Program Reviews

After spending 4 weeks in the turtle conservation project in Lombok and reading mixed reviews I was able to make my own opinion on my experience. Working with the amazing local team was rewarding as I was able to learn about their culture and feel more confident on how to act around the island and above. I was placed in a great environment with volunteers from around the world that all were here to make an impact and discover a new culture which created a safe and comfortable space for everyone. In regards to the turtle project itself, the variety of tasks was small but it felt useful and impactful such as beach cleaning or fish cutting but also cleaning the turtle tanks and monitoring the hatchings. Lastly the small but effective introduction to the project and the species of turtles present at the conservation really helped us to understand our impact and how we can help in our daily life for the entire oceanic environment. I would recommend this volunteering experience to young adults looking to make an impact while feeling welcomed within other volunteers and local coordinators.

IVHQ is an incredible organisation that truly goes the extra mile for every volunteer. They provided me with the guidance, resources, tips and training a first-time volunteer like me needed. A BIG THANK YOU to my IVHQ Program Manager who personally gave me extra support with her touching supportive email. Even once I was in Nepal, any queries or concerns I had were promptly address and I always felt like I could contact a local member of the Team if I needed. IVHQ is my number one recommendation, you have been absolutely fantastic and wonderfully supportive during every stage of the process!

…nine weeks has now passed since I returned from volunteering with the elephants in the Chitwan National Park, preparing food, feeding & cleaning + staying in Kathmandu…… I daily reminisce of adventuring boldly and making a little difference with sick and abandoned elephants and my walking tour into the National Park, sitting on the edge of the Rapti River watching hundreds of spotted deer, elephants and rhinoceros in their natural habitat.

I had the most lovely time in Ecuador! My host team was so welcoming and helpful. They went above and beyond to ensure that I had safe transportation to my add ons and they made sure I was happy with my placement. The volunteer house was a friendly environment and I had no complaints about my housing situation. My volunteer placement helped me give back to others while practicing my Spanish. I recommend this trip for solo travelers and students like me for anyone who wants to truly immerse themself in the South American culture!

This was my first time traveling and volunteering internationally by myself. I had a lovely experience with IVHQ. Before my trip, they did an excellent job helping me with whatever I needed to feel prepared for my trip. Honestly, when I got to my travel destination, I didn't know what to expect because I've never been to the country before, and I had no family there at all. It was quite nerve-wracking, but as soon as I met up with the local team, I immediately felt welcomed. It was like a big community and family. On this trip, I had an amazing time volunteering, helping a community, immersing myself into a new culture, and making new friends. Meeting the people in this program was probably the most memorable part. It's like coming together with people who are kind and compassionate, and want to help the world as much as you do. It's really refreshing to be with such amazing and intelligent human beings. The local team was impeccable, as well as the food. I loved everything about it (maybe it was a little too hot than what I am used to, but it was worth it). Do not hesitate and do this, it will be a transformative experience.

I had an amazing time in San Jose. The local team was so good at making us feel comfortable. They took us to our project on the first day, showed us how to use the buses, gave us safe and comfortable homestay accommodation, provided us with extra entertainment and fun evening activities, as well as gave us a useful briefing about the country and the activity beforehand, which was informative and accurate. All the coordinators were super helpful.

My placement was at a local daycare centre, and it was really easy to see what help I could give. I would advise people not to have expectations before going, because even within the same project, people on different placements would have vastly different experiences (all were good though!)
I met so many great people, and it was great fun.

We took our granddaughter on this trip so that she could experience a different culture and appreciation of living in Central America. A shout out to the local team, Maximo Nivel, for arranging wonderful host family housing and volunteer sites. They were very available and helped us set reasonable expectations. Weather in June was good and we didn’t mind the occasional downpour. Food was good and lots of places to eat in San Pedro. Make time to take the Spanish classes- we were only there one week but were impressed by their skills in teaching. Glad that IVHQ has developed such a solid relationship with Maximo local team. Also appreciate the work IVHQ did to prepare us for this adventure. Only criticism is I wish we had known where our volunteer site would be prior to leaving home.

The local team is extremely kind and supportive, and are always looking out for your best interests. The experiences I had during this volunteer trip were incredible, and the community was amazing. I did the malaria program and the organization was very well done. The local team made sure everything was organized each day and we had everything we needed. I definitely recommend volunteering through IVHQ if you have the opportunity to. I have volunteered three times with them and each time is seamless and very positive!

From beginning to end this program was well run, organized, highly professional and effective. I felt safe, welcome and that my time made a difference. IVHQ is a great way to learn about the people and life of a new country while at the same time growing your confidence, resume and language skills.

Thinking about the type of work you may want to experience and plan accordingly. It is helpful to ask questions so you may arrive prepared and with appropriate clothing for the work. Learning a little about the culture ahead of time can also be very helpful, especially things like foods, meal times, money and family or cultural dos and months.
Ask lots of questions go with an open mind and be flexible.
Have fun!

IVHQ has projects in many countries. I wanted to travel to Africa not as a tourist but to see the ‘other side of Africa.’ I choose wildlife conservation in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. I found the program was run very professionally. Each day we had meaningful work tasks and a chance to learn from our excellent guides balanced with personal downtime to explore and share our time with the other volunteers. I learnt that stepping out of my comfort zone enabled me to grow a person and found I was up for the challenge. Volunteering is a wonderful way to travel with a purpose and I left knowing that I left something positive behind.

First of, let me say that I wish I had stayed longer! I feel that everything about this experience makes you want to stay longer, return to Argentina, and help others in need. I loved my stay. It’s a 10/10. I was placed at a center that supports the adult special needs community. Everything about this center was wonderful. They are currently in need of a lot of financial support for sustainability purposes! So, if anyone knows of philanthropic organizations that supports internationally, please connect them to OTIUM for support. Their strength is the human element. So, I was able to see first hand the level of love and care present in all the interactions between staff members and participants- and for that I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to further my career experience, but mostly for the opportunity!