Program Reviews

My time in Dharamsala is one of the greatest memories I have.
The people, the scenery and the atmosphere are all amazing and gave me the experience of a lifetime. The staff at ISPiiCE made my whole time volunteering comfortable, motivational, safe and FUN!
If you want to volunteer with the community, this is the place to do it; with people who really need it and with great support for you too.

It was such an amazing experience working in the communities and learning about the culture. It certainly encouraged me to begin a career in international development. Everybody was so helpful, friendly and the food was great! The experience was truly eye opening and i thought it was great value.

I volunteered for six weeks in iSpiice and it was a nice and safe way to discover the North part of India and also delicious culinary specialties. I have wonderful images stored in my head of beautiful children and magical memories of trips I had the opportunity to to alone during weekends.

I attended the University of Saint Thomas and I had the privilege of being part of a 10 person team to volunteer for iSPiiCE. The iSPiiCE team met us at the airport and made it a smooth transition from the city all the way up into the mountains. Being a volunteer teacher was one of the most remarkable experience of my life. The community, and especially the students were welcoming and always went out of their way to make it hospitable. The iSPiiCE staff did a great job of balancing the workload and taking us on adventures throughout the city. There were times we forgot that it was a temporary engagement because we were lost in the beauty of the mountains, culture, and community. I highly recommend this trip because it changed the lives of everyone one on our trip and I wish to go back soon.

I have always been attracted to India, and in choosing to travel alone for one month (i had just 21 y.old) i placed myself in the capable and trustworthy hand of ISPiiCE. What i experienced was Beyond anything i could have imagined! The ISPiiCE team is exceptional. There is a magic at Ispiice that immediatly made me feel like i belonged and was at home despite being thousands of miles away from everything i've ever know befor.
The selfless, thoughtful, generous, and kind nature of the Ispiice team/staff is overwhelming. The weekends are fantastic opportunities to travel and uncover the rich and varied landscape of India. This was a fulfilling experience and a unique and rewarding opportunity to be welcomed and immersed into a community where we are truly appreciated and can make a real difference. I have gived to and gained so much from the people of Sidhbari that i wish to came back as soon as possible.
And REMEMBER...the best way to capture the deep essence of a country is to live and work with its inhabitants and immerse yourself in its cultures and traditions. For me it is inspiring and stimulating to discover and explore different societies and to have direct contact with ways of life different to my own.

I taught a computer class to a group of teenagers in the mornings, painted a daycare in the afternoons, and tutored children in English in the family's home during the evenings. The program leaders we stayed with took us to all of our lessons, prepared our meals, and gave us tours of important places in the community. I always felt safe and in good hands. Living and working with the locals was amazing. The people of India are so welcoming, generous, and kind. My heart grew 3 sizes while there and I wish I could've stayed longer!

I believe iSPiiCE is one of the most authentic ways to experience the beautiful country of India. The staff is supportive and ensures your safety at all times, while allowing you to interact in the community. Teaching computer skills, English, and helping at daycare centers provided me with wonderful memories! The students were respectful and very enthusiastic! On the weekends, my group was led on wonderful excursions: from a trek in the Himalayan Mountains to a visit to the Taj Mahal! I strongly recommend iSPiiCE and I hope I can return someday!

My Personal experience is pretty closely inline with everything already said below in the other reviews. It will be one of the most memorable things you do ever do. You will grow as a person, you will have a chance to make and receive positive change.

However, a major thing not many reviews touch on is how amazing the iSPiiCE family is and how dedicated they are to the volunteers they support and the community the serve. You can see their purpose in their eyes, thoughts, and most importantly plans. iSPiiCE is vastly bigger than a volunteer based cultural exchange. As the success of the program grows, the impact it has on the local community can be seen. The numbers of people who get sent secondary school and college increases, the funding to build and run an orphanage become closer to reality, the list goes on and on. And it is hard and timely work, to make a difference. iSPiiCE knows that, and they are soulfully dedicated to make sure it happens.

It has been a year since I have been at the iSPiiCE camp, but every time I see a facebook post, my heartstrings are tugged. I will find a way to make it back, and I will continue to support them in anyway I can.

Before I went to India to volunteer with ispiice I honestly had no idea what to expect. In my opinion there were three main parts:

The volunteering, the travel and the social aspect. The volunteering itself is fantastic I can promise that you will thoroughly enjoy it. Teaching in the school and slums is something that will give you a great sense of achievement, everyday I loved it and the kids are great.

The travelling opportunities are also wonderful giving you a real idea of how big and cultured India is with trips to the taj mahal, Menali and the golden temple. Locally aswell the area is brilliant, almost every evening I would go on a walk for at least an hour as the scenery was incredible.

Socially the people that run ispiice are some of the friendliest and most accommodating people I have ever met, also you will get to meet people from all over the world. The camp is lovely I was quite surprised by how beautiful it was and it is a wonderful place to stay. Also I must mention the food, it was fantastic and there is plenty of opportunities to learn the recipes or even cook yourself.

With the volunteering you do you will feel like you are truly achieving something. I honestly believe that ispiice is the best volunteering project especially for the value for money, worth every penny I put into it!!!

I could honestly go on for hours about how wonderful ispiice is, I would say if you're considering volunteering to teach definitely go and join ispiice. I was there for a month but I would say if you can, spend longer.

I was 65 years old and a recently retired School Business Manager when l flew out to India to help on three projects. Teaching touch typing to young married women in one of the ladies own homes. What a delight, eager to learn, supportive of each others efforts and very curious about my background. They all worked very hard on the lessons and improved daily.

Playgroup or Angarawi and ten little children learning through play. We used playdough, rhyme, books and music and they played some of there own games out, 'stalking tiger' and 'cattle in the stall', such fun.

Primary School, more formal lessons. Children well mannered, respectful and hungry for knowledge.

In return l was guided to places of interest off the beaten track, housed on a beautiful farm and given a room overlooking the Himalayas. Our food was cooked here with local produce, delicious.

I had a life enhancing experience and would recommend this organisation without reservation.