ISV (International Student Volunteers) Reviews

Going to Costa Rice with ISV was one of the best experiences of my life. I will never forget the amazing people I met during my trip. The volunteer part is so rewarding. You get to experience a whole different culture. I also really enjoyed the adventure tour. You get to experience all of what Costa Rica has to offer. I made friends and have memories I will always carry with me for the rest of my life!!

I spent a month with an amazing group of people I still stay in touch with to this day. We bonded over bamboo beds, thai tea and the inability to make our students pronounce "R" correctly. I love ISV!

This was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. The volunteer project gave me some incredible hands-on animal experience I was able to include on my job resumes. The adventure your was equally as excellent, if not better. There were some understandable difficulties that required an open mind. Sometimes things were not as I was expecting and a little more "roughing it" than I had assumed. But it in no way took away from the experience. If I had the time and money, I would absolutely go on another trip in a heartbeat. Great job ISV!!!

This trip to South Africa with ISV is the experience of a lifetime. Hands down the best decision I have ever made in my life. A well-organized trip that provided me with an amazing opportunity. We did two weeks worth of volunteer work and then two weeks of adventure tour. During volunteer project we got the opportunity to work at five different schools...each day we woke up, had breakfast, went to a different school and provided them with an opportunity to have a gym class. We showed the teachers the different activities they could do with the kids and we played with the kids of all ages. Then we were given dinner after work and got to spend time with our friends! There was a great balance of work and free time. I developed such a passion for being with the kids that I was crying when I knew I had to leave. On adventure tour, we did amazing things! We got to go to Swaziland, Mozambique, Kruger National Park, and Blyde River Canyon! In Mozambique we got to take surf lessons, go scuba diving and snorkeling, ocean safari, and got to experience the interesting customs. In Swaziland we got to go adventure caving, and we visited an orphanage and donated lots of food and helped feed the children that day. In Kruger we went on a sunset game drive and a full day game drive! The things we saw were unbelievable and amazing. In Blyde River Canyon we got to go kloofing (a mix between cliff jumping and caving), we went tubing, and I chose to do paintball with some of my friends. The trip went by way to fast and the friendships I made are ones that will last me a lifetime! The children and people of South Africa changed my life in the most positive way! I loved everything about this trip and I left my heart in Africa

I had an excellent experience in the Dominican volunteering for ISV. My favorite part was building houses and meeting the people who's lives would be positively changed because of us. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!

The first half of the trip was pretty tough but such an awesome and special experience. We'd trek the forest for hours at a time, recording fruit and fauna data. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I'll forever cherish. There were some risky moments during the trip but that's what happens when you go to some pretty neat places! Examples: white water rafting and rappelling! Loved it so much. Thanks!

This trip was a dream come true. I had always wanted to go to Australia since I was little. To be able to go there, and make a positive impact on the environment while I was there was life changing. This was the best trip I've ever been on.

I went for 2 weeks to volunteer and had so much fun doing so. We were a few hours outside of Sydney, in cabins surrounded by subtropic rain forests. When we weren't planting trees or eradicating invasive species of plants were were exploring the towns near us. I got to see some of the culture and talk to the locals.We visited small towns, ate at restaurants, explored local nature wonders. It was truly an eye opening experience.

The trip made a huge impact on me as a person. While there we focused on learning how to be more sustainable, and how need need to protect the earth. Coming home I tried to keep the those lessons in mind, to this day I am still trying to live that out! Our Cabins were small, and roomed 4 people each, and did not have a heater. I didn't mind this, because we used Hot water bottles to warm us, it really wasn't that bad. In the main cabin area with the kitchen and room to hang out in we had to start a fire to warm it. We also took showers with rain water that had been collected. These all gave me a different perspective on how we live, and the changes we can make to be more environmentally friendly.

My group had 7 students in it, from Europe, Canada, and The USA, as well as 2 Tour guides, one an Australian local, one from New Zealand. It was interesting to learn about each others cultures and share experiences with each other. One night we all roasted marshmallows together, and another day we made pancakes with maple syrup in them (American and Canadian traditions) which were fun to share with the group.

We didn't really have lot of internet connection.I liked this because it forced me out of my comfort zone, and made me more present in the moment. I'm thankful for it now because it allowed me to put all m focus in to enjoying the moment while I was there.

Bottom line this was one of the most memorable, influential, impacting adventures I have ever been on. The people I got to interact with, the experiences we shared, will carry on with me throughout life. I hope to travel with ISV again, as soon as I am able to.

ISV is a wonderful organization that is conscious of providing an authentic experience and always practices sustainable and respectful tourism! I am from America and it was definitely a challenge to be in such a different culture and cut off from instant technology, but that's also one of the many reasons it was so awesome. It's important to control your expectations and know that you are only volunteering for two weeks and that long term development takes time. Go in with an open mind, patience, and sense of adventure and you will have an incredible journey

Participating in the ISV program was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I went in thinking I was going leave a positive impact on the children, but it turned out that they were the ones who left a positive impact on me. ISV were incredibly helpful with organizing the entire trip, they kept in contact with me leading up to the date of departure, and they made sure that every day was worth every penny.

I truly loved my volunteer experience in Cape Town, South Africa. ISV and SAVE paired up to develop our volunteer plan. We built part of a school, tore down and rebuilt a roof, and played with the township children. It was definitely a culture shock from California, but I'm so glad I went. Our on-site program staff was very helpful, however ISV gave late notice on some details. My group consisted of volunteers from mainly the U.S., with a from Canada. I expected it to be more culturally-diverse, however it was still an amazing experience. Cape Town was beautiful and we frequently walked to the beach, bussed to the Victoria Waterfront shopping center, and went on a wine tour! For those of us who stayed two weeks, the staff scheduled is a safari for an additional cost. All and all very happy with my experience!