GIVE Volunteers Reviews

There truly aren’t enough words to describe my love for Laos. This trip has been life changing in so many aspects that I can’t even begin to describe. Arriving to the village after a 4 hour car ride and 2 hour boat ride, to see so many smiling faces eager to help you carry your bags is something I will never forget. I will never forget the children and ladies who remembered my name and would say hi to me as I walked through the village. I will never forget the smiles on the kids’ faces every morning as I walked into class. I will never forget the endless piggyback rides that were given to the kids, or the nights that were spent teaching the ladies in the village. I’ll never forget the laughs we shared as a group, the smiles we shared, and even the cries we shared. We shared so many memories that I wish I could go back and experience 1,000 times over again. We ate every meal together, hiked together, rice farmed together, danced with one another, cracked so many jokes together, checked in on eachother… the list goes on. We all endured so much together, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Without the help of any of my tour guides, none of this would have truly been possible. They gave us pep talk after pep talk and constantly encouraged us. If you were to have told me at the beginning of the trip that I would have been 8,000 miles away from home without service for 9 days and still had the best experience of my life, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but I’m so glad I can look back at this trip with so much gratitude and love. To the cute kids who helped put a smile on my face when I was down, to the ladies who always uplifted my mood and gave me a laugh when needed, and to the other volunteers and guides who were there for me every step of the way, thank you. Khawp jai lai lai, Laos! You’ll always hold such a special place in my heart

I went on every Southeast Asia trip, and I do not have a single regret. Each trip is unique and provides different opportunities to interact with the country, culture, and people. I genuinely was able to connect with not only those in the group, which I have made some lifelong friends by, but also the locals in every place that I have visited. In Laos specifically, after spending an incredible 9 days in Sop Chem working, teaching, and living with the locals, I feel as if I truly gained a second family. Even though we weren’t able to communicate all the time, I feel as if I was apart of their village. I was constantly playing games with all of the kids and learning from our locals guides and locals about the life of someone who lives there. We got to participate in local cultural ceremonies such as the Baci ceremony, where the locals get to thank you and give blessings and wishes to you as we get to eat, dance, and enjoy each other’s presence. It is these moments that I will remember forever and carry all of the lessons I’ve learned with me no matter where I go.

Kairo truly transformed my heart in the most wonderful ways. GIVE volunteers never ceases to show me how easily a complete strangers and a new community can become a second home so quickly. when you are surrounded by the authentic, likeminded people there is an instant sense of comfort. We were given the chance to learn so much about a community that is a true beating heart of GIVE. By breaking down so many barriers, stereotypes and opening our minds to new perspectives, Kairo village welcomed us with open hearts and taught us so many wonderful lessons about their culture. From learning how to make local food to teaching ESL and Computer skills and even connecting with wildlife on positive ethical levels, we were able to be truly immersed in a new culture and community in the most incredible ways, that I am so immense grateful for. My time in Zanzibar truly taught me the importance of being a global citizen, and it was reflected by the locals and volunteers everyday.

GIVE was the best experience of my life! Every aspect of the adventure was incredible! By the end of the trip you most certainly will have new perspectives on life, genuine friendships across the world and wonderful memories! The worst part of the trip is saying goodbye to your GIVE family and your new favorite place. Being a volunteer, you get to help others accomplish their dreams and goals, encourage women empowerment, support and learn about indigenous culture, educate many individuals, construct the locals needs and participate in wildlife conservation. The adventures are also unforgettable. To name a few- swimming with dolphins in the ocean, seeing the big 5 on an African Safari, summiting the largest free standing mountain in the world, exploring a spice farm, using recycled waste to make glass cups and dancing,cooking and weaving with the local women!!!

Hakuna Matata- The guides and local staff take care of all your needs (including complicated diets) all while encouraging a positive environment. You will be supported and loved the entire journey! It was my first time traveling out of the country, but I felt secure and safe throughout the entire experience. Absolutely do a GIVE trip, you won’t regret it!

I had a great overall experience in Laos. This trip offers a variety of awesome experiences such as Free the Bears, zip lining, cave exploring, hiking to see waterfalls and camping! The guides in Laos were awesome! They were extremely helpful and always made sure to check in on us when we needed it. I had a great experience in Sop Chem. I loved teaching the children and being able to play uno with them later on. The people in the village were very kind. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to travel or has in interest in sustainable agriculture or working with children

Before GIVE Volunteers, I had never even heard of the country Laos. Now, it holds a very special place in my heart.

Through GIVE, I had the opportunity to experience something truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived in the village of Sop Chem, we were welcomed with open arms. The people of Sop Chem are some of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met, and the community made us feel like family. I felt safe, supported, and cared for every moment of the trip.

One of the most special parts of this trip was our local guides. They were not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also some of the most patient and kind people I’ve ever met. Whether we were learning about Lao traditions, history, or daily life, they were always eager to share, answer our questions, and help us connect on a deeper level with the culture around us.

Our days were filled with purpose. We taught English to over 60 children and supported local women in learning conversational English to sell their handicrafts to tourists. We stayed in their homes and learned traditional weaving techniques.

What made our experience so meaningful is that every volunteer project we took part in was what the community wanted and not what outsiders thought they needed. We helped build a new kitchen for the village school.

In Luang Prabang, we went to a wildlife sanctuary where black bears are being rescued and protected from illegal wildlife trade and bile farming. We visited the UXO Museum and learned about the country’s history and struggles with unexploded bombs. Between the volunteering, we went ziplining over waterfalls, fishing in the river with locals, caving, and planting rice. Every activity felt meaningful and connected to the land and culture.

The trip ended with a Baci Ceremony, an emotional and beautiful sendoff that captured the love and connection we had built in Sop Chem. It was a moment of gratitude I’ll never forget.

I came to Laos not knowing what to expect. I left with a full heart, lifelong memories, and a second home in Sop Chem.

I thought everything was planned exceptionally well with GIVE. The experiences were meaningful and memorable. Our interactions with locals was genuine and we really got to know them. The itinerary was great, we had a good balance of cultural activities and adventures as well as time to spend getting to know each other. The connection I made with the local people, guides, and other volunteers was amazing and definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. The close contact with elephants in an environment where elephant safety and well being comes first was unforgettable. Learning to scuba dive in Thailand was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so grateful that I got to do it

This was an amazing adventure from beginning to end. The international guides, local guides and community partners are all exceptional people that really elevated the travel experience. This trip has taught me so much about so many different subjects while also still being fun and safe. As someone with many food restrictions, everyone went above and beyond to ensure that I could eat safe, healthy, and filling meals. I highly recommend booking a GIVE trip and taking on the opportunity to become a responsible international traveler and global citizen.

This was the funnest trip I have been on. P’dee P’on and P’ann are the best 💕. You will have so much fun learning about these elephants and communities and seeing the greatest views of your life. I have made friends on this trip that I will have for a long time in the future. I have also been able to connect with amazing and loving people who take good care of you. The coffee is great you will never have bad coffee. Everyone is so friendly and the food is all local from different communities. You might see gibbons which were so fun to see! You get to wash elephants and learn how to love them sustainably. You get to see some of the northern Thailand Karen hill tribe and stay in their village at an accommodation. It is well worth your time to go.

This was my first Give trip and it was nothing short of incredible. From the moment I was picked up from the airport to when I was dropped off I felt safe and welcomed everywhere we traveled. The guides have this trip down like clockwork and it was so easy for us volunteers because all we had to do was show up. Having the local staff with us in the village definitely made me feel very comfortable as they welcomed us into their home. At no point in this trip did I feel like I was not safe. Mixing volunteer days with many adventure days gave me the perfect balance between feeling a sense of gratitude when giving back to the community but also exploring and learning about the amazing culture that Tanzania has to offer. I encourage anyone who is even slightly interested in coming on this trip hit the sign up button because it was an adventure of a lifetime. Memories from this trip will live with me forever. Say yes to the opportunity and explore the world!