Affordable NGO Volunteer Projects with IVHQ

This was the best first time traveller experience ever! I'll always remember it. As I was in Italy, Naples for 2 weeks I didn't expect it to be as good as it got, especially where I was placed to teach English. The placement was a perfect fit and I know two weeks was too short but connecting with those boys at my placement and other volunteers was very insightful and exciting. Everyday was different plus the weekends off, where I went to Rome and sight saw! The program overall was very interesting and the INN - where I stayed for my 2 weeks were caring and made sure everything was ok! This experience has impacted my life as seeing the placement I was put in, a refugee camp where the boys had basically nothing- made me realise more to living my everyday life and appreciation. The program of teaching English has also made me realise my career path could be heading in the direction of teaching. So much realisation in such little time!

Through this I would like to encourage more 'mature age' volunteers to 'give it a go'. Volunteering can readily be appended to 'conventional/adventure' tourism and can make your experience so much more intense and meaningful.
I am a recent retiree, have time on my hands and a battery of (varied) experience. As a public servant, I learned about project management and mentoring - as a teacher, I learned to impart skills - as a mother, I learned compassion and patience. Perhaps through design - perhaps through luck - my skills were recently and powerfully matched with an NGO in Cambodia.
My life skills, as well as some specific academic ones, enabled me to be useful, effective and efficient to the NGO I was allocated to. Being 'useful' (and appreciated) made my time in Cambodia rewarding and fun. I look forward to returning in the New Year.
Data analysis, monitoring and evaluation as well as fairly sophisticated reporting are required of NGOs as they justify programs to their funders. I was fortunate to 'work' with a bunch of skilled and capable agricultural scientists - these men and women make their best impact (toward food security, ameliorating the effects of climate change, species diversity, home garden development and water, sanitation and health projects) through being in the field. Guiding, instructing, demonstrating, mentoring and teaching - they do this eloquently and well in their language (Khmer). Reporting (in English) is a necessary requirement that takes them away from what they do best. For me - and likely you too - this is an easy and practised skill. I did not write/report 'for' them, but was able to capacity-build on their ability and ease the time consumed by this requirement and so enable them to maximise their face-time with their clients - rural families in Cambodia who were facing food, education and life challenges.
Volunteer accommodation is more than adequate - and quite comfortable - meals are provided, often the 'lady next door' will do your washing for a very small fee. I always felt secure. And I was humbled to be so readily included in the social activities of the (very much) younger volunteers.
A challenge to career-break people and retirees - let's 'up' the average age; drink better coffee, enjoy a glass of wine and listen to better music in the context of a culture that we want to learn more about. Come join with me.

Volunteering with IVHQ Italy not only had an impact on me, but I believe it allowed me to impact others. The migrants/ refugees I worked with daily had the most sad yet inspiring stories. All of them strived to reach their goals in life. Working with them side by side gave them the opportunity to open up with someone, and find trust within others. Leaving the program after my four weeks was very difficult due to the bond I formed with these individuals. This program has changed me only for the better, and I would recommend it to anyone!

I honestly loved my program. The team at INN are really flexible and really tailor your experience to what you want to do. I wanted to take on two programs and they assisted me with this. They were really social and happy for them to talk to you about anything. Even if you are simply asking about a bus or train times or advice on cool travel locations. They school and NGO i was assigned to was amazing and so wonderful I truly loved the italians and how the city made me feel. If you go into the experience open minded and adaptable to the culture you will surely have an amazing experience. I found the volunteers who were not very keen to adapt to the neopolitan culture were the ones who were not enjoying themselves. The people, the program and the city was amazing and I recommend the International Napoli Network to everyone!

Kate

My placement was in the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, which supports around 20 volunteers at any given time. I cannot speak to the program in Phnom Penh, which I understand is where the majority of IVHQ volunteers in Cambodia are placed, so this review will be limited in scope in that sense.

First, the city. According to the 21st century travellers almanac, tripadvisor.com, Siem Reap is the 2nd (!!) best city in which to travel in the entire world (!!). There aren't enough good things to say about Siem Reap, so I will simply say that there are activities available to suit any type of traveller and enough of them to never get bored. Your lodging is located in the heart of the city, a 5 minute walk from any shop or service you may require and only a 30 minute drive to the world renowned Angkor Temple Complex.

Second, the staff. IVHQ's local staff are unbelievable. They are extremely polite (as is the Khmer way), speak fantastic English, and are truly committed to ensuring your experience is exactly what you want it to be. A continental breakfast is served each morning, and the cooking/cleaning staff prepare fabulous dishes for lunch and dinner each day, including vegetarian options for those so inclined. Administrative staff can arrange weekend travel, excursions to the Temples, and are available to help you with really anything that might be on your mind. They are also very keen to impart generally useful wisdom to new arrivals, such as how to barter in the markets, stay safe when ordering a tuk-tuk, and general information to make sure your trip is productive, fun, and secure.

Third, the programs. I cannot speak to the child-care or English language instruction programs, as I was placed in an NGO, but my compatriots who were involved in those programs seemed to be extremely satisfied with their daily work. I was placed with Vulnerability and Illiteracy Reduction (VIR), which was an NGO dedicated to poverty alleviation in the countryside. My role was to assist them in the day-to-day operation. A short-list of my duties would include: editing English language documents, such as work plans and annual reports; seeking out new grant-funding opportunities and drafting grant-proposals; maintaining a social media presence; assisting with basic IT infrastructure (not necessary – I only did this as I have experience in the field); and perhaps most fun, assisting in the delivery of aid in the countryside. The staff at my placement took hospitality to a new level by inviting me to their homes for lunch and dinner on a weekly basis, and by personally picking me up for work in the morning if the weather was bad or my bicycle (which they provided to me) was being repaired.

Four, the people. The people in Siem Reap are known for being polite to a fault. They make Canadians appear rude. This applies to the salespeople in the markets as much as the staff at the volunteer placements. This precedent certainly rubs off on the volunteers too, who come together to make the atmosphere in the volunteer house very collegial and supportive. During my two months, we had volunteers as old as 75 and as young as 18, and they would not hesitate to go out for a meal or drink after work and share stores as though they were old friends. The people may have been the best part of the trip, but it really is hard to choose.

Overall, I can't recommend this program highly enough. IVHQ's New Zealand Headquarters takes care of you from start to finish, and their local staff in Cambodia make sure you are always on the right track. The work is rewarding, the city is beautiful, and the people are an absolute treat. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to travel responsibly and give back to the communities you so enjoy.

I have never worked anywhere in my career where the staff and management cared more about their workers than at Volunteer Connection Ecuador (VCE). Every time we entered the office we were greeted by name with a smile. Everyone was always curious to learn about how our day went, and if something did not go right they were quick to jump on the issue to make sure that the problem or issue did not persist. One example about how accommodating everyone is, is in regards to helping us plan our weekend activities. One weekend my roommate and I decided that we wanted to go to the hot springs at Papayacta for a day. We talked to the program Coordinator, Francisco, about how to get there and he let us know that a mudslide had washed out the road to the hot springs and we would not be able to get there. He then proceeded to go above and beyond his job description, by looking up additional hot springs in the area we could visit. He printed us out the bus schedule and showed us exactly how to get there, then called the place to make sure they were still open and to confirm the directions and cost. Everyone who works at VCE would have done this for their volunteers, and it made me feel very appreciated that they wanted us to enjoy every minute of our experience in Ecuador. I can not talk highly enough about the wonderful staff at this organization. They truly made my experience go from great to spectacular!!!

I was incredibly blown away by the warm welcome and reception I received from the IVHQ staff and the Napoli people. I have been raving about this program, it's affordability, it's sustainability, and the overall growth I felt I have undergone by volunteering abroad with IVHQ in Italy. The other volunteers were fantastic and I feel like I made some lifelong friends in the short time I was there. Not only that, the volunteer work -- I was in the environmental program -- was amazing. I volunteered with CleaNap and worked with the most amazing team to bring more awareness and sustainability to their bike share program. This was, by far, the best experience of my life.