GIVE Volunteers Reviews 206

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.

If you’re interested in volunteering with GIVE (either in Hawai’i or any of the other trips) check out their website!

Date of experience: June 17, 2025

As a parent, I cannot say enough great things about this organization. From the start, they were responsive, from the emails to the scheduled call. They answered all my questions. During the trip we had a minor medical issue with my son and they were immediately responsive and followed-up with me multiple times. I had a prior negative experience with Volunteer Solutions with my older son so I was very picky and Give exceeded my expectations. My son had a fantastic experience and wants to do another trip next summer. Thank you Give for being professional and thorough, for being structured and responsive and for giving my son a life changing perspective of the world.

Date of experience: June 30, 2025

Iv'e done 3 trips with GIVE so far! Tanz, Thailand and most recently Costa Rica. Each time I come away such a different person, the things I've learned, the people I've met and the most unforgetable experiences I've had have shaped me into the person I am today. Traveling solo and meeting such like-minded and open-minded individuals makes this experience truly one of a kind. You're traveling in a way that changes you.

Date of experience: June 30, 2025

My experience traveling through Northern Thailand with GIVE truly changed my life in the most amazing way. It’s been a week since I returned home, and not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought about, laughed about, talked about, or even cried over how much I love and miss being in Thailand with such an incredible group of travelers and guides. When I landed at the Chiang Mai airport, I was fearful and unsure of what to expect, but the moment my friend and I were greeted by our local guides, all of that fear melted away. Their warmth and kindness put us at ease very quickly. Our trip was so personalized and unique. We visited the home villages of three of our local guides, where they welcomed us and shared their culture and daily lives in such a heartfelt way. I loved teaching at Mueang Khong School and Mueang Khong Anuban (preschool) alongside the other volunteers, and I felt so supported by our amazing guides the entire time. Another highlight was participating in permaculture work as it was so fun and it felt incredible to see the progress we made as a team. I also learned so much about Thai culture through lessons in the language, weaving, cooking, and traditional dancing. I could write a whole novel about how amazing this experience was. I want to thank P’ Yanne, P’ Tony, P’ Nick, P’ Boka, P’ Krit, P’ Au, Chelsey, Chloe, all our drivers, hosts, and fellow travelers for changing my life in the most incredible way. I am already planning my next trip with GIVE after how incredible this trip was!

Date of experience: June 10, 2025

Traveling with GIVE to Laos was single handedly the most impactful and fulfilling traveling I have ever experienced. I know that before my trip I was full of concerns regarding traveling the world on my own and volunteering in different countries in a respectful and helpful way. I’m happy to say that this trip exceeded my expectations for meaningful volunteering and sustainable practices! What I wasn't expecting was the lifelong friendships and powerful connections I made with not only my fellow volunteers but also the amazing and strong people of Sop Chem. The connections GIVE has with these local communities is inspiring, and whether it was teaching English, shoveling sand, or sharing a beautiful dinner with the community on our last night, I truly felt welcomed in these places that months ago would have seemed so foreign to me. A special thank you to all the incredible GIVE guides, they will be there to support you through every stomach ache, tear shed, and beautiful moment experienced, you all truly made Laos all the more impactful and special. Yes it was very hot, and there will be moments that push you way out of your comfort zone, but if you are looking for a meaningful and life changing volunteer experience, GO TO LAOS WITH GIVE!!

Date of experience: June 08, 2025

Traveling to Hawaii with GIVE was one of the best experiences of my life. The people I met on the trip, ranging from the incredibly down-to-earth guides and the other passionate volunteers, are some of my dearest friends and I hope to stay in touch with them for the rest of my life. Immersing myself in the local culture of Hawaii’s big island allowed me to embrace a new cultural environment and learn from the steward and caretakers of the beautiful āina. Having been on this trip and making so many incredible friends, I would definitely recommend going on a GIVE trip to anyone and everyone who’s even slightly interested. It may just change your life forever. I know it did for me. Thank you Liv, Jayden, Carly, and Traven for welcoming me to go on this wonderful journey and allowing me to learn more about the people and culture of beautiful Hawaii.

Date of experience: May 26, 2025

GIVE Volunteers goes above and beyond to make every project and trip participant feel valued and inspired. This program pushes you to think deeply about your role in the world and the impact you can make. An unforgettable experience—absolutely recommend it!

Date of experience: May 26, 2025

GIVE has been one of the best experiences for me while traveling. They allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people at my Hawai’i trip. At first, I had no clue what I was getting into and was a little nervous at first. But my amazing GIVE guides created an unforgettable experience I had with other volunteers who I consider my ohana (family).

Date of experience: June 27, 2025

I always have such a great time on these trips. Even on this trip, which I thought would be more self-serving in nature as it was primarily about getting open water scuba certified but i was very impressed with out GIVE integrated their idea of "responsible tourism" into the Scuba course as we learned about coral reef & wildlife and what we can to preserve the oceans, as we would now be active members of this community. And even on this excursion we got to spend time volunteering with children at the local school, and it is always just my favorite thing in the world to put smiles on kids' faces and hear their contagious laughter. It was truly an amazing experience, my only complaint is that it was not long enough!

Date of experience: June 27, 2025

Being on this experience with a group of like-minded individuals made my trip so special. I found a community that helped me push myself outside of my comfort zone, which only made me feel more empowered and helped me realize I can do anything I set my mind to. It was so rewarding seeing how much postive change our group was able to make in local communities. I am so grateful to GIVE for giving me the opportunity to travel with purpose. I can't wait for my next GIVE trip!

Date of experience: June 27, 2025

When I first found out about GIVE, I was a little worried. I have never done anything like this before and it would be with a bunch of strangers. I didn’t think I would be able to make friends and have all of these experiences in the matter of one week. Little did I know I have became a part of this family with memories that last a life time and I was taught the right way to traveling. Seeing the before and after of your work on this trip makes you feel something magical. Even though you are just one person in a world of many, you have helped an entire community and have brought smiles to others, and even bringing a smile to your own face. You learn of a new way of living, you see other perspectives and you may even face your fears of bugs. To end this review of, whatever reason it is that your here and reading these reviews, just know that there is a reason your here and this GIVE trip might just solve all your problems.

Date of experience: June 25, 2025

First, I want to address a few concerns that some people I met had about the Laos GIVE trip. The trip cost and traveling across the world alone. I believe that this experience was invaluable and it was something that I will forever hold close to my heart. If cost is a problem for you I would recommend fundraising for your trip. I appreciate being informed during my trip of where my money was going. The logistics like accommodations, transportation, food and activities are all covered with the trip price. Most importantly, GIVE does a wonderful job of using those funds to support local businesses and people everywhere you go throughout the trip. By going on this trip you get to support the local people of Laos so they can provide for their families and make a living. One thing I appreciate about GIVE is that they push you out of your comfort zone. During this trip you will experience personal growth, discover new insights about the world and gain a fresh and meaningful outlook on life. Traveling across the world to a country you know nothing about can be intimidating, but once you arrive in Laos you will be greeted by the nicest guides that will make you feel like you are home. Also, you get to meet other like-minded volunteers that you will get very close with on the trip.
There has been so much to reflect on after returning home from the Laos GIVE trip. The local guides make this experience so special by having connections and relationships with people in the communities that you visit. Experiencing the Lao culture was an incredible adventure. The kindness and warmth of the people make you feel welcomed, like you're in a second home. Their genuine hospitality creates a special bond. You'll stay in a remote village for the majority of the trip, where you'll be fully immersed into the culture and live alongside the locals. You will have the chance to teach English to kids, helping create a brighter future for them. You'll also get involved in local projects like permaculture and construction work that makes you feel like you are a part of something greater than yourself. Along with all of that, you'll get to experience the everyday lives of the men and women of the village that work hard to weave, fish and farm rice. You'll learn so much from the locals and guides about the history, traditions, and way of life of the village. You'll encounter a different way of life, characterized by hard work and resilience. Though it can be challenging, its clear how much joy they find in their simplicity. The strong sense of community is something you'll never forget, and the love they have for one another is evident. Their lifestyle is genuinely inspiring, and I hope to bring a piece of that back to my own community. The bonds and connections I formed with the locals will always hold a special place in my heart, and I know that if I return, I'll always have another home away from home. Thank you GIVE Volunteers for this life changing experience!

Date of experience: June 08, 2025

This was the most impactful and educational trip I have ever been on! I had so much fun while learning about conservation for many different topics, like elephant conservation and coral conservation. I have never experienced anything like travelling with GIVE, and I will remember it forever!

Date of experience: June 16, 2025

I have now done two trips through GIVE to Costa Rica and Tanzania. They have both been the most life changing, empowering, transformative experiences. Being able to travel with a purpose and meet like-minded people has been so incredibly special. The guides I have had are absolutely amazing. They truly care about each volunteer and their well-being, and the local guides are so happy to share their home and culture with you. It is an experience like no other, being able to actually immerse yourself in the local culture and get to truly know the community. They do a perfect mix of volunteer work and fun activities, and are always working to make it educational and impactful!

Date of experience: June 02, 2025

GIVE's Tanzania program is a fantastic two-week trip where you learn about the culture and wildlife from a local community. I signed up for the trip because of all of the recommendations from my past guides and fellow volunteers and it defied my expectations! On the first day and throughout the trip, we learned about the history of Zanzibar and had opportunities to learn about Kairo and the people who live there. We spent 8 days in Kairo on Zanzibar, getting to know the locals, eating delicious food cooked by Chef Anaur, teaching English, and doing construction. There was an adventure day between each two days of education and construction, and the trip ended with two days of safari in mainland Tanzania. I'm especially grateful for Kasha, Smile, Tahla, BigHead, Amore, MC, Cau, and Baboi for being excellent guides and staff who taught me about the culture and supported me throughout the trip!

Date of experience: May 13, 2025

Traveling with GIVE has changed my life forever. GIVE has taught me how to not only exist but to live and experience life to the fullest extent. I’ve learned what it means to be a global citizen and to be on #TeamHuman. During my time in Nicaragua with GIVE, my entire outlook on life and the world was broadened for the better. I learned the importance of leaving a larger handprint wherever I go, as well as to serve the people and communities of the world. Nicaragua and its people hold such a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to travel with GIVE again. #Connect #Inspire #Empower

Date of experience: June 06, 2025

This GIVE experience changed my life and was completely unforgettable. Our guides, P’Chiarra, P’Dee, P’Pohn Pohn and P’Anne made this trip magical and so so special. It taught me the importance of ethical tourism and that we all have to do our part in educating ourselves on these issues that could hurt our beautiful world. It helped me realize that I could be part of a smaller ripple that could make a bigger wave. I plan to share my experience to inspire others by educating others about ecotourism and the mission that GIVE dedicates themselves too. I want others to be able to see experience everything me and my group did and see how beautiful our world can be when we step out of our comfort zones and take that leap. Thank you GIVE for the best trip of my entire life and for changing the perspective of my life. This company made me realize how I want to move forward with my own career and do my own part in this mission.

Date of experience: June 07, 2025

This trip was life-changing! I learned so much about myself and the world, inspiring me to continue making a difference in the lives of others and the planet. Leaving the trip, I came home with immense knowledge, unforgettable memories, and lifelong friends.

Date of experience: June 10, 2025

Traveling to Hawaii with GIVE was the best experience of my life. Going to a place like Hawaii and experiencing the culture in a way most people will never get to was such a blessing. The trip opened up my eyes and reminded me that the world is much bigger than my life I am so used to back home. A goal of mine is to force myself out of my comfort zone, and this trip definitely helped me do that. I was a bit nervous going into the trip, navigating an airport alone for the first time and spending so much time with strangers. But do not let those nerves hold you back at all!! Taking this step was the best decision I’ve ever made. I was able to meet the most incredible people that I now consider close friends. I learned so much about sustainability and how to steward the Earth, as well as so much about myself and my passions. This trip exceeded all my expectations and I could not recommend traveling with GIVE enough :)

Date of experience: May 26, 2025

I first want to acknowledge how pure and intentional the core to GIVEs organization is. The individuals who work for the organization, the backbone! These are the people who make the trips possible. They have such wise and profound insight on how to evolve and grow on a personal level — while also providing such a surplus of information regarding the culture and people you’re being immersed within — the best of all worlds. What made my experience great wasn’t just every physical activity we did, every lesson I learned, every person I met — but the actual act of being able to be present for it all. This was possible because of GIVEs guides and the safety and compassion they provide! They inspire you to remain open minded and connect — they remind you to get the full spectrum of experience :)

Date of experience: June 05, 2025