I decided to do this volunteering experience to grow as a person but the reality is that what I immagined was not even close to what I got. Guatemala is a beautiful country and the experience was organized perfectly. The family that hosted me was amazing! They treated me like I was part of the family. They had little but they shared everything. The kids I helped during my volunteering experience were so curious, nice, loving and kind. They really loved connecting with a person that was coming from another country and they asked me so many questions. I let all my barriers down and I've been surrounded by unconditional love. This is the best gift I ever gave to myself!

IVHQ helped me go to Guatemala to do medical work there as a undergraduate pre-med student. They held my hand through everything and made travel, food, housing, and even entertainment extremely easy to access and plan through their user-friendly website and easy-to-reach staff. I felt extremely informed and safe the whole trip, accommodations, were much more upscale than I had expected as I was placed in a comfortable bed, shared a bathroom with only one other person, and had a very helpful host family who were happy to help with everything. I had an amazing and easy time volunteering and travelling in Guatemala.

As a current medical student, I always listened to doctors talk about going overseas to volunteer in understaffed clinics. It sounded interesting but I was not sure if it was something I would be into or not. I figured I would volunteer in a clinic in Guatemala for a week and see what it was like. I wished I had booked longer. Much longer. In the beginning, the instructions are few but concise, so make sure to follow them closely. Once you get there, you have more support than you know what to do with. They answer all your questions, make sure you are set up with everything you need, and even offer activities to draw you closer with the culture. My experience in the clinic was amazing. We opened up a clinic that had closed due to covid. Many patients who we saw had chronic conditions that had gone untreated during covid. It was incredible to be able to help them, small or large in scale. None of the patients spoke english, so brush up on that espanol!!

I love to travel and lately I've been interested in giving back to the countries I visit. In 2020 I was an English tutor in Honduras through another agency, and I got hooked! Since that agency isn't taking volunteers due to Covid, I found that IVHQ was, so in February I started the application process and paid my fees. By March I had a position in Antigua, Guatemala, caring for horses. I fell in love with them, even though it was hot outside and could be hard manual labor grooming them. The exercise was good for me and I also did a ton of walking. My house mom was gracious and welcomed me in. My house mates were equally gracious. The local people were welcoming. I had to speak Spanish most places, and that was fine. It was good for me. The food, volcanos and other activities were worth the time and money. I cried my last day because I knew I'd miss the horses and the stable hands I worked with. I am very tempted to go back doing the same thing sometime soon, but I also want to see other countries. I can't do everything. IVHQ and their partner company Maximo Nivel worked very well together. The logistics were smooth. I had no trouble assimilating. I will use IVHQ again. I'm just not sure if my next application will be working with horses or another country.

Absolutely life changing!!! My friend and I volunteered for a week in Guatemala teaching English to children ages 5-12. Not only is Guatemala beautiful but everything about the IVHQ experience was amazing. Airport pickup was prompt safe and secure, our host family were so welcoming and the house was gorgeous. Teaching was out of this world! The kids were so precious and smart and so happy to have us there as well! 10/10 by far and already booked again with IVHQ to volunteer on a sea turtle conservation bc my IVHQ 1 st experience was outstanding! Recommend to anyone looking to give back, travel, and experience life outside of our own 🤍

Absolutely life changing. The people, the culture the environment are incredible, Antigua was very safe when I was there, The children instantly love you as soon as you walk into the school and you’ll never want to leave! As a 16 year old, i wad horrified on exploring Guatemala by myself, but within the first day i met two of my best friends there and we did everything together. With IVHQ, it was super easy to make friends, which for me was the thing i worried about most. If you’re looking for a budget friendly or childcare program, I recommend Guatemala🇬🇹

I had a wonderfully meaningful experience volunteering at a day care center in Dueñas, Guatemala. I stayed with a local family in Antigua, one of the most beautiful and safest towns in Guate.
IVHQ was very thorough in preparing us for the trip and Maximo Nivel, the onsite contact, was excellent at making sure we were taken care of during the duration of our stay. They were organized, professional and very hospitable.

I enjoyed taking the famous chicken bus to Dueñas then working and playing with the children at the day care center for four hours each day. I assisted them in their daily assignments and meals and even played songs for them with a ukulele I brought. I also learned a lot from my Spanish instructor who was patient, funny and very organized.

I’m glad I decided to stay and extra few days to unwind after the volunteering portion of the trip, as Lake Atitlan was the perfect destination to end the trip on.

I left Guatemala feeling changed for the better and felt I made a difference to the children I met, as they certainly made an impression on me. I look forward to working through IVHQ again in the future and highly recommend them for anyone interested in volunteering.

I would highly recommend IVHQ Guatemala for anyone who is interested in volunteering abroad! As a premedical student on the medical project, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Mis Anos Dorados in Jocotenango, which was a free local day center for seniors 60 and older. In the facility's clinic, I helped to perform physical exams, take vitals, and consulted with the health care professionals at Maximo Nivel regarding patient concerns or other more serious medical conditions. I formed memorable relationships with many of the abuelitos at the clinic. They always brightened my day and even consoled me on my last day when I was sad about having to leave them! After volunteering, I also took Spanish classes in the evenings, which helped a lot with my Spanish at my volunteer site. In addition, my host family was so kind and professional. The meals were always delicious and the placement was comfortable and safe in Antigua. I found the Guatemalan culture so fascinating, and there was plenty of things to do during my free time such as trekking up Cerro de la Cruz! Thanks to IVHQ, I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people on the medical project. The support from both IVHQ and Maximo Nivel was wonderful as well. They were always there with advice when I needed it, both prior to my trip and while in-country. I had an unforgettable week, and I know you will too if you volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ!