High School Study Abroad in Stavanger, Norway

This was my second time assisting IVHQ with a marine conservation programme. I was part of the first group of volunteers to arrive in Jamaica following Covid, so our group was tiny and the programmes were just getting started. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic experience; I got to dive virtually every day and conduct important work on the coral reef, such as establishing coral nurseries and eliminating invasive species. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the Whiteriver Fish Sanctuary by authoring the August newsletter and participating in community outreach. I particularly appreciated the company of the people I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from at work; everyone was really friendly and enjoyable to be around. Jamaica is a breathtakingly gorgeous and diverse island, so make the most of your time there by exploring as much as you can on weekends or whenever you have some spare time. For me, the highlight was visiting Negril, a village on the island's western tip that is fantastic for diving (call Scuba Dive Jamaica, Michael is a great diving instructor), food, and sunsets. Volunteers are housed in a nice house with a kitchen, two bathrooms, two bedrooms with bunk beds, a common space, and a very wide yard. Because there is no air conditioning, it can get quite hot and humid, especially at night, but that's all part of the experience! I would recommend this programme to anyone looking to move out of their comfort zone, be adventurous, and accomplish something worthwhile with their time for the earth and people.

My year on board Sørlandet with A+ truly changed who I am as an individual and allowed me to learn so much about who I am. I made lifelong friendships with people from all over the world while simultaneously getting to visit over 20 different countries. The community that developed on board was extremely supportive and living in close quarters with 59 other students taught me so much about supporting one another. I truly would recommend this program to anyone who is adventurous and searching for an adventure. But also for anyone who is interested in stepping out of their comfort zone and trying something different. I really got the opportunity to meet so many likeminded people.