International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

After a few days in Siem Reap I headed to Phnom Penh for a 2 week Childcare placement at Joy Daycare Centre. The kids (aged 2-8) were funny, attentive and super engaged. The day started at 9. I would spend an hour in the morning teaching English, followed by a freestyle session where I would let the kids draw on the whiteboard and get them to describe in English their drawings. My Khmer wasn't great but with some creative miming the kids understood and we had loads of fun!

We would help feed the kids at lunch "more rice please teacher" still makes me smile. After lunch they would nap for 2 hours, then shower, followed by play time, songs music dance games or watch TV. They would go home at 3.30pm.

A couple of times we hitched a ride with the director of the centre when he took the kids home. Seeing the slums they lived in was heartbreaking, but they came from loving families, and even though they didn't have much they were happy, which was very humbling.

The whole trip was one big highlight reel!

Even though it was sad saying goodbye to the kids, I left with a full heart.

Travel is my jam. And this is a unique way to do it. To live like a local and give back. It's a cultural exchange like no other. I even tried deep fried crickets!

Phnom Penh is a crazy city! The noise, traffic, hardly any pavements. People don't walk you take tuk tuks everywhere. Download the Grab app to book yours, it's like Uber.

I loved hanging out on the riverfront. Head to Temple Bar & Bakery on 55th Street for the rooftop experience.

This is truly the trip of a lifetime! I got to help people around the world, make new friends that I never would have met, and make unforgettable memories! It was so rewarding to volunteer as a Nurse and Childcare Provider. I am already wanting to volunteer again soon! I also had epic experiences like going on a safari in the Serengeti and snorkeling at Bill Gates's island! Truly a trip of a lifetime. If anyone is hesitant, JUST GO! You will be so happy you did. I only wish I could've stayed longer!

I loved every minute of the experience, the accommodations were good, food was delicious and the staff was amazing!
Helping in the construction site felt unreal, and I would do it again!
We were living in Kandy in the volunteering camp, the Green Lion, Sri Lanka.
The weekend is free for all volunteers to travel and explore, so thats what we did. We took a 2 hour drive to Sigiya for to see wonderful temples. We also hiked up the lion rock for sunrise and went on an elephant safari. Meeting so many locals and tourists so was really enlightening.

My time volunteering in Laos was absolutely incredible! The program was so well organised! From the moment I expressed my interest in volunteering, I was provided with the support that I needed to take the next steps to go abroad. Once I was in Laos, the local team gave me so much support and guidance about the country, the program, and places to explore.
The volunteering program I completed was Teaching English in one of the local schools. What was so great about this program is that the teachers and students genuinely needed the help of volunteers and were so grateful that we were there. This was so impactful as I knew my contribution was actually making a difference on the lives of others.

After no small amount of researching and deliberation, I decided on IVHQ to book my first volunteer experience abroad. I did not know anyone personally who had travelled with them, but the reviews were abundant. Price factored into the decision, as did the option to choose many cities across most continents.
All of my pre-trip interactions were conducted via email, but the option to speak to a representative was always on the table. The onboarding process was surprisingly simple and their checklists made submitting the requisite information a breeze.
Although I have traveled internationally several times, I had never been to South America. I chose Cusco, Peru for my destination, both for the Spanish immersion and a personal interest in Peru's history.
I have been a Registered Nurse for many years and enrolled in the medical volunteer program to maximize my positive impact while there.
Booking travel was easy through the Student Universe portal and I was able to include additional excursions through the local tour agency via the IVHQ links.
Frequent follow up emails kept me informed and engaged in the months and weeks leading up to my departure.
On arrival in Cusco I was picked up from the airport and brought directly to the local volunteer agency headquarters. I was greeted warmly, oriented and given a walking tour of Cusco's central district. The local agency had been given all of my pertinent information and I had no problems getting to my accomodations or starting my volunteer program.
Although my primary contacts in Peru were through the local agency, Maximo Nivel, my IVHQ program manager checked in with me every few days and was always available for questions.
The overall experience was incredible and I would not hesitate to book another volunteer experience through IVHQ. In fact, I'm looking forward to it!