Volunteer Abroad Programs

From meeting a bunch of new people where I got to make a bunch of new friends with people from all over the country to traveling to this amazing place I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. In the trip getting the experience of staying on a small island where we stayed in tents close to the beach was probably one of the coolest things. I think I liked it so much because that isn’t something I would get the opportunity to do if I just travelled by myself or with my family to Fiji. I think this program also did an amazing job of letting us interact with the locals who were some of the most welcoming people I have ever met. From where we stayed and one of our program leaders being a local, to when we were volunteering and the locals would help us practice the Fijian we had learned, and getting to hang out with the local kids and play games with them it was a really cool experience that I was glad I got to have. Back on the mainland we got to meet another group of locals and kids when we did more service in a local community digging out a spot for a compostable toilet and pouring a walking path all to help with sanitation in the area. I would say if you like meeting new people, experiencing a new culture, talking to the locals, amazing views, good food, fun activities, and doing service work this trip checks all of those boxes perfectly!

I really have no words for the amount of joy and happiness I felt on this trip to Japan I really enjoyed every second. From the city to the mountains I felt I got to experience all of what Japan had to offer and it still left me wanting more. I made so many friends along the way too it was truly incredible

I was doing a volunteering at voluntours colombia for 2 weeks. I picked something where I am supposed to work and help with rescued dogs from the street. I got picked up from the airport by their personal driver. When I arrived Simon and Laura explained everthing else while having lunch. I found out they had more fundations than just the dogs, for example: teaching english to children and even prison inmates. At the beginning i just wanted to work with the dogs but these experiences they offerd sounded to amazing to say no. So most days i spent time with the dogs. Feed them, brush them and of course... give them some love. Everyone was more jealous then the one before. Of course you have dogs there who had a rough time before, but i think because of this programm and all the love they get, they are still very sweet and get better every day. Except for the dogs which was already amazing, i didnt think that i would also visit a colombian prison or teach english to children. But for everybody searching for an unforgettable experience and wanting to see a new culture, just book your trip!

I volunteered here after visiting the Gaza Camp in Jerash, but given the current situation in Hebron, I had no idea what to expect when I arrived in the city. Any worries were instantly squashed upon arrival. Mr. Muhanned (the project coordinator) met me on the street, showed me around HQ and my accommodation which was very comfortable and had everything you could need. After some rest, I went out to walk the streets of Hebron and had fallen in love with the place within the hour. The kindness and hospitality of the locals was overwhelming. They were beyond friendly, and I had soon been bought dinner, two desserts and even had my grocery shop paid for (these offers were impossible to refuse). I made multiple friends on night one, friends I've continued to see all week. Days here begin with a good breakfast with welcoming smiles. The staff here are incredible, and you instantly feel at home. On the first day we went to a nearby refugee camp, both a heartbreaking and incredibly valuable experience. I spoke with and answered questions to an elderly long-term resident who taught me so much. But given the fact that all the staff here have lived under this occupation their whole lives, they are all a wealth of knowledge and have so many stories to tell. For a curious mind, you will never stop learning. Dalia's Arabic classes (usually at the end of the day) were always a highlight. She is a lovely human and a great teacher. The English classes and cultural exchanges were an incredible experience for me, a great exercise in human connection and skill building (and of course more knowledge gathering). Everybody I met taught me something new, and everybody was so excited to learn about Australia and the cultural differences. This program is a wonderful opportunity for those who want to volunteer in Palestine without putting themselves at risk. I have not felt unsafe a single moment in Hebron while surrounded by the wonderful Palestinian's. In fact, I have never felt safer than I do here with these beautiful people. They consider your safety and comfort their duty to ensure. You will make life-long friends, learn so much and have your heart filled, broken and filled again dozens of times a day. I consider this to be perhaps the greatest experience of my life so far. I love it here, and you will too.

Honestly I was so scared going into a country thousands of miles away from my family with people I never really met, but Rustic Pathways made the experience feel so safe. First they have group zoom meeting with the other kids going on the same trip, so kids like myself could feel less uncomfortable if we weren’t completely strangers. What stood out to me was that there was another kid who already did the trip, but helped us understand what we could expect making the experience more comfortable. The staff watching over us were so passionate about keeping us safe, educated, and having a fun experience. What also stood out was making sure that the kids with dietary restrictions still had food that was enjoyable. I remember when we ate at a restaurant the staff brought gluten free ingredients like sauces for the chef to cook with just in case they didn’t have a gluten free menu. The experience itself was so much fun that I never really was on my phone besides calling my family before bed. I remember when all us kids missed our pets so much, but couldn’t pet stray dogs or cats; so they somehow managed to fit a cat cafe into our tight schedule. The staff always check on us to make sure we are comfortable and having fun which made the experience so great. And they got to educate us about the kingdom, the religions, the forests/plants, the history of Thailand, the food, the animals, the beliefs, the language, and so much more. Honestly I wished that I found out about this program when I was 13, so I could go on more teen trips. It truly was my favorite memory of all time and I really do hope to have more experiences like I did for the future.

My week on Rustic Pathways’s turtle conservation trip was an incredible vessel in exposing me to conservation opportunities. My time in Costa Rica was mainly spent in Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, participating in activities to benefit the turtles who find themselves on their beaches. I have always loved marine conservation, and it was a dream come to to be able to safely interact with sea turtles through night walks. The conversations I had with the refuge guide as well as seeing the impact of the work we did solidified this commitment to conservation.

We came as a family of four to Cusco to participate in the Indigenous Communities Umasbamba project and had an amazing time. It was an awesome experience for our kids, who are 15 and 13, to see how other people live out their daily lives. We would recommend this project to anyone.

Spending four weeks volunteering with IPBio in the Brazilian Amazon was one of the most extraordinary and meaningful experiences of my life. I arrived with no scientific background, simply driven by my love of nature, my curiosity, and my desire to experience the Amazon rainforest in an authentic way. I left with so much more than I could ever have imagined. Throughout the program, I participated in a wide range of biodiversity research activities, discovering fascinating aspects of wildlife, insects, plants, fungi, and the incredible ecosystems of the Amazon. Every day brought something new to learn. One of my favorite memories was Fish Monitoring, when we had to get out of our boat and push it through the muddy waters of the Amazon to reach our research sites. It was adventurous, challenging, and absolutely unforgettable! But what surprised me most was how this experience completely changed the way I look at nature. Before coming here, I had never really taken the time to appreciate the smallest details of the natural world. Through scientific observations and photography, I discovered an entire universe hidden right in front of our eyes. I even caught myself finding a tiny spider adorable because it looked like it was wearing a little motorcycle helmet! Something I would never have imagined before. The IPBio team deserves enormous recognition. Imran, Martha, Marleen, and everyone involved were welcoming, passionate, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive. Even without a scientific background, I always felt included and encouraged to learn. Their ability to make complex scientific subjects understandable and fascinating is one of the program's greatest strengths. Beyond the scientific experience, these four weeks also gave me something deeply personal. Spending time in the rainforest helped me reconnect with myself, reflect on my life, and realize just how much I belong in nature. I genuinely believe this adventure came at exactly the right moment in my life. Of course, there are a few practical aspects that could be improved, particularly transportation between the volunteer house and Alter do Chão, which sometimes limits spontaneity and independence. I would also have loved more opportunities to spend nights immersed in the rainforest. But these are small considerations compared with everything this experience gave me. I learned, explored, laughed, met wonderful people, and created memories I will carry with me forever. Would I do it again? Without hesitation. Would I recommend IPBio? Absolutely. I came to the Amazon hoping to discover an extraordinary natural environment, and I left having also discovered a part of myself. Thank you, IPBio, from the bottom of my heart!

Once I decided to volunteer, IVHQs website helped me easily arrange the rest. I chose Cambodia as I had been there before and thought this was a good place to start my volunteering journey. As an older single traveller i needed to feel safe about what I was doing. I have the confidence now to go anywhere with IVHQ. All the inclusions, information and arrangements as part of the program all happened as IVHQ said it would.

I had the amazing time with Floating Doctors in Panama. Managed to see first hand how One Health approach in remote communities. Being a vet myself, it was an amazing for me to both learn and contribute. Rewarding but challenging, Floating Doctors is achieving a tremendous, community-led change.

What an experience, and what gratitude from the people around me, and the love I received from the animals. Unforgettable – and I’ll definitely be back. Thank you to Rhiana and Ute for all your hard work there and for letting me be part of it. ❤️

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.

Wepa! I’m Alejandra Carbonell, a 3rd-year veterinary student from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. I had long hoped to find an experience that would push me beyond what I knew, allow me to serve others, and experience a world beyond my own. But what I found with Floating Doctors went far beyond anything I could have imagined. For a month, it truly felt like I was living in a movie. Having grown up with relatively easy access to healthcare and health information, this experience served as a powerful reminder that health education is just as important as healthcare itself when it comes to creating sustainable change, especially in communities with limited access to care. During my time with Floating Doctors, I witnessed the lengths the team goes to reach these communities: from four-hour hikes through the mountains to five-hour boat rides across open waters. No mountain was too high and no journey was too far. As a veterinary student, I had the opportunity to grow in ways I never expected. I performed my first three spays, in an outdoor setting with the guidance of two passionate veterinarians and also the curious supervision of the kids from the community. I was also able to assist with an extremely rare ectopic pregnancy spay, encountered many cases of TVT, botflies, and screwworms and had the opportunity to serve as a translator between providers and patients. Outside of the clinic, I was lucky enough to witness dolphins leaping through the water, a sloth peacefully sleeping alongside her baby in a palm tree, glow worms visiting us on a full moon, and, on our very last day, a nurse shark circling the dock, as if coming to say goodbye. Staying with the communities where phones couldn’t always be charged,Wi-Fi couldn’t be reached and hot showers were not available reminded me that in simplicity we find true connection. Sometimes, it looks like bathing in the river with scrubs on, playing cards under the light of our headlamps, looking at the fireflies or bioluminescence under a summer night, watching children turn a wheelbarrow into a river float or sharing traditional dances from our home countries. Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to live an experience as wonderful as this and meet such beautiful souls from different parts of the world. Floating Doctors will stay with me forever; not just in my memories, but quite literally on my skin. Biti Ja Tuäita — “Nos vemos” / “See you later” en Ngäbe-Buglé.

Everything about Cheetahs Experience is wonderful - the staff, accommodations and their care for the animals! Being a part of the day-to-day activities necessary to care for the animals and getting to know them is a life changing experience. They have various programs based on the level of physical activity - you’re never too old! We found Cheetah Experience four years ago and have gone back every year and will be returning soon. Cheetah Experience is our home.

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.

My family was really nervous about me going. Somos had every detail handled, and within a day I felt completely safe. Any concerns about safety can be put to rest. I would send my own kids on this trip.

Some of our students had been to a dozen countries. All of them said this was by far the best. By the end they were asking for more time with the community, and that tells you everything about what Somos built here.

Twenty years of teaching, and this is the Partners of the Americas trip I'll remember. Somos gave our kids access to people and places we could never have reached on our own, and every connection they made was genuine.

Somos didn't hand us a packaged itinerary. They put our students in real conversation with the people who live this work every day. I learned more about Guatemala's history from our driver, Marlen, than I ever did from a textbook. That is the difference.

Traveling with Somos Impact Travel allowed us to connect with the local community through their NGO partner. That depth made our students feel like they were part of something bigger than themselves, and it made the whole experience so much more meaningful.