GIVE VolunteersReviews of givevolunteers.org

After my third trip with GIVE, I am still baffled by how amazing every trip is. Travelers with GIVE are pushed directly into the culture of wherever they are, making it a truly immersive experience. GIVE trips push you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible, and provide incredible excursions and experiences that support the local community.

My trip to Cuba with Give Volunteers was an unforgettable experience that exceeded all of my expectations. From start to finish, the guides were knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely passionate about sharing Cuban culture, history, and nature with us. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone felt safe, included, and engaged, and their enthusiasm truly made the trip special. Some of the standout moments in this trip were snorkeling in the Bay of Pigs, hiking at Parque Guanayara, and visiting a tobacco farm to learn how to roll cigars. What truly made this trip exceptional was being able to explore a new country with like-minded individuals who felt like family by the end of the trip. I would highly recommend Give Volunteers to anyone looking for an immersive, well-organized, and meaningful travel experience. This trip to Cuba is something I will carry with me forever.

Learned about GIVE at an unmanned table with flyers at my school's involvement fair. I was already planning to travel so I just decided to travel with GIVE to Tanzania. I learned in my peace and social justice class that GIVE falls into the voluntourism category and I didn't know what I was going to be doing with GIVE until a week or two before I actually went on the trip. Information was a bit difficult for me to find and often felt vague. Information was easier the closer it got to the trip. It was my first time traveling solo outside the country and I really enjoyed my time with GIVE and learned a lot about the local area we were at and saw many amazing things. When the times right, I'll be going on another trip with GIVE.

This trip was more amazing than I ever could have imagined, GIVE offers such a unique way to travel and volunteer! I was able to see so many new things and try so many different things that I would have never thought of. This trip allows you to fully immerse yourself into the culture and environment of Northern Thailand. The guides are the most genuine, funny, and kind people you will ever meet and make for a unforgettable experience. 5 stars is not enough to express how amazing this trip truly is!

I travel a lot, but this has definitely been one of the best trips I’ve been on. Starting with Liv our guide, she was a total sweetheart and made us all feel cared for and appreciated. The trips projects were also super meaningful and although it was hard work at times it was super fun and the stories and memories that you gain from it are always a treat. I got the pleasure to meet so many amazing and passionate people, It definitely makes you appreciate the land and view life in a whole new outlook.

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.

Travelling with GIVE is always a special experience for me, and this new era of VIP experiences is so exciting!! Cuba was one of a kind, the guides (John, Hannah, Silvia and Ihosvany) made it so special for us. Our itinerary was full of a perfect mix of fun adventures, sight seeing, learning about the history in Cuba, and connecting with the locals people. Amazing memories were made with incredible people, in a beautiful and unique country! I can’t wait to make more memories with GIVE on the next VIP trip!

I had a wonderful time in Cuba with GIVE on their first GIVEVIP experience! It was really great to have two GIVE guides along with two local guides to help us every step of the way. Each day was packed with a lot of different activities that pertained to Cuban culture and history. We spent most of our time in Havana, exploring all the city had to offer, but I especially loved venturing outside to the countryside, where we saw beautiful valleys, coffee and tobacco plantations, waterfalls and beaches! The food was great, the music was fun, and the people were so lovely to meet!