Location
Multiple Locations +4
  • Philippines
  • Mexico
  • United States of America
  • Ukraine
Need-based funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

What's Included
Accommodation Meals Some Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Apr 17, 2024
Sep 19, 2021
8 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

All Hands and Hearts provides community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief.

With the frequency and intensity of disasters on the rise around the globe, there's an urgent need for a more thoughtful approach to how we respond and help impacted communities recover. When a disaster strikes, All Hands and Hearts arrives early and stays late to address vulnerable communities' immediate and long-term needs. We work alongside the local leaders and deploy our unique volunteer model to enable direct impact — helping families and communities recover by building safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.

Thanks to passionate volunteers, donors and partners, we've provided nearly 20 years of disaster relief support to over 1.3 million people.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Free accommodation
  • Three meals a day for all volunteers days
  • No program fee to volunteer
  • No experience required
  • Make new global connections

Popular Programs

AHAH volunteers in purple shirts loading essential supplies for Hawaii wildfire relief

As a volunteer, you'll be making a meaningful impact on Maui, responding to wildfires that started on August 8. Our program, situated north of Lahaina, aims to support a community devastated by the fires.

Our team is focusing our efforts at the Napili Noho Community Hub on Maui, which supports families and aims to provide long-term support for communities recovering from the wildfires over the next two years.

AHAH volunteers in purple shirts doing construction work on Hurricane Ian impacted home

Our staff and volunteers continue to respond to recovery needs in Fort Myers, Florida following damage from Hurricane Ian. We are currently repairing homes so that homeowners can feel safe and secure at their residences.

Hurricanes hit quickly, but recovery is slow. Florida was hit on September 28, 2022, by Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm. Significant damage occurred in coastal towns and cities, while inland areas experienced life-threatening floods.

AHAH volunteers in Poland supporting Ukraine crisis relief with Ukraine flag

All Hands and Hearts has been addressing the unique needs of families and individuals impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since March 2022. With a focus on refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), we are committed to supporting these communities.

Filipino student swinging on new playground

In May 2024, we will launch a new phase of our typhoon relief program in Southern Leyte, where we will mobilize volunteers and work alongside local community members to help build a school impacted by Typhoon Rai.

Program Reviews

4.96 Rating
based on 74 reviews
  • 5 rating 95.95%
  • 4 rating 4.05%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.95
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.95
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 17 - 24 of 74 reviews
Default avatar
Mariel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Puerto Rico

I'd really enjoyed my experience here with all hands and hearts. I have struggled with the communal living space and lack of privacy if you need it. The people on a whole are epic and I've learnt so much from every single one of them. I wish there was a little more constructive training prior to going to a work site. Clear instruction on site is something I think would make each project on a house run much more smoothly. Everyone coming to volunteer is an adult and so a guide outlining the processes would make sure each individual is knows their role within the team and working to produce a goal which would be more time efficient and productive overall.
I was quite overwhelmed at first by how many people were here and found it quite intimidating entering into such a big group who mostly already knew each other.
I wish there was a better chill space with comfortable sofa and tv.

What would you improve about this program?
I would improve the social structure. Bring the 4.30 meeting earlier as i feel between 3 and 4.30 there is a lot of time wasted. More frequent weekday trips to the beach - i feel when living in such communal environments it's really important to get out. More social activities during the week perhaps.
34 people found this review helpful.
Dan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Hard work and fun

I just finished 2 weeks with Ahah in Dominica and had a great time. We worked hard at rebuilding a school and houses after the hurricane.

Expect to be moving dirt, concrete or wood a lot. Expect to get dirty and sweaty some times.

Expect to look over at someone else who is also dirty and you both smile.

We played hard at Creole fest and the volunteer dunk tank. What i liked best is how quickly new people are brought in to a community of 40+ volunteers. Whether you are staying a week or 3 months you quickly have friends from around the world and in the local community.

I have volunteered with All Hands in Houston and plan to do it again in Nepal.

I good group that is easy to work with on your schedule.

Boy is 750 characters a lot for a review. Not sure what else to say other than try it out on any of the All Hands and Hearts projects.

What would you improve about this program?
More showers :) there are a lot of people on base so making sure everyone can get through showers and lunch is important.
34 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Manali
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A fulfilling experience

I volunteered for four weeks in Nepal Haibung Project. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. All Hands and Hearts is doing such great work on the field. It was great to interact with the community and the its kids. I learned new skills and met some amazing people. I highly recommend this program if you want to help Nepal get back on its feet. As this program is resuming again in October 2018, I hope more and more volunteers apply for it and the program can have maximum impact.

69 people found this review helpful.
Beckie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life

I volunteered with All hands and Hearts houston in March. My fiancé and I went for a week which I thought would be enough but after how much we loved it and enjoyed our time I wish we had stayed 3 months. Everything was very well organised, everyone we met was so friendly we made some friends. The site supervisor Barrett would we worked with was very welcoming and so encouraging, he was patience and kind and made us feel like we could achieve anything. All the staff made us feel at home and were genuinely interested in getting to know us. The food and accommodation was well organised and cleaned daily by volunteers.

Not to sound too cliche but the experience was life changing and made us both feel differently about how we see ourselves and others and want to give our time to more programmes in the future.
I would recommend everyone to give even just one week you get as much as you give. It’s awesome

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing, the programme and organisation is fantastic!!
39 people found this review helpful.
Amy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nepal Earthquake Program - Life Changing

I arrived in Nepal on April 25, 2016, 1 year to the day since the earthquake struck. As soon as I arrived I knew this place would be a second home and I would never want to leave! I immediately extended my stay on the program to the full 5 months (Nepal visa restriction) and it was the best decision I have made!

This was a life-changing experience for me in so many ways. I was able to form strong bonds with the local community and as well as other volunteers on the program. I can honestly say these people will remain in my life forever. All Hands also allowed me to develop professional skills and gave me a foot in the door to working for a Humanitarian NGO.

The work is tough, you will sweat like you have never sweated before, but it is all for a good reason, that reason is the community you are helping. The love and kindness they showed me was worth every second of work I put in!

I ended up returning and in total was with All Hands and Hearts in Nepal for 11 months.I attend the handovers of 6 schools that we built, and the teams have since built even more! As soon as I can I will absolutely be returning!

What would you improve about this program?
No possible way. Keep going!
75 people found this review helpful.
Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A life changing experience

I love this organization with all of my heart. I first started volunteering on the Louisiana program in August 2016, when the floods in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs first happened. I signed up for a week in between university semesters, and I knew from my first week that I was hooked. I came back in December to serve with the organization in Louisiana for another five weeks, and returned again in July for another ten months.

Since then, I've been exposed to so many people throughout the world who are eager to make a difference. At the time, I was a disgruntled political science student and seeing how many wonderful people are willing to sacrifice their time and other commitments to help someone else in need spoke volumes to me. Not only will you get to meet people from around the world and be exposed to new cultures, but you'll also learn new skills and help a community in need. Before volunteering with All Hands and Hearts, I had never used a construction tool in my life before, but everyone is so patient and eager to help that it was fun to pick it up.

Thank you for changing my life, All Hands and Hearts. You flipped it around in the best way possible, and I owe a lot of love to the organization for doing it.

What would you improve about this program?
Everything is ran flawlessly.
36 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mariana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable Volunteer Experience

This was my first project with All Hands and Hearts and most definitely not my last. I was originally signed up to volunteer in Houston for two weeks, but after my first few days I knew I wanted to stay longer. I ultimately remained on project for just over three months, and in that time I worked on sites that will stay with me forever and made friends who became family.

The Houston project is filled with a variety of different work, including muck & guts, sanitations, rebuilds, and more. I've had days where I was installing flooring and others where I completed entire kitchen guts. No matter the task at hand, each day's work was overwhelmingly gratifying .

Words cannot fully describe the level of love and admiration I have for this project, and I'm sure each new volunteer will feel the same. I would return in an instant if I could.

40 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Rachel

Volunteering with All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response in both Denham Springs, Louisiana and then in Aransas Pass, Texas was the most life changing experience I’ve had thus far. I went in wanting to do something adventurous but selfless and All Hands and Hearts provided just that. An incredible, fulfilling, exciting, yet difficult in all of the best ways possible experience. I met some of my absolute favorite human beings, learned an entire new skill set, and above all else gained a new perspective on life and how I think we as human beings should spend our lives. Being given the chance to travel, meet new like-minded people, and put myself to work to help people who have been put into unexpected and unfortunate circumstances is something I cannot thank All Hands and Hearts for enough. I highly recommend applying to volunteer on any of AHAH’s programs open around the world.

What would you improve about this program?
This program beyond adequately provided every experience I was hoping for. I have no suggestions for improvement.
39 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers