Volunteer Abroad for 7-12 Months

After only 2 weeks I decided I wanted to live and work in CR. So I think this says it all. I’m now going from volunteer to employee. Maximo / my host family and my volunteer project have now become friends.

Great experience. This was my first time paying to participate in an overseas volunteering program, and I was afraid I would get scammed. No such occurrence. All arrangements from homestay to the work itself were exactly as described. My Peruvian family took great care of me and my work (medical volunteering in a local community clinic) was fulfilling. Maximo Nivel maintains a relationship with a reputable tourism company (American Inca Trail) that has an office in their same building, and I took full advantage of this for some amazing hiking trips. The services Maximo Nivel provides (arranging accommodation, placing you with host family, placing you in volunteer project, etc.) aren´t cheap and you might think you can do it cheaper on your own, but in my opinion, they´re worth the price you pay. Let them handle some things for you so you can focus on enjoying your experience abroad, not dealing with shady travel companies, lodging/logistics that aren´t what you were promised, etc.

I had a really unforgettable summer with The Intern Group. For the internship, it's my first real industry working experience, I learned so many new things, solved the problems that I have never met before. Thanks so much for my colleagues and mentors, they were always so patient and supportive, helping me whenever I have troubles. I really enjoyed the working environment, everyone is doing their own things, but the meetings and communication let me felt strong connection. And also thanks a lot for the events from Intern Group. I met people from different background, sharing opinions with each other. And the activities also led us to look into the English culture, experienced the life in London. It's such an unforgettable summer. I made new friends, had an experience of internship, broadened my horizon for different cultures. Thanks for meeting everyone.

Loved this experience, 100% recommend for everyone to do a Meditrip. The first experience gave me the chance to develop my love of medicine and return to Africa to experience the amazing culture of Tanzania.

I had a wonderful experience with the Marine Conservation Volunteer Project in Kilifi, Kenya. The entire program was very well organized, and everything was clearly planned from the beginning. The team was welcoming, professional, and supportive throughout the experience. I particularly enjoyed being involved in marine conservation activities and learning more about the local environment and the importance of protecting our oceans. The project offered a great balance between meaningful conservation work and experiencing the beautiful Kenyan coast and local community. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a well-organized, impactful, and rewarding volunteering experience

As a 16-year-old traveling alone in Costa Rica, Maximo Nivel made me feel safe, supported, and welcomed throughout my entire experience. The staff and my host family gave me all the support and guidance I needed, which made being away from home so much easier. I especially loved how Maximo brings everyone together, allowing me to meet so many amazing people from different cultures, countries, and backgrounds. This has been one of the best experiences of my life so far, and as my first solo trip, I feel like I’ve grown so much as a person. I gained more confidence, independence, and a new appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. I truly don’t think I would have had this experience or grown as much without Maximo Nivel.

Volunteering through Maximo Nivel has been one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve ever had. The staff and my host family were incredible and I felt completely supported every step of the way during my 3 weeks. I’m sure I’ll be doing another project in the future.

Everything was so fun and easy and being able to do this was one of the best experiences of my life. I made amazing friends and memories and I truly appreciate how Maximo nivel made my volunteer abroad so special.

My experience in Peru has been absolutely amazing! Working with the kids has been such a wonderful experience, not only do I get a ton of new friends but I get to learn with them. The teachers are so wonderful and are very patient with my Spanish. The kids are the sweetest ever and are so eager to learn. I get to work with the 3 year olds and it is such a rewarding experience. I am learning so much in the classroom and the kids help me with my Spanish so much. Overall, I recommend working on this project to really feel like you are part of the community and see the culture first hand. Exploring cusco has also been so rewarding. I get to take the bus to my placement everyday which is super cool because I am with all of the locals and get to see real life peru. I am grateful to be experiencing this more as a local rather than a tourist. My host family has been super kind and makes me feel like family. I have felt extremely safe and can even walk around at night by myself with no worries. My host siblings and I have also often talked about how the food has never been bad since we´ve been here. This country is so so beautiful and I cannot wait to keep exploring all that it has to offer.

I didn't expect this program would positively impact me so much. My first 2 days were tough, had no internet connection (no idea what's happening to my family), high humidity, mosquitoes, muddy. However, once I got myself "dirty", I started to see the good sides of it. I slept well every night (beds were equipped with mosquito net) and woke up with birds chirping. I learnt how the forest relies on each other and how flood, predators (such as caiman, anaconda) and swamp are benefiting the forest through the explanation of the researchers who worked there. Things that were seemed dangerous or gross turned out to have positive impact to other animals or plants. Activities there were fun though exhausting sometimes. I remember holding a snake and a small caiman for my first time during our night walk! I also remember walking few hours to collect seed. Also, we played volleyball on the last day! It's definitely an eye opener trip for me.

I cannot recommend working with Give and Surf more. Overall the experience is fulfilling and super fun! A huge part of the success of my visit was the flexibility and supportiveness of the staff - they make traveling abroad and living in a new place a really smooth experience! Another thing that is extremely important to me when traveling or working with organizations abroad is that the organization is ethical, and I can unequivocally say that you can feel good about working with Give and Surf because it is community embedded, in it for the long haul, stable, and collaborative. The work they do is greatm and the experience they provide is worth it!

Staying in a local house is something you have to experience at least once in life, also have the ability to see how life works in another country and the local people, is an amazing way to find another version of yourself, and learn how you can live the life with “pura vida”. It was also too beautiful the volunteering with the kids, you are always welcome by them and they are expecting you with a lots of love and happiness. The only thing I don’t like about this experience is saying goodbye and had to come back home. Also I recommend takes some tours because you get to know better this beautiful country!! (Specially Nauyaca Waterfall tour if you like risks)

I found the program very enjoyable. It was easy to fit in and meet other volunteers. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Everybody who is willing to embark on such journey will definitely not be disapointed!ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Everything was excellent, great support from Maximo Staff. Good introduction session as well as bases covered. And good offers of support from Maximo staff. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

You guys were great! There was great support, info, and involvement. Thank you!ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

My experience in Peru with Maximo Nivel was above excellent. I had such an amazing time. The atmosphere of my project, school, homestay, and city of Cusco was so comforting, especially as a solo traveler. Everything was excellent!

I was incredibly impressed by the speed and efficiency of the team when I submitted my application. I signed up for the IVHQ program just over a month before my departure, yet everything was organized smoothly and efficiently from the very beginning. The organization was excellent, and the people on site were incredibly kind. Cambodian people are genuinely warm, welcoming, and friendly. The staff and teachers at the school where I volunteered gave me a wonderful welcome and made me feel comfortable from the start. Neth, who showed us around Siem Reap on our first day, was incredibly kind, attentive, and always willing to help. Our host, Lin, was also absolutely wonderful—always cheerful, smiling, and taking great care of us. She prepared our meals and cleaned our rooms once a week. The food was always delicious, generous, and filling. Lin paid close attention to everyone’s preferences and dietary requirements, including vegetarian diets, which was greatly appreciated. It was also a wonderful experience to share meals and spend evenings out with the other volunteers. There were around six of us living in the house: two people from New Zealand, one from the UK, two from the US, and me, from France. It was a great opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and share this experience together. That being said, I was also very happy that I had chosen a private room with air conditioning—which I definitely made good use of in the Cambodian heat! Siem Reap itself was absolutely beautiful, and there is so much to see and do in and around the city. I was lucky enough to experience the Bon Om Touk Water Festival during my stay, which made the trip even more special. There are also many amazing places to visit, such as Tonlé Sap and its floating villages, the Angkor National Museum, the incredible Angkor temples, and the famous Cambodian circus, Phare. There are plenty of activities and excursions to enjoy during your free time, making Siem Reap a fantastic place to combine volunteering with discovering the local culture, history, and surroundings. The volunteer house was also very comfortable and pleasant, and conveniently located just a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride from the school. Overall, I had an amazing experience and would highly recommend it to anyone considering volunteering in Cambodia. Everything—from the organization and accommodation to the people I met and the work at the school—made this an unforgettable experience.

I spent two weeks at Na'ankuse in Namibia as part of the IVHQ Volunteering program working closely with animals at the wildlife reserve. For the price of the program my expectations were well exceeded! The accomodation, food and staff services were great and the experiences with the animals during the volunteer work is unlike anything I have seen. Being able to be so close to the wildlife whilst doing activities that make a difference was truly an unforgettable experience. I hope to go back soon!

Give & Surf is such a special organization, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to volunteer with them multiple times. Every visit has been such a rewarding experience—not only because of the incredible work they’re doing, but because of the amazing people who make the program what it is. I’ve formed genuine friendships with several of the teachers and staff, and some have become lifelong friends. There’s such a strong sense of community, kindness, and purpose within Give & Surf. It’s one of those organizations that stays with you long after you leave, and I feel very lucky to have been a small part of it. I would highly recommend getting involved or volunteering if you ever have the opportunity!