Program Reviews

This adventure will forever hold a special place in my heart. I learned so much from the culture and the people especially, that I hope to share for years to come.
Never in my life have I seen a community so united, so loving, so friendly, and so welcoming than in the village of Kairo. These people have next to nothing, but their energy is unmatched. They ooze a happiness that we could only dream of. When asked what I hoped to bring back to the United States, I simply responded, “I hope to keep the energy”.
Moving forward, I want to be the person that smiles brightly and energizes the space I take up. I want to show people how content and grateful I am for every little thing I have. I want to show people that they are wonderful and amazing just as they are. I want to accept and trust people from the moment I meet them. I want to create a world where everyone feels safe and loved. I want to make sure that every single person I interact with from here on out feels even just a fraction of what I felt while in Kairo.
I will forever be grateful that I was able to have this experience and that I was able to do so in a way that differs from traditional travel and tourism. GIVE taught me what it means to be a global citizen and how to be effective in voting with my dollar. Every single thing we did during our trip was intentional. Whether it be supporting the locals and their businesses, to learning how to mix cement by hand (two parts rubble, one part sand, one part cement, 5 buckets of water, & a whole lot of manual mixing), to driving 8 hours to a Safari only 90 miles away on an unpaved road to help fund its paving— we made an impact.
One of the best parts was almost everything was organized and ran by local guides, we were learning straight from the people and building friendships with them. These people were full of wisdom and laughter that always left me feeling inspired. Lastly, I want to thank all of my local guides— Khammis, Smile, Amor, Baboi, Talha, MC, Fanni, Big Head, Fruit Guy, Kennedy, and Mr. Famous for an amazing trip.

I have grown so much from this experience and was a little scared to go but I don’t regret anything. I am looking forward to my next trip with GIVE and will definitely go back to Nicaragua. I don’t think I ever would have gone to Nicaragua if not for GIVE and I’m grateful I did. The warmth and beauty from both the locals and the climate was exactly what I didn’t even know I needed. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery and all the yummy food and the unexpected tranquility I found there. I already miss it.

I absolutely loved this experience! It is once in a life time, you truly get to immerse yourself into the culture. I pushed myself in new ways that have forever changed me for the better. Working side by side with the locals gave me new perspectives and opportunities to learn new things that I never would have before. There are so many connections that I made which will last me a life time. Everyone is is welcoming and excited for you to be there. I was nervous about the food but honestly it was some of the most amazing food I’ve ever had! Truly everything was great. Best experience of my life!

So fun and absolutely life changing. So much growth and impact comes from this trip. You will be welcomed with open arms to the village of Sop Chem, the people are so beautiful and full of love. Volunteers will have the chance to hike mountains, swim in waterfalls, and you’ll end up falling in love with this country just as I have.
I can’t imagine a better group of guides to have taken care of us on this trip, they are so incredible. Take in every moment. Everyone should have the chance to experience Laos!

GIVE Tanzania is by far the best investment I have made. I have been on a previous volunteering trip with a different organization that did not compare in the slightest to GIVE’s focus on cultivating global citizens and sustainable travelers. Hannah and Boi were my guides and both of them are seen in the most positive light in my eyes. Their encouragement and genuine love for each and every person involved with GIVE made it so easy to feel comfortable and welcomed. From the accommodations to the food to the volunteer projects, everything was so organized and exactly as described prior to the trip. I am already looking into how I can work with GIVE beyond being a volunteer to continue making an impact and to immerse myself in an environment that is dedicated to learning and loving. Asante sana to everyone in Kairo, I miss you already <3

I went on a GIVE trip to Thailand to shake me out of my comfort zone. I had never been outside of the US or Canada but have always wanted to travel, and not just to super-touristy locations. I was skeptical paying money to volunteer, but now, knowing what goes in to making the experience, I can say that it was completely worth it. GIVE is incredibly connected with the host communities. Most of the guides grew up locally and speak both English and Thai fluently, which made it so easy to learn about life in northern Thailand: many things that you wouldn’t be able to learn as a standard tourist. I was also able to experience many of the local shops and restaurants and what it is like to stay in jungle villages. Things that I would also not have been otherwise able to experience as a solo traveller having no previous connections in the region.
I was concerned that I would not be able to make much of an impact only staying for 2 weeks, but teaching and playing with the kids at Nongbua School, I could feel how special it made these kids feel to be visited by people from the other side of the world. I don’t think I have ever been in a place where so many people want to hug me. Playing soccer against a bunch of Thai school kids under a sky full of dragon flies in the pouring rain (and losing), was just an otherworldly experience.
We were also able to see the progress we made in the permaculture project. Just a few hours a day of the whole group finding, removing, and transplanting banana trees, we were essentially able to plant a small forest. In addition to the physical permaculture projects, we also learned about the beauty of and the urgent need for sustainable agriculture and forest restoration. Of course, learning on-site is so much more impactful than reading or watching videos about permaculture online.
I was also surprised by how much the guides and locals invited us to ask questions (the hard ones too). We had many sessions where a local would be invited to talk about a particular subject, like how it is to teach at the local school, and how Elephant ownership and conservation work in modern times. A lot of the time, these sessions were brutally honest: addressing things like the negative parts of life in Thailand, the downsides of voluntourism, and the reality of how the least harmful way to keep elephants in captivity still involves chains and hooks.
On a personal level, the guides were also very inspiring. There were quite a few emotional speeches and individual conversations that I had with the guides that made me look forward to the future more than I have in quite some time. They pointed out the opportunities that I have to travel and search for what I love doing. There is no doubt that this trip has changed the course of my future. I feel like this trip helped me see how insignificant the problems in my daily life usually are and how much opportunity I have right now that I may not have in the future and that many people might never have.
Of course, there are organisations with much longer-term projects out there that involve less tourism and more labour. These projects can have larger impacts, but there are also many fewer people willing to commit to such long-term projects. Not only does GIVE make international volunteering more accessible, but based on the experience I had, I would expect that GIVE is inspiring more people to commit to such long-term projects.

I can't even begin to describe everything. But during this trip I experienced sights and adventures of a lifetime. We were educated on the history and culture of Laos as we immersed ourselves in the village of Sop Chem. Every person I met (guide, tourist, local, volunteer) was filled with so much joy and love. And the work we did - whether on farm plots, in schools, or with conservatories - was always so rewarding and fulfilling. Through everything, you create the most precious bond with the people around you. It was only two weeks, but I have experienced so much homesick after leaving. 11/10 recommend this experience of a lifetime!

I have always heard of Laos, but I never thought to visit it. I'm so happy that GIVE has created a program in this country. This country is beautiful and deserves to be seen. The people have encountered many casualties, yet remain joyful and loving. This trip felt very educational and inspiring. I loved the village we stayed in. The locals treat you like family, which feels like a home away from home. Since the village is remote, you can see how your work impacts the community personally. Aside from the locals, we had terrific guides to help us through everything. Sopchem is a place I would revisit on my own. So if you're questioning this place, I say take the chance and experience this beautiful country!

I loved this trip. Everything about it was terrific. We were constantly kept busy, and they ensured no time was wasted. The guides are excellent at what they do. They're always there to help if you're feeling uneasy or sad. Aside from that, they treat you like family. They're always on top of things. As for the projects, I enjoyed English education the most! If you plan on working at the school, I suggest picking the smaller school. You get to connect with the kids better. When we weren't volunteering, we got to be adventurous! Hiking the cave, tubing down the river, and bamboo rafting was sick!!!

There are no words to describe how impacted and moved I feel from my experience in Laos these past two weeks. Thank you Give Volunteers for the opportunity to be immersed in such a magnificent culture. The beautiful people in the village of Sop Chem hold a special place in my heart forever. Equally, the extraordinary volunteers and guides on this trip have changed my life. The continuous love and support that I felt every minute of our time together has made an impact on my soul in powerful ways. I feel honored to have met every single person on this journey. I am beyond grateful for this experience. My soul feels fulfilled, inspired, and truly re-centered from the life lessons taught to me in Laos.