Nepal) on your own
Cons
  • A lot of rain! (well, it was Monsoon season so understandable)
  • The teaching in the school was unfortunate (but the IFRE team was very helpful with all the issues)
Read my full story
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Ron
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

HIV Social Work, Ngong/Nairobi

The HIV Care project just outside of Nairobi is exceptional. Run by a social activist with an infectious personality and endless energy, the experience felt like a graduate-level course in social work. I was given a detailed orientation to learn about the history, purpose and organization of the program. On day one I was also given a schedule for my two week volunteer work, which I greatly appreciated. My work was a mix of teaching/assisting at the school, doing home visits of clients and writing up success stories for social media to fund raise. I also participated in a weekly support group with new clients. The office staff is kind and vivacious, treating one another and guests like family. Accommodations are comfortable but basic a d food provided varied and high quality home cooked meals. I will treasure the work I did here and always remember the resilient women I met who have overcome so many adversities.
I did have some communication issues with the IFRE representative regarding arrival and the location of my placement, so I recommend to future volunteers to be mindful of this and ensure proper arrangements are made in advance. That said, this was an invaluable program and I encourage anyone considering it to take the plunge and work with Living Positive Kenya.

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Allie and Maisie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Khawalung Monastery

It's the kind of volunteer program that grows as you reflect. We were only there a week and the first few days were difficult. We didnt feel welcomed by the teaching staff who used us as time off. We were given little training and no level of expectation. So we worked a few classes a day, mainly sitting in on a teacher if the was one. The resources were good but often the class being taught wasn't what was timetabled and it was hard to teach without the text book. We felt a bit displaced to be honest. But the other volunteers were great and so we're the moms, both young ones and the seniors monks. We went to prayers when we wanted and respected their culture and kindness. It's an open minded monastery with girls as well and the volunteers are able to chat amongst all the monks. By our last two days, we had grown in confidence and took decisions about what and how we would teach. And the teachers then sat in on us.
All.in all it was such a privilege to get close to such a different environment and be privy to conversations and experiences so different to home. Without realising it at the time, we have learned so much, both from a teaching perspective and from a visitor one. It's an experience we will treasure.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
It can be a bit overwhelming to begin with as you're out of your comfort zone but it's one of this things where the more you put in the more you get out. You could sit in bed all day or give yourself the energy to emerge. There's no one telling you what to do so it requires self motivation which is worth it.
Pros
  • Living inside a seemingly closed cultural environment
  • Encourages and requires courage
  • Introduces skills you didn't know you had.
Cons
  • Being left to your own devices can be isolating
  • Not really teaching, you're improvising
  • Tough at the beginning till confidence grows

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Angela Medeiros

A teacher by profession but a curious learner by nature. A volunteer since two years ago and an avid pursuer of languages and culture.
Group photo

Alumni Interview

Why did you choose this program?

I did a volunteer program in Thailand last year and I decided to move a little more to the west this year. When I heard that the program had the option to trek the Himalayas, it was it for me. My mother is also a Buddhist and this has also influenced my choice since I wanted to know more about the religion. Since Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, it is a plus for me.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The organization that I came up with - IFRE - helped me with basically everything. I completed my application and payment online and they returned to me with information for the program, including the trekking arrangements. They arranged my hostel, the pick-up at the airport, and the contact with the school and later the monastery. The trekking itinerary, including the Sherpa guide, was fully arranged by them. The only arrangements I had to make were for my own travel around Nepal during my free time.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would like to say that whoever comes to leave your preconceived ideas about Asia behind. Asia is a beautiful continent with so much culture that every single country is different. Nepal is a Hindu and Buddhist country so please respect the religious practices here. Communication in general will not be difficult but expect people to not be able to speak in English. Accommodation will be way more basic than a hotel and food here is quite spicy (but so, so delicious!).

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

In Nepal, people work 6 days per week, with a holiday on Saturdays. Normally a day would be waking up at 7, breakfast at 8, working in your chosen program for 4 to 5 hours a day, and then an afternoon free. There is plenty of time to go around the city and go further away for a hike or visit a historic town on the off days. Lunch might be included in your workplace and then dinner at 7. Nighttime is always fun to share about your day with other volunteers or people in the hostel.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

This is my second time going abroad by myself and doing a volunteer program. However, it can always be daunting for newcomers to be in a completely new place. I remember when I arrived, it was late at night and I was not sure how the hostel would be and who to ask for help since everyone was already sleeping. Crossing the roads, buying things in shops, and trying to not be cheated as a foreigner is always a challenge. However, hesitation and fear are normal so the most important is to have an open mindset. Walk around the place and get familiar with the roads and people. Learn basic communication sentences and greet people as you go. Don't be afraid to ask for help and to bargain with local people (they are very happy to do so). The more familiar you are with the place, the quicker the fear will be gone.