Program Reviews

Going to New Zealand was a very surreal experience. When I first arrived, our group came to a small town in the bush (forest) and it felt almost as if I were in pre-historic times. The trees and leaves are so much bigger than I was used to coming from the United States. It was absolutely gorgeous. Over the course of a month we were able to travel all over the north and the south island, to large cities like Wellington and to small towns like Rotoorangi. The first portion of our trip 35 of us planted over 4 thousand native trees which was to help return the land to it's natural habitat and rebuild the bird population. The next two weeks was packed full of adventure, from 8 hours of glacier hiking to 8 hours of glow worm cave exploration. The lay-out of the islands makes it easy to be close to water and the weather year around is great, staying around 55° even in the winter. Of course if you travel from the north to the south island you will find it gets much colder the closer you get to the southern Alpe mountains which are covered in lush white show that is often used by snowboarders and skiers. We were given a chance to visit a Maori house and church and to perform and be preformed for. It was a great experience to learn the culture and meet with naive Maori people. I also really enjoyed our instructors and our leaders. They all had great energy and were a lot if fun.

When I left to this program, I was two years into college with almost all of my Generals finished up. On my trip I met some of the happiest people I've ever met. They were so in tune with nature and conserving it for future generations. That's why I'm now almost graduated college with a Biology degree, was because of them.

This was an amazing trip! I made life long friends from across the country and had adventures I never thought possible. Definitely plan for the extra expenses for activities on the free days and add the week in Fiji. The conservation project was fun and rewarding. The adventure tour afterwards was jam packed with activities! I'd do it again in a heart beat...worth every penny!

I heard about International Student Volunteers (ISV) through the flyers that were hung around my school. When they had the informational meeting, I thought "why not" and popped in to check it out. Their presentation was so intriguing and looked like everything I ever wanted; so I put down the deposit and submitted my application. Fast forward to June, I was anxiously sitting on the airplane not knowing what to expect AT ALL. But my nerves were eased as soon as I landed. (ISV was so helpful and engaging prior and throughout the trip). The program consisted of two parts (the second,the adventure, was optional). The first part was two weeks volunteering in the local community of Provedencia. The host families there adopted us like they're own as soon as they met us. Even though there was a language barrier, the love and hospitality poured from each and every home. The other volunteers were amazing; I know that my two roommates are going to be lifelong friends. Though they worked us hard cementing and farming, we learned so much and the experience it gave us was priceless. Everyone I met was so passionate for the cause. The last two weeks was the adventure part. We traveled around the entire country and did everything from surfing to nature treks to repelling. Again, everyone we met was AMAZING. I always felt safe, yet I wasn't smothered and never felt like I was being treated as if I were a child. I HIGHLY recommend volunteering with ISV.

In Australia, I volunteered at the Walkabout Wildlife Park for two weeks. It was an incredibly rewarding experience! Our main project was to clear trails because a huge storm had just hit. We calculated that if the staff at the park were to work on the trail every day then it would take them four years to finsih this task. It was hard enough already because we would be pulling trees and branches away from the desginated areas all day so to imagine that the staff would have to do this task for four years is a crazy thought.My volunteer group and I did all the work in two weeks! We also made and fixed several animal enclosures. We had to even out the soil in the pig's and dingo's enclosure so that when it rains Waffles, Maloo and Kirrika isn't freezing because of the water in their enclosure. We also made an enclosure for the alpacas so they have shelter from the rain. I think to know that we really made a difference is what made my experience memorable. We helped the park by clearing trails so that they can focus their energy on other projects and by making and fixing enclosures for the animals to make them feel more comfortable. During all of this, I met amazing people who share the same values of volunteering and conservation as I do.

During my trip with International Student Volunteers I had to opportunity to help with the Windamara conservation project. We helped plant trees, grasses and build a fence. The most interesting thing that happened to us while working started on our first day because we encountered leaches. Aside from being surprised and freaked out some of us couldn't help but laugh at the screams of those who were slightly more afraid. After work that day when we got home we made sure to shake off all our clothes just incase there were some still hanging around. For the rest of the two weeks we were there we were all on the lookout making sure to check each other for leaches. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience being able to help out a community who shares their rich history with all those that come visit.

Traveling to Costa Rica with ISV was my first time out of the country. Like most people, I was a little nervous about the experience. However, I found that ISV was well-organized and plans everything out for you, including transportation, lodging, and activities. My trip included a week of Spanish classes in Heredia, two weeks of volunteering in the Osa Peninsula, and two weeks of traveling around. Whatever volunteer project you go on will be challenging. For my project, we studied trees in the rain forest, which required hiking for 3-4 hours every day in very high humidity. It was physically demanding, but also rewarding to challenge myself and see what I could accomplish. We stayed with host families in simple accomodations, but that is truly the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of another country. Also, the food cooked by locals is ten times better than anything you will eat at a restaurant! You meet people very quickly in this program, so don't be afraid to go alone; the majority of the people I traveled with didn't know anybody. There were only two disappointments I had with the program that really stuck with me. One was during the Adventure Tour (the two weeks we traveled around the country), we were riding in a bus for 5-6 hours about every 2 days. So, while we got to experience a wide variety of really cool places in Costa Rica, it was also a lot of travel time. Also, be prepared to spend a large sum of money beyond what you pay for the trip. The expense of meals not covered as well as extra optional activities add up and aren't clearly explained in the itinerary. Other than that, I had a fantastic trip and met some really cool people. I would recommend this program to students currently enrolled in college. Take the risk and have an adventure of a lifetime - you won't regret it!

When volunteering on Chintsa South Africa, I had the opportunity to feel like a part of the community. During the day we worked at a primary school; we put up a fence while a herd of cows sat and watched us, plastered a new classroom and built the trusses for the roof, cleaned up and repainted another classroom for the younger kids and spent recess playing with the kids. Then after work we explored local areas:beaches, sand dunes, the township, and of course the local hangout The Barefoot Cafe. The owners of said cafe were warm and welcoming, even letting me help out on a particularily busy night. After the 2 weeks of volunteering, the adventure tour opened the door to numerous opportunities. Walking with elephants, taking food to an orphanage, jumping off cliffs and leaning to surf. I did more in these 4 weeks than the rest of the year!

This program literally changed my life. After volunteering with ISV I realized how much I loved volunteering and completely changed my career plans in hopes of one day working for a Non-profit organization. One year of school left and then out to the real world but I will be forever looking for opportunities to make the lives of others better because of the time I spent in South Africa.

Australia made me break out of my shell and become more of who i wanted to be. I took my fears and i conquered them. By the time i was sent home i wanted to go back. I learned so much and i can never repay that joy.