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.

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

When you’re encapsulated by an environment so intimate and genuine, I sometimes find it difficult to articulate the full spectrum of the impact it holds. With such an intense and immediate impact, my perspectives and journey in this life of mine have forever changed/expanded following my GIVE trip. I think this is because it’s not just one or many things that you learn/unlearn or are inspired by… in my everyday life, since my GIVE trip to Laos, I am constantly reflecting on and utilizing different moments and insights from the trip. It holds a presence in my life no matter where I am or how long ago I was there. The experience guides me through life, helping me grow and become a more open-minded, confident, compassionate, and aware human being. A few highlights from my trip to Laos include ziplining over waterfalls, meditating in caves, learning how to make kombucha, learning from and teaching the women and kids in the village of Sopchem, partaking in an Alms ceremony (sharing food with the monks), once in a lifetime conversation with a monk, hiking to a hidden waterfall, cooking class, working with the free the bears foundation, learning about and visiting the UXO museum (heavy heart when I learned about this information), and SO SO much more! At the end of your time in Sopchem, you get the privilege to be involved in a Baci Ceremony, a Lao farewell tradition, where the entire village comes together to prepare one last union between the volunteers and the village. They prepare dinner, a guided blessing, and then the ENTIRE village will go around and share love, gratitude, and a blessing with each and every volunteer. It was one of the most wholesome, heartfelt experiences of my life. On a broader and more personal note, my trip to Laos helped me realize just how much I value the concept behind being a global citizen. How separation between human life doesn’t actually exist. How walls, distance, religion, ethnicity, etc. don’t change that we all bleed red. That every human on this planet has come from the same source, and we all deserve to live a healthy and fearless life. How mother nature is our home, and anywhere in the world is our backyard! My guides and the community in Laos taught me that no seed, no step goes without rippling out into this world – our world! I am forever grateful to have a piece of every adventure and human I crossed paths with in Laos in my heart – the heart that they all tremendously grew and filled with so much love!

Thank you, GIVE and the crew/community in Laos, for providing the opportunity to grow and learn in such a safe and wholesome environment. GIVE helps nourish your garden – it plants the seeds of awareness into your garden. Whether it be the seeds of culture, permaculture, curiosity, history, or empathy, the seeds are planted, watered, and then you get to watch them grow and form this beautiful garden of your own. How inspiring is it to then watch the seeds from your garden help nourish others gardens!

Traveling with GIVE to Laos was single handedly the most impactful and fulfilling traveling I have ever experienced. I know that before my trip I was full of concerns regarding traveling the world on my own and volunteering in different countries in a respectful and helpful way. I’m happy to say that this trip exceeded my expectations for meaningful volunteering and sustainable practices! What I wasn't expecting was the lifelong friendships and powerful connections I made with not only my fellow volunteers but also the amazing and strong people of Sop Chem. The connections GIVE has with these local communities is inspiring, and whether it was teaching English, shoveling sand, or sharing a beautiful dinner with the community on our last night, I truly felt welcomed in these places that months ago would have seemed so foreign to me. A special thank you to all the incredible GIVE guides, they will be there to support you through every stomach ache, tear shed, and beautiful moment experienced, you all truly made Laos all the more impactful and special. Yes it was very hot, and there will be moments that push you way out of your comfort zone, but if you are looking for a meaningful and life changing volunteer experience, GO TO LAOS WITH GIVE!!

First, I want to address a few concerns that some people I met had about the Laos GIVE trip. The trip cost and traveling across the world by themselves. I believe that this experience was invaluable and it was something that I will forever hold close to my heart. If cost is a problem for you I would recommend fundraising for your trip. I appreciated being informed during my trip of where my money was going to. The logistics like accommodations, transportation, food and activities are all covered with the trip price. Most importantly, GIVE does a wonderful job of using those funds to support local businesses and people everywhere you go throughout the trip. By going on this trip you get to support the local people of Laos so they can provide for their families and make a living. One thing I appreciate about GIVE is that they push you out of your comfort zone. During this trip you will experience personal growth, discover new insights about the world and gain a fresh and meaningful outlook on life. Traveling across the world to a country you know nothing about can be intimidating, but once you arrive in Laos you will be greeted by the nicest guides that will make you feel like you are home. Also, you get to meet other like-minded volunteers that you will get very close with on the trip.

There has been so much to reflect on after returning home from the Laos GIVE trip. The local guides make this experience so special by having connections and relationships with people in the communities that you visit. Experiencing the Lao culture was an incredible adventure. The kindness and warmth of the people make you feel welcomed, like you're in a second home. Their genuine hospitality creates a special bond. You'll stay in a remote village for the majority of the trip, where you'll be fully immersed into the culture and live alongside the locals. You will have the chance to teach English to kids, helping create a brighter future for them. You'll also get involved in local projects like permaculture and construction work that make you feel like you are a part of something greater than yourself. Along with all of that, you'll get to experience the everyday lives of the men and women of the village that work hard to weave, fish and farm rice. You'll learn so much from the locals and guides about the history, traditions, and way of life of the village. You'll encounter a different way of life, characterized by hard work and resilience. Though it can be challenging, its clear how much joy they find in their simplicity. The strong sense of community is something you'll never forget, and the love they have for one another is evident. Their lifestyle is genuinely inspiring, and I hope to bring a piece of that back to my own community. The bonds and connections I formed with the locals will always hold a special place in my heart, and I know that if I return, I'll always have another home away from home. Thank you GIVE Volunteers for this life changing experience!

I like honest reviews not just good reviews, so…you are thinking about Give – Laos. The first thing I think you should know is that it is hot, really hot. Not Arizona desert (lived there for 5 years) hot, not US South (lived there for 4 years) hot. This is a totally different hot, and they do NOT provide air conditioning once you are fully immersed in the rural village, because it is not a thing there. So, keep this in mind and think of ways you can pack a portable cooling device. I fully recommend bringing a solar or battery-operated fan to assist. If you want to go big, bring a portable single room/cubicle unit to cool off your accommodation at night. Just remember that electricity is like gold, so it is recommended that you use it sparingly. Now that we are past that, it was a great experience. Others who went on Thailand stated that was more vacation-y while this was more volunteer like. You spent you AM teaching English to the kids, your PM doing a permaculture or construction project. Evenings were usually a nice learning experience or helping the village. For example, we taught basic words to assist the ladies of the village in selling their wares or we learned to cook a native meal. The men took us fishing on their boats and the ladies taught is how they weave. The people of the village are what will draw you back. They were all lovely people who are more than willing to share everything and help you with anything. They also have a great sense of humor, and they speak and understand enough English that there is not a point where it becomes uncomfortable. Watch out for Leanne, that lady is a hustler and will talk you into spending all your money at her booth, lol! If you are willing to get past the heat (or go in the winter months), this is a great volunteer fulfilling experience.

There seems to be a subtle charm to Laos not many people get to see and I felt incredible lucky to experience. The beautiful green landscape of this country is beyond beautiful. I loved the pace of the program. We had a lot of time to take in such beauty and engage in meditation and even deep conversations with our fellow travelers. Although the level of comfort fluctuated throughout the trip, it felt intentional and you get to grow to love it. Staying at a remote small village, Sop Chem, felt unreal and extremely different from what you are probably used to. Giving back to this community through education, permaculture projects, and overall social engagement felt effortless. The people here are so warm and welcoming. I can genuinely say I'll carry all I learned with me for a long long time.

GIVE is an absolutely incredible organization and you would be silly to chose anyone else. When you travel with GIVE you are fully immersed in the culture, you live and feel like a local. In Laos you get the amazing opportunity to visit Sop Chem, a beautiful village on the Nam Ou River, it is a wonderful and welcoming community and words will never be enough to describe how amazing and kind the people are. The GIVE Laos program also offers the ability to zip line over the Kaung Sii Falls which are GORGEOUS! We also get to visit Free the Bears and learn about Sun and Moon bear conservation, which as an animal lover was truly awesome. I also was able to learn about the impacts of UXO and the Indochina War on Laos which was very eye opening for me as an American because before that moment I had no idea that Laos has suffered, and continues to suffer at the hands of the United States. One of my all time favorite moments though was hiking a literal mountain and then having hot pot for dinner and getting to camp on said mountain - once and a lifetime experience all thanks to GIVE. So Give GIVE a try, you absolutely will not regret it!!!