Program Reviews

Everyone was so nice and welcoming, i was nervous as i was traveling alone for the first time (i’m 17 years old) but the volunteer house was full of people who were 18-38 years old and were all very friendly and welcoming. The food was amazing and the staff were the nicest people i’ve ever met. you have a lot of free time to go sight seeing, i was only there for a week so me and some other volunteers went to the rice fields, waterfalls, shopping and more. i was doing the healthcare program in ubud. this was a very amazing experience. I’m planning to do another trip in december or april.

I have just completed my second volunteering stint with IVHQ; the first in Cordoba, Argentina and this time in Antigua, Guatemala.

Both experiences were life changing although Antigua more so.

Logistically everything was done for me. Excellent communication from IVHQ and their partners in Guatemala, airport collections, lodgings, orientation and on hand assistance uf you need anything.

I was in a homestay with other volunteers and it was like being with family.

My project was working in a hospital in the special school for elderly and special needs children. We helped them with activities and gave them reassurances and hugs. Although only for a week it was one of the best things I have ever done; emotionally challenging coming face to face with the adversities of others but so rewarding when eyes lit up when they saw me and a hand would sneak itself into mine.

Not only was volunteering rewarding but I also got to meet a heap of people; other volunteers and locals who gave me an insight into their world.

Don’t give it a second thought if you want to experience the nitty gritty of another life and travel at the same time. It will broaden your horizons and you will have a great time doing it.

Thanks IVHQ. I cant wait for my next adventure.

This company has so many amazing volunteering opportunities in so many different locations. Perfect for anyone and their needs. So many different programs to choose from. I chose the outdoor work in Thailand. It was such an amazing experience. It was so easy to book. Communication was simple, if I had any issues before going they were quick to respond. I have nothing negative to say, truly amazing. I recommend using IVHQ for your volunteer experience. You will not have any regrets. Good luck!!!!

My experience to volunteer in Nepal was something I wish I could do again and again. It left a great memorable impact of the place, people and the food.

Thanks to the programme coordinator and the guest host that really took care of me when I was there. 1 week was too short yet it last a lifetime of memories.

I went with no expectations as I hate to be disappointed, yet I was in disbelief that I truly gained so much more.

I would certainly recommend more people to go and experience this trip and be amazed with it.

My experience in Tanzania was incredible. I feel like I had a lot of information passed on to me before I entered the country which was really helpful and upon arrival the information was mostly accurate. I felt I was very prepared and everyone was there to help. It was mainly all solo travellers which made it so easy to make friends that I will definitely keep for life. My time there was absolutely life changing, I could not recommend it enough. I feel the only thing that could be a bit more explained is where the fees go, with the program being quite expensive it would be nice to know exactly where the money goes.

Feeling blessed✨
The imperfect and daring balance between its strong flavour of danger, its impossible chaos (which somehow, unexplainably, always gets to be solved) and its unique beauty, along with the elegance with which it pulls off all its imperfections, is what makes India so fascinating to me.
From the moment you arrive, you feel just totally overwhelmed and your 5 senses so completely overstimulated that you think you can't take it anymore..but that's when India surprises you all over again..✨
The cows, the monkeys and the dogs round every corner, along with the fear of a monkey-attack coming from the tree above the entrance to your house; the mountains of rubbish littering the roadsides; the pollution and heaviness in the air to the point that everything, including the sky, appears faded; the sweat clinging to your body in the scorching heat; the dangers everywhere, from the rabid animals to the food you eat and the water you drink; the overpowering and ever contrasting smells down every street; the fear of mosquitoes and disease...
And then there's the people: the brilliance of the colours of women's sarees and the sparkle of their jewellery, the melodic cadence of the language, the head bobbing, the jingle of all the bangles and the intensity of their stare...
But most of all it's never-ending chaos: the jostling crowds, the incessant congestion of the Indian traffic, its maddening confusion dictated by the rhythm of its never-ending honking and the blast of indian folk music coming from every tuk tuk🛺..
All these small details of daily life in India are aspects that really hit you when you get there, but that you slowly get accustomed to and grow to love and finally miss once you've left.🥻🐒🇮🇳
This is my photograph of India, a country magical in all its contrasts and that will forever have a place in my heart.❤️

Thank you IVHQ, I'm so grateful for the opportunity you gave me to combine two of the things I love the most; getting the chance to travel and visit some beautiful places, while at the same time investing in my future as a doctor made this experience really meaningful to me.🌍🩺
But most of all, it was really special to volunteer in a country where so many are in need of help and I feel like working in the slums made the experience even more fulfilling. It was truly heartbreaking to see the living conditions of people in the slums and really humbling to be able to experience their day to day life, even if just for a few hours each day. It also brought me to see the most beautiful aspect of it: all those people showed a strong sense of belonging towards their slum and the community they had built together. It was moving to see how much importance those people give to taking care of one another, taking time out of their daily activities to dedicate it to accompanying their friend, their sick mother or an elderly neighbour to be seen by the slum doctor.
This experience really made me realize how unjust the world is and how it's so wrong that our opportunities in life are so strongly dependent on the country and family we're born into; it made me realize how many things we take for granted.
I was also deeply touched by how each medical volunteer, however inexperienced, is immediately made to feel appreciated and welcomed into being part of the slum community.
Feeling like I could make even just one person feel slightly better each day and bring a smile to their face despite all their challenges truly filled my heart with emotion.🥹❣️

It was also really special to share this experience with other volunteers from all over the world. I learned that although every volunteer comes from a different past, is at a different moment of their life and has chosen to volunteer for different reasons, during their time as a volunteer everyone is facing the same daily struggles, in a foreign country and away from home. And it's having this kind of experience, this small but so meaningful fragment of our lives, in common, that I feel created this strong sense of mutual understanding between us and brought us even closer together.
Every single one of you was an important part of this experience; thank you for the unforgettable memories we created together.❤️

16.09.23 - 06.10.23🙏🏻🌍🇮🇳

This program was particularly memorable for me as I was able to embrace and be immersed in a new culture, lifestyle, language and environment. I was able to work with locals and be educated in their practices on the farm. I have a new appreciation for the work that goes behind a cup of coffee and other produces. Staying with a host family was also special as I was able to bond and make friendships with my “host siblings” and “parents”. I was made to feel at home even from across the world, which was a feeling to be grateful for. This is my second trip with IVHQ, and will definitely not be my last.

Whatever your reason for going you’ll end up having the best time of your life and crave more and more the moment you’re home. I’m already planning my next trip, volunteering is a good way to meet people and provides a lot of structure that can sometimes not be easy when travelling on your own.

Doing something worthwhile is so fulfilling and you’ll find different aspects of life you haven’t encountered before.

It can all only serve to make you a better person with more skills and more people that you know around the world. Can’t ask for much more than that

Volunterring in Fiji was my first travel experience ever. Being 18 and experiencing a whole other world, I can say nothing less than that it was worth it and it's given me a whole new perspective of the world, and has made me a bigger and I'd like to say better person. The other volunteers are mostly quite good and amazing, super nice and welcoming, however the ages vary and the average age out of the 35ish people I was with was 21.Quite young as well. Some volunteers can be immature, drama stirring or otherwise noticeably not here to volunteer and instead horse around. Also the ratio to female:men was about 5:1, not that it matters but majority of females rather than males. Sometimes awkward, not everyone gets along as well with everyone, so naturally groups form and sometimes found self stuck between them. Alot of people talk about alot of people. Nonetheless I enjoyed my time. The locals and staff are amazing as well as the culture, it's super friendly and amazing to learn about as well. I'll definitely be volunteering someplace else, and one day be returning to Fiji 100%.

I loved been able to immerse myself in the local culture.

Completing a childcare programme was so recording to give back to the local communities in Fiji.

I especially enjoyed been able to teach the children about a programme I am passionate about - orangutan conservation.

Also the Fiji food was absolutely delicious
The people are great and you meet lots of friends along the way that you will treasure forever.

Thank you for the experience and memories I will volunteer again in the future