Volunteer in Childcare in Palawan, the Philippines

I am writing this to warn other parents and volunteers about the significant operational and ethical failures of International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ). My daughter and her friend were booked for a childcare project in Palawan, Philippines, in February 2025. What followed was a complete breakdown in "Duty of Care" and a predatory refusal to refund fees for a program that was physically impossible to attend. 1. Zero Emergency Communication Systems In February 2025, Palawan was hit by a catastrophic weather event. According to PAGASA, a shear line dropped over 340mm of rain in just three hours. This was so extreme that the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI) used it to validate provincial flood hazard maps. Local populations were being actively evacuated. Despite this, IVHQ central coordinators provided zero warnings. There were no systems in place to tell these young volunteers to stay away from an active disaster zone. My daughter was left to rely on the kindness of hostel staff and the honesty of the local village team, who sent videos of the flooding and the collapsed bridge that served as the only access point to the site. 2. A "Headquarters" disconnected from Reality While the local team in the village were sending warnings and telling the girls it was unsafe to come, IVHQ in New Zealand remained silent. When we eventually sought a refund due to the program being physically unavailable, IVHQ hid behind their Terms and Conditions. They have refused to acknowledge that a collapsed bridge and an evacuation order constitute a "frustrated contract" under New Zealand law (Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017). 3. Financial Risk vs. Physical Safety IVHQ operates as a commercial business, not a charity. Their refund policies are designed to protect their margins, not their volunteers. By refusing to refund fees when a natural disaster makes a project unreachable, they effectively incentivise young, budget-conscious travelers to take dangerous risks to "get their money's worth." 4. The Verdict If you use IVHQ, understand that you are on your own the moment things go wrong. Their "24/7 support" was non-existent during a provincial emergency. They are happy to take your money, but they will not take responsibility when nature makes their service impossible to deliver. As a former board member of a youth travel company, I am appalled by their lack of standard operating procedures. Do not trust this organisation with your safety or your hard-earned money.

IVHQ was fantastic at organising the trip and making the preparation process smooth and well-managed. Their guidance from start to finish gave me real confidence when travelling abroad. The Local Team were absolutely brilliant - they ensured everyone was treated with care, respect, and a strong focus on safety. Even though it was a short experience, it left me feeling inspired and eager to participate in more of the IVHQ programs. This program was life-changing and offered so much more than I expected. I genuinely believe that the effort you put in directly shapes what you get out of it. Everything about the experience was exceptional - especially for a young female solo traveler. The program not only opened my eyes to new cultures but also gave me a deeper appreciation for everything I have. Even if your time is short, you do make a difference. The team welcomed us with open arms and always made safety a top priority. I couldn’t recommend IVHQ more highly.

Finishing my volunteering in the Philippines makes me think about all the people who don’t have as much as we do, yet they are still so grateful and happy with just the little things. They are always so happy and very friendly. It doesn’t matter who you are; they will always welcome you with open arms. I learned a lot from the people there and always try to help others. It fills your heart with love, and whenever I leave the volunteer work, my heart feels weak because you want to stay and help them, but eventually, you have to go back home. All the people you meet while volunteering are incredible and amazing. It’s such a great experience, and I recommend it to everyone. This is my second time volunteering with IVHQ, and both times were amazing experiences that I would gladly repeat. I just want to say that everyone who comes to volunteer should have an open mind, eager to meet new people and learn about the culture, language, and more.

IVHQ were super helpful and responsive when I had questions regarding the program before I departed. The local team in the Philippines were all INCREDIBLE. Super friendly and helpful. Very welcoming and made me feel at home and did an amazing job keeping our rooms all clean. I learnt so much about the culture in the Philippines and opened my eyes to so much. I learnt so much about myself and life while doing this project. Truly life changing. Made me feel like I was making a difference on the kids lives The local team were so helpful and catered for my dietary needs with incredible food. The cook made amazing food, both western and cultural Overall, I think this program is so worth the money. It was the most amazing experience. I learnt and experienced so much in the 8 weeks I was in Palawan. Everyone was super helpful and helped us with everything I needed. I loved the kindergarten program with the kids, and spending time with them as well as the co-ordinators. I made some unforgettable memories. The endless efforts the staff went to to keep us comfortable. I would 100% recommend this program to anyone that is wanting to make a positive difference and learn so much about the world!

The local team were very welcoming and exceeded my expectation of attending to volunteers needs! Seeing the kids faces light up when you walk into the room and while you taught was so touching to my heart because it helped me see the difference volunteers made for them. The kids were so excited to learn from foreigners and loved school. The meals were some of the best I’ve ever ate in my life, they also made great accommodations for those with allergies or vegetarians. My favorite moment from volunteering was building relationships with people in a new country and teaching the kids who were so interested in school. In addition to seeing a new way of life and introducing myself to a new world. Being in a new country helped me see the difference in value of life compared to my home country. It helped me realize how much people take for granted and how much more people should value life. If your interested in volunteering, g for it, do your research about programs and the country before you do them but don’t hesitate any longer because the experiences you receive while on your trip are incredibly life changing.

Getting to know the children and growing closer to the other volunteers and staff members was my favorite moments. The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was it made me acknowledge that money, while being very helpful, does not buy happiness of intelligence. The children in this school lacked a lot of school supplies and resources, and yet they are so so smart and kind and generous, genuinely happy to go to school. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, and I found there is no better way to immerse yourself in a different culture. It’s also an ethical way to travel the world, by actually getting to know how the locals actually live instead of just enjoying the touristic aspects and ignoring the rest.