ISV (International Student Volunteers) Reviews

I signed up for this program not knowing what to expect, but I ended up having one of the best summers ever. The first two weeks I did volunteer work. It was hard, but rewarding. We actually got to make a difference in the community. It was also a great time to get to know the other students on the trip. For the final two weeks we traveled the country and had an adventure. I did more things in those two weeks than I ever thought to do in my whole life. I went zorbing, sky diving, bungee jumping, I saw Lord of the Rings scenes, went white water rafting, and much more. I made so many friends and did so many things - it was just a great experience overall.

It was such an incredible experience! We were facilitating health/life skills education seminars for at-risk youth at a school in Hout Bay (just outside of Cape Town). During the day, we were at the school teaching and playing games with the kids! We had evenings and weekends free so we got to experience the many crazy experiences of Hout Bay and Cape Town! We went cage diving with great white sharks, rappelled down Table Mountain, and toured Robben Island! This is just a sample of the fun we had! The only difficulties I had were transportation costs which added up. ISV has a number of volunteer programs in South Africa, all of which are can't-miss opportunities! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

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!

Everything I did on this program was well worth the preparation. From helping save some of the local birds to planting trees, I felt that everything we did made an actual difference. Not only that but we were able to volunteer in different activities everyday so that we were able to make a difference in different parts of New Zealand. Whilst volunteering we were also able to do each project with the local people and learn about a very different and refreshing culture. When I left New Zealand, because of ISV and their volunteer project, I left as a new, productive, and much happier member of society with a completely new outlook on life.

As a young girl I always wanted to travel, and i always knew there is more out there than my hometown and country. Growing up i got to learn about the different geographic places, the enviornmental problems that they face as well their distinct biodiversity of animal and plant species.
Australia, one of the most unique places, yet exotic and so very vulnerable; has been number one on my "bucket list". The tremendous beauty that it hold as well as its endemic species are truly spectacular. knowing about their fragile enviornment and the harsh conditions that their ecosystems are facing i volunteered to help.
I chose ISV because i had heard positive reviews and decided to travel with them- and i am glad i did!
I experienced Australia not like a tourist but more like a citizen. Working with the native animals gave me a joy that i always wondered about. Rain or sunshine- dawn to dusk, i realized it's not about me anymore as it is so much about the land and the animals.
During the first 2 weeks of volunteering not only i learned about the culture and the history of Australia, but i also learned so much about my own self. Volunteering changed me and opened my eyes to the real problems that some people face in their day to day basis.
During the second 2 weeks of traveling, i traveled with the group from Sydney all the way up to Cairns where the great barrier reef is located. Talk about one of the 7 wonders of the world!! And i did the things i only dreamed of: Snorkeling and Scuba diving in the great barrier reef; which actually made me cross off number 2 on my "bucket list"!!! :)
It doesn't matter whether you like to swim or not, you will see and do things you have never experienced before.

My experience with ISV is one i will never forget. I met some of the most amazing people, some who taught me a thing or two along the way and at last an amazing ISV staff who made it easy and safe for me personally. The staff made me feel so safe and they were there when i needed them or when anybody needed them really. With their help i never had any difficulties and all the moments were to cherish every second of the way.
This experience has got me cruising down memory lane very often and when this happens, all i do is smile and be thankful to have gone to class they day of ISV announcement in my classroom!!!

I loved going to Costa Rica! Our host families were so friendly and hospitable. We stayed in a very remote part of the jungle so we got to see a whole different kind of setting that what we were used to. I will definitely be returning!

This program changed my life. It was 4 weeks of the most amazing volunteer work and amazing activities. I feel like I have done more in 4 weeks than some people will do in their whole lives. We were all looked after with care on our projects and our safety was never a concern as long as we were responsible. Usually our days were packed from sunrise to sundown, which seems daunting but its actually a lot of fun. The hardest part was being away from friends and family but the best part was making new friends that honestly became like family to me. You meet so many great people, experience so many great things, and make such an impact with your volunteer work that its hard to not go back! I will always remember this trip as one of the best in my life!

Traveling with ISV is a great way to see the world. Not only do you get to see the world, you get to do meaningful work while you travel. The volunteer work is meaningful and yet fun. It truly is a unique way to experience the culture and way of life in a new place.

ISV also gives you the opportunity to tour the land and plans awesome activities for you. Having your accommodations and most of your meals covered makes things a lot easier on you. All the activities are amazing, things you would never think you could ever do (white water rafting down the worlds largest commercially rafted waterfall, black water rafting in the caves of New Zealand, zorbing! and many many more).

All and all, traveling with ISV is amazing, and what a great way to see the world while lending a helping hand!

This was the experience of a life time. I was in San Cristobal Norte and constructed a road. I learned to speak Spanish I did not know any when I got there. This program gave me a new look on life and the world. I learned to live without technology without the internet I for the first time really saw the world. And it was beautiful now I try a little time everyday just viewing the world around me and enjoying life, Pura Vida pure life a Costa Rican saying that means many things but mostly in Costa Rica the most important thing is family and spending time with them. This is something I will never forget. Even though the work was hard and exhausting and HOT it was also enjoyable the look on the town folks when the road was finished. But after the work was done we got some time for fun. I zip lined down a volcano. Rafted on a river for 2 days baths in natural hot springs and swam in the ocean for the first time. I did things that I never dreamt of doing. I faced my fears knowing that it was completely safe and even conquered some of them like my fear of heights. The friends I made the people I met I will never forget. I still keep in touch with my host families there. They mean so much to me I lived with them for over 3 weeks and I lived as they do ate local foods some was good some not so much, though I never got use to how much they ate after my first meal I was not worried about being hungry. In addition I did the extra excursion to Peru. It was a 4 day hike to Machu Pichu camping under the stars climbing a mountain standing a glacier. But nothing beats the sight of the ruins there what a manifest city. This was an experience that if I ever had the chance I would do it again and recommend anyone to do it as well and for what you pay to be part of this program is so much less than what you get out of it. I can say that I miss everything and everyone in Costa Rica and I made a promise to my host families that one day I will return a promise I intend to keep because of my experiences in this program I plan to continue volunteering in my local town and perhaps around the world as well. I guess the only thing I can say to wrap this up is PURA VIDA!!

Costa Rica is an absolutely beautiful country. I feel privileged to have experienced it with ISV. Not only did I feel like I made a difference, but I also got to see and do things that I could not have managed on my own without the help of the organization.

There were several different volunteer projects, I was assigned to the Sea Turtle conservation project which was actually located in Panama (only a few kilometres south-east from the Costa Rican border). Our project which consisted of about 14 volunteers and a project leader was stationed in the San San Pond Sack wetlands on the Caribbean Coast. Our project had us participating in various activities throughout the day (we also had free time as well). Then at nighttime we would begin our beach patrols searching for nesting Leatherback sea turtles. The patrol groups consisted of about 3-4 volunteers and a patrol leader who would direct us. We would take data and measurements of the turtles, then collect the eggs and relocate them safely to our hatchery.

The locals living on the island were very friendly and always willing to teach us new things. The beach was gorgeous during the daytime (much of our free time was spent enjoying it). The food was also very good, I found myself looking forward to every meal I enjoyed it that much! The only challenges our group encountered was of course getting used to the high temperature and humidity and the bugs.

Due to the nature of the Sea Turtle project, we were not allowed to wear bug spray during our night patrols. Wearing long sleeves and protective clothing during night patrols is a MUST. Sand flies and mosquitoes were probably the two biggest annoyances about the project. Everything else just simply took some getting used to, but it never hurts to come prepared! When our departure came at the end of the first 2 weeks, everyone was very sad to leave the island. Even to this day I find myself missing it quite a bit!

The first 2 weeks are spent on the volunteer project, then if you opted for the 4-week package the real fun comes with the Costa Rica adventure tour! All of the different volunteer groups meet up at a central location in Costa Rica and spend the next 2 weeks touring around the country doing some really exciting stuff.

Our first activity was white water rafting on the Paracuare river, to a secluded jungle lodge owned by the organization. We then made a giant loop around the country, stopping at different locations for different activities. We also stayed in some very nice hotels and accommodations that were very comfortable and relaxing! The adventure tour as a whole was simply amazing and the first 2 weeks of volunteer work make you really feel like you earned it!

Everyone, from the project leaders to my fellow volunteers were all amazing. I made a lot of friends and we all simply had the time of our lives that we won't soon forget. We almost felt like a big family by the end of the trip, the goodbyes were very sad.

I simply can't suggest enough for everyone to go on a 1-month ISV volunteer trip. It will change your life and make you appreciate the world and each other so much more!