Program Reviews

My experience was absolutely wonderful! From the start, IVHQ took care of everything and was very present, including several emails to keep us informed and updated about our placement and making sure we were legible to go after doing an online training. Once we arrived at destination, emails followed to make sure we were safe and comfortable. Concerning the Local Team I interacted with, they were just as attentive and were super welcoming and friendly. The great organization of IVVQ definitely made my experience smoother and enjoyable. About my experience in itself, it was wonderful. From the people I met, to the school I worked with, to the food, and the landscapes-- it was all memorable.

The opportunity to be involved in the project itself was exciting but the support offered before, during and after allowed one to focus on doing something positive while placed. The team involved in preparation was great, the team in India just knew what one would need and were always ready to help, answer, listen, suggest , remind and acknowledge.... and then there was incredibly intuitive follow up once one returned. The coordinators obviously knew what one would feel on returning and addressed this and gave suggestions for dealing with these feelings. Excellent at every level.

My 15 year old daughter wanted to go to Fiji with a volunteer program. None of her friends could go so we looked into a family option. IVHQ was perfect!
My best advice is to show up reading about the culture but with no expectations. We signed up for the fantastic week long orientation which included cava ceremony, walk to waterfall, sand dunes, weaving, cooking, language and singing. The local team coordinators were passionate about sharing their culture! What I liked the most is that they looked into the best programs -for example the best access to the waterfall, where the entrance price gets divided evenly among the families in that village. I also loved the Visitor information center lecture before we went on the Sand Dunes hike, learning about the only Fijian National Park and saving the trees and land and how the rugby team trains there. I wish they also had weekend trips and/or information on the best companies to sign up with, that are culturally and environmentally sound. We tried to surf over the weekends (Natadola beach or the river mouth) but it didn't work out from Sigatoka (hiring a taxi coordinating the tide and winds). We should have added days after the program to visit a surf island (and not right before the Fiji Pro).
We did morning childcare (kindergarten) and afternoon sports (ages 1 to 16ish) I can't even begin to tell you how fun it was. Just to mention a few: the kids taught us (Americans) rugby rules and wanted us to play even if we sucked- never giving up on us. We learned games and songs in Fijian. EVERYONE can sing and harmonize- it is absolutely incredible.

Volunteering with IVHQ is easy and fun! The whole process of choosing the perfect program for you and gathering all the necessary documents is made effortless by their reliable website and nearly 24/7 support. Difficult is not a word that exists at IVHQ.
For the volunteering part in itself, it is also great and smooth. You are taken care of by the local team that helps you every step of the way. My volunteering was in Costa Rica, where I helped for Turtle Conservation. I have learned a lot, met great new friends and had a blast.
If you hesitate to sign-in for an IVHQ volunteering program... well don't!

Participating in the animal care project with IVHQ was such a great experience and eye opening for me! Starting from arriving in Italy and to the end of my trip! I was so excited to be in Italy and get to help change the world w my volunteering! I worked with the cats at the animal shelter daily and learned so much more about taking care of animals and gaining more confidence in myself especially because most of the workers didn’t speak much english! This experience was very impactful for me and i loved being w the cats! My role as a volunteer here involved multiple daily tasks such as cleaning, feeding, and playing with the cats! As i was with the animals more i got attached and now want to take all of them home with me! The cultural aspect of this trip was a huge part as well! I learned how different it is here in the US and how difficult it can be to communicate with others but duolingo and just listening more helped! I also was able to explore the city and see all the historical monuments that everyone dreams of seeing! I was also fortunate enough to travel to Paris and other cities in Rome while I was here! An experience i will never forget! Of course there were lots of challenges along the way but i had some great new friends that where there with me and helped me and helped eachother get through those bad experiences! The local team here was great and very helpful when trying to communicate with them and the workers as well at the shelter! As well as extending my trip and more! The program support IVHQ provided was excellent! I felt very safe when getting too and from my project, during orientation and more! Overall, my experience here was great and will be an experience i will definitely never forget! I got to meet and make new friendships that will last forever, made some crazy and fun memories and got to help change the world with amazing people! I will definitely be doing another project with IVHQ someday and recommend it too others as well!

Volunteering as a nursing student in Tanzania was a profoundly transformative experience for me. Immersing myself in a different healthcare system allowed me to witness the incredible resilience of both the patients and the local healthcare professionals.

One of the most striking aspects was the limited resources available and the creative solutions employed to provide care under such constraints. Despite the challenges, the sense of community and the dedication of the healthcare workers were truly inspiring. I learned to adapt and prioritize care in ways I had never imagined before.

Working closely with patients from diverse backgrounds taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity and the impact of empathy in healthcare. Each interaction underscored the universal need for compassionate care, regardless of the setting.

The experience also highlighted the importance of education and continuous improvement in global health practices. I returned with a renewed commitment to not only advance my own skills but to advocate for better access to healthcare in underserved regions.

Overall, this journey was more than just professional development; it was a deeply personal growth experience. It reinforced my passion for nursing and my desire to contribute to global health in meaningful ways.

this was my first time traveling alone. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm incredibly fortunate to have found an agency like this one, which helped me with all my preparations and was attentive throughout the entire process. It was a life-changing experience, and I'm extremely happy with the outcome. I meet a lot of new people of different countries. Also the teaching was amazing the children were so nice and kind. The food was nice and we always have clean water.

I had the best week of my life in Romania. I helped in building a playground for a school but I felt very lucky as I got to experience a few different volunteering programs during my stay so I really felt like I made the most of my short trip. I would recommend this program to everyone but I really did wish I went for longer as I felt like I was packing up and leaving as soon as I had gotten settled! I met incredible people and had many new exciting experiences. It was a week I will remember forever!

For I had never been to Argentina and I not only wanted to visit/make an impact in South America - but I had heard from so many that the warmest and most caring people reside in Cordoba. After volunteering in Cordoba, I most certainly agree! This volunteer trip made such an impact on me, my heart... and complimented my on-going goals to continue volunteering around the world.

I chose the Community building assignment in Cordoba, Argentina as I wanted to be very hands-on with a community in need. I was placed in a little community center/soup kitchen in an impoverished neighborhood. The older woman who ran this soup kitchen was deeply moving to work with and be around... her immense love for her neighborhood could be felt in every aspect... from the hand-prepared food to her love and hospitality. I helped prep meals in large quantities from peeling potatoes and cutting loaves of bread. I then, helped pass out meals to each adult or child in need. They were regulars every evening, so it was very easy to feel the love and appreciation.

I also fixed pipes, helped clean, build small items and odd/ends that she needed help with. It was extremely rewarding. She, like her community was so deserving. I played soccer and ran with the local children. I learned Spanish every morning and grew very comfortable in both the community and with the family I was staying with.

The volunteer house was also very welcoming and the host family was so kind/helpful. Myself and all the volunteers definitely felt like "part of the family" right away! We had large family-style dinners which were amazing... filled with laughter, stories, great food and conversation! I'll never forget it.

We went on side excursions and I spent an unforgettable weekend in Buenos Aires solo!

This was my 2nd volunteer trip with IVHQ and I have a 3rd trip planned next summer. I'd like to thank IVHQ, the host family and the kind woman I was placed with. It was such an incredible experience and I will profoundly miss Argentina!

This program offers a connection to the local culture, and exposure to the daily life of Zanzibar while also providing a tight-knit community of people from around the world. I felt more engaged with what was going on around me than I have ever felt while traveling to a new country, and I am also so grateful for the people I met through the volunteer program. The support while signing up, preparing for travel, and while on my trip was so helpful and responsive, making the whole experience very approachable.