International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) Reviews 

I was, probably like some of you, a bit sceptical when initially applying due to the low price compared to other organisations. However, the experience I had was absolutely amazing and I have learnt so much about not only myself, but about different cultures and etiquettes. My program manager, Marissa, was absolutely fantastic at answer all of my questions and adjusting any mistakes I submitted onto my application such as flight number and pick-up time. Despite the huge time difference between Marissa and myself, she was able to reply to my email promptly and with extreme care - I was really at ease throughout the whole process and that made the experience a bunch better. Everything on my volunteering was as described on the program guide and there were no surprises when I landed, everything that happened during my week I was prepared for. I would really recommend this company and I want to thank them once more for the fantastic and truly life-changing experience they provided for me.

The staff of the accommodation were very friendly and polite. They encouraged volunteers to seek out fun things to do in town and learn mire history about Peru. The volunteering experience specifically helped to solidify the welcoming aspect I found Peru has. I would definitely visit Peru sometime again in the future!

Great! It was amazing

My 55-year-old sister and I (age 60) participated in the ocean conservation (Lionfish hunting) scuba project in Belize. We loved our experience. At our age, we were worried that we wouldn't be able to handle the physicality of the sport, but it was no problem. The program (run by Reef CI) was very organized and offered dive experiences for every level of diver. We had only been diving once before, so we both took the refresher course before beginning the Lionfish hunting/diving. Julio and Oscar were excellent teachers and very patient with us. We started with shore dives and exercises in maintaining buoyancy, which we hadn't mastered previously. The program offered us three dives a day, but we got to decide which dives we went on, some from the shore and some from the boat. We were trained on how to kill Lionfish, with an emphasis on safety. Reef CI took their war on Lionfish very seriously. They hunted Lionfish three dives per day. Our group killed over 200 Lionfish each week we were at the program.

Every one of the dive masters/instructors was excellent at their job. You could tell they loved what they were doing, and they shared their enthusiasm with everyone. They made sure no one dove deeper than they were certified to go, they frequently checked our air pressure, and they made sure we were safe at every moment of each dive. I especially loved Phoebe and Guy, who treated us like family and took care of me when I got motion sickness on a dive. Some of the dive Masters took pictures and videos of us diving, and they set up a group photo share app for us to participate in after the experience. On our last day diving, they took us snorkeling over a ship wreck in the ocean. What a nice bonus to our scuba experience.

The diving and lionfish hunting part of the program was extremely well run and an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone!

Living arrangements were a bit challenging. If you like camping/glamping you will be fine. There was no AC or air flow through the rooms, and they were hot, but there were large fans to cool us while we slept. We had a sink, toilet and shower in our room, but running water had minimal water pressure. Showers were available but discouraged, as water was a limited resource on the island. There was no ice and limited refrigerator space, so no cold water/drinks, but there were refrigerated sodas you could purchase from the program.

The food was a little repetitive (chicken or Lionfish, and rice/coleslaw served almost daily), but there was a lot of it, and the cooks were excellent! Second helpings were encouraged. Breakfasts were the best meal of the day, with lots of fresh fruit, cereal, milk, yogurt, bagels, peanut butter, jelly, and coffee/creamer, in addition to a hot meal prepared daily comprised of homemade biscuits/Danishes and eggs/refried beans.

We took advantage of our weekend in Belize (off of the island) by visiting a Mayan archeological site and hiking through the jungle to go cave tubing. On our three-hour ride to the sites, we discussed the history of Belize and the changes in local politics with our very knowledgeable guide.

My only complaint about this experience was there were a lot of extra fees not included in the IVHQ fee. In addition to having to pay for living accommodations during the weekend, there were fees added on at the end of our stay that were unexpected. We were told we would have to pay $35 for the park fee, but not for each week that we were there. There was also an additional fee of $60 for gasoline/water. There was a rental fee for the scuba equipment that I thought was supposed to be included in the IVHQ program fee.

All things considered, this was a great experience, and I highly recommend it, IVHQ and their partner Reef CI!

I received excellent support from beginning to end. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. The support person I had in Morocco was excellent- well-trained, kind, effective, available, and I was checked in on regularly. He helped make me feel settled, safe, and supported in the role. The home I stayed in exceeded my expectations - the room was great, the food was amazing, and the family was kind. I will do another program, and I recommend the organization 100%.

everything of my volunteering experience was great: starting from the accommodation, the city where I was, the people and, last but not least, the project. In my opinion, Ivhq stands out because of how well they manage everything and because of the support they offer to you, in any case.

I went to South Africa this May, it was the first time away from home by myself. As much as it was scary I know I had a good team and family to support me. Every step was so simple and if I had any worries or question before I got there I knew I could just ask. The local team around me were also so lovely. Everyone is nervous when you get there which also helps knowing that you are not the only one! I world 1000% do this again with IVHQ no matter the cost. I meet some amazing people in my trip where that was locals or other volunteers.

From the first moment I opened the IVHQ website, I was impressed with how easy the site was to navigate. Everything was well organized and the online active agent was so pleasant. IVHQ helped me throughout the entire process by answering all my questions, providing lists of things to read and information on how to prepare for my volunteer trip. I was set up with a program manager who was so helpful and continued to be in contact with me from the start to the end of my experience. IVHQ was extremely thorough and ensured I had everything I needed to travel safely from my visa documents to my vaccinations. I felt very well prepared and was able to relax and enjoy the trip. I would HIGHLY recommend IVHQ and I hope to volunteer again woth that organization.

I went to Ghana on June 2026. All was great. The organization is very good. Before the mission you get a program on their website to prepare the trip. During the mission local people were very nice and careful. I highly recommend and I am 100% sure to go again abroad as a volunteer with IVHQ!

I absolutely loved everything about the program I did. But before I even got there IVHQ made it so easy to sign up. They have endless options to choose from and once you choose your program the support they give you is amazing.
They provide you with all the information and details you could possibly need. And this made arriving to my program simple, smooth and easy.

The support and organization of IVHQ was strong and great. Traveling and volunteering with a family of five, with 3 Jr High School kids but was amazing. Very comfortable and things were laid out well, we all felt extremely safe and comfortable the entire experience.

Really incredible company.
Spent two weeks volunteering with IVHQ in Ecuador, and honestly wish I went for longer!
The application process was super quick and easy to do, only took a few minutes. After being accepted I had to complete a bit of training which was super easy to do and just consisted of watching videos about the application process, booking travel, support prior to leaving and when in the country, etc. The support prior to leaving was incredible, Lina was constantly on hand to answer any questions and help provide any info I needed. Even with the big time difference she was super quick to reply and really helped set my mind at ease. It can be super daunting travelling abroad alone, especially when you don’t speak the language, but having easily accessible support available helped make me feel more comfortable.
The actual volunteer experience was better than I imagined, the programme coordinators were super friendly and always on hand to help with even the smallest things, my host family were perfect, and the school was incredible. I did the teaching English program, and some teachers speak lots of English while others speak none, which can be quite difficult, but having a translator on your phone can be super beneficial. The level of English of the kids varied but they just always seemed happy to spend time with volunteers!
Wish I spent longer there as it was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to apply for the next program.

It was very easy to go through the application process, complete all the steps, and be ready to volunteer in Costa Rica. All the support we received throughout the process made sure that we felt safe, prepared, and were making an impact on the local community. I would highly recommend IVHQ, and hope to do future volunteer missions with them.

So awful. Such a scam. Not worth it at all. Super disorganized.

I didn’t feel alone, I was welcomed and made to feel at home

Really good programs , helpful staff and good intentions would do again

Great communication between ivhq and local team.
Local team very helpful and patient.
Special shoutout to Lulu in Huidong!

It's a good way to experience another country, and give back at the same time. Choose your experience carefully to get the most out of it. Enjoy all of it.