Program Reviews

I loved seeing all of the temples and different displays of the Thai culture. I went on countless adventures and got to experience a great opportunity that kick-started my career in wildlife rehabilitation. I even got offered a job from the manager at the Love Wildlife center and I am pretty sure I'll be taking up that offer so I can gain some international reputation with NGOs and other organizations that I can work with after establishing connections overseas.

The international student volunteers (ISV) program in New Zealand was amazing! It was a month-long, full-immersion exploration of the country consisting of two weeks of conservation work and two weeks of adventure. We met and spent the night at a Maori village and learned and participated in their traditions and culture. We explored the northern and southern islands from east to west and from sky to sea. I went skydiving (separate cost) and glacier hiking (included). I met some wonderful people and cherish some amazing photo memories of my time there (and this was back in 2006!). I'm sure the program has only gotten more amazing. I don't have a single negative memory - it was all wonderful and I fully recommend it to anyone.

In Summer 2015 I embarked on the ISV Australia 4-Week Program, and it was undeniably one of the best decisions of my life. I would happily do it again and would recommend the program to anyone looking to have the time of their lives.
The first two weeks of this program were devoted to the Volunteer Project. My particular project assignment involved forest management and beautification in Coffs Harbour. This portion involved lots of hard work but felt incredibly rewarding, and the evenings and weekend off allowed for exploring a truly amazing location in the world that not many tourists are able to experience.
Following the Volunteer Project, the next two weeks involved the Adventure Tour. This portion of the journey involved traveling down the Australian East Coast from Cairns to Sydney. I must have packed more activities into these two weeks than at any other time in my life. From scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef to skydiving and bungee jumping in the same day to surfing the refreshing waters of Byron Bay to exploring the streets of Sydney, there was never a dull moment.
I also participated in the one-week Fiji Excursion following the Adventure Tour. This provided an amazing opportunity to relax and unwind after the Australian experience. Snorkeling the warm waters of Barefoot Island with the manta rays, visiting local Fijian villages, and standing on the beach of Mondriki Island (where Tom Hanks was stranded in the movie Castaway) were some of the highlights of this portion.
Overall, this was an incredible journey, and the memories and friendships will last a lifetime. I recommend this program to anyone with an open mind, sense of adventure, desire to make a positive impact on others and themselves, and willingness to step out of the comfort zone to try new things (foods, activities, etc.) I am looking into participating in another ISV program in the near future.
One final note: Maybe it's just me, but Vegemite is not as bad as a lot of people say it is. I actually liked it. I definitely recommend giving it a chance-you might be surprised

Part of my adventure tour was the awesome opportunity to go into the Indian Ocean in order to find dolphins to snorkel with. Sadly, I sprained my ankle a few days prior to this, but I decided not to let that stop me. I was carried to the boat, and it was a bumpy ride. It was a mix of one of the most painful/awesome experiences of my life. It was hard to swim, but the dolphins were amazing.

This program absolutely changed my life. I loved every minute of it, and despite the fact that I went on this program several years ago, I have stayed in touch with many of the girls I met during the program from around the world. From meeting and working alongside local men and women, to petting elephants and lions, seeing some absolutely gorgeous scenery and traveling all across Southern Africa, this is not an experience that I would trade for anything. I have traveled many places in the years after I was in this program, but Southern Africa will always hold a special place in my heart and I will be back one day. If anyone has the opportunity to go on this tour, I strongly suggest you grab the opportunity and run with it! You will not regret it.

I had the most amazing experience in Australia with International Student Volunteers, I wouldn't trade it for the world! I was able to complete 80 hours of community service and take away some life long friends from my experience. The most memorable moment, looking past all the amazing sites we saw, was after a long day of volunteering being sorrounded by the most genuine and kind hearted people that were there for the same reasons as I was. To learn, make a difference and educate others! Not only did I learn more about Australia's wildlife but I was able to learn more about myself through the my journey. I would highly recommend doing the 4 weeks, once your there you won't want to leave!! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do the 4 weeks in Australia and add a week on in Fiji, adventuring touring which I absolutely recommend as well! I got hands on with wildlife that I never would have been able to experience if I hadn't traveled with ISV!

I traveled with ISV to Australia where I volunteered at Walkabout Wildlife Park for 2 weeks! (I also signed up for the activity package and was able to travel down the East Coast for an additional 2 weeks).

Absolutely everything, starting from the plane ride across he Pacific to the flight coming home, was absolutely incredible! Not only did I Interact with animals including kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and wombats on a daily basis, but I also stepped out of my comfort zone and had an adrenaline rush of a lifetime when I went skydiving, white water rafting, snorkeling, surfing, and abseiling!!

My project leaders were the friendliest people I have ever met and I made lasting friendships along the way!

I wouldn't trade my experience for anything in the world.

When you travel abroad, you expect to see the popular sites, take pictures, and make memories. However, the most important thing for a traveler like myself is to make a difference every place you go. Change someone's life. Leave a place better than it was when you entered. Make an impact on the world. My ISV program in Chintsa, South Africa allowed me to do just that, and I learned more than I realized I would. I didn't just touch the lives of those around me, but they touched mine. I had young children not only teach me how to do the "clicks" in the Xhosa language, but they taught me to appreciate the little thing. An older man, Tata Goodman, taught me more than just how to plaster walls; he taught me a good work ethic. In South Africa, I learned the power of sustainable energy, and I witnessed the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. My volunteer experience left me with a passion to help those in need, and I learned that I didn't just help them, but they helped me become a better person. And I owe that knowledge and gratitude to the opportunity ISV gave me.

I absolutely loved my experience with ISV- New Zealand. Not only were we immersed among the Maori culture, but we learned about the environment and made an impact with their land. It was amazing to learn about a very unique place like New Zealand with its unique wildlife and landscapes. The excursions that ISV loops into this trip will take your breath away.

This trip completely changed my life and life perspective. I got to life in a completely different cultural community (a small, 6 family village off the coast of the Osa Peninsula) and work hands on in the rainforest. I was entirely immersed in the huge amount of biodiversity Costa Rica has to offer and I would give anything to go back and do it again. It made me change my major to ecology so I'll be able to make a difference in deforested areas and better understand the interactions that occur in this environment.