Program Reviews

My trip to Arusha, Tanzania, with IVHQ to support women’s development was truly transformative. From the moment I arrived, the local team was incredibly supportive, ensuring that every volunteer felt welcomed and well-prepared for the work ahead. Their guidance and dedication were instrumental in making our contributions meaningful and impactful.

The work we did focused on empowering women through various educational and vocational training programs. Witnessing the immediate and positive impact on the community was immensely rewarding. We helped women gain skills that would enable them to achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life. Seeing the confidence and pride in the eyes of the women we worked with was one of the most fulfilling aspects of the trip.

Beyond the volunteering, the local experiences in Arusha were unforgettable. We had the opportunity to visit a Maasai village, where we learned about their unique culture, traditions, and way of life. The Maasai tribe’s warm hospitality and vibrant traditions left a lasting impression on all of us.

Since that trip, I have been on two other trips with IVHQ, and each one has been an amazing experience. The organization’s commitment to making a genuine difference in communities around the world, combined with the support of local teams, has made each journey impactful and memorable. If you’re considering a volunteer trip, I highly recommend IVHQ.

I highly reccomend ivhq to anyone, it’s a particularly great company to go through if your under 18 and looking to volunteer. I have just got back from being in Tanzania, i went on my own and am 16 years old, the whole process of communication has been excellent and has been carried through while at the location aswell. I have met friends for life and totally fell in love with the culture and the children at my daycare who i miss so much already! the coordinators are amazing at what they do, particularly Dani who is the loveliest person ever and really helped me when i needed a bit of extra support, all coordinators do everything they can to make your experience as best as possible. if your thinking about booking through ivhq… DO IT! i will definitely be back 💗

This was my first time volunteering with IVHQ. I have to say this was a great first experience. Everything was so organized from beginning to end. I didn’t have to stress about anything while being in Ecuador, the local team was very welcoming and made sure I was taking care of.
I had an amazing time volunteering with kids, with having teachable moments and playing games, lots of laughter. They were so grateful I was there. Exploring Ecuador was fun and safe.The Local team organized a safe transportation for me to explore and I love it!
What I love about IVHQ is that they kept me well informed, and there were step by step instructions for the whole process including virtual meetings with our coordinator. I will definitely continue with this organization for more trips in the future.

I was in Cusco for a month on a childcare volunteer trip with a good friend of mine. We were at a school and daycare mix doing childcare and we loved it. My friend worked with the two-year-olds and I worked with the three and four-year-olds. The kids were just great! While we were there, we got to see so many beautiful places and do so many cool things!I loved the kids, the local team, the host family, meeting new people, the food, the beautiful places we visited, the alpacas and llamas, the rich history, the memories I made. My friend and I came together and had the best and most memorable experience. I highly recommend visiting all the ancient sites. There is so much to see in every direction you go and there is definitely something for everyone. Pictures don’t do Peru justice, it is just so breathtaking.

I wish I had great things to say about this experience but I really dont.
I signed up for the Bali construction and renovation for 2 weeks and left after 2 days. The sanitary conditions as well as the safety conditions for the work were unacceptable.

I am really upset because I really wanted to help the locals doing this program. Instead, I feel like I was scammed and lost the $800 I paid for. I wonder where this money is going frankly because its definitely not going in the accommodation. Everything was dirty and smelled so bad, we did not have water at night to use the showers and bathrooms, the food was not nutritious nor good. What a shame.
Dont waste your money and time with IVHQ/Green Lion, you will be very disappointed.

We wanted to go on a service trip as a family during summer holiday and found a child care program in Morocco that enables our teenage daughters to volunteer with us. The main coordinator at IVHQ was always helpful with our questions leading up to the program, and its online resources were well thought out and useful. The local team and the host family were very warm and welcoming, and we had an amazing experience immersing in the local culture and tradition, while volunteering at the day care in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoon for a week. We had to put our heads together to come up with lesson plans and use the language skills fully (French and English) and it was great to see our kids engaged with activities with local children. It was enriching and rewarding, and one of the best family holidays.

I cannot put into words how much this programme has changed my life, it has shown me how much power my words and actions hold while allowing me to experience a completely different and beautiful culture to my own, engaging thoroughly in the language, the festivals and the food. The local team were so warm and welcoming from my first day, and were always there to help me and the other volunteers. I wish that everyone had the chance to take part in this amazing opportunity, since it left me a changed person, giving me a physical representation of the difference I can make from such a young age!

So how was this experience unique? How else could you gain the trust of a wild elephant, by learning how to wrap its 'kuchi' and feeding her every day? I learned a lot on this trip, and absolutely loved my time with the two 'approachable' elephants; the Local Team was very clear about how the rest of the elephants were wild, and could be unpredictable. Now that I'm back home I miss the smell of the place, the mud and the leaves, and I miss not hugging my favourite pachyderm. While in Chitwan I gained a snapshot of the daily life of the Mahouts, and I appreciated the hospitality of the entire team. I recommend this journey.

We can’t thank IVHQ enough for the life forming experiences and opportunities they have given us. I participated in the healthcare education program and it was absolutely amazing. From planing the trip, to receiving support locally and making new friends that feel like family, this organization was there for us every step of the way. On my first day of volunteering I knew immediately I will be volunteering through this organization again. There have truly been no flaws and I am forever grateful. The local team was so amazing it felt like a big family and we had a blast together. Never did we feel alone or worried. Thank you so much.

Amazing experiences from both the local team and IVHQ team - perfect balance of exploring and volunteering.
Each team provided me with exemplary information to correctly prepare me for the trip.
The children we met were all amazing and I loved spending time with them - taking them on a field trip was the most amazing experience to see their faces.
Local team provided amazing meals every day and accommodates to all dietary needs and preferences.
Always felt safe and knew if I had troubles the local team would support me.
My only wish is that I had stayed longer.