GIVE VolunteersReviews of givevolunteers.org

I am so grateful for my second trip with GIVE Volunteers on the Big Island Hawai’i 💚 🌊 🌺 🌅 The people of Hawai’i have endless stories to tell that most people will never hear (or listen to). I’ll never forget the moment after a beach cleanup with the Hawaiian Wildlife Fund, when a local told us, “You have two eyes two ears and one mouth…what that means is you should look and listen twice as much as you speak.” As he spoke, he looked over his ancestors’ land while the powerful waves of Kawa Bay crashed behind him. Our guides taught us just a few Hawaiian words, but the one that resonated with many of us throughout the trip was mana. Mana is the universal life force that moves through everything, and it is deeply powerful on this island. Mahalo nui loa to our wonderful trip guides, for their open hearts guiding us on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And of course, I could never forget to mention the loving ohana of my fellow volunteers—these are the most wonderful, like-minded people all dedicated to our work each and every day. If you’re interested in volunteering with GIVE (either in Hawai’i or any of the other trips) check out their website!

As a parent, I cannot say enough great things about this organization. From the start, they were responsive, from the emails to the scheduled call. They answered all my questions. During the trip we had a minor medical issue with my son and they were immediately responsive and followed-up with me multiple times. I had a prior negative experience with Volunteer Solutions with my older son so I was very picky and Give exceeded my expectations. My son had a fantastic experience and wants to do another trip next summer. Thank you Give for being professional and thorough, for being structured and responsive and for giving my son a life changing perspective of the world.

Iv'e done 3 trips with GIVE so far! Tanz, Thailand and most recently Costa Rica. Each time I come away such a different person, the things I've learned, the people I've met and the most unforgetable experiences I've had have shaped me into the person I am today. Traveling solo and meeting such like-minded and open-minded individuals makes this experience truly one of a kind. You're traveling in a way that changes you.

Traveling with GIVE to Laos was single handedly the most impactful and fulfilling traveling I have ever experienced. I know that before my trip I was full of concerns regarding traveling the world on my own and volunteering in different countries in a respectful and helpful way. I’m happy to say that this trip exceeded my expectations for meaningful volunteering and sustainable practices! What I wasn't expecting was the lifelong friendships and powerful connections I made with not only my fellow volunteers but also the amazing and strong people of Sop Chem. The connections GIVE has with these local communities is inspiring, and whether it was teaching English, shoveling sand, or sharing a beautiful dinner with the community on our last night, I truly felt welcomed in these places that months ago would have seemed so foreign to me. A special thank you to all the incredible GIVE guides, they will be there to support you through every stomach ache, tear shed, and beautiful moment experienced, you all truly made Laos all the more impactful and special. Yes it was very hot, and there will be moments that push you way out of your comfort zone, but if you are looking for a meaningful and life changing volunteer experience, GO TO LAOS WITH GIVE!!

Traveling to Hawaii with GIVE was one of the best experiences of my life. The people I met on the trip, ranging from the incredibly down-to-earth guides and the other passionate volunteers, are some of my dearest friends and I hope to stay in touch with them for the rest of my life. Immersing myself in the local culture of Hawaii’s big island allowed me to embrace a new cultural environment and learn from the steward and caretakers of the beautiful āina. Having been on this trip and making so many incredible friends, I would definitely recommend going on a GIVE trip to anyone and everyone who’s even slightly interested. It may just change your life forever. I know it did for me. Thank you Liv, Jayden, Carly, and Traven for welcoming me to go on this wonderful journey and allowing me to learn more about the people and culture of beautiful Hawaii.

GIVE Volunteers goes above and beyond to make every project and trip participant feel valued and inspired. This program pushes you to think deeply about your role in the world and the impact you can make. An unforgettable experience—absolutely recommend it!

GIVE has been one of the best experiences for me while traveling. They allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people at my Hawai’i trip. At first, I had no clue what I was getting into and was a little nervous at first. But my amazing GIVE guides created an unforgettable experience I had with other volunteers who I consider my ohana (family).

I always have such a great time on these trips. Even on this trip, which I thought would be more self-serving in nature as it was primarily about getting open water scuba certified but i was very impressed with out GIVE integrated their idea of "responsible tourism" into the Scuba course as we learned about coral reef & wildlife and what we can to preserve the oceans, as we would now be active members of this community. And even on this excursion we got to spend time volunteering with children at the local school, and it is always just my favorite thing in the world to put smiles on kids' faces and hear their contagious laughter. It was truly an amazing experience, my only complaint is that it was not long enough!