i just turned 18 and wanted to do something fun. so i looked up places to volunteer, it’s easy to find friends and explore new things, but it’s also a cheap way to travel. so i found a website where you can go volunteering in buenos aires. and i’m telling you: buenos aires is one of my fav cities now, i loved everything about the project and the people were the best i’ve met. i’ve made so many new friends from all over the world in just a short time. i experienced so many different things and saw also places you’d never go if you’d be on vacation. the accommodation was great, the breakfast was really nice and our local coordinater was really kind and chill. it was the best time on life so far!! i learned a lot about myself and grew. and that’s why i’d recommend to go alone. so please go if you’re thinking about it!! you’re not gonna regret it, i’ll promise.

IVHQ provides a checklist of everything you need to get done before your trip, which was very helpful and relieved a lot of stress as someone travelling abroad for the first time. The volunteer opportunities make a meaningful impact and allow participants to be immersed in the community. It was a great opportunity to work on improving my Spanish, so I would highly recommend this program to people looking to improve their second language. Many of the cities that you can volunteer in with IVHQ are not tourist cities, allowing for a more authentic cultural experience and more opportunities to speak another language with native speakers.

From beginning to end this program was well run, organized, highly professional and effective. I felt safe, welcome and that my time made a difference. IVHQ is a great way to learn about the people and life of a new country while at the same time growing your confidence, resume and language skills.

Thinking about the type of work you may want to experience and plan accordingly. It is helpful to ask questions so you may arrive prepared and with appropriate clothing for the work. Learning a little about the culture ahead of time can also be very helpful, especially things like foods, meal times, money and family or cultural dos and months.
Ask lots of questions go with an open mind and be flexible.
Have fun!

First of, let me say that I wish I had stayed longer! I feel that everything about this experience makes you want to stay longer, return to Argentina, and help others in need. I loved my stay. It’s a 10/10. I was placed at a center that supports the adult special needs community. Everything about this center was wonderful. They are currently in need of a lot of financial support for sustainability purposes! So, if anyone knows of philanthropic organizations that supports internationally, please connect them to OTIUM for support. Their strength is the human element. So, I was able to see first hand the level of love and care present in all the interactions between staff members and participants- and for that I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to further my career experience, but mostly for the opportunity!

I spent 6 weeks in Córdoba, Argentina as a sports volunteer. Even though school was not in session, I was able to attend 3 different sports camps and even volunteered at a soup kitchen. The experience was rewarding, allowed me to practice my imperfect Spanish and I met fellow volunteers from around the world.

The local team opened their home and hearts to the volunteers and made us feel welcome, answered our multiple questions to the best of their ability and created a safe and fun environment for all.

It was my first volunteer experience abroad and it won't be my last!

Support from the online coordinator was great, always replied to emails soon and with helpful answers; and the local team was so friendly and kind and really made it feel like home! This was my first time volunteering so I was fairly unsure of what to expect but I enjoyed it so much and would definitely go through IVHQ again! I initially joined to do childcare, In my first week I helped out at a kid’s camp but due to that camp ending the local team was really helpful and quickly found me another placement to volunteer at that would suit me. meeting new people in the homestay was great and you quickly become friends with them for the trip or to also keep in contact after. I loved being able to have free time to choose what to do and where to go and being able to visit amazing places and immerse myself in a new culture!

Best part of this trip was getting to experience the culture of the Argentinian people by living with the host family. No better way to learn about a new country than to spend time with the locals. Even got to attend an Argentinian futbol game with the family. That was crazy exciting!

I had a few time constraints that normally would have been a problem with volunteering, but the volunteer programs in Cordoba (Argentina) were flexible enough to work out my issues. I was actually able to test a variety of volunteer programs.

I normally travel to new countries on my own, and save a lot of money that way. This program was more expensive than my usual travels, but I highly recommend.

My volunteer experience was great! From day 1 the local team was very attentive to my arrival and my needs, even before arriving in the country they were very kind; I should mention that the other volunteers also helped me develop in the country and get to know the culture. My medical volunteer experience helped me not only connect with people but also improve my skills as a doctor and have more humanity in my profession.

The local team and my coordinator were always attentive to me, it felt like a family, and every day was a new experience that I will take with me. It was definitely a very nice experience and I am grateful to the team and the coordinators, not only did I learn about a new country and its customs but I also took away a better development as a doctor and a lot of love for the country.