Community Development Volunteer Programs Abroad

I enjoyed assistant teaching 3rd graders in Cape Town South Africa, under the IVHQ teaching program. I enjoyed lots of flexibility in helping the students individual ly. I helped with the following subjects: Life Skills, Math in class and weekly lab, English and history. The teacher was awesome and had control of her classroom at all times. I was never bored. The students responded to me with the upmost respect. When it was time for me to leave I receive a number of cards and thanks from the students. The staff was outstanding. They took us to the school and picked us up. They were very organized, professional, polite and always helpful. The food was excellent along with the accommodations. This was my third trip there doing the teaching program. I was never disappointed with anything. I was stretched each trip and I grew a lot. I am retired, 72 and was always treated with the upmost respect by all.

My experience with The Intern Group in London has been a very rewarding and enriching one, both professionally and personally. From the beginning, the team was supportive, approachable, and attentive, making the entire process, from preparation and arrival to settling into London, considerably easier. The internship itself provided me with the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the construction industry, particularly in residential project management. Working alongside professionals at Dobuild Group allowed me to develop a better understanding of construction site operations, project coordination, communication between different trades, and the importance of organisation and planning in delivering a successful project. Beyond the professional experience, living and working in London has been an incredible opportunity to become more independent, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience a new culture. The Intern Group also helped create an environment where connecting with other interns and sharing experiences became an important part of the programme. Overall, I would highly recommend The Intern Group to anyone looking to gain international work experience while developing both professionally and personally. It has been an experience that has broadened my perspective, strengthened my confidence, and given me valuable insights that I will carry forward into my future career.

The Haven and Sister Cynthia took great care of us and made us feel welcome from the very beginning. Carol, despite her heavy workload, made sure we settled in and gave us direction to get started. The first week was mostly reading and familiarising ourselves with the work, which at first seemed slow, but as time went on we began to understand the importance of that foundation. Gradually, we got to know the colleagues better, and what started as a formal work environment grew into genuine friendships. By the end, I felt like we were not just interns tagging along but part of a team working toward shared goals. Over the course of the programme, we were involved in both community and legal work that made the experience incredibly meaningful. It gave me the chance to contribute to client submissions, legal drafting, and case preparation, which was both challenging and rewarding. We never felt thrown in at the deep end or left without support.During my time I worked with around 45 clients on a range of refugee and asylum matters. I drafted submissions that supported successful appeals against Home Affairs decisions, secured renewals of vital documents, and assisted with applications for asylum. I was also involved in client consultations, where I interviewed clients, gathered evidence, and prepared case files. This gave me a real insight into how important it is to build trust and listen carefully to people’s stories. Alongside this, I prepared case summaries, legal reports, and policy documents, and I also contributed to a project looking into corruption in South Africa’s immigration system. These experiences gave me the chance to use my legal research and drafting skills in a practical way, and to see first-hand the difference that this kind of work can make for vulnerable communities. I was able to contribute to casework and client submissions that directly affected people’s lives. Knowing that the work I did helped clients secure documents or strengthen their asylum cases gave me a real sense that I was supporting the team and the wider mission. The placement allowed me to grow personally and professionally, to build relationships with people I will never forget, and to experience South Africa in a way that was both meaningful and authentic.

I wouldn’t change anything! I went in Jesus gang because I don’t like bugs but also Cristobal made the experience so fun and educational! I had a blast from night walks, fishing activities, and volleyball. I would 100% return to this project. They have amazing energy and I learned so much. I would definitely recommend this project to future volunteers. I’m so grateful I went 1’s the food was phenomenal!!

Going to Sri Lanka was an experience I’ll never forget. During my time there I got to meet the most wonderful people and experience so much culture I never knew had existed. From the moment I got there till the day I left I felt very safe within my accommodation as well and the staff members who would help me with anything I needed. I would recommend.

I came to IPBio hoping to make a positive impact on local biodiversity and the surrounding community, but my expectations were exceeded in every possible way. It truly was a 10/10 experience! The work is easy enough to pick up quickly, but varied and interesting enough that it doesn't become repetitive or boring. Most importantly, you genuinely feel like you are making a difference, which sets it apart from other volunteer programs. Getting the opportunity to see amazing wildlife up close, including sloths, monkeys and caimans, while on the job makes the experience even more special. The volunteer house is lovely as well, especially the pool, and Alter do Chão and Santarém have so much to offer, meaning there is always something to explore during free time and weekends. The beach was my favorite place to be! On top of all that, the other volunteers were incredibly nice, the staff were always helpful, welcoming and supportive and best of all there is a cat. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience and would wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking for a meaningful, fun and rewarding time volunteering!

From working with kids in a nursery, to seeing beautiful tours, and spending 2 weeks in the Amazon jungle!.. i've learned so much about my self, and the people of Peru. By far my favorite project was the Panthera sanctuary. Aldo and Cristobal are amazing people who made me embrace ALL... Of the jungle, but i've never felt more energetic and driven. the location is beautiful and rustic, with a scenic view of the river. We were able to help reforest, monitor and document animals, as well as do other activities like play volley ball, go fishing, and night animal monitoring. Oh and dont get me started on how delicous the food was, we got breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Amazing. Im reminicing as i type this. 100% recommend doing this project as well as looking into the other incredible projects Maximo has to offer. You wont regret it!!!

I did the Archaeology and Jungle Conservation programs around Cusco. They were all very well organized and Maximo made it very easy to learn how to get from place to place. I think similar programs would require much longer stays or affiliations with university programs. My feedback to future volunteers is to take whatever amount of bug spray and sunblock you think you need and triple it. If it is the rainy season, bring water proof clothes and boots.

The cultural information shared by host families was amazing. We came to celebrate our 25th anniversary and the archaeology dig was great with a wonderful host family. We will be strongly recommending this program to all our family and friends. We cannot wait to come again. Muy bueno!

I have had great experiences working with IVHQ for four straight years. The representatives are always friendly, professional and easy to work with. They have helped me to not just enjoy my time in other countries, but feel like I've made a valuable contribution. The variety of experiences that they offer and contribute to makes it easy for me to continue working with them year after to eat, and if it wasn't for IVHQ I might not be volunteering year after year like I have been. Looking forward to many more years of working with them.

I thank future4africa for allowing me to live this amazing experience! You have been there a dream! The people are amazing, from the population, the future4africa team and the volunteers. You constantly receive love, joy and attention. I have had different experiences such as seeing the operation of the hospital, teaching in a school, visiting villages, playing with children, doing a safari and a thousand other things that will remain forever in my memory. I totally recommend living this experience with future4africa, you are constantly taken care of, they will give you all the love in the world and you do endless activities.

I spent a month in Bolgatanga (Ghana) with Future 4 Afrika in a Education program. I went to a school and gave classes to the children in the morning and we did other different activities in the afternoon, like going to orphanages to spend time and play with the kids. It was certainly the best experience for my life and I recommend it to everybody! It made me change my way of seeing life. All the people working in this NGO are angels and the took care of us like we were family. I can’t wait to come back!!!

the best experience of my life❤️ spending time with the children, teaching them and having the opportunity to see the Ghanaian culture and its reality is something I will never forget. I totally recommend Future4africa since they helped and accompanied us from the very first moment, they are so awesome people!!!

I spent almost four weeks at Future4Africa and truly enjoyed my time there. During this period, I gained many new experiences and had the opportunity to work both in the primary school and in the community with the children in the afternoons. The time with them was incredibly rewarding and brought me a lot of joy. A special thanks goes to Joshua and Samuel, who put so much effort into making my stay unforgettable. They not only organized everything perfectly but also took me on trips to show me the country, its culture, and the beautiful nature. This gave me a very authentic insight and made my stay even more valuable. I can highly recommend Future4Africa to anyone who would like to get to know a new culture, work with children, and at the same time make a positive impact.

J'ai vécu ce dernier mois la plus belle expérience de ma vie. Nous avons été entourées de personnes bienveillantes dans chacune de nos missions, qui nous ont accompagnées de façon à vivre notre expérience de la façon la plus impactante et bénéfique possible. Les missions proposées étaient très intéressantes, nous avons la liberté de proposer des activités & autres occupations, nous étions très libres dans nos propositions ! À côté de cela, l'association se souciait chaque jour de notre humeur, notre journée et notre ressenti, et elle a tenu un rôle accompagnateur réellement présent. Nous avons pu faire des rencontres incroyables, et passer des moments d'échange que nous ne pourrons oublier. Nous avons aussi eu la chance de découvrir de nombreux endroits du Ghana, et d'en apprendre plus sur les cultures locales. Je n'ai qu'une hâte, c'est de revenir, pour continuer de travailler avec eux sur les nombreux projets qu'ils ont pour l'avenir, pour toutes ces personnes qu'ils aident au quotidien ! Merci future for africa 🙏🏼 *** english *** This last month has been the best experience of my life. We were surrounded by caring people on each of our missions, who helped us to live our experience in the most impactful and beneficial way possible. The missions proposed were very interesting, we had the freedom to propose activities & other occupations, we were very free in our proposals! On top of that, the association was very attentive to our mood, our day and how we felt, and played a really supportive role. We were able to meet some incredible people, and spend some unforgettable moments of exchange. We also had the chance to discover many parts of Ghana, and learn more about the local cultures. I can't wait to come back and continue working with them on the many projects they have for the future, for all the people they help on a daily basis! Thank you future for africa 🙏🏼

Everyone should go out of the comfort zones, and try a volunteering experience. It opens your mind and makes you realize what it really matters in life. I've learnt a lot, and I've learnt to value what I have. Future 4 Africa offered me this opportunity and they were even better than I expected. They took care of me in every single moment of the programm. I've had a really good time with them and I will for sure come back! Incredible people and incredible hearts! I just can say thank you.

Thanks to Future4Africa, I spent an unforgettable month in Bolgatanga, Ghana, as a nurse. I participated in various projects involving healthcare, education, sports, an orphanage, and a library. This experience was incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally, allowing me to learn, grow, and contribute to the local community. I am deeply grateful to the amazing team for their support and dedication. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I cannot wait to return

My experience in Ghana was extremely positive and enriching. I carried out several missions related to education, water supply, and the construction of sustainable, affordable houses adapted to the hot climate. The association provided excellent support and comfortable living conditions, making my integration easy. The local community welcomed me warmly and showed great appreciation for my work. This experience allowed me to discover a new culture, develop new skills, and contribute to meaningful projects. I am very happy to have supported this association and its valuable work for local communities.

I had a really good time teaching English to the Ticos here. While I was teaching them English, they were also teaching me Spanish which I loved. I’d love to do it again one day if possible. I think many people should consider this if they want to be immersed in culture, give back, and learn.

I had such an amazing time with Máximo Nivel, and I had some incredible teachers there, Mateo, Ande, Francisco. All of the staff there were amazing, and the program itself was so great; it really allowed us to get a taste of local life in Antigua, Guatemala, as I practiced Spanish every day and got to engage with the primary school children on a day-to-day basis.