1,523 total
Great experience volunteering in a foreign country. It was fantastic to have support when required and the local team was fantastic to work with. As part of the construction and renovation project I was responsible for looking after three classrooms to be opened shortly in a rural school. It was great to be able to directly contribute to a worthwhile effort serving the community.
Date of experience: April 08, 2024
I can't thank IVHQ enough for the incredible experience while in nepal teaching English to impoverished children.
From Start to finish we had been made aware of everything expected of us and who our contacts would be when we arrived.
Our homestay and local team could not have been any more hospitable, knowledgeable and made us feel trully welcome to the country.
I shall be returning in the near future.
I can honestly say it was one of the greatest things I have ever done and definitely feel it has helped me grow as a person through the people I have helped and met along the way.
I highly recommend to anyone considering a volunteer experience like no other 😀
Date of experience: March 18, 2024
My experience with ivhq was nothing short of incredible. The local team and coordinators in Fiji offered 100% support and were so incredibly welcoming for me and others staying there. The volunteering itself was fun, safe and relatively organized. The food was great, vibes were great and we had such a chill and fun time. I would definitely recommend this trip to solo travellers who are looking to experience different cultures and experiences!
Date of experience: March 18, 2024
I volunteered in Hua Hin, Thailand, for 12 weeks and had the most amazing time. This experience was my first time solo travelling anywhere, so at first I was very nervous. However, when I arrived all the staff and volunteers were very welcoming and made the volunteer centre feel like home. All the volunteering activities were well organised and transportation was perfect. The accommodation was clean and comfortable and the food was always tasty. If anyone is debating volunteering abroad, I would definitely recommend using IVHQ as their staff were helpful every step of the way and offered great support to make the process easy.
Date of experience: February 05, 2024
This was such a fun experience, all the children from the school were so lovely and i had fun interacting and playing games with them over the past two weeks i was volunteering. The local team were also super helpful and gave plenty of tips. I recommend IVHQ if you want to meet new people from different countries while experiencing the Spain culture! Definitely will not forget this trip!
Date of experience: July 07, 2023
IVHQ were great while helping me prepare for my volunteer project. My coordinator was amazing, she answered all my questions promptly and thoroughly providing me with lots of information and always making it clear I can contact her if I had any more questions. Also IVHQ guidelines and information on how the project will go and how to prepare for it was also really helpful. Would definitely book through them again as everything felt very under control and organised. Even while on my project, I had a query and I still got a quick reply. The whole system is very easy to understand once booking into the programme and it’s clear what else you need to complete and how to do it.
Date of experience: April 17, 2024
i had such a great time. the host family were so kind and helped me with everything. i 100% recommend going to anyone who is thinking about it
Date of experience: April 06, 2024
My daughter and I volunteered for two months and it far exceeded our expectations. Not only did we have a great time together, and get the opportunity to hit the reset button on our lives, but we got to meet amazing, inspiring volunteers from all over the world. The program coordinators were fantastic, the food delicious, the accomodation just fine and the kids and teachers that we got to work with -- well, they made the whole experience wonderful. It's the best thing we've ever done. So glad and grateful it was possible for a single mom and a teenager to shift their lives - together.
Date of experience: February 19, 2024
I enjoyed the program a lot. Made a lot of friends who have same interesting with me.
Through teaching healthcate, I learnd a lot from the children I taught. I am moved by the children from their response. I would like to join the porgram again in the future
Date of experience: April 17, 2024
I volunteered with IVHQ in Vietnam in April 2024. This was an experience of a lifetime to say the least. You become more dependent on yourself as you grow during your time on the program. While the local and international support team is there, you learn to count on yourself and your fellow volunteers to push you.
Having the chance to give back to a community where my impact mattered, is a huge blessing.
Date of experience: April 08, 2024
Volunteering in Bali at 17 years old completely changed my way of perceiving life and impacting others in a positive way. The local team, the amazing friends i made, and the locals made me feel safe and completely at home, despite my age. Indonesia is a magical country, it has a beautifull energy and in every corner there is something to learn. I highly recommend the destination for all types of people who have an open mind and heart and specially, who are willing to leave their comfort zone. It's important to remember this is not a touristic trip. The experience changes when you invest all your energy in giving, and then you'll relize how much you're receiving aswell. Being kind and open is the key. Having carried out my process with IVHQ was very simple, I was always very well advised and accompanied. If you have the chance, take it!
Date of experience: August 01, 2023
I was hesitant at first as it was my first time travelling solo. But the IVHQ team + local team made my experience SO comfortable - they were extremely accommodating and reassuring which I appreciated very much. Felt super safe and was able to comfortably enjoy my trip! Planning my next trip with IVHQ as I type this !! :)
Date of experience: October 02, 2023
Namibia is an easy country to manage which was good for my first trip in Africa. The location of the program was amazing and beautiful. The staff at all levels were professional, helpful and courteous. The work assignment ranged from hard, dirty work to interesting and fun assignments. The food was very good with only a couple of meals I didn't enjoy. The worst part was leaving...
Date of experience: April 03, 2024
Well where to start. Some are not going to like what I say Frankly that’s too bad. !!
I’m a mature trained teacher and wanted to make a difference … arrogant well depends .. naive a bit !!
I’m not from a posh school having a gap year. Or saving the planet having just left university !! Or a ‘saving Africa messiah’.
And to be honest many volunteers fit these categories…. Offended too bad 😂 .. it’s true !
Volunteering is a profit making industry. … although I must say IVHQ offer a good service up to the point you arrive at the placement .
Then it can go awry. First placement in Zambia 🇿🇲 for 4 weeks. Well the accommodation and food was poor And no thought had been given to the teaching experience. In fact the school headmistress had only been notified the day before of my arrival.
You need to be proactive I negotiated the best teaching for me.
Grade 5 at primary school 10/11 year olds
What a marvellous 🤩 experience.. they had nothing but a desire to learn … so I got them ,together with my friends, books and writing material. And taught them for most of the day. I was tired but I loved it. And will be back to surprise 😮 them in 2 years.
Ok the conservation in Victoria Falls. Has nothing really to do with conservation. If you want a cheap safari and are a rich kid or like luxury 😂 then go. But don’t kid yourself into thinking you are an eco warrior. !!
Ok that’s the most honest review here … probably 😂. Bit like the lager 🍺 it’s a matter of personal choice.. is it not !!
Date of experience: March 01, 2024
Reply from International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
Dear John, thank you for your feedback. I'm thrilled you had a great time in Zambia and Victoria Falls. We will look forward to seeing you on our program again in two years time.
I have passed your comments about the Zambia program to the relevant program manager. She will discuss these with the local team to see if there are any areas we can improve for future volunteers.
Simon Birkenhead
Chief Executive, IVHQ
The local team was really well organized and I felt so supported by both them and IVHQ. My coordinator routinely checked in prior to my start date to ensure I was all set and provide any assistance I may have needed. My volunteering experience in Antigua, Guatemala was an absolutely incredible experience
Date of experience: March 03, 2024
The full experince with all the help from the locka straff and getting to know all others volunteers.
So grateful for all the support from IVHQ before, under and after the trip. I coulden’t bring a new sport to Frankadua without all the help from the local staff and that’s something I’m forever grateful.
Date of experience: January 14, 2024
The local team were very helpful and supportive throughout the whole time. I received regular emails beforehand about what to expect and how to prepare which was really useful. The volunteering itself was an amazing experience which I will always cherish, working with and meeting other people really changes your outlook. We also had lots of free time so had the opportunity to explore the city and locations we were in so its such a great way to travel. Memories and friendships to last. I loved all of it and will recommend to anyone.
Date of experience: April 10, 2024
Travel usually presents opportunities for personal growth and development. Such was the case with my recent trip to Jamaica. Visiting a new culture and working in a child development center with another volunteer, afforded the ideal growth opportunity for me as a senior who still enjoys adventuring and new challenges! Susan 69 years
Date of experience: April 01, 2024
The construction project I worked on is absolutely fabulous. So worthwhile. Such an enjoyable experience.
The communication with IVHQ, and Maximo is great. I had no issues at all, except to know where I would be staying at least 2/3 days before arrival would have been nice.
Staff were helpful and polite.
Date of experience: February 29, 2024
Volunteering with IVHQ has been the best thing I have ever done ! The people I had the opportunity to work with , the other volunteers you meet whilst in a wholeee different country doesn’t compare to anything back home! When you go away, you completely immerse yourself in a completely new culture and leave home behind (for just maybe a week or two weeks) ! The experiences, the memories, the people you meet , it truly is life changing !! I would 100% recommend going away with IVHQ and visiting a wholeee new country really safely. The people at IVHQ themselves are truly amazing. They ensure you are fully prepared and ready to go and any questions whatsoever they answer immediately! Really really amazing experience and I can’t wait to do it again !! I booked my second volunteering programme within 2 weeks of coming back it was so good :))
Date of experience: April 07, 2024
