ISV (International Student Volunteers) Reviews

The things I experienced on this trip were once in a lifetime. I would not change any part of it and I highly, highly recommend it. I spent a total of five weeks in Costa Rica. The first week I spent in Heredia for a Spanish Immersion week. The next two weeks I spent volunteering and impacting a small town called Altamira. The last two weeks, we traveled the country doing extreme activities, such as ziplining, cliff rappelling, horseback riding, white water rafting, etc. My favorite part of this experience was interacting with a different type of people and a different culture. The people in Costa Rica, the ones I lived with and the ones I met, were some of the nicest, most caring people I have ever known. The two families that I stayed with will be my family for life. I still talk to them today via Facebook and I hope to be able to visit them again in the future. I went into this trip questioning my major and my life path and it changed me completely. I went into this trip as a Criminal Forensics major. I came out as a Criminal Forensics major. The change is in how I live my life. I realized that I just want to be happy and be surrounded by the people that I love. People in Costa Rica value family more than they value social status and money. They don't work overtime and they eat dinner together every night. They're happy with what they have and now I am happy with what I have. ISV made this experience even better. It really is an all-inclusive trip. It included volunteering and helping people, having fun and meeting people, learning a new culture, and doing some extreme activities that would not have been possible otherwise. The other people who went on this trip with ISV and the things I learned during my time in Costa Rica will be with me for the rest of my life.

PURA VIDA!

The trip I took through ISV was a life-changing experience. I learned so much about myself as well as the world around me. I was placed in a project in the Andes, in a town called Chaupi. I was exposed to a whole new way of life, and by the end, this town became a new home for me. My group did various activities for our volunteer work. But the highlights by far were we planted over a thousand paper trees, taught English to the kids in the village, helped out a local widower with farm chores and putting on a skit to teach environmentalism to a nearby town.
My project leaders were fantastic, they didn't just lead us in our work, but they also took on adventures on our day offs, which wasn't part of their job description. We went to a festival in a nearby town, hiked Quilatoa Crater, climbed Los Ilinizas (one of the volcanoes in the Andes) and went to a hot springs.
I thought all the food was delicious, we stayed in a hostel called La Lloveniza, and the family who owns it cooked all our meals for us. My project was really lucky, we had really great living conditions. We had hot water and showers. There was a living area in the hostel, so sometimes we would have movie nights. The weather was a little cold, but it is what you would expect in the mountains. The family who owns the hostel was absolutely amazing, some of the nicest people ever. They really made us feel at home, and it really emphasized the impact we were making there, because of how much they appreciated our help.
The Adventure Tour was also a lot of fun! Personally, though, I valued the volunteer experience much more, and I think it would have been neat to do two volunteer placements instead of one and then the Adventure Tour. But the Adventure tour was really awesome. We rappelled down 100ft water falls, went puenting, had a spa day, hiked and canoed through the jungle, surfed, went to the largest outdoor market in South America (Otavalo) and got to stand on the equator.
I also recommend the Galapagos Excursion! Saw so many unique animals that you can't see anywhere else! The highlight was definitely swimming with the sharks at Kicker Rock. Lots of snorkeling and hiking on this trip, and way more down time. It's a nice way to relax after the craziness of the four weeks before it.

If you have ever wanted to truly change the world… here is a real fine place to start.

Ecuador offers some of the most breath-taking, bio-diverse landscapes on this planet; from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest to the world renowned Galapagos Islands.
International Student Volunteers offers you the opportunity of a lifetime to “travel with purpose” and immerse yourself into another culture through education, hard-work, and adventure- all wrapped into one.
As a volunteer you will be placed in one of many needy communities throughout Ecuador. Here you will spend the next two weeks teamed up with a native NPO/NGO and several other students from across the globe working to contribute to the greater good of that community. Each and every ISV site is dedicated to community and social development, as well as environmental and conservation initiatives. Your work will be facilitated through an ISV-appointed Project Leader who is familiar with the country, the culture, and the local people.
When your two weeks are up you have the choice to return home or continue on with your volunteer group- and other ISV groups from across the country- on the Adventure Tour. Within these two weeks you will be led by one or two tour guides who will take you a non-stop cross country travel tour to view the best of what Ecuador has to offer. You will live more in these two weeks than you have in your entire life; visiting the cities and the national parks. Bridge-jumping, waterfalls, hiking through the rainforest one day and to the top of Cotopaxi volcano the next, surfing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, the Otavalo market…. Late nights and unforgettable memories.
I spent the beginning of my 2010 summer volunteering with ISV in the small fishing town of Puerto El Morro- just outside Guayaquil- and can sum it up in short: Nineteen volunteers. Ten states. Two countries. One love. I have participated in a lot of volunteer programs, but they all pale in comparison to what we accomplished here. In two short weeks we built a house, mended a garden, taught English in elementary and middle schools, reforested a depleted mangrove area, hosted and Earth Day parade, started a green-house project, taught English to local tour guides, and reached out to the entire community about the importance of dental hygiene and nutrition. This community was so welcoming and admiring. Truly it was an amazing and beautiful experience to let go of the life you lead back home and immerse yourself in something completely different. I am proud to call every single one of my fellow volunteers and leaders lifelong friends- by the time we left we were all family and remain so.
Once you’re home this will be the ONLY thing you talk about for the next year… ask any past ISV participant.
I was so inspired by my time in Ecuador that I decided to return 8 months later and lead myself on a 3 month tour volunteering in coordination with the host NGO and multiple 2011 ISV groups and other return ISV participants- adding another ISV project site to heart, the Quichua community of Campo Cocha. I am proud to report that Puerto El Morro welcomed me back graciously and remembered me by name. The conditions continue to improve as the community grows and strengthens with the help of volunteers like us.

For me International Student Volunteers marked the true beginning of my journey as I set out to change the world.

As a kid, I’ve always wanted to go South Africa and to have that opportunity and to be able to make a difference in the lives of young children, was something I was not about to miss out on. I had the opportunity to not only volunteer for two weeks, but add an additional two weeks in adventure travel too.

Upon arriving, I worked in a school where we kept children occupied by playing games with them, doing arts and crafts, and played sports. After they went home, we helped further by planting a garden, building a preschool at a local settlement, and painting. It was very difficult at times, but well worth the effort. I will never forget the looks on the kids' faces when I left.

All of our accomodations were set up and varied depending on where we were. All of our meals were paid for during the first two weeks and half during the 2nd two weeks.

After two weeks of volunteering, I went on an Adventure Tour where I did such things, but definitely not limited to skydiving in Cape Town, abseiling down Table Mountain, visiting an Elephant Sanctuary, snorkeling with Whale sharks in the Indian Ocean, Quad Biking through a field of palm trees in Mozambique, Horseback Riding in Swaziland, and an infamous 2-Day Safari in Kruger National Park. I guarantee you that this will be one of the best decisions you will ever make and be something that will stick with you for the rest of your life. You will indeed do more in one month, or even two weeks, than most people can dream of doing in their lifetime. ISV opened up the world to me and I can't wait to volunteer with them again.

Volunteering with ISV in Africa was a life changing experience. After I graduated from high school, I took a year off to work and save money. I saved relentlessly despite not knowing what I was saving for. Then one day I came across a flyer on a bulletin board at the University of Victoria and immediately knew what all my hard work was going to go towards. I applied right away and was the second person that year to be accepted. After a year of working and a year of waiting to leave, I finally departed for my adventure on August 4th, 2011. Now, two months later, I still think about Africa and the people I met there every single day. I volunteered at the De Wildt cheetah reserve in South Africa with some of the most amazing and diverse people I have ever met. We spent our first two weeks feeding cheetahs and wild dogs, cleaning their dishes, and removing invasive plant species that threatened the native ecosystems there. Before I went to Africa, I didn’t care much for cheetahs and was honestly more excited to see a lion or leopard; however, all of that changed the minute I was licked by a large, purring cheetah. I went cliff jumping, caving, saw lions in the wild, swam in one of the seven natural wonders of the world (Victoria Falls), and still that moment, that cheetah kiss remains the highlight. On the last day of my trip, while in Zambia, I went microlighting, which is sort of like a chair with wings, and while I soared above Victoria Falls, soaking up all the beauty of Africa, my pilot said something that meant more than any of the other famous quotes about Africa that I’ve heard (and trust me, there are many of them). He said, “When you go to Africa, it breaks your heart, so you have to go back to pick up the pieces.” De Wildt and Scarlett the cheetah both have pieces of my heart, as do Victoria Falls in Zambia, Chobe National Park in Botswana, a small island off of Mozambique that we kayaked to, and every single amazing person we met along the way. And one day, I will revisit them all to pick up the pieces. I think this is a trip everyone needs to take at some point in their lives and find out what will steal and break their heart while there.

I went on three trips to three countries and spent a total of 12 weeks abroad. I went to Ecuador (5 weeks), Dominican Republic (5 weeks) and Thailand (2 weeks). While in Ecuador and Dominican Republic, I spent a week getting Spanish lessons where I got to practice talking in Spanish while learning about the country. With the lessons, the teachers also provide dance lessons, salsa in Ecuador and meringue in the Dominican Republic, and cooking lessons to show off to volunteers’ friends back at home. While there, I stayed in local families in Quito, Ecuador and Santiago, Dominican Republic for the lessons.
Then, I traveled to my volunteer site. In Ecuador, I stayed in a local village in the Amazonian Jungle where my group helped teach English and helped take care of cocoa plants. The cocoa plants were used so the village could sell the cocoa bean and make money from that so the village did not have to rely on money from the oil companies who are destroying the rainforest.
For my Dominican Republic trip, I stayed a seminary (ISV has no religious affiliations) that was near the school and worksite. Half of the group went to the school and taught English and other fun stuff for educational summer camps while the other group was building a community center that was to be used by 17 communities. Then the groups switch the following day. The kids loved having us as much as the workers who watched over us during the build.
Lastly, I spent a couple weeks in Thailand where I spent the first week working at a school where we helped finished building a new classroom for the school and spent time playing with the kids. During this week, we learned about Thailand, the culture, the Thai language, and Buddhism. My group was even fortunate enough to witness Mother’s Day in Thailand which was extremely emotional for the Thai parents and kids as well as my group. The following week, I spent a week at the Elephant Nature Park where I helped the park take care of the elephants. Mainly our tasks were to clean pumpkins for the elephant’s lunch, get corn stalks for the elephant’s dinner, or clean up after the elephants that morning. Around lunch and dinner, volunteers and visitors were allowed to feed and bathe the elephants. Volunteers that are interested in veterinary could watch veterinarians apply medical care to the elephants.
Along with the volunteer project, most of the volunteers through ISV can do another two weeks touring the country. I extremely recommend this because one does more in two weeks with ISV and he or she can do in a lifetime. In Ecuador, I went rock climbing and mountain biking one day to climbing to the tropical glaciers on Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s most active volcano, to white water rafting to surfing on the beach and watching humpback whales. Ecuador has it all! I also went did the two weeks in the Dominican Republic where I did as more water activities than I thought was possible. From going surfing to jumping off waterfalls to white water rafting before exploring the colonial center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic it has everything you want in a tropical island.
I highly recommend this company which has allowed to me to travel and to see the world differently that a normal tourist would not see. While there, I got to make a difference to someone and made some great friends in the process. You will not be disappointed with ISV!

New Zealand is a very beautiful country. By volunteering here, it has helped me see that and help restore that natural look. Daily activities included carving new paths, planting trees, and cutting invasive weeds to allow sunlight to reach the native plant species. This trip wasn't just about the volunteering; it included a whole new cultural experience. I lived on a marae in a suburb of Wellington, and it was beautiful. It was built by Bruce Stewart and a few friends, and is still being added on to. He and his daughter taught me and my group much about the Maori culture, such as a powhiri, a formal greeting, a few songs, the haka (also performed by the New Zealand national rugby team, the 2011 World Champion All Blacks!) My personal favourite is the hangi, where they cook food underground on hot coals. In addition to this, I also got to tour the country, doing activities such as hiking a glacier, bungee jumping, and whitewater and blackwater rafting, just to name a few. I traveled from Queenstown to Auckland, and got to see much of the amazing country! This experience has impacted me in a way that can't just be described in words. I came back to the U.S. feeling empty, as I wanted to be out volunteering and exploring other cultures. The world is here for us to explore; it gives us life, and it is up to us to give back.

I have always wanted to visit Australia, and ISV gave me an affordalble way to do just that! Not only did I get to go on the trip, but everything was planned out so I didn't miss anything. I also felt good about myself when I can home, because I really felt like I made a difference in the sustainable development in Australia, as well as learned about responsible tourism! I worked at a winery planting trees to help wild kangaroo and local birds as well as working on the ferel proof fence to help keep out non-native animals. Truely a great experience! Going again this year!

Going on ISV was the best decision I've ever made. I had the most amazing 4 weeks of my life! The first 2 weeks of volunteering were so great. I learned so much about conservation and nature, what it means to live simply, and things about myself. I overcame my fears of animals and insects, and realized I am capable of making a difference in this world. It was such an eye opening experience, and I wouldn't of traded it for anything. The host organization was so amazing, and they treated us so well. Everyone was so nice and friendly; the friendship that grew from this experience will last a lifetime. We were all so sad when the two weeks ended, we didn't want to leave our volunteer site. Also, my project leader was so awesome and made everything so much easier and more fun for us!
The next 2 weeks were the most fun filled, adventurous, adrenaline rushing time of my life! All the activities from scuba diving, snorkeling, bungy jumping, white water rafting, ocean rafting, sky diving, Sydney Harbor cruise, and many more were the most exciting, fun, and amazing experiences. I would go to bed every night saying that was the best day of my life, and then the next night I would be saying the same exact thing. I met so many amazing people and had the best time of my life! Like my project leader, my adventure tour leader was super cool and helped us have the best possible time. I saw some of the most beautiful sceneries ever, pictures never did any of it justice. I never felt unsafe or in danger with ISV and I would go back in a heart beat!

I absolutely loved the time I spent in South Africa. I did my service project at the Ann Van Dyke Cheetah Center. One of my favorite parts of my whole service project was waking up every morning, going to the Cheetah Center, and going up to one of the cheetah's cages, Scarlett, and letting her lick my fingers to say hello. After we left, this was by far one of the things I missed the most. The staff were great and were super nice and friendly. I'll never forget the time I spent with the workers learning Africaan and other dialects. I will also never forget the great spell of dead horse meat, and how fun it was to chuck a hunk of it over a fence to feed the cheetahs.