GIVE Volunteers Reviews

I went to Nicaragua with GIVE Volunteers during one of their winter trips in January. It was the mainland program so we spent 9 days in Jiquilillo, a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Nica, and then 4 days in Little Corn Island in the Caribbean part of Nica. I cannot speak highly enough about this organization. The guides were so fun, interactive, and knowledgeable on the country and I learned so much from them about being a global citizen, environmentally conscious, and part of Team Human. There was never a dull moment on my trip, and I made friends for life that I still talk to almost every day, one year later. GIVE Volunteers is the best volunteering organization I have worked with, and I’m so excited to be traveling with them again this upcoming May to Thailand and Laos! Don’t think, just do it!!!

In June 2018 I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Tanzania with GIVE. This trip completely changed my life and the people I met are friends that I will keep for life. This trip was incredibly humbling and opened my eyes to know true value and what’s really important in life. My experience with GIVE and the incredible people that I met in the village of Kairo led me to change my major so that I can impact people on a global level. It was so wonderful the way that we were welcomed into the village and how kind everyone was. One of my favorite memories of the trip was playing soccer and volleyball on the beach with the locals and laughing so hard that we were almost all in tears. I have never been so happy and so at peace before and everyday I wish I could go back. When going on this trip I didn’t really know what to expect I was just thrilled that I had the opportunity to travel abroad and volunteer. However, I can honestly say that I got so much more out of this experience than I ever thought I would. Everyone was so incredible from the GIVE staff to the locals to my fellow volunteers. If anyone is thinking about traveling abroad with GIVE I strongly recommend it!! This trip will change your and the people you meet will have a lasting impact on your life.

This trip not only took me on a journey of enlightenment, but it also led me to my people. I got to connect and network with such genuine, good hearted individuals and that was an absolute blessing. Immersing myself into the community that we visited and appreciating their way of life made a wonderful impact on me and altered my outlook on life. Point blank, my trip changed my life, in the best possible way. With GIVE, you’ll travel the world sustainably while giving back to this beautiful planet, go on exciting adventures and excursions, and meet your people. This not something you will regret partaking in, buy it is something you will regret not doing. Nicaragua is now my home away from home. Spending my days teaching the local children English, and my night in a hammock under the start surrounded by my new family was one of the best things I have ever experienced. Not to mention, sand boarding down an active volcano is pretty gnarly too!

This trip to Nepal completely upended my previous thoughts about Asia and the people that live there. I received firsthand experience interacting with community members, learning about their lives and how impacted they were by not only the 7.8 earthquake but also by countries, such as the US, that has so much more influence than them. I befriended locals my age, helped rebuild homes for families that worked alongside me, taught English to children with a passion to learn. I don't see these people as simply from Nepal, but as humans who have the same interests and needs as I do. I've definitely had a perspective change since my time in Nepal.

Not only did I have amazing connections with local communities, but I also got to explore the beautiful country and what Nepal has to offer. I went on safari, a 2-day white water rafting trip, and explored Kathmandu. I got to trek to Everest Base camp with my new volunteer friends which is one of the best things I've ever done. The Himalayas are beautiful and there is simply no place like them anywhere else on the planet. I visited temples and hiked through hillside villages with my Sherpa guides.

I spent a month in Nepal and that wasn't enough. One day I plan to go back and explore more of this country. Doing this trip with GIVE really opened my eyes to the best type of travel, one that not only allows exploration of beautiful places, but connection with beautiful people.

Coming into this trip I felt I had a firm grasp on what I was going to experience - scenic nature, rewarding volunteer work, and many hours of personal reflection. Although I did experience these things (and many more), the true depth of these experiences far out weighted my expectations and any photo/video that Give Volunteers could post on their website.

I consider myself ambitious, but I was still quite nervous as this trip was going to be my first introduction to international travel. Of course, the great logistical work of the team in Nepal was relieving, but what truly made me feel comfortable halfway around the world was the people. Our lead guide Amy was the perfect leader to stimulate friendships among 17 strangers, yet her touch was slight as our relationships formed naturally. Not to spoil the ending, but these 17 strangers became some of my best friends following the trip and we have already planned some trips for the future.

If there was one thing I would urge you to do if you are nervous about taking the leap and signing up for a Give trip is to simply talk to a past volunteer or team member. The people affiliated with Give, myself included, are addicted to the organization and cannot stop talking and posting about how awesome their experiences have been with Give. As we concluded our Nepal trip and discussed the trip, there was one quote that consistently was spoken by my fellow volunteers: "this was my first trip, but definitely not my last".

But there are a ton of Give trips, WHY NEPAL you may ask, so let's dive into it. First off, Nepal was recently (2015) devastated by an earthquake, and you are first-hand bringing the community you are working in out of the depths of despair from this horrifying earthquake. To make matters worse, the Nepali government threatens to blacklist citizens who do not meet the deadline for rebuilding their home. Thus, you are essentially racing against the clock to save Nepali citizens from this horrifying notion of a blacklist. It's quite easy to see your progress physically, but what was much more impactful was when the chief of the village gave a speech thanking us volunteers and concluded with tears in his eyes. You are truly making a difference on this trip. Paired with rewarding volunteer work, the fun activities outside of the volunteering are amazing too. From exploring one of the largest caves in Asia to white water rafting, the activities are perfectly planned to not only showcase the beauty of Nepal but to also build the already strong friendships between the volunteers.

What I am trying to say is Nepal is so awesome!! I cannot recommend it enough for anyone who wants to make a difference, travel abroad, or find a new family in Give. I am confident in saying it is going to change your life in every way possible.

Going to Nepal, I had no idea what to expect. My experience was more than amazing. I met so many great people and learned not only things about people in the community but also myself! This trip made me see the world from a different point of view and it will forever stick with me. I cannot express how safe I felt at all times during this trip. Our guides always made sure that we had everything that we needed and encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone and really embrace the experience! During our time in Nepal we did many different things that involved giving back to the community, but we also go to experience many activities that you normally would not take part in. This trip allowed you to see more than just one city and impact more than just one town. During our working days, is when we really got the chance to get to know the people in the community. It was an amazing feeling to leave Nepal with connections with the locals. Being able to actually get to know the kids and families made everything we were doing that much more special. You will never not have a smile on your face when you are around these amazing people!

My GIVE trip to Nepal the summer of 2018 was my first time leaving the United States. I was a senior in college and had an overwhelming desire to travel but didn't know where to start. I was lucky to come across a flyer which directed me to a presentation that would steer my life in a more exciting, fulfilling, and positive direction. The presentation hooked me by promising hands-on volunteer work, a sense of community, and immersion into a foreign culture, but the actual experience far exceeded anything that could be described.

When I arrived to the airport in Nepal I was greeted warmly by our guide, Amy. She was quick to ask about who I was and genuinely friendly and caring. Getting on the bus and taking that first ride through Kathmandu was surreal. My eyes were glued to the window, absorbing every detail of the dusty streets sprawling with unfamiliar life. Once we arrived to the Buddha Stupa, Amy let us explore the square in our own groups where we were able to become friends with each other very quickly. From then on, it felt like I had known my fellow volunteers for months and our friendships continued to grow with each new experience.

There was not a single minute of the entire two-week trip that I felt bored. I could truly disconnect from my life in the U.S. and live in the present moment with life happening right in front of me without the distractions of electronics or any everyday obligations we all have, be it school, work, bills, etc. The only things I had to focus on where being immersed in a completely new world, my mission to help a local community rebuild, creating strong connections with volunteers and locals, and break through my comfort zone every day.

I have another GIVE trip planned for the next upcoming summer to Tanzania. There's no better way to travel, have a positive impact on the world, and make lifelong friends than journeying with GIVE. This trip will challenge you, inspire you, and alter your outlook on life for the better in ways you didn't know were possible. I would encourage everyone I know and anyone who is seeking a fulfilling adventure to take the risk, and to eventually be able to look back on their experience with joy and achievement.

I've travelled for different service trips prior to this trip with GIVE to Nepal, a couple to different regions of Africa and one to Brazil. What really stood out about this experience was how passionate every single individual volunteer was, everyone was excited to serve and help in any way we could. We did a couple construction projects for about a week and were able to complete a solid amount of work and hearing the thanks from the village council leader is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. Language is often thought of as the main barrier when traveling outside of the country, outside of your comfort zone, but I would say that with our translators help and a Nepali lesson every night I felt comfortable enough to introduce myself, tell people where I was from, compliment the cook and haggle in the local markets! We also were able to use those Nepali skills for one night on the trip where we stayed in the village with a family without a translator, which was another crazy and enjoyable experience from this trip. I really hope to make it back to Nepal one day to reconnect with my wonderful friends.

Volunteering with GIVE Volunteers provides an amazing experience that I think is truly impossible to find anywhere else. I volunteered on the Nepal trip in May of 2018 with an incredible group of individuals from all over the United States and even Australia (shoutout to Amy!). One of the aspects I love the most about the GIVE program is its desire to not only make an impact through volunteering and service, but to expose you to different cultural experiences. Seeing the Boudhanath Stupa (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in Kathmandu was easily one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. Waking up to a view of the Himalayas nearly every morning wasn't the worst thing ever, either!

The vibrant colors--in the prayer flags, the food, the different cities--reflect the personalities of the Nepalese people. Not only we were extremely well-taken care of by the GIVE guides, the Nepalese people also went very out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed and were experiencing Nepal to the fullest. GIVE allows its volunteers to make genuine connections with the Nepalese citizens whether it be through laying brick together on the homes we worked to repair, doing a homestay with a local Nepalese family, or simply spending time together having fun, I felt like I learned so much about the culture by being able to form relationships with these people.

Both the volunteering and adventuring are very rewarding. After days of volunteering, I felt very proud to be able step back and admire the impactful difference we had made in creating something so important. Being able to white-water raft down a river also instilled a sense of confidence in me, and I'll never forget the jokes and stories we told as we glided through the water.

Going to a foreign country can feel nerve-wracking, but I can honestly say volunteering with GIVE has been one of the most special experiences in my life. I use the lessons I learned about becoming a global citizen daily, and I'd love the opportunity to attend another trip. You could not ask for more respectful, fun-loving guides or a more amazing experience. If you have the chance to attend one of these trips, DO IT!

GIVE Nepal was better than I ever hoped it would be. After attending WILD, I knew that I needed to attend a true GIVE trip. This trip was truly incredible. I learned a lot about the country of Nepal and myself during it. Some of the trip highlights included building a house, white water rafting, a safari, and exploring the atmosphere and culture of Nepal. The village of Paslang, where we did reconstruction, is a beautiful and welcoming area. Starting the first day there we were welcomed with a traditional ceremony. I thought that only certain people would welcome us wholeheartedly, but the entire village showed up that day to welcome us. This sight made me sure that we were working in the right place. Over our time working we were fed traditional lunches of dal baht and were offered refreshments of tea and bananas often. Although most villagers spoke little to no English, we had Pasang, who is a Nepal native from the Everest region, and pekash, who is a native from Paslang, to help translate anything that couldn't be communicated through physical gestures. In my opinion working in Paslang was the most rewarding and enjoyable thing on this trip. Continually, we had a chance to do some fun adventure activities in Nepal as well. We went 2 day whitewater rafting down the Trishuli river. This was my first time whitewater rafting, and I am so pleased that I was able to experience it on this river. During slow points on the water, I would just look around and be astounded at where we were. Truly breathtaking views. Following that experience we visited Chitwan National Park, which is home to a number of incredible animals. Sadly we did not get to see any tigers in the park, but we did get to observe a few rhinos and crocodiles (from a safe distance). We concluded the trip the same way we started: exploring part of Kathmandu. This time we looked at the ancient city of Bhaktapur, and boy was it astounding. The ancient architecture scene in this place was incredible. Overall I would recommend this trip to anyone who is looking to explore a different side of themselves and the world. Namaste!