Program Reviews

Excellent communication from the local team. The accommodations were not luxurious, but they were clean and well-maintained. The food featured a lot of rice, but that is to be expected in Fiji. There is a lot of places to visit around the volunteer house, including a beach right across the street! I felt useful at the Construction Project, doing a lot of different things, including painting, welding, digging, and helping out the local staff of the school when needed. I feel this is a very worthwhile project in a very friendly and welcoming environment.

We wanted to engage in a turtle conservation project as a family with teens and found he perfect program with IVHQ. We could do 1 week programs in Lombok, offering private accommodations for our family of 4, the meals were amazing, and the experience was unbelievable. Lombok is a more remote version of Bali and offers a wonderful culture of family and surfing lifestyle. The turtle site offered daily opportunities to engage directly with the baby turtles; feeding, cleaning and engaging with them. And at the end of the week, we were able to release turtles into the ocean. Life changing experience. Our kids have a greater appreciation of combining travel and philanthropy.

Scotia and Emma kept me well informed prior to going to my placement and the orienteering day was very well run.

I am so grateful that they were able to organise this for me and my experience with these incredible ladies (and 1 man) will stick with me forever (and has certainly sparked a desire to do more volunteering overseas in future).

I also feel like the accomodation and homestay arrangements were fantastic: I have only ever lived with my family or partners, so this was certainly outside of my comfort zone, but the food was amazing and my Nepali family were so kind and welcoming

I volunteered with IVHQ for a week in Guatemala, and I can’t even begin to explain how incredible it was. My host family was amazing, the local team was always there whenever I needed. It quite frankly changed my life. I will forever be grateful and can’t wait to experience another trip. I also was able to meet so many other solo travelers who I quickly became friends with and was able to explore the country with. I felt so safe in the country as a woman and felt as though I thrived more in my life than I ever had!

My 2 weeks in Zambia was incredible - a chance to give to a community in an area of personal and professional experience, contributing every day to small improvements in the lives of older people. I went on my own as a mid-50s woman and felt confident, safe and included among the diverse group of IVHQ volunteers and local volunteers. The tourist components were absolutely amazing and our local taxi drivers a highlight. I feel I got to see some of the 'real' Zambia, not just highlights on a tour. Would love to go again!

IVHQ offered excellent pre-departure guidance, highlighting travel safety throughout the online modules. The preparation checklist was easy to follow, as were the instructions regarding the airport pick-up upon arrival in Peru. They provided me with the contact information of the local coordinators well in advance, and made the transition very seamless. Communication with the program manager was very quick and efficient, and she also sent an email to follow up after I settled into my accommodation.

I truly love the experience from IVHQ! I recommend for those who want to volunteer aboard but has no experience at all! ivhq ensure and support in every steps you take for your volunteering project. They also have strong connection with the local team, when you arrive you have every support you need and you don't feel overwhelmed easily, you feel free to ask for everything you need, the local team would do everything they can to assist you.

IVHQ also provide tour that you can book for example safari tour,it's super easy, you don't have to worry about everything, all you need to do is having a open heart thats open for all the experience.

Volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania was the most rewarding experience of my life! The childcare program gave me the opportunity to work closely with the most amazing children and see firsthand the impact small contributions can make. I always felt safe, welcomed, and supported by the local team and my coordinator, who went out of their way to make sure I had everything I needed. We were able to always keep in contact through WhatsApp directly and through group chats. Living in Arusha was an adventure in itself, and I loved being immersed in the local culture. I left feeling inspired, unbelievably grateful, and motivated to continue volunteering in the future. 100% recommend :)

Prior to flying to Nepal, the event team provides all the necessary information to ensure the experience goes smoothly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend IVHQ if you are considering volunteering abroad. This was my first time volunteering as a solo traveller and I’ll definitely use them again. I joined the women’s education program and I definitely felt like my time there was impactful and made a difference to the women there. It was also a great experience staying with a local family in a home stay. The family stays are a great way of contributing to the local community as well as immersing yourself into the culture

Had the best 5 weeks in Fiji, the local team were the most welcoming people ever, felt so welcome and supported from day 1! The other volunteers out there felt like family, and I’ve made memories and friends for life! Went alone at 17 and felt so comfortable and at home, even so far away. The program was so fun, and it felt like we were really part of something important! Would say just do it to anyone considering it, you will have the best time!

IVHQ's pre-departure advice was so helpful, too!