Tutoring Volunteer Programs Abroad

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.

The weather was unseasonably hot with rain almost every day for a few hours. The program was great an I enjoyed my students while teaching English. I stayed for 6 weeks which was too much for me, being from Wisconsin. I would only do 4 weeks for volunteering next time. Maybe 6 weeks if you are learning Spanish and want a lot of time for Emerson.

My time volunteering in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, was an incredible experience. I spent my time teaching English in a community project. The program is well organised and provides meaningful opportunities to contribute to the local community. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a rewarding and impactful experience. The staff at Maximo are also lovely - Anika made me feel welcome from the moment i stepped in. I would recomend to many!

The excellence center is truly an incredible experience. I was unsure when I first signed up, but my doubts were washed away after a week. The center, the people themselves, the community around the center is incredible. I’ve never felt more comfortable in a foreign country than I did here. Rafat has created something special, and if you have the chance to experience it I 100% would. You won’t find anything else like it. And be ready to go with the flow! Any plan you make will probably collapse - so have fun rearranging. - Queen Taylor

I had a really good time! It was very interesting to learn about the culture in Costa Rica. The mariposario was beautiful. The institute is great, it has a pool!! Maximo Nivel is #Awesome I would absolutely recommend any of their projects.

I spent my time in San Jose teaching English in a High School and Daycare centre. Both of these placements were extremely rewarding and a great way to experience the local culture. The project staff and staff at Maximo Nuvel have been excellent. I have found the programme extremely rewarding and will definitely do this again! A great way to see the world and give something back to local communities.

I travelled to Kisumu alone, a new country, a new culture and language not knowing what to expect, but it was the best experience. Each day was so different, and I quickly became accustomed to the laid back “Kenyan time”. When people hear about the trip the first thing they ask is “What was your favourite part?”, and I never know how to answer. It was the people, the lessons and the laughs shared that made the experience so special. We spent lots of time in the children’s remand home. In a time of such uncertainty in these young people’s lives seeing how eager they were to broaden their knowledge was honestly eye-opening. Getting to spend every evening chatting, playing lego, listening to music or being taught Kiswahili by the children are the little moments I will never forget.

Had an amazing time in Guatemala with Maximo Nivel. Everything ran very smoothly. The staff were nice and the facilities were great. Events were organised every week to help volunteers get to know each other as well.

It brought me so much joy to soend time with the kids. It felt like we built a geniuine connection right away and i miss them very much. I am very thankful, that i was welcomed dearly by everyone. They made me feel like i belonged there and were always so hapoy to see me. I loves the walk to the waterfall and the hike on our last day. The view from up there was incredible and i loved being sorrounded by all those lovely people. I also enjoyed our trip to the lake. We danced and sang, it made me feel so nostalgic and it got me to really think about the future, and where and how i wanna spend my gap year after i graduate. I loved the whole experience and defenitly wanna come back.

Living abroad in Turkey was an important experience in my life. I had the opportunity to discover a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and learn how to adapt to a different environment. This experience helped me become more independent, patient, and open-minded. It also taught me the importance of communication, hard work, and respecting cultural differences. I believe that living abroad can help people grow personally and professionally.

We really enjoyed working with the staff. They were very professional, friendly, helpful, fun, and informative. We loved our project! It taught us so many wonderful lessons of compassion, friendship, patience, and diversity. We definitely want to come again!

This program was very cool! we got to experience so much with all the other volunteers from night patrols, trash pickup and more! I loved all the people I met, and I feel like I made such great connections!☀️🪷🌊🌿🏄🤙

I´ve spent a month at Panthera Sanctuary. I have the utmost respect for the Aldo and Cristobal. They´ve made me feel welcomed and safe from day 1. I had some reservations and fears of course before my arrival considering the remoteness of the location. But they made sure we were well informed and looked after at all times. The place is a paradise, I would recommend this program to everyone who wants to be a part of something bigger, who loves animals and nature or just for digital detox. Even though we´ve had no internet connection in the sanctuary, the guys from Maximo Nivel´s office sent us regular updates and checked-in on us. I thank the whole team for this once in a lifetime experience.

IVHQ is an amazing volunteer community. The team is super helpful and supportive from start to finish. The volunteer locations and the home stays are great for immersing yourself in the culture and environment. I’ve done 2 trips. One in Guatemala and one in Ecuador and have plans to do many with. 5 star experience! I hope this review inspires someone!

My three weeks with Stepping Stones China have been an extraordinarily rewarding first experience in China. With 22 years of teaching experience, including extensive work with 8 to 12-year-olds, I was truly delighted to put my expertise at the service of Stepping Stones. From the very beginning, the welcome from the entire team was exceptional. The staff’s guidance, support, and dedication created a warm, collaborative environment that made the mission a success. Working alongside my colleague Lisa, a psychologist and social-emotional development specialist, was a highlight. Together, our joint efforts helped the children feel comfortable, build confidence, and make tangible progress toward more natural, interactive English communication. Seeing the children's enthusiasm and growth over the weeks was deeply fulfilling. Given how positive this experience has been, I would love to join the team again next summer, subject to how the economic and geopolitical situation evolves. A huge thank you to the whole team for their outstanding work! "Jiayou!"

I truly had an amazing time volunteering with Better Me. The program is beautifully organized, with volunteers staying in a comfortable home, enjoying great food, and, most importantly, being surrounded by wonderful people. The staff is incredible—they are welcoming, caring, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure every volunteer has a meaningful and memorable experience. The variety of opportunities offered throughout the week was so enriching and allowed me to connect with the community in so many different ways. Every child I interacted with was incredibly smart, kind, and full of personality, and in so many ways, they taught me more than I could have ever taught them. My time with Better Me was truly one of the most meaningful and enriching experiences of my life. I learned so much, grew in ways I never expected, and gained memories and relationships that I will carry with me for a long time. I genuinely wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. What is your advice to future travelers on this program? Try everything! Better Me has so many different opportunities and experiences available to volunteers, and the staff is incredibly open-minded and supportive if you want to create and lead your own activities. One of the other volunteers led guitar lessons, while I helped lead Zumba with another group of kids. I also got to help with social media, create my own lesson plans, and teach my own classes. Better Me also collaborates with so many different organizations, which gives you the opportunity to attend their events and meet other staff members and volunteers. Outside of volunteering, make sure you take advantage of being in Kenya! Go on a safari and explore different parts of the country. The staff has so many connections and is incredibly helpful.

Volunteering with Maximo Nivel was truly a blessing. I had the most amazing time immersing myself in the Costa Rican culture and helping others. The staff at Maximo Nivel were incredibly helpful, as well as the homestay.

My time in Kenya was amazing. The most beautiful moments were the time with the children. One meaningful moment was the time when I came back from town and the children ran to you with a bright smile. Their joy and energy surprised me every day and made me feel welcome all the time. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and will stay with me forever. I'm thankful for the amazing people and the support of everyone. I already miss the children and the kindness from everyone. It was an opportunity to connect with great people and learn about a different culture. Kenya will always have a special place in my heart.

When was I planning for my next 40 years wanted to embark on a multicultural adventure that would bring me new sights, smells and experiences. After 2 weeks of consulting with other outfit programs decided to enroll in the Maximo volunteer, Spanish immersion, and mini adventure program. I had limited time to maximize my journey, and was a bit overwhelmed. After communicating with Travis and his onboarding team i was confident that i chose the right outfit for my personal journey. Their team made it very easy to customize my experience and answered all my questions with details and confirmations. I was very excited to embark on this adventure. This was my first solo international adventure and the Maximo team had the experience i wanted to work with. After landing in Cusco, i was taken care of by their travel team and taken straight to my guest house. after that i was invited to meet with Gabby (the big cheese) and got to see the international office while meeting the remainder of their team of 50. i was welcomed with open arms and introduced to Reese, the field manager who met with my for an hour to discuss the plan of action for the next two weeks. after that meeting i was excited to start my journey. I could go on and on about the client services and attention to detail that this team provided to me, and i am forever grateful to have been apart of a program that cares for its clients, community and the overall contribution to the world. My 2028 goal is to become TEFL certified and will be using MAXIMO NIVEL for that next adventure. ¨To realize ones destiny is a persons only obligation!¨