GIVE Volunteers Reviews

The four weeks I spent with GIVE in Nepal were honestly some of the highest points in my life thus far, both metaphorically and literally!

It was so humbling working along side the community members to help repair their homes that were damaged in the earthquake: locals and volunteers alike putting in equal work, sweat, jokes and laughter on the worksite. It was amazing to teach young children valuable skills and knowledge that will help open so many possibilities in their futures, it’s incredible how much they progressed in the short amount of time I was there! All the while, there were smiles, dancing and a warm embrace between different cultures. But what I love most about GIVE is that it’s not a charity, you can go home confident that the community is learning and investing in itself to continue improving and provide for itself, just as I went home armed with new knowledge of how to better impact the environment, sustainably travel, and be a global citizen!

Then after working hard, we got to play hard! The excursions were amazing and we were lead by experienced guides who had our safety as their top priority. We adventured all over Nepal: from immersing in the bustling capital, to exploring ancient cities, white water rafting through beautiful natural beauty, and getting a chance to safely see the rare fauna in a safari in a national park. I also did the add-on excursion and embarked on the 13 day trek up to Everest Base Camp with several of the new close friends I made during my time volunteering. It feels amazing when you finally make it up there and are completely surrounded by mountains on all sides!

This experience was incredible and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves making a difference and who loves to expand their view of the world!

I loved this trip!! From the very beginning I knew I was going to have a blast! Amy,my Guide was amazing. You can definitely tell she loves her job and she gives it a 100% of her effort. I loved the volunteering and being along side the locals was an amazing experience I will never forget. The add ons that we did were so much fun and I will never forget this experience. Volunteering was a lot of fun because we definetly saw and made an impact in this community. One of the parts that I loved about this trip was the Homestay. We got to cook and live with a Nepali family for the night which was so much fun and life changing. Everyone here was wonderful and they were more than welcoming to everyone. EBC was also so much fun. I think it is a great add on for what the price and experience is. It was so so hard,but the guides are so cool and they will push you to your fullest potential. This trip is all worth it.

It was the best experience ever you get to dive into the cultures of people around the world and work with them to help rebuild their homes and even if you can’t speak the language you find many ways to communicate and have fun. By far the best time I have ever had. You also get to meet amazing people around the world. Not only do you meet people you get the chance to also stay in the homes of the people you help build. The after a hard day you get to go to a local school and teach kids english. The fun doesn’t stop because once you go back home you take a quick shower and you run up to the hill and challenge the locals in a game of soccer, but don’t kick it don’t the hill because you have to go chase it . at the end of the trip after you worked so hard you get to go water rafting and just relax and be surrounded by the amazing people this was the best experience I have ever had thank you give

It's difficult to put my experience with GIVE into words. I never thought I could learn so much about myself and the ocean in one trip. The staff, the dive shop, the island and the people were so incredible during this experience. You can tell when you are on a give trip that it is about more than just running a volunteer trip but they genuinely take the time to get to know every single volunteer. Reef conservation was amazing. After learning so much about the ocean and it's mysterious ways, we actually got to build an artificial reef! I made so many friends and truly felt like I was making an impact. I have always loved the ocean unconditionally but when I learned how much it needed protection, it made my love even deeper. After my GIVE scuba trip, I not only had my certificate in open water diving but I also had motivations to live more sustainably to help make a positive impact on the oceans and reefs. 10/10 would recommend Scuba diving with GIVE!!!
It is also safe and a good starting point for new divers!

My expedition to Tanzania with GIVE, was a truly rewarding experience due to the takeaway from the experience as well as the positive impact that is let on the village of Kairo! My entire life I have been dreaming of the chance to travel to Tanzania and immerse myself within their beautiful culture. Choosing GIVE was the best choice I made, as there advocacy for education and sustainable infrastructure is no more apparent than within the village of Cairo. As you work alongside locals to build schools, wells, or living quarters, you will find yourself connecting very deeply with people on the other side of the world. Being able to see the improvements in English literacy is very rewarding, as these lingual skills allow them to communicate in a new world of commerce. Traveling to Tanzania with GIVE was the best experience of my life and has allowed me to pursue my passion for worldwide education for all.

Going on this trip is the best decision anyone of any age can make. Whether you have a knack for travel, being social, teaching, construction GIVE will make any location feel like home. GIVE guides are knowledgeable, fun and downright inspiring. On this trip I was able to give a bit and gain a lot. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

I walked onto a plane, knowing no one. At 19 years old I was pretty dang nervous. In less than a day I would be on the opposite side of the world. Once we landed the fear slowly turned into excitement, which later turned into motivation. The trip helped me find myself in a way (cliché I know, but it’s true). My timid, shy self exploded out of my shell and found a true passion for teaching.

Since the trip I have been nonstop thinking about teaching abroad once I finish college. My GIVE guides even gave me recommendations on the trip to continue teaching and even volunteering abroad. In the fall I plan to take my TEFL course and become certified to teach English as a second language abroad.

If you are considering this trip, just do it. Pack a bag and do it. Go open up, transform into and better version of yourself and hep others in the process!

Just off the bank of the gorgeous Nong Khiaw River, an hour away from civilization, lies the most beautiful village of Sop Chem, populated by around 60 families. I can wholeheartedly say I have never experienced the true meaning of unconditional love until I arrived in Sop Chem. The whole community welcomed us with open arms and loving hearts. Throughout the entire two weeks of working hard on the construction site and the classroom, I made the most beautiful connections with the most inspiring people. Experiencing the most genuine view of their culture, traditions, religion and cuisine. One night we were able to pair up for homestays with amazingly welcoming families and were able to exchange abundant laughs and smiles all throughout the night without speaking a single word to one another.

This was by far the experience of a lifetime. My time in Tanzania completely changed my life for the better and I can easily say that I have never been happier than when I was volunteering with GIVE Volunteers. The structure and purpose of the organization is so pure and genuine that it truly makes you feel like you are making a difference. Us volunteers were able to make the most beautiful connections not only with one another, but with our local host community as well. But hands down the best part about this experience was witnessing your hard work, working side by side with passionate community members, come to life when we finished building the school and performed our final tests with our students to see all the progress they have made.

Everyone that knows me knows how much I was truly impacted by my GIVE trips. After spending a month in SE Asia with GIVE, I immediately came back and signed up for another trip, this time to Nicaragua. Nica was everything I could’ve imagined and more. Our first week was spent in Jiquilillo right on the beach where the staff was so friendly and accommodating (not to mention had the cutest dogs). We spent our days on the worksite mixing concrete for the school kitchen we were helping build with the locals, and spent our evenings releasing baby sea turtles into the ocean while enjoying the most incredible sunsets you have ever seen. The best thing about GIVE is how interconnected the volunteers and the locals are and how conscious they are about what the community needs and empowering them to achieve their highest success. We then traveled from Jiquilillo to Little Corn Island where we were offered the chance to learn how to scuba dive, learn about climate change through first hand experiences, and help teach kids in the reading room. To this day Little Corn Island is one of my most favorite places I have ever traveled to, and I am positive my experience would not have been the same had I not gone with GIVE. I met so many amazing people on my trips, from my guides, to the locals, to my fellow volunteers, who have become life long friends. I can’t recommend this trip and GIVE enough!

It might sound corny to say that my time with GIVE has changed my life, but it truly has. GIVE is always very conscious of the needs and desires of the community that they are working in. During my time in Nicaragua, we traveled to Jiquilillo where we helped a nearby local community to construct a kitchen for their local school. During the day we would travel to the construction site where we would mix and pour concrete all while laughing along with the locals. In the evenings we would work alongside a local sea turtle hatchery to release baby sea turtles into the ocean and help give them the best chance. After our time in Jiquilillo, we traveled to Little Corn Island where those participating in the Scuba program would remain for the next few weeks. While I didn't participate in the Scuba program, my time on Little Corn was magical, spending the days learning about environmental threats to the island and helping to teach in Ms. Wendy's Reading Room.

Traveling with GIVE is unlike anything else. It's a truly immersive experience where you learn about other people's ways of life and connect with them. It's opened my eyes to the lifestyles of people far different from myself. Traveling this way has given me many lessons I will carry for the rest of my life and too many great new friends to count! Don't miss out on an amazing opportunity like this, it will change your life.