GIVE Volunteers Reviews

I‘m gonna be honest, when I first learned about GIVE I was skeptical about it, thinking it was a scam. However, what sold me was the in person meetings with the GIVE staff. They settled my nerves and convinced me to go. In terms of the trip itself, it far exceeded my expectations. The local guides were SO amazing, they provided knowledge about the culture like no other. They were super fun, made relationships with everyone, and enhanced the trip so much. It was an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. All the staff cared for us and made sure we were all okay, no matter what we were doing. I made amazing life-long friendships with my fellow volunteers and the locals. I would definitely do it again. Thank you GIVE volunteers 😊

I had the most life changing experience. From the guides, to the other volunteers, to the people in the village, I was fortunate enough to make the most meaningful memories to last a lifetime. I was able to not only learn so much about myself, but also about the history of Laos which was reinforced during discussions every few days. These discussions were actual one of my favorite parts of the trip because it really allowed me to put myself in the shoes of the people who lived their and fully immerse myself in their culture in a respectful way. From this trip, I was able to take home lifelong bonds with these amazing people who have inspired me everyday to become a better version of myself and motivated me to inspire others to be global citizens. I have also taken home what I have learned about other cultures to be able to be more well rounded in helping people around the world in my professional career and well as the practices such as meditation, yoga, journaling, and other forms of being in the present to help me stay true to myself and in tune with my body. This trip allowed me to discover confidence in myself to achieve my goals in the future in all aspects of my life to be courageous enough to fight back when society tries to tell me that “this is all for nothing” and to be strong enough to stand up for what I believe to be the truth is to make the world a better place because I know that my voice on my own is enough to spark change in global citizens. I took home newfound knowledge of UXO’s and the bias of the Vietnam war and to keep an open mind when learning to stay away from bias and find the truth in the situation. and lastly, I have taken home what I learned on how to be more self reliant and sustainable and find ways to incorporate it into my everyday life and educate others so they can do the same. I have recommended this trip to everyone who has asked about it and am endlessly grateful to have had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country.

This trip was truly one of the best experiences of my life. It allowed me to learn so much about the culture of hawaii and gain a new perspective of tourism. I got to learn how to be global citizen with 21 other young adults who were very much like me.The people I met along the way each impacted me in a different way that was amazing. I think everyone should take a trip like this and GIVE is such a good place to do it through. The guides that led us through the native parts of hawaii were incredible and never failed to teach us new things and make it a fun time as well. I am already looking into doing another trip and I strongly encourage you to go on one as well!

It's truly hard to put into words how incredible my experience with GIVE was. From day 1 we were all welcomed into the vibrant culture of Tanzania with open arms. I fell in love with teaching each and every student. Seeing their level of hard work and dedication was truly inspiring. Days working on construction were so rewarding and the guides did a fabulous job of keeping group energy up with so much dancing and fun! Of course aside from the volunteer projects there was so much adventure involved, swimming with dolphins and the safari felt so surreal. It can definitely be intimidating to take the leap but it is 100% worth it. This was my second trip with GIVE and I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

I truly found this experience to be life-changing. From the people to the food to the volunteer activities, every aspect of my trip was immersive and beautifully different. The locals were also extremely welcoming, and I never felt unsafe or unwelcome at any point of the trip. GIVE also ensured that all components of volunteering abroad were accounted for, leaving myself and my fellow volunteers the ability to focus on giving back worry-free. I am already planning and fundraising for my next GIVE trip!

My trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania with GIVE was nothing short of life-changing. From the moment my guides, Sophi and MC, picked me up at the airport to the day I left, I felt safe, loved, and had the time of my life. Although I grew up traveling the world with my family, I had never been as immersed in a different culture as I was in Kairo village. The locals welcomed us with open arms and were eager to share their stories and lifestyles with us.

Days at the construction site were filled with laughter, dancing, and hard work. Seeing the progress we made at the school by the end of the trip was incredibly rewarding and exciting. Teaching the vibrant, kind, and dedicated local women exceeded all my expectations. Their fun energy and strong work ethic truly changed me for the better.

Additionally, my fellow volunteers are now people I can call best friends. There were 26 volunteers in my group, and I can confidently say I got to know each and every one of them on an individual level. I have never laughed and cried as hard as I did with this group. The love, kindness, and acceptance I felt were unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

I am beyond grateful to GIVE for this experience, and I highly recommend this trip to everyone. Take the leap; I promise you won’t regret it.

The experiences I had on my GIVE trip gave me a new perspective of travel and everyday life. I felt confident traveling with like minded individuals and leaving a net-positive impact on the communities surrounding us. We connected with community members and locals who welcomed our group in with open arms. Along with volunteering at school and construction projects, we swam with wild dolphins, visited a spice farm, learned about the extensive and rich history of the island, and went on a two day safari.

My time during WILD was an incredible experience. I learned SO much about leadership, first aid safety, and emergency preparedness. This was my 3rd GIVE trip and it did not disappoint once again. I met the most amazing friends through this one week, and brought back so many life skills and connections. I got out of my comfort zone by being in the snow and going on a snowshoe hike! Whether you are looking to be in the snow for a week, meet likeminded people, or learn how to save someone in an avalanche. WILD is your program! Thank you to all of the incredible leaders Carly Jo, John, Mike, & Meany Lodge for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you. So grateful for GIVE💚💚💚💚

After going to Hawaii, Thailand, and Elephants, I highly recommend GIVE to anyone who wants to grow personally, open their minds, experience community, see the world, and fill their spirit <3. All of the trips have been extremely well-organized with wonderful, sweet, amazing guides that I have learned so much from. It’s so cool to actually be able to see how the money you pay for your trip genuinely impacts the local communities. It’s important that GIVE does establish longstanding relationship with communities so that the empowerment is sustainable. I will admit that maybe it’s scary or uncomfortable at first, but it’s so so worth it to open yourself up to new things, people and experiences. Every day is an adventure that is truly heartwarming.

The most incredible week. You will learn so so much about not only Wilderness First Aid, but yourself! We spent our trip completely unplugged which allowed for such meaningful connections to form with such amazing people. During this time we hung out in the cutest little lodge with such a sweet staff who made us amazing meals the whole trip. I was nervous going into the course knowing practically nothing about medicine or first aid, but all of the instructors were so helpful and welcoming. They truly hope to see you learn and grow to be the best you can be. I highly encourage anyone contemplating signing up to take the leap and do it!!!