GIVE VolunteersReviews of givevolunteers.org

I went on the Elephant Experience with GIVE Volunteers in summer 2025, and it completely exceeded anything I could have imagined! We traveled to places so remote and unique that I never would have found them on my own, and being welcomed into those villages and seeing a totally different way of life was eye-opening in the best way. The time spent at the elephant sanctuaries was beyond amazing—it felt so genuine, ethical, and unforgettable. What really made it even more special, though, were the people: the locals, the guides, and the other volunteers who quickly felt like family. I came home with memories and lessons that will stick with me forever. This trip changed the way I see the world, and I would do it all over again without hesitation!

I enjoyed the itinerary. I felt like it was the perfect amount of teaching, construction, and learning about the culture with activities throughout the island. I enjoyed the guides, and everyone was inviting and amazing to be around! It was easy to find the guides when getting to the airport, and everyone was very helpful in answering questions and guiding throughout the trip. I enjoyed the people in the group, and this was a fantastic trip and opportunity to see places safely with trustworthy people!

GIVE Thailand was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so happy I took the leap of faith and decided to embark on this journey with strangers that soon became friends. I had a great time participating in awesome activities that I will never forget, such as teaching students, permaculture, cave hikes, elephant trekking, and many more. Words cannot do this experience justice. My fellow volunteers and the guides provided an extraordinary experience in an extraordinary country!

There truly aren’t enough words to describe my love for Laos. This trip has been life changing in so many aspects that I can’t even begin to describe. Arriving to the village after a 4 hour car ride and 2 hour boat ride, to see so many smiling faces eager to help you carry your bags is something I will never forget. I will never forget the children and ladies who remembered my name and would say hi to me as I walked through the village. I will never forget the smiles on the kids’ faces every morning as I walked into class. I will never forget the endless piggyback rides that were given to the kids, or the nights that were spent teaching the ladies in the village. I’ll never forget the laughs we shared as a group, the smiles we shared, and even the cries we shared. We shared so many memories that I wish I could go back and experience 1,000 times over again. We ate every meal together, hiked together, rice farmed together, danced with one another, cracked so many jokes together, checked in on eachother… the list goes on. We all endured so much together, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Without the help of any of my tour guides, none of this would have truly been possible. They gave us pep talk after pep talk and constantly encouraged us. If you were to have told me at the beginning of the trip that I would have been 8,000 miles away from home without service for 9 days and still had the best experience of my life, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but I’m so glad I can look back at this trip with so much gratitude and love. To the cute kids who helped put a smile on my face when I was down, to the ladies who always uplifted my mood and gave me a laugh when needed, and to the other volunteers and guides who were there for me every step of the way, thank you. Khawp jai lai lai, Laos! You’ll always hold such a special place in my heart.

I had a great experience in Thailand and Laos. The guides in both countries were awesome. I really enjoyed teaching the children and learning about permaculture!

Before GIVE Volunteers, I had never even heard of the country Laos. Now, it holds a very special place in my heart. Through GIVE, I had the opportunity to experience something truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived in the village of Sop Chem, we were welcomed with open arms. The people of Sop Chem are some of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met, and the community made us feel like family. I felt safe, supported, and cared for every moment of the trip. One of the most special parts of this trip was our local guides. They were not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also some of the most patient and kind people I’ve ever met. Whether we were learning about Lao traditions, history, or daily life, they were always eager to share, answer our questions, and help us connect on a deeper level with the culture around us. Our days were filled with purpose. We taught English to over 60 children and supported local women in learning conversational English to sell their handicrafts to tourists. We stayed in their homes and learned traditional weaving techniques. What made our experience so meaningful is that every volunteer project we took part in was what the community wanted and not what outsiders thought they needed. We helped build a new kitchen for the village school. In Luang Prabang, we went to a wildlife sanctuary where black bears are being rescued and protected from illegal wildlife trade and bile farming. We visited the UXO Museum and learned about the country’s history and struggles with unexploded bombs. Between the volunteering, we went ziplining over waterfalls, fishing in the river with locals, caving, and planting rice. Every activity felt meaningful and connected to the land and culture. The trip ended with a Baci Ceremony, an emotional and beautiful sendoff that captured the love and connection we had built in Sop Chem. It was a moment of gratitude I’ll never forget. I came to Laos not knowing what to expect. I left with a full heart, lifelong memories, and a second home in Sop Chem.

This experience was just awesome!! The guides are very friendly, funny, and knowledgeable, and everything is very all organized. Accommodations were more rustic the first half of the trip at Big Island Farms - but that's what made for a nice, camp-like experience. The Bungalows have no electricity so you have to use flashlights. Mattresses are firm, so sleeping bags are helpful and pillows are provided. You might get some cats inside your bungalow during the night especially if you keep opening the door frequently. When sleeping in the bungalows you feel like you are sleeping outside because you are surrounded by wooden walls and mosquito netting. Bathrooms and showers are in trailers near the bungalows. Dinning is outside under tents. Lunches and dinners are provided. Breakfast is not provided so you need to cook your own breakfast, but only for the first half of the trip. There is also an outdoor kitchen, outdoor classroom, and greenhouse on sight all surrounded by different types of tropical fruit trees and vegetation. The last meal is awesome because we make a traditional Hawaiian farm to table dinner which means that we make a traditional Hawaiian dish from different types of fruits and vegetables grown on the farm. The volunteering projects are not very difficult, but taking in consideration that it can be hot sometimes, it makes the projects a bit harder. But if you put sunscreen and you drink a lot of water you should be just fine. Lunches are provided as a picnic after every volunteer project. The second half of the day is fun activities and excursions like for example going on a snorkeling boat excursion, visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, etc. The second half of the trip at Pahala Plantation House all the meals are provided and you have all the standard facilities that you would imagine in a regular single family house. There is also a good coffee shop and store that is walking distance from the house. The last meal is awesome because it's cooked in an emu which is an underground oven that is a traditional Hawaiian way of cooking food. Overall this experience was just mind blowing and I'm so happy and grateful to have had great hosts and all these nice and very friendly people on this trip with me. Thank you, GIVE!

I thought everything was planned exceptionally well with GIVE. The experiences were meaningful and memorable. Our interactions with locals was genuine and we really got to know them. The itinerary was great, we had a good balance of cultural activities and adventures as well as time to spend getting to know each other. The connection I made with the local people, guides, and other volunteers was amazing and definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. The close contact with elephants in an environment where elephant safety and well being comes first was unforgettable. Learning to scuba dive in Thailand was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so grateful that I got to do it