GIVE Volunteers Reviews

This trip truly changed my life. It was my first solo international trip and I couldn't have felt more taken care of prior, during and after by the GIVE community. Despite being very nervous going in knowing no one, I made friends right off the bat and felt so welcomed by everyone. Jiquillilo also welcomed us with open arms and allowed us to learn from them about their culture, way of life and food and connect in a level I didn't know was possible. I loved my time in Nicaragua and especially loved surfing with the local guides, learning about sea turtle rescuing from Ramon and facing my fears sandboarding down the volcano. I will be going on another trip with GIVE for sure. If you are thinking about going, please do, it is such a fulfilling trip in so may ways!

The MOST AMAAAAAZZZINNGGGGGG trip!!!!!!! I will never stop talking about it. Such a beautiful place with such beautiful people! If you’re thinking about going, GO!!!!! Felt so great to GIVE back especially to such a beautiful community. So excited for my next GIVE trip! It really is auch a great program. Such stress free planning, they help you every step of the way and once you get there you really get to do and see it all….. While making a difference! What is better than that?! Absolutely positively recommend traveling with GIVE!

This trip absolutely changed my life for the better times a million!!!! The coordination/logistics is beautifully calculated to make the experience invaluable. This is the best way to travel if you want to learn about culture and be locally and sustainably immersed! Not to mention you'll leave having the sense of what real friendship and community FEELS like. Unlike anything I’ve experienced before, but something I’ve always dreamed of. I keep in touch (months later I’m reviewing) with all my little besties (the sweet kiddos you’ll quickly befriend) to date. Already booking for next year!

This trip was an amazing experience that I am so grateful I got to go on. I got to see incredible places, meet amazing people, and make memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. The trip would not have been the same without our incredible local guides. P'Boka, P'Nick, P'Krit, and P'Toni taught me so much and never failed to put a smile on my face. They were always showing us a cool fact about the nature around us, telling jokes, or showing off their expertise in various fields. In our free time they taught us how to carve, make yogurt, played guitar, and helped us to practice counting in Thai during our intense ping pong tournaments. Getting to interact with these incredible communities that I would never have seen otherwise taught me so much. I hope to go on another GIVE trip in the future.

I went on the Elephant Experience with GIVE Volunteers in summer 2025, and it completely exceeded anything I could have imagined! We traveled to places so remote and unique that I never would have found them on my own, and being welcomed into those villages and seeing a totally different way of life was eye-opening in the best way.

The time spent at the elephant sanctuaries was beyond amazing—it felt so genuine, ethical, and unforgettable. What really made it even more special, though, were the people: the locals, the guides, and the other volunteers who quickly felt like family.

I came home with memories and lessons that will stick with me forever. This trip changed the way I see the world, and I would do it all over again without hesitation!

My time in Africa with GIVE was amazing! What an awesome experience! To be immersed in the local culture, with our wonderful local guides was truly extraordinary. The itinerary was a good mix of work & play! The adventures like swimming with dolphins in the open sea & the safari were truly magical! Working to help build & better their local school & teach the locals English were both very rewarding. We also had time to visit and shop from the locals. I would highly recommend getting outside your comfort zone and giving this a try!

I recently returned from the GIVE Volunteers trip to Tanzania, and it was truly a life-changing experience. From the moment we arrived, everything was well-organized, and the GIVE team made sure we felt safe, supported, and engaged every step of the way.

The volunteer work was both meaningful and rewarding. We worked closely with the local community on sustainable development projects, including education initiatives and eco-friendly construction. It never felt like we were just there to “help” — instead, it was a mutual exchange of learning and collaboration. The GIVE staff did an amazing job educating us about the importance of ethical volunteering and responsible tourism, which added depth to every activity.

I enjoyed the itinerary. I felt like it was the perfect amount of teaching, construction, and learning about the culture with activities throughout the island. I enjoyed the guides, and everyone was inviting and amazing to be around! It was easy to find the guides when getting to the airport, and everyone was very helpful in answering questions and guiding throughout the trip. I enjoyed the people in the group, and this was a fantastic trip and opportunity to see places safely with trustworthy people!

I got to learn how to make plant based burgers based off of what we had from the land. I got out of my comfort zone and hung out with people I don’t usually hangout with. I was able to try new foods and make new foods. You get to learn how to work together with people. In a way it reminded me of the breakfast club because people from all over with different personalities all come together. If I could I would go back it was a life changing trip and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to go.

GIVE Thailand was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so happy I took the leap of faith and decided to embark on this journey with strangers that soon became friends. I had a great time participating in awesome activities that I will never forget, such as teaching students, permaculture, cave hikes, elephant trekking, and many more. Words cannot do this experience justice. My fellow volunteers and the guides provided an extraordinary experience in an extraordinary country! I would love to go on another GIVE trip soon and explore a new location and meet new people.