Program Reviews

No review I write could ever truly encapsulate the time I spent in Laos. I learned so much about myself and the world while in the most beautiful country around the kindest and most amazing people I have met in a long time. Sop Chem village refreshed my soul and gave me a new perspective on life and how I want to live. I will forever be grateful for the unforgettable wisdom I got from Aiy’ Ton, the many laughs and stories from Aiy’ Sommaiy and Aiy’ Good, and the teaching and permaculture knowledge from Haylie and Mackenzie. Everyone who made this trip possible my heart goes out to you and I am thankful that you are able to share this amazing place with people like me. To the people of Sop Chem, your kindness and hospitality will never be forgotten and you will stay in my heart forever. Thank you to this beautiful world for reminding me why it is so important to care, why I am here, and the passion I have for protecting our planet.

I had such an amazing experience at Thailand Scuba! This was my first GIVE trip and just like many others I talked to, I was very nervous and a bit apprehensive about flying to the other side of the world with people I had never met before. However, I could not have asked for a more meaningful trip. I had so much fun learning how to scuba dive and gained so much knowledge on the local people and ecosystems. Nice and Seth were the most awesome, funniest, and smartest guides I could have asked for. All of the fellow volunteers on my trip were amazing and many of them I will speak to for years to come. I am so grateful to GIVE for allowing me to live this experience and the amount of effort that everyone put into making this trip what it was. Truly an educational, fun, and fulfilling week spent in Thailand that will never be forgotten.

I think one thing that was truly amazing about the Zanzibar GIVE trip is that it struck the perfect balance of fun and hard work. The first 2 days were spent immersing ourselves in the Zanzibar culture in Stone Town and Kairo Village, allowing us to settle in and get a feel for what the rest of the trip would be like. Throughout our time volunteering, we had a day off to swim with wild dolphins, hang out with locals, go on a sunset cruise, and go on a safari. Volunteering was definetly the best part though, it was super rewarding after putting in so much hard work doing construction, and being able to teach the locals English. This allowed me to effectively make connects with the staff, other volunteers and the community!

If you have any desire to travel, volunteer, or connect with people from a different culture, you need to book yourself a trip with GIVE. After completing the Zanzibar/Tanzania program, I have so much more insight on how to travel sustainably and in a way that centers locals and their way of life, as well as my own JOY. I never could have connected to the locals in Zanzibar or experienced as much of their culture as I did without GIVE. Safe, well-fed, guided and taken care of at all times, I was able to live in the present moment while supporting local business, teaching students how to use computers, swimming with wild dolphins, building a road for the school, seeing wild elephants up close, and so much more. Add in the facts that I did all of this with local staff guiding and educating me and answering all of my questions while also focusing on sustainable practices for the environment, economy, and locals livelihood, and this trip becomes completely unbelievable and life changing. I hope everyone I know takes the opportunity to travel with GIVE in such a meaningful way.

My experience with GIVE was truly amazing. Leading up to my trip to Hawaii, GIVE communicated clearly and consistently, making sure we knew exactly what needed to be done to ensure everything went smoothly. They responded to emails and texts promptly and were always friendly and supportive. My time in Hawaii was life-changing. I learned so much and came home feeling completely fulfilled. The guides were incredible and made everyone feel comfortable and included. I formed lifelong connections and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I would highly recommend going on a trip with GIVE. It was, without a doubt, the best week of my life.

During this trip I learned and experienced so much. Every moment was so impactful, as well as all the people I met. I’m so grateful to GIVE for this opportunity and I wouldn’t change anything. If you have the chance I highly recommend taking this life changing journey. Not only did it change me as a person, but this trip also made so many impactful positive changes for the community. It’s a great chance to get fully immersed in the culture and help where it is needed. From teaching to construction to even just supporting the locals. A great opportunity to be the good that is needed.

This was the trip of a lifetime! I met such amazing like-minded people and also had the time of my life. I got to learn soooo much more than expected and see so much of Tanzania! I always felt safe and well taken care of as well with my guides! They are all amazing people, and everyone is so beyond kind. ❤️

Over the past few years, I have been increasingly involved in my local communities; however, I have always struggled to see the real impact of my actions. When I heard about GIVE Volunteers during my first year of university, it sounded amazing. I would get to meet like-minded individuals, see the world, learn more about cultures, and make an impact that not only would I be able to see but also feel. After being convinced to sign up at 2 in the morning on a random Tuesday night by completely random thoughts to myself, I knew that I had made the right decision, but not until I reached my first destination did I realize just how correct I was.

I went on two different trips: Scuba Thailand and Lao, and let me just say, nothing they can show you online will do either of them justice.

Thailand: The Scuba Thailand trip is an amazing opportunity to learn to scuba dive and to learn about actual applications of it in marine life conservation, but you don’t just get to learn about it, you also get the chance to actually put it to work. Despite this trip being a rather short one at only 10 days, I am certain that some of the connections I made on this trip will last a lifetime, probably more if they could.

Lao: The Lao trip is out of this world. From what I saw and have heard, it embodies the roots of what GIVE is trying to do. You work hand in hand with the community to make a difference through bottom-up development; you can see the effects TRICKLE down into the community. Teaching kids a language while you don’t speak theirs may be frightening to some, but I can assure you, it is some of the most fun that you will likely ever have. Furthermore, the feeling you get from one of your students coming up to you and using what you have taught them to try to talk to you is absolutely out of this world.

Live, Laugh, Love

It was my first time out of the country, I never felt more safe with GIVE. I had an amazing time as well. The local guides did a great job of making sure it was a mix of fun and work. I got to swim with dolphins, jump off a boat into the Indian Ocean, and go on a safari! This all happened due to the hard work that was put into the classroom and construction. Everyone was so sincere and loving, which made for a great time! I will definitely be visiting again just because of how welcoming it was .

I heard about GIVE through a friend and decided to try it out for myself. I went into this trip expecting to volunteer and experience adventure in Costa Rica. I can confidently say I did not only that, but created everlasting connections, memories, and impact. The guides were well informed, and made the experiences flow. The itinerary was full of diverse learning opportunities. If you’re debating going I encourage you to try one trip because I promise you will feel the love and impact, and one trip will turn into two!!