GIVE VolunteersReviews of givevolunteers.org

Wow, is Give Volunteer special! This company provided a safe, positive, welcoming, and motivating environment for my month long adventure in Southeast Asia! Words cant describe how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to travel to both Thailand and Laos! The trips included inspiring guides with endless knowledge and welcoming energy, unforgettable endeavors in caves, rivers, villages, and more, and a packed yet organized itinerary! I truly felt safe the entire trip which helped me be present in the culture and activities! I learned so much more than I even imagined about permaculture, teaching english, Buddhism, and more. Not only were the guides amazing but all of the participants and I became family! This program is set up to encourage likeminded people to come together to make the world a better place. I encourage anyone considering taking a leap of faith to attend a Give trip, you will not regret it:)

I have always dreamt of going scuba diving, and when I saw that there was an open spot for a trip to get my PADI Open Water Certification in Hawai'i, I knew I had to fulfill my childhood dream. And wow, I am so incredibly grateful that I made the choice to do so. In the 7 days that I was on the Big Island, I was able to learn how to skilfully breathe underwater thanks to my incredible diving instructor Kay with Kohala Divers, a highly respected 5 Star PADI dive center. On top of my Open Water, I got three diving specializations: PADI Aware, CoralHealth Survey Chart, and Dive Against Debris -- all of which provided me with the tools and skills I needed to become a successful diver and engaged ocean advocate. Because my trip took place over whale season (in the winter/spring), I was able to hear the calls of nearby whales while underwater -- something I will never forget. That experience, along with diving alongside a beautiful hawksbill sea turtle, sparked an intense passion within me for diving that I will pursue for the rest of my life. My guides on the trip: Jordan, Hannah, Traven, and Ella, played such a big role in allowing my trip to be as impactful as it was. I will always cherish the relationships that I made with my fellow dive buddies, guides, and everyone else who I met on my trip. A hui hou!

This was my second trip with GIVE and it did not disappoint in the slightest! Each day of the trip I was challenged to seek discomfort and map my own journey, all while having the support from EVERYONE around me. The balance between volunteering and adventure was perfect. Zip lining through the jungle and white water rafting down the Pacuare River were absolutely exhilarating. Volunteering at Finca las Hormigas and in the local town of Gandoca expanded my perspective and fueled a deep desire to make a meaningful impact.

Originally, I planned this trip, not knowing what I was getting into and then after living the experiences that I did, I couldn’t imagine not traveling with GIVE and I am already planning my next trip with them. I absolutely love the community that we get to build with fellow volunteers And the local people. This was the most memorable experience that I have ever had in my lifetime.

I have a lot of love for Africa and always love going back. From the culture, to the people, the land, and of course the wild animals. It’s a different lifestyle and not much is known about Africa because it’s not the usual place people go to “get away”. Africa to me has always been a new experience every time I go. Our main guide Faith/Kasha, was phenomenal. Mature, knowledgeable, respectful, had logistics down and all around always there if anyone had any issues. The local guides were on it, and knew what had to be done. It was a great community of people and not something I have experienced before and I honestly really enjoyed it. Work days. Adventure days. It was all very much worth it. I’m definitely interested in more like this

Overall, the trip was fun and our group got to learn new things about elephants and learn new people on the way. We went hiking in the jungle with the elephants, we're blessed by a Buddhist Monk at the local temples and learn about the Karen tribe. Would go again, had a blast while I was there!

The community and the people who were met made this experience amazing. The impact of interacting with the local residents and seeing them ecstatic of volunteers being there shows that GIVE makes a difference.

I had A BLAST with my whole group!! And my instructors!! It was my first trip with GIVE. We did so many super fun activities, and learned so much about the elephants and what is required to care for them. I'm so grateful for the time and effort the instructors and their team put into each trip! Would definitely go with them again!