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Visit International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)'s website to learn more about their programs abroad
Overview
Overview
IVHQ offers the world’s most trusted and affordable volunteer programs in more than 50 destinations. Programs are available in Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, North America, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific where IVHQ has supported over 100,000 people to volunteer abroad since 2007.
Currently, IVHQ has programs in Bali, Costa Rica, South Africa, Greece, Fiji, Nepal, Peru, Jamaica, Madagascar, Spain, Cambodia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Italy, Tanzania, Cambodia, Victoria Falls, India, Vietnam, Portugal, New Zealand, Laos, Belgium, Morocco, Romania, Brazil, China, Ghana, Colombia, Zambia, Uganda, Ecuador, Argentina, Jordan, USA, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Mexico and Thailand.
IVHQ has the largest range of affordable volunteer programs, ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks. Visit www.volunteerhq.org for more information.
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Editorial
By Sarah Vandenberg
Director of Partnerships
Sarah has worked in the volunteer travel industry since 2004. She supports all of our partners, and shares stories, trends, and advice for travelers who want to volunteer, intern, or teach abroad.
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is a leader in volunteer travel, working in 50 countries worldwide, and placing travelers on projects that contribute meaningfully to the community they are visiting.
An awesome organization
Launched in 2007, IVHQ connects knowledgeable and skilled travelers with responsible, high-quality projects that heighten global awareness and cultural understanding.
IVHQ prides itself on being a values-led organization, and places four values above all others: Responsible, Innovative, Trusted, and Awesome.
IVHQ equates “awesome” with being ambitious, tenacious, and youthful – the goal is to use size and scale to have a significant global impact, and to be flexible to adapt and respond to volunteer and community needs.
Marine conservation with IVHQ
More than volunteering
IVHQ offers more than volunteer placements abroad! This organization also provides services like fundraising advice, scholarships, service activity ideas, online TEFL courses, customized flight itineraries, a carbon footprint calculator, volunteer travel insurance, and even an online store.
Some of IVHQ’s achievements include:
- Helped volunteers to contribute more than 860,000 hours of support to community programs abroad
- Enabled volunteers to spend more than 410,000 hours supporting education and literacy projects
- Invested over $11 million in communities abroad through IVHQ program fees
- Grew its overall volunteer numbers to more than 100,000 since 2007
- Reduced its carbon emissions by 15%
Teaching abroad with IVHQ
A trusted provider
Volunteers rave about their experiences with IVHQ, leaving more than 3,500 verified reviews on IVHQ’s website, and hundreds of reviews on Volunteer Forever.
From solo volunteers to families to students, the consensus is that IVHQ is organized and makes travel fun. Read on to see what volunteers have to say about this amazing organization!
IVHQ volunteers in Spain
Top projects
Gallery
IVHQers in Spain
Volunteering in Madagascar with IVHQ
IVHQ volunteers on orientation in Colombia
IVHQ volunteers in South Africa
IVHQ Teaching project in Bali
IVHQer Teaching English in Bali
Marine Conservation in Madagascar
IVHQ construction volunteers in Bali
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Paxton Knight
6 Apr 2020
This was my first time travelling internationally by myself. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I arrived. When I got to Bali I was welcomed and when I...Read more
This was my first time travelling internationally by myself. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I arrived. When I got to Bali I was welcomed and when I arrived at Green Lion I felt very included and everyone was so friendly towards me and I made friends right away. The first week was introduction week and we got to see so many amazing things and I met a lot of great people. The first week was an amazing experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. During the time I was travelling covid19 was going on and I unfortunately had to leave early before I was able to go to Nusa Penida for my turtle conservation program. But Green Lion and IVHQ were very helpful and offered me a credit so I could come back and complete my program. I will be going back after covid is over and I am very excited. If you have the opportunity it is more than worth it.
Reuben Ming Gui Ong
6 Apr 2020
I had a fulfilling eight weeks on the Teaching English project in Bogota, Colombia. The stint was, in truth, more challenging than I had expected it to be. The vast...Read more
I had a fulfilling eight weeks on the Teaching English project in Bogota, Colombia. The stint was, in truth, more challenging than I had expected it to be. The vast majority of our students, all of whom endured difficult pasts and were placed in a rehabilitative home, spoke hardly any English and I had to conduct classes in my limited Spanish. There was also relatively little institutional knowledge we could work with and the unpredictability of our class configurations proved to be an obstacle. Our local team was, however, very supportive from the get-go and played an important role in ironing out certain issues. After navigating a steep learning curve, I found myself feeling a sense of fulfillment in teaching our students. It was hard work ideating and preparing our lessons but detecting a sense of achievement in the eyes of a few of our students, who found satisfaction in being able to construct English sentences, made all our effort worthwhile. In addition, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to teach and get to know our students and I was blessed by their warmth and respectfulness towards us volunteers. I was also blessed by the local team and fellow volunteers, and I'm glad to say that I've made friendships I will keep for life. The premature and abrupt end to my programme, however, brought about by the COVID-19 situation, left me feeling that I had unfinished business in Bogota. I'm nevertheless thankful for my time there and would happily return to serve on the project again in the future.
Liz
3 Apr 2020
Best experience of my life. The people were great and welcoming. I definitely had an humbling experience and I would do it again for sureRead more
Best experience of my life. The people were great and welcoming. I definitely had an humbling experience and I would do it again for sure
Isabella Mitchell
2 Apr 2020
Where to begin! I volunteered for 2 weeks at a Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka. This was my first time traveling abroad and I couldn't have picked a more...Read more
Where to begin! I volunteered for 2 weeks at a Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka. This was my first time traveling abroad and I couldn't have picked a more perfect place. This country has SO much to offer! Beautiful nature, city, food, animals, history, culture, and so much more. The whole experience was wonderful, but it was the people and culture that made the experience special. The Green Lion staff were some of the greatest people I've ever met! So kind, supportive, and full of humor! I cannot wait to go back one day!