Program Reviews

I have always loved to travel and I have been a lot of places, but they way I travelled with ISV was different and amazing. Being able to really connect with and impact the community you are visiting really changes how you experience a place. I loved getting to know some of the people in Chintsa East where I was involved in a community development project.

The tour part of the trip was also great. You get to know a group of new, interesting people from other volunteer projects and you get to see crazy stuff. I miss the people I was grouped with and I hope I get to see them again someday. Something about sharing this kind of experience with someone (or a bunch of someones) creates a quick connection.

This program lets you get to know people and places that you wouldn't otherwise get to see.

My only advice if you are thinking about doing a trip through ISV is to contact your in country group leader about what to pack based on your specific project. The more generic packing lists your given are sometimes not entirely accurate.

Overall a great trip that I would definitely recommend!!

When I found out about this program, I was beyond excited. Going across the world to explore new cultures and areas, all while helping the environment? Sign me up.

This experience will always hold a huge place in my heart. Through ISV, I managed to conquer my fears in more ways than one, all while having the greatest time of my life. I will never forget the way I felt bungee-jumping off the Kawarau Bridge, which was the absolute high-light of my trip. I will never forget looking up at the night sky and seeing the Milky Way light up above me. I will never forget the friendships I've made or the memories we created with each other.

This experience was more than I had ever imagined. The adventure tour was amazing and thrilling, yes, but the most unique part of this program is the volunteer portion. I learned so much about myself in those two weeks. It was like a new part of me bloomed into someone I never thought I could be, in a good way of course. This program makes you feel so empowered, no matter who you are or where you come from.

ISV is such an incredible program, and I wish everyone could have the chance to participate in it. The staff and team leaders are so incredibly helpful and kind towards you and make you feel at home. Although it is a little pricey, it is still well worth it. The experiences and memories I've gained from this program mean so much to me, even six months after completing it! I would happily participate in ISV again in a heartbeat.

This opportunity was completely life changing and turned my world upside down. We were completely immersed in the culture of South Africa. Living in a village surrounded by 7 others, next to a game reserve. We spent two weeks participating in hands on volunteer works in the private reserve. We were able to see many of the iconic animals of Africa, getting up close and personal as we took game drives and assessments. We assisted in collecting data on the flora and fauna of the land, which is amazing experience for students studying in the Environmental fields. We ventured to breathtaking and luxurious parts of South Africa, Swaziland, and finally ending the adventure tour on the beautiful beaches of Mozambique. The adventure tour in itself is worth the cost of the four week+ trip. We packed in more activities than you would be able to do spending months in these counties. Some of the incredible activities we did were hiking, an elephant encounter, visited a wildlife rehabilitation center, kloofing, caving, surfing, scuba diving, swimming in hot springs and making memories with amazing people I will remember forever. This is a once in a lifetime experience I recommend for everyone!

In 2009 I participated in an ISV student volunteer program in Thailand and it truly was a life changing experience. I volunteered for two weeks in a small fishing village, promoting eco-tourism by painting school buildings, teaching English to school children and adults, planting mangrove trees, and many other community development projects. Then I traveled Thailand for two weeks on a cultural adventure tour visiting the Elephant Nature Park, rock climbing, scuba diving, sea kayaking, white water rafting, jungle trekking, and more. I did more in those two weeks than I had previously done in my lifetime!

My experience in Thailand left me wanting more, inspiring me to join the Peace Corps. Five years later, I still look back fondly on my experience and continue to keep in touch with the friends, both fellow volunteers and Thai locals, that I made.

I had a wonderful time in this program. I taught health education to young children and built cement floors for families. We also helped build the foundation of a daycare. The impact you make by helping these families is amazing. The people are so grateful and it is such hard work, you feel accomplished. It really opens your eyes to what life is like outside of your bubble. I met amazing people who I am still friends with and you experience life in a new way. Our team leaders were also great and made me feel as comfortable and confident as I could possibly be. I recommend everyone to have an experience like this in their life time.

It was probably one of the most interesting experiences of my life. Not only did I stay with a host family who was extremely kind and accommodating (even though I couldnt communicate too well as I only speak english). After meaningfully helping the community by building a small parking lot, concrete benches that used eco bricks (bottles that have plastic bags stuffed in them), and helping out on coffee plantations, I got the chance to explore the country, seeing the biggest volcano I the country, ziplining 100 meters above a forest canopy, and rafting to an island populated entirely by iguanas and hermit crabs.

My ISV experience was largely excellent, however there were some aspects I believed could be better. For example, the work we were sent to do in the village didn't seem to have much of an impact. We were teaching English to small children who wouldn't have remembered the lessons after we'd left. We also we painting their school, but were not given the proper supplies to do so (broken paint brushes, watered down paint, etc.) We all wished we could do something better for them, such as teaching them not to litter and cleaning up the village. My program leader and I spent a lot of our free time doing just that in the hopes that we could help. It was frustrating because we all spent upwards of $5000 on the trip and had hoped to make a lasting impact, but we weren't provided with the tools to do so. Where did our money go? The Adventure Tour part of the program was excellent though!

Traveling to Thailand through ISV has truly been one of the best experiences of my entire life. I was able to work with elephants everyday and explore a culture vastly different from my own. It was extremely touching to interact with the local farmers and provide much-needed help. Seeing such a different culture truly broadened my global lens and inspired me to spend my life trying to better global conditions to the best of my abilities. In addition to being extremely meaningful, the trip was also very fun! My favorite part of our daily routine was cutting down banana trees for the farmers and bringing them back for the elephants to eat. We would cool off by swimming in the river with the elephants and giving them baths! We did this every single day, and it never ceased to brighten my day. We also were able to spend 2 days exploring the local town. We visited several Buddhist temples, a war museum, a famous bridge, and many shops. Furthermore, we spent 3 days on a wildlife reservation, where the ranger helped us pick our own food and we witnessed several wild elephants entering our camp! It was incredible! I never imagined I would have this opportunity, and I am incredibly grateful that I did.

Going to New Zealand through ISV changed my life more than I could have ever imagined. It was amazing being a part of a project so meaningful along side so many passionate people. I was able to meet new people who shared goals, passions and interests similar to mine. Experiencing different and exciting new things with my new friends, was something I will never forget and I wouldn't trade my time with them for anything. You get on a plane and expect everything to be scary, and don't get me wrong, it is, but in the most beautiful and spectacular way. You find ways to leave your comfort zone and you learn new things about yourself that you wouldn't have at home. I got to spend two weeks living my dream to rebuild habitats for endangered animals and got to learn about sustainable development hands on. I went bungee jumping, saw hobbit houses, climbed up a waterfall, hiked to destinations I had only dreamt about, learned about a new culture and made friends & memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. If you have the chance to and want to volunteer abroad, ISV has everything a person could ask for. Adventure. Passion. Education. Impact your world with ISV. You won't regret it.

I have absolutely loved traveling abroad with ISV. I have gone abroad a few times before, but never like this. Being in a foreign country, knowing absolutely no one, and knowing nothing about the culture, I was terrified. However, once I met my host family, I knew I would be alright. I scraped by with the little Spanish I knew, and soon met everyone in my group. From the hours and hours of trudging through the rainforests of the Osa Peninsula, swimming in natural pools, and surfing the oceans, I have shared memories with them I know none of us will ever forget. I have met some of the most inspirational people, had wonderful experiences, and I have made friendships that will last me my lifetime.