Absolutely incredible life changing experience. Being completely immersed in the culture really made me reassess my values and perspective in life. I stayed with the most beautiful welcoming family and felt right at home.
- Hanna (22)
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
Fully Verified
What's this?
9.4 / 10
after 443 Reviews
Based on overall, support & value average ratings
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is the trusted volunteer organization, providing safe, quality and extremely affordable volunteering placements in countries all over the world. Each year they place over 5000 volunteers abroad and have a wide range of volunteering opportunities in Argentina, Bali, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia - Bogota and Cartagena, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, India - Delhi & Dharamsala, Italy, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, Kenya , Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Peru - Cusco & Lima, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Romania, Uganda, Victoria Falls, Vietnam - Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City and Zambia.
Program website: http://www.volunteerhq.org/
After our original marine conservation program in Madagascar was cancelled due to the pandemic, IVHQ continued their excellent program management and helped us transfer our fees to a new program in Belize. Our contact with our IVHQ Program Manager Molly was infrequent but when we needed her, she was a short email away. IVHQ's partner in Belize - ReefCI - provided an awesome experience. We learned about lionfish - an invasive fish species around the Caribbean Barrier Reef - and we spend most of our dives hunting and spearing them. What a great experience, and they're tasty too! We also performed beach cleanup and were informed and educated about other relevant environmental topics in the region, specifically plastic pollution in the ocean. Thanks to IVHQ and ReefCI for running first rate operations.
Program:
Location:
Posted: December 8, 2021
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: cjwhiteh
Age:
61
My volunteer trip to Croatia went perfectly well; the organizers were incredibly kind and through this experience, I was able to meet some amazing people, with whom I made some very strong friendships.
However, I was only in Croatia for one week and I think it should be stated on the website that one week is not enough for the marine conservation program. Indeed, since I was not at all qualified in diving, teaching me all the basics took the whole week and I had very little opportunity to pick up trash on the ocean floor.
Nevertheless, I still insist that it was an extraordinary experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life!
Program:
Location:
Posted: August 19, 2021
Overall:
9
Support:
10
Value:
9
By: Camille
Age:
16
I volunteered in Colombia for 3 weeks doing the Community Development program. This program was amazing and I can definitely say that I got a lot out of it! I worked with children building connections with them by doing arts and crafts and teaching them English. This also helped me to build my Spanish skills as well. I liked that this program allowed me to see all parts of the country, the good and bad, allowing me to appreciate it much more. I was able to connect with locals and see aspects of the culture more than I would if I were just a tourist in the country. My favorite part was that on my last day working with the kids, they wrote a letter for me and took the time to translate it to English since my Spanish is not the best! I 10/10 would recommend this program to anyone looking for a life changing experience!
Program:
Location:
Posted: August 5, 2021
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: nyamarie144
Age:
22
My trip to Quito was one I will never forget, I am a teacher in the States and I really wanted to go out of the country and give back. I never could have imagined what I was walking in to. The kids and staff are wonderful and very appreciative of ever volunteer there. The community is awesome and the children are even better. All of these children deserve a chance to dream and have goals and I think by doing our part they can see they can do much more with their lives. I plan to do more things like this, but this trip I will never forget.
Program:
Location:
Posted: August 3, 2021
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: saam.lemelin18
Age:
23
