Involvement Volunteers International

My highlight was definitely getting to know the community and getting a glimpse of what the rural lifestyle is like. People were so grateful and delighted to see volunteers, and you can feel the impact you are having on the community. My highlight was spreading knowledge of what I learned in nursing school to less-experienced volunteers. The food and accommodation were so amazing. The staff was very accommodating and the sweetest.

Loved it. Amazing opportunity and honor to be welcomed as a local in the village. An honor to live with them in community and live out Christianity with them was definitely my highlight. Absolutely loved working with the disabled children at the hospital and amazing to see the love that Phos Haven orphanage have for these kids. It was a very local experience and I had to adapt a lot but this is all part of the experience. Loved it! -Denise

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The best experience I ever had in Kenya. Amazing project, lovely people, very kind staff, a lot of options for activities and delicious Kenyan food. Local team was fantastic. They help you with everything, take care of you, work really hard, are always available and are passionate. The food was perfect. Everyday 3 meals with typical Kenyan dishes Accomodation was clean, relaxed and located in a safe neighbourhood. WiFi was available, warm shower, tv, drinking water, pool table. - Moniek

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Great opportunity to work with other like minded volunteers to assist with child learning and development in both classroom and community sport settings. All round very good. Local team very supportive.

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The Lemur Experience at Nosy Be Madagascar was a life altering week. The setting offered more that just watching crocodile feeding, washing big turtles and small turtles, and learning to care for and engage with lemurs. I spent our work days with locals who work at the sanctuary and local volunteers, laughing and talking while we worked. Our group work spent our time sharing life stories across generations, focused more on dreams than heart break, a true gem of the volunteer experience. At our long 2 hour lunch breaks, students and I engaged in helping them improve their English, including hands-on social media skills in English. I spent a few days exploring the local community, the local markets, shops, beach, and cafes for a real feel for the area. The experience included housing in a safe villa with two houses, local meals prepared by Rodrick, and daily transportation through the local area back and forth to the center. I had a room with 2 bunk beds, mosquito net, hot water shower and shared bathroom, wifi, and access to refrigerator. The work tasks were easy to complete. Program guide John oriented me to the work and I was able to do what I was comfortable with, which was everything! Pavith oversaw the program, joined me for evening meal, answered all my questions, and was always available.

I am very grateful to have participated in this project. I am returning from my assignment at the Philippine schools with somewhat mixed emotions, though the experience was deeply moving and rewarding in many ways. I was deeply impressed by the locals' positive mindset. The community welcomed me with smiles, and the students were grateful and respectful. Furthermore, I was enchanted by the beautiful surroundings at both locations. The stunning scenery, with its pristine beaches and palm trees, provided wonderful opportunities for swimming and relaxing after work. It was the perfect backdrop to unwind. A major highlight was the excellent support at the volunteer camp. The local team did an outstanding job, and I felt very comfortable and well-cared for. • Catering: The cook prepared truly delicious meals every day. • Maintenance: The cleaning staff kept the rooms spotless, and the gardens were always perfectly maintained. • Support: The coordinators and support staff were reliable, professional, and incredibly kind. Their efforts made the camp feel like a home away from home.

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It was a wonderful experience to discover the country and its people from a different perspective. The connections I made were very warm and welcoming, and the support on site was close to perfect. The learning went both ways: not only the children, but I myself learned as well. I picked up some Korean and, above all, gained rich insights into Korean culture through them. I sincerely hope to repeat this experience in the future. For the children, it would be beneficial if the program could run longer than one or two weeks, as they need time to build trust and truly settle in. The team in Korea was easy to reach at all times and well prepared to answer any questions. I always felt very well informed and supported—almost as if close friends had been waiting for me on site. Thank you very much for that; it truly could not have been better. The temple stay felt like a home away from home. Even though the rooms were small and simple, they were more than sufficient. The location was excellent. At times, however, I would have appreciated having a quiet space to retreat to beyond the sleeping area. As I had a single room, this was at least partially possible. For those staying longer, though, having a dedicated quiet space separate from the shared areas would be very beneficial.

My trip to Fiji was an incredibly eye-opening and meaningful experience. I spent a month volunteering at a remote island primary school as well as a kindergarten on the mainland, which gave me insight into two very different educational settings. One of the highlights was building relationships with the children and becoming part of their daily routines. The students were warm, enthusiastic, and eager to learn, which made the experience very rewarding despite some of the challenges I observed. At the remote island primary school, I found the level of English comprehension quite surprising. While many students were able to speak English, they often struggled to understand sentence structure and meaning, particularly when it came to stories or more complex instructions. I also noticed differences in teaching practices, where students were often given work to complete independently with limited supervision or guidance, which was very different from what I am used to. Overall, the experience challenged my expectations and broadened my understanding of global education systems. It reinforced my interest in working with children and highlighted the importance of quality teaching, supervision, and inclusive practices in supporting all learners.

The experience was amazing, and the team were very attentive and involved, and the site was pleasant. This trip will stay in my mind as a great memory of mine. Thankyou so much, I appreciated the experience.

Volunteering was very enjoyable, interesting and varied. It gave us a good insight into the wonderful work the soup kitchen does. The Head Chef was truly inspirational. It also gave us the opportunity to meet and work with other volunteers from many different countries. The local team were fantastic and very supportive, kind , considerate and very friendly. We liked that at the soup kitchen we all shared the same food, this gave us the opportunity to try many different Korean dishes. The buffet meal we had on our orientation say was good fun. The Temple was clean, the beds were comfortable and we enjoyed the never-ending supply of tea. The staff were friendly and again it was good to meet people from all over the world. The location was good too. At the Temple we also enjoyed a handpan lesson.

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My advice to future volunteers is simply follow the lead of the teachers who will have a clear idea about what they want you to do. Be humble about your own abilities and the impact you can have, but be thirsty for knowledge and experience YOU can gain from the volunteer work.The local team who run all the volunteer programs in the country are warm and engaging, and very well organized. We get three meals a day provided, although so far I tended to skip breakfast in favour of getting a decent coffee at Highland Coffee and a croissant. Lunch in the staff restaurant was fine: simple rice with vegetables and meat (plus a small bowl of soup) on Monday, and a big bowl of noodle soup on Tuesday, steamed rice, green beans (which I put in my small bowl of vegetable soup to warm through) and a small portion of pork and shrimp another day. You won't go hungry. Meals in the evening are provided at a small family-run restaurant across the road from the college and we have to pre-order the day before. One night I had fried rice with chicken and a pepper sauce. There was a lot of rice and a chicken drumstick, but it was very tasty. I opted for a single room and got a single bunk in a dorm with eight beds. It was fine for a week but if I were to volunteer for longer I would want to pay for a hotel room. I think this should be an option.

I spent 9 weeks at the turtle conservation in Ambalangoda and 2 weeks at the special needs program in Kandy. My experience was truly amazing, working with the turtles was a fun experience, and the special needs program was such a rewarding program for me. Everything went smoothly from the pick up at the airport to concerning any problems to the staff. The staff were very friendly, always helpful and tried to do their best. They did all they could to make everything as comfortable as possible for you. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget. A big thanks to the organisation, as well as the staff. Would definitely recommend doing voluntary work.

This was truly an unforgettable experience with so many highlights to share. The kids are the cutest human beings ever - they excitedly await your arrival from the gate yelling "Teacher ... Teacher ..." running towards you to embrace you in a warm hug and share with you a friendly smile. They grab your hand and pull you in the classroom, grab a seat and sit patiently as you prepare to teach. Their enthusiasm to learn is unmatched; they scream the answers, they give you their full attention and they are genuinely interested in what you have to teach them. Across age groups spanning from the 3 year olds to the 5 year olds, we taught many different topics such as ABCs, numbers, transportation, colours, shapes, animals, body parts and we had a blast doing it. Some highlights would definitely be trying the local cuisine, stopping at the Local Bubble tea place on the way home from school each afternoon, sight seeing on the weekend (e.g. we embarked on a Ha Long Bay Boat Cruise), the kiddos smiles and laughter, learning about local culture and language and so much more. Volunteering is such a beautiful way to both see and change the world. I am so grateful that I have been afforded the opportunity to share my passion and love for teaching with others through Involvement Volunteers International (IVI).

Volunteering in Thailand was a very rewarding experience and a great way to explore the country. Meeting people from all over the world and various walks of life was also very nice. Definitely one of my best travel experiences and I will volunteer again. The team in Hua Hin were amazing. They were super friendly and supportive and had really good english. The cook was the best and always made balanced meals with a mix of western and local dishes.

The experience was amazing. I went for a 1-month long volunteering experience to teach in China. The host was very accommodating to my needs and ensured I settled down as comfortably as I could. I had face time with the staff of the kindergarten I volunteered at, had open discussions and flexibility of the teaching schedule. The teachers were also very warm and helpful. The kids were such a lively and curious bunch, I enjoyed the entire experience very much. Local team was very welcoming and food was good. I had the chance to dine with the local team family, making it a very local experience, and even made dumplings with them. Facilities were basic as it is located in a local village but still well provided including water heater in the winter, loved the old architecture of the house I stayed in. Local team was also helpful with recommendations on where to go and what to do during weekends or free time.

Volunteering in one of the soup kitchens in Saigon, to help feed many hundreds of vulnerable and disadvantaged people, was a humbling but a truly wonderful experience. Working alongside local volunteers - sharing preparation and serving tasks with them, opened my eyes to the deep sense of community and kindness that thrives there. Life in Vietnam is so different from what I know in Australia—not better or worse, just beautifully different. The experience highlighted for me how much we all have in common, despite our language differences and varied circumstances, and how generosity and gratitude can flourish anywhere in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed my four weeks volunteering in the soup kitchen in Saigon. I thought everything was very efficiently and effectively organised and the team that took care of us in Saigon were wonderful. I will hopefully volunteer again next year.

The volunteer program was absolutely amazing. We were guided patiently on how to take care of the elephants. Everyone there was extremely friendly. This experience is definitely once in a life time. Thankyou!!

As seasoned traveling retirees, this was our 16th time volunteering abroad. Maximo Nivel, in partnership with IVHQ, did not disappoint. Communications up front were clear & informative. Our project was diverse, with the option to vary tasks daily. We picked coffee, helped in the garden,composted, and more. Homestay provided authentic interactions and home cooked meals. Questions were answered, recommendations and suggestions were freely offered. Social options like salsa & cooking classes were a plus. As we like to say, "When it comes to volunteering, age is just a number." Flexibility helps!!!

It was an incredible trip. I had a wonderful time volunteering….the people were so lovely, and the children are truly amazing. Working with the kids was especially rewarding; they were always excited to see us, eager to learn, and incredibly creative. It was a very fulfilling journey, and it certainly won’t be my last. The team were amazing, very accommodating and always helpful. The accommodation was comfortable, and the food was very good most of the time.

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The trip was the most fulfilling, enriching and inspiring experience I have ever embarked upon 😊 It is my second time volunteering with IVI and each time I embark on a new teaching journey I seem to learn more, take new things away from the program and leave with new friends from all over the world! I was fortunate enough to volunteer in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 2 weeks wherein I got to teach at 2 schools within the local area. Each day was filled with joy, excitement, friendship, compassion and new opportunities to which I grasped with both hands. One of the most awesome things about volunteering abroad would be the everlasting friendships you create. I adored spending many of my afternoons exploring the local culture with both our coordinators and other volunteers as well as spending many late nights learning new languages, cultures and travel stories from across the world. These friendships hold a very special place in my heart and continue to flourish outside of the volunteer space. My favourite part of the volunteering had to be the lesson planning as it was the most rewarding experience when the lessons and games I had planned were so well received and enjoyed by the kids! If you are considering volunteering … this is definitely your sign as it is an unmatched experience that has countless affordances ❤️ The local team made my stay like home wherein I became apart of this close knit family. We were all so well looked after, with all facilities well maintained, drivers readily available, existing connections across all of Chiang Mai and major attractions we all wanted to visit as well as endless resources to utilise within the classroom setting. The food was definitely locally sourced with many dishes being traditional to Thailand however the food was well prepared and delicious. A few more Western dishes would have been adored but not necessary! It was awesome! I’m so very grateful! THANK YOU 🥰