Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Philippines from $260

Name: Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Philippines from $260
Brand: International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ
SKU: 52323
Rating: 9.47 (34 reviews)

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Affordable Volunteer Programs in The Philippines $270

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About

Trusted by 110,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the most popular volunteer programs in Philippines and 50+ other destinations around the world.

You can choose from 4 volunteer project options on the Phillipines program and give back for periods ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks. Your Program Fee includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support. You’ll be accommodated in a volunteer house, with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world.

IVHQ is trusted to support the meaningful adventures of thousands of volunteers every year, so before you even depart for the Philippines, you’ll receive outstanding personalized service from your expert Volunteer Program Manager and exclusive access to superior pre-departure volunteer training.

With IVHQ, you can expect to establish real connections within the local community while supporting projects that make a genuine difference.

Highlights

IVHQ’s Philippines program is available year-round, offering a start date on every Monday
Highly affordable program fees starting from $230 - IVHQ provides the most affordable and top-rated programs
You’ll be joining between 10 and 40 other IVHQ volunteers who start in Philippines each month
You’ll be traveling with IVHQ, the volunteer travel experts, and joining a network of 110,000+ volunteers. Our outstanding safety systems and track record set us apart, we are the world’s safest organization
Your efforts will have a positive impact because our programs are community-driven with a focus on supporting long-term local needs

Book With Confidence: Added Flexibility & Free Changes

IVHQ makes it easy to change your travel plans should you need to – or if you simply change your mind. As long as you cancel or reschedule at least 15 days before your program start date this year, it's free to change your dates, volunteer program or destination.

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Questions & Answers

Are there projects that allow me to bring my 6 month old with me?

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Do you have to pay your own airfare there?

Hi Jose, Volunteers are required to pay for their own flights. We know that flights can be one of your biggest costs when preparing for a volunteer trip abroad, so to help overcome this we have partnered with STA Travel to create flight itineraries and special offers, especially for IVHQ volunteers. Jordan McFadyen IVHQ Community Manager

By IVHQ on December 4, 2017

I would particularly like to have the Saturdays off. Do I have that option to be as flexible with how I spend my weekends on the Programme?

It's very safe, the staff take good care of you. Also, what you do on the weekend is completely up to you. There's so many options.

By Susmitha Bathula on November 14, 2017

How safe is this area?

The area is really safe. The northern part of Palawan is actually a known place of peace in the Philippines and the crime rates are really low. The village that this program takes place in is very small and wonderful but traveling around the island is also safe.

By Kaylor MacLaughlin on February 5, 2018

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Reviews

9.47 Rating

based on 34 reviews

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Volunteer

Impact 8.6
Support 9.5
Fun 9.5
Value 9
Safety 9.5

Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Photographers

Showing 1 - 8 of 34

I was volunteering there for 4 weeks!
It was an amazing experience. The kids were so lovely, I miss them a lot. The staff was super nice and the food at the camp was cooked by locals, it was delicious!
I really recommend it. During my stay, I went to El nido and Port borton, it was paradise places, don’t hesitate to travel while you are there, there’s so many things to do and see in the Philippines. You will meet many volunteers from all around the world, people you will never forget with different culture.

I want to Thank IVHQ for letting me have the time of my life, teaching childrens is my passion and volunteer with this program made my life change, i Really recomend everyone to try this experience, you wont be the same after it, huge thanks to IVHQ, to the volunteers, to the staf, to my students that stole my heart since the day i met them, i receved so much love from them that i couldnt repay them, they change my life in so quick and im so thankfull, greatful and happy that i took this challenge and go alone met new people new brothers and Sisters because we became so close in so short of time, this experience cant be expresed in words, life is to short, life sometimes is hard and tough but we should never leave or betrayed this beautiful human heart and make as a rock, we are created to love, yo help each other and to be greatful, so be happy of what you have and give more, life will never betray you.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The most surprising thing is the love that i receved for this country, the phillipenes is the country of love

I volunteered in the Philippines for a week alone through IVHQ and found it to be the most amazing experience. The people that I met from the locals to the staff to the other volunteers are incredible like-minded individuals whom I can now call friends for life. The food was great and accommodation decent- I got the most from my money spent. The place was simply gorgeous and I am thrilled that I was able to explore much of the area as well as contribute helping our world; I had so much fun and I would highly recommend volunteering abroad through IVHQ to everyone. I worked primarily on the environment project and was able to teach and construct too- allowing me to attain a huge range of skills and life lessons alike. On the weekend I was given great guidance to explore the area and am in awe of this beautiful country.

What would you improve about this program?

Absolutely nothing. Other than a heads up I can add extra days when I am there!

Honestly, I spent 2 weeks here and I felt cheated. To begin with, it's very expensive to provide what you are given. I was put with 3 other guys is a very small room, with 2 bunk beds. They definitely took in more people than they could.

I was staying for only 2 weeks and they offered me to spend the first-week doing sightseeing and other touristic things, It didn't look like they needed people for work....
You work for 4 hours a day!!! And sometimes we literally had nothing to do. You get charged more if you are in construction because they need to buy materials, guess what? there was no material available when we were there and they refused to return the money.

When I complained about a few things and gave mediocre feedback, (yes, the feedback is not anonymous) the guy (Miko) that works at the campus started giving me weird looks and snappy answers.
It's a real tourist trap, they waste your time and money.

What would you improve about this program?

Only keep teachers and nurses. The rest is just business

My time with IVHQ in the Philippines was absolutely amazing!! From the scenery of literally working on the beach with the local kids, to the other volunteers who quick become your second family and the amazing staff who go above and beyond to make your time as enjoyable as possible. I couldn’t recommend IVHQ and the Philippines enough, to anyone thinking about going - DO IT!! It’s honestly been one of the most rewarding times in my life.
My only regret is not staying longer..

The weekends are also amazing, often yourself and the other volunteers will go out on adventures to explore new cities and activities. It also works out really good on the budget when a group goes because the price of the transport is split between more people.

With love,
From Australia

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

Definitely spend more time, anyone who is considering how long to go for, the longer the better!! Unfortunately I only signed up for one week and definitely regret that.

Hi there, my name is Giada and I am from Italy! This year, I volunteered for 7 weeks in the Philippines, in the Kindergarten and the Teaching program.
My first contact with the local staff was amazing, with Miko taking us through the Filipino culture during the orientation week. I had so much fun there and got to know so many international people that I know will be my friends for a long time.
The camp was also pretty amazing, being near a wonderful beach and the accommodation was quite comfortable.
I also loved so much the program! The kids work really hard on their English and they just adore you. I will really miss them all.
Thanks IVHQ for the chance to come to the Philippines and living a dream, which has been a fantastic adventure I could never forget!

What was your funniest moment?

We had so many moments to stay all together with the other volunteers, but the funniest moments were the karaoke nights, where everybody was free to sing and enjoy themselves.

Hello!

I’d love to share my volunteer experience with everyone!

My name’s Isabel and my first solo travel was more than just a vacation / graduation trip / birthday gift to myself.

i’ve honestly always wanted to do something for the people of the Philippines, to be able to help and contribute. i chose to do the construct & renovate program and it gave me the opportunity to help build and construct this classroom-sized school in a village in Tigman, Philippines
for children aged 3 - 5 years old.

i was only here for 2 weeks but im glad i did this & im happy i could make a small small difference in these kids life. i cant wait for my next life changing trip.

thank you ivhq and the greenlion philippines for this amazing opportunity and experience!

- isabel

What was your funniest moment?

the funniest moment that happened to me while volunteering was when my group of fellow construction project members were mixing the soil and cement with our spade, i accidentally stepped in into the mixture and the next day my shoes became just as hard as the floor

sunset on the way back from the secret beach

the happiness in completing the construction of the floor for the school

I carried out 5 weeks in the Philippines this year and i can safely say it was the best 5 weeks of my life. The staff both in the Philippines and from IVHQ were all amazing, I have no complaints. They were all supportive of whatever I needed, and I felt safe and secure at all times. Everyone has a coordinator who will support you the whole time, mine was Gia and she was especially lovely , the trip would not have been the same without her. You are completely safe in Tigman, I myself did not become ill but my friends did and they were taken straight to a doctor who saw the volunteers for free which I thought was lovely.
If you are thinking of volunteering somewhere, I would definitely consider going with IVHQ, the work you do will benefit whatever area you volunteer in. Please go with IVHQ and I promise you won't regret it.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would stay for longer, 5 weeks was not enough, I wish I could have stayed for months and months as I think I would have made a bigger influence on the children's education.

My Kindergarten class, Lovely Rose Centre

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

After living in Manila for two years, I was looking for a new challenge or experience to give myself purpose. I was in the position that I may not have again, where I had free time to do something meaningful and give back to the place I had been calling home. When I saw there was a program in Palawan, not too far from Manila, I saw it as a perfect opportunity.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

IVHQ made the application process easy and straight forward. Probably unlike a lot of people, my decision to volunteer was spontaneous and fast moving. I applied in June ready to go at the beginning of August, but the information and advice was clear from the start. The program provider offered to assist with flights, insurance, etc., but as I was already living in the Philippines, this was easy to arrange myself. They responded quickly to any questions I had.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Go with an open mind and a positive attitude. I once read a quote that said, “The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is your attitude”, and I think this is the most relevant piece of advice I can give. The culture may be different to what you are used to; the way of living, accommodation, and food will most definitely be different. If you don't embrace the change, you will lose out on the adventures.

The experience as a whole is invaluable and life changing. Some people go with a clear reason or purpose of what they want to accomplish – I didn't – but at the end of the program, I knew that whatever it was I came for, I had definitely found it.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I was a volunteer on the construction and renovation project. The average week was Monday – Friday volunteering; a few hours in the morning after breakfast, a break for lunch, and then a few hours after lunch. The day ends around 3 PM.

Renovation and construction projects can differ. When I volunteered, we were building a walkway and a septic tank. It was a lot of physical labor in the hot sun, but I learnt a lot of new skills, and it was worth it to see a finished outcome. The weekends are free for volunteers to explore the local areas or travel to different islands in the Philippines.

The Philippines has endless things to offer, and there are always like-minded people on the program who are there as travel buddies and friends.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had lots of fears before leaving; probably more that I had overthought that were totally unnecessary. Would I be older than everyone else on their gap years? Who would I share a room with? Would I be able to eat as a vegetarian? Would I be strong enough to do construction? The only girl? All of it was unnecessary!

As soon as I arrived, everyone was so welcoming. The stories you hear from people all over the world are eye-opening. The food was catered for everyone, and I never went hungry. The girls I shared a room with were amazing, and we all felt the same.

The volunteering was for every ability, and you will never know what you can do unless you just try. As for the age thing... yes, I happened to be the oldest one there at the time, but it made absolutely no difference. Age is just a number, and not one person had the same story. You can only overcome your fears by giving it a chance. Take it day by day.

Nikola Duncanova

2018 Alum

Deanne Berarducci

2017 Alum

Location

Location:

Philippines

Currency:

Philippine Peso

Weather:

Jan-Mar

93 F / 54 F

Apr-Jun

93 F / 59 F

Jul-Sep

90 F / 59 F

Oct-Dec

90 F / 55 F

Airports:

Ninoy Aquino International

( MNL )

The Philippines being an archipelago comprised of over 7,000 islands lends itself well to a melting pot of diversity with different cultures and customs on each island. The Filipino people are known for the hospitality and will happily tell you the best islands for each activity; from sky-diving at Bantayan island to the untouched Caramoan island, you can't go wrong.

About International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

IVHQ is the world’s most trusted and affordable volunteer abroad organization, offering the largest range of safe and impactful volunteer programs in 50+ destinations.

Over 113,000 travelers have volunteered abroad with IVHQ over the past 13 years, making IVHQ the world’s most experienced volunteer travel organization with the best safety...

Learn More