Program Reviews

Like in my title this was my first trip out of the United States. Many of my family and friends were worried that I chose such a remote and far away place to be my first international trip but I cannot stress enough how perfect this was for my first time out of the country!! I was constantly given reminders through give on keeping up with papers (passport, visa, vaccinations ect.) which helped me a lot to understand what I needed to do and in a timely manner. They also even have a travel agent as an option to help with flights which I loved to lessen my stress. Even when I did have a flight cancellation due to weather I was able to easily figure it out and had Give staff leader, Hannah, also helping me if I were to need any extra assistance. Once arrived I was a bit nervous not having any service but Give staff was there to pick me up and greet me! I also loved not having to worry about accommodations and food as that was all included! It really allows you to be able to relax and take in the beautiful place of stone town when not having to try and search around. When we arrived in Kairo I was so excited to see how close we were to the Indian Ocean!! It was paradise!

Our days of education and construction were always well planned out in advance and so it was easy to get in a bit of a groove. Those days were also very rewarding to see the progress in the students (including myself as I learned a lot from them too) and in the construction you will do at the school. Some days were very hard during construction but the energy with the staff and our group made every minute of it worth it! And to know that the kids at that school will be able to use the pathway we created for years to come.

Outside of education and construction there were so many activities planned that I had not known about so it was such a cool surprise to be able to learn Swahili, weave, cook and see how soap is made by the local women!

Adventure days were amazing! Coming from a land locked state it was so cool to be able to be at the beach, on an island or always having time to swim in the ocean! Even on these days you learn so much about Zanzibar and their culture as well. Always ask questions! Staff were always so sweet to answer my questions I had and they welcomed them all the time.

One of the coolest experiences I have now to date would be swimming with wild dolphins! I am such an animals lover and seeing how the locals have turned their attention to protecting the dolphins while also still being able to support their loved ones amazes me.

Overall I can’t express how amazing this trip was for me and how it has created such confidence in myself in my future travels and how they can align to my beliefs. They did an amazing job and I hope to be back again soon!

Book the trip!! You won’t regret it! :)

My GIVE trip to Tanzania was life-changing, challenging, and inspiring. The guides are knowledgeable and personable. The locals are kind, fun, and so eager to learn AND share. This program does an exceptional job of immersing you in the culture of your destination and teaching valuable lessons, while also incorporating some of the most thrilling adventures. I highly recommend this trip (or any GIVE trip) to anyone who is looking to travel responsibly, expand their horizons, and push themselves out of their comfort zone.

It’s hard to explain with words what we lived in Tanzania. The feeling of teaching for the first time, specially while having such kind students and see their eager to learn is fulfilling. Besides, making what we call “memory” in that school, by helping in the construction, gives us a sense of humanity. But the truth is that I went there to help other, and very soon I realized I was the one that needed help. I came back home as a different person with different perspectives, and that’s what makes me feel alive.

This experience with GIVE was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to travel the world making an impactful change. From the second I left the airport the staff immediately made me feel at home. Even though I was on the other side of the world I never once felt uneasy about safety, the people around me, or that I would be on my own. The accommodations were always well kept and comfortable. And the food was good. Though there wasn’t much variety we got to try some local cuisines which was such a cool experience. Our guides both local and non-local were AMAZING. Always wanting to share more about the country and the culture. They were supportive, kind, and extremely bubbly. Without them the trip wouldn’t have been the same. Picking GIVE to go on this trip with was never once questioned while I was there. I made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime and a new appreciation for travel and adventure. The communities we spent time in were so excited to have us there and you could tell we’re grateful for our support. Being there you could tell how much they all loved GIVE as an organization and the people apart of it. You could also see how GIVE changed the staff and guides in ways I never would’ve imagined. This trip showed me how supporting communities and “voting with your dollar” can make changes while traveling and is something I will carry on in my own traveling endeavors. I would recommend this experience to anyone wanting to travel solo, with a group, or with a friend/family. You will leave with a changed perspective and bonds that will last forever. I’m incredibly thankful I decided to choose GIVE everyday.

If you are thinking about going on a trip with GIVE, do it. I have never been a part of something so special. You have to opportunity to meet amazing people, learn new things, make an impact in people's lives, and step outside of your comfort zone. It is true that once you are there, you will never want to leave. I am so thankful for this incredible experience, as if has broadened my perspective on life so much. Too, shout out to the guides! They are super knowledgeable people who are there to support you in anyway they can on your adventure of a lifetime.

This trip was something I chose to do on a whim, try something new and get out of my comfort zone. I feel everyone would be a little skeptical about doing something like this, and even up to the point I got there I had my reservations. But that all changed when I landed and met the guides. They immediately were the most friendly and welcoming people, and that never let up. Throughout the entire trip everyone was super friendly and helpful, and would stop everything they were doing to help you at the drop of a hat. Everything was well thought out down to them asking you to remove packaging on anything you might have and dispose of it before you get into the country. The opportunities given were fantastic, having the opportunity to learn the language, learn the culture, learn some crafts from the locals, and learn peoples thoughts about life there. Not only was there a chance to learn about them you also learn a lot about yourself, getting out of your comfort zone and dealing with a vastly different culture and way of life helps put things into perspective. Even the experiences we got to have such as going on a sailboat and watching the sunset or snorkeling with dolphins helped give back to the local communities. Truly everything was thought out. From Yoga and morning swims to the construction process of the school, there was not one thing that I felt wasn't thought out. This was the best experience I've ever had. Make it yours too.

My trip with GIVE to Tanzania was absolutely life-changing. The program gave us the opportunity to be completely immersed in the local culture, while feeling comfortable and safe at all times. The GIVE staff is truly incredible and, along with the locals, are some of the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege to know. This experience forced me outside of my comfort zone in many ways but was ultimately some of the most fun and rewarding weeks of my life. Work hard play hard is the best way to summarize the trip!

This trip was so amazing because of the people. The GIVE staff create such a fun, energetic, safe environment. The locals are some of the kindest people I have ever met. It was so easy to become so close with everyone, because we all shared the same values, because we all signed up for that trip for a reason. I can’t thank everyone enough for making my experience so incredible. It is just such a different feeling traveling for vacation and traveling with a purpose. I can’t even describe how fulfilled I feel leaving this trip. I feel like I did something to help the community I was visiting and also enjoying the beautiful scenery at the same time.

I had always wanted to be able to travel and help people at the same time. Volunteering with Give allowed me to do exactly that !! I met so many like minded people, and got to participate in many hands on projects which is exactly what I was looking for. It may seem too good to be true looking from the outside in, but I can 100% say that my travel experience with Give was amazing, beyond words can describe !! I have friendships, memories, and new knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime !!

This trip was worth every penny! It was the perfect balance of volunteering and doing fun tourist activities. I got to eat, live, and breathe the culture here, which is exactly what I was looking for. The guides were so knowledgeable and supportive and fun to be with. I felt so safe the entire trip. The guides gave us insight on what to expect each day. I ended up going on this trip over Christmas and while that religion is not typically celebrated in this culture, they made sure to make it special for the volunteers. This is my second trip with Give Volunteers and I hope to continue to go on more!