Its a bit cliche, I know, but going overseas to be a service to the outside world set me on a new path in life. One that has let me see the positive and optimistic side of life. Going to volunteer in Costa Rica instilled a confidence in me of people's true proclivity for good and helping the world around them. It was through IVHQ that I was able to fulfill this life-long desire of mine to be a positive influence beyond my local sphere. From the staff, the amenities, and events - everything was exactly what I needed it to be. I will, for the rest of my life, look back on my experience as a such a positive influence on a better life! Honestly, I have had many amazing experiences but there is just something unsaid and special about volunteering. Perhaps it was just a case of right place, right time. Now its just a matter of when I get back for round 2.

Through IVHQ my mom and I travelled to Costa Rica to help in the childcare program. I worked with 2-3 years olds, they were the cutest, sweetest kids ever. Each day my mom and I did a different activity with the kids. I usually brought different books and they loved to look at the pictures. I would recommend everyone to do this. You will get a better outlook on the world. Growing up in a wealthier part of California, I was able to see what you really needed to be happy. Most of the things the kids played with were recycled things, but they enjoyed every moment. This is an unforgettable experience!! It contains memories that I will never forget!Also the volunteer program in Costa Rica connected us to an amazing tour, where we visited a coffee plantation, volcano, and waterfalls.

The beginning of the trip was very rocky because I didn’t know what to expect since the information of the trip wasn’t descriptive. However, the trip changed for the better. Teaching the children and adults was not only eye-opening but such a great feeling to teach. The food though was not as good as I thought it would be. Breakfast was okay but for lunch it’s mostly just sandwiches. Dinner is usually pretty good though! the excursions were really fun - We went to a national rainforest, 2 beaches & a waterfall. The girls on the trip though made my experience really fun just because everyone was so positive. I wish we were able to do more though when we had breaks. I would definitely do this again though !! The children are absolutely adorable & the adults are very eager to learn which makes it so exciting

We had an amazing time volunteering in Costa Rica as part of the turtle conservation. The program makes sure you are safe and plans your transportation and accommodation so you don’t have to worry about that. Even when we landed in San Jose we had a home stay set up. Most of the food is prepared for you, so not a lot of extra costs add up. We were stationed in Ostional and it was beautiful. We were able to add a week of touring at the end of volunteering and got to see many amazing locations. Costa Rica has so much scenery and wildlife to offer and volunteering is a rewarding way to travel and get to know locals and make friends from around the world. Other couples,singles, various ages all volunteered alongside us and we made for a fun dynamic group.
At Ostional the leaders were lovely. They have a great passion for turtle conservation and were willing to help us with our Spanish. The food was great and the beach was absolutely beautiful. It is a protected space, so barely any tourists , mostly locals. Since it was such a small community we hardly saw them. Also protected are local mangroves. It does get very hot (dry season) and we had to work in 30-35C degree heat which was hard for some. But all over a great experience

After researching a lot of different volunteer organizations, I found IVHQ and instantly new that this was the one I wanted to do. As a result, I quickly applied and was lucky enough to spend a week volunteering in the healthcare setting in downtown San Jose. I volunteered primarily with the elderly , in two locations to get more exposure. The medical staff there were very grateful and allowed us to help in many ways, feeding, topical applications, blood pressure, and more. They also walked us through and taught us various medical procedures, which was great to learn. Throughout the whole trip, a medical coordinator helped us get around and ensured our experience was great. Also, we had time on the weekends and our shift to explore Costa Rica, which is absolutely stunning. Overall, I highly recommend this program and location because Costa Rica is such a special place. Pura vida!

IVHQ is the absolute best for international volunteering. The projects come with awesome people and life changing opportunities! Costa Rica was an eye opening experience. IVHQ provides me with all of the information I could have posssibly need to know about the area. The staff was amazing and the project was so awesome. I would recommend IVHQ to anybody who would like to broaden their perspective on love, care, and amazing experiences. Daniel was an absolute blessing. He was the most informative and caring individual I have ever met. He loves people and the programs. I built relationships and friendships with people who I have never had an encounter with. Fernonda was my partner in crime throughout the duration of the trip. I still stay in touch with her even if we are thousands of miles away!

Hi!
My name is Eustace and I volunteered with IVHQ last month on a healthcare mission. First off, I will say, I was a little nervous upon arrival as this was my first time doing something of this nature. However, the moment I spotted the Yellow flag with the smiley face I suddenly became overwhelmed with this great feeling of excitement. My volunteer mission had begun.

Although, my driver and I could not communicate due to the language barrier she still greeted me warmly. I was then transported to the Maximo HQ where I met all the staff who were very nice. The next step was to complete the orientation. This provided me with all the information I needed to know about what to expect on my trip. At the end of my orientation I felt fully prepared for the week ahead of me.

A Maximo program leader and I then made our way over to the elderly home I would be volunteering at for a quick tour and introduction to the staff. He was trilingual and very familiar with Costa Rica so he was very informative when I asked questions. The bus ride to Cartago was approximately 45 minutes so I had ample time to ask numerous questions. I learned the route I would be taking to get to and fro the home and also got to meet some of the patients I would help care for. I couldn't believe it was still just day one as I felt like I had already been here for multiple days. The locals are very friendly and will always greet you warmly.

After the tour of the home, we returned to the Maximo HQ where I got my schedule for the week and was then transported to my host home. This is where I met my mama tica. Although her english was not that good her son, who was bilingual, helped to bridge the gap. My Mama tica made my brief stay in Costa Rica a memorable one. At the end of the trip, I felt like I gained another family. Every morning, she would check in on us to make sure we were up and at dinner we shared stories about our cultures, childhoods, and a variety of other topics.

The time I spent volunteering at the elderly home helped me to fulfill all my goals for the trip. I learned a lot about patient care and got to interact with the patients who were always happy to spend time and share their stories. One tip I will give you is be prepared to possibly take frigid showers for the duration of your stay. It's a small adjustment but you get used to it after a while. Also, one of my childhood friends took the trip with me so in our down time we went on mini adventures through San Jose and took the bus to Jaco on the weekend. I suggest if this is your first time you get one of your friends to take the trip with you. This will help to ease any unnerving feelings you may have knowing that you have the support of your friends.

Best,
Eustace.

I met so many volunteers and it really felt like I made a difference. It was such a rewarding experience and everyone is so friendly. The local team that Ivhq put me through to was so accommodating and helpful. The customer service as well was amazing. I would 100% recommend this to all my friends. My trip started off with an orientation that really prepared me for the week. Then we had an optional walking tour which was great for food prices and buses etc. so it made us aware of where we had to go. I also love that they tell us about the culture and how to not be rude and how to take care of ourselves while we’re there. During the week the field manager was extremely helpful with showing us what to do even though he didn’t speak English. He didn’t just leave us hanging but put us to work which is what we were there for. Lastly, the fact that you have travel partners for weekend trips was the cherry on top! It made everything so easy- getting picked up and dropped off was amazing because other places only pick you up from hotels so it’s a great incentive for the volunteers. The whole experience was amazing.