GIVE Volunteers Reviews 

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

This was an amazing adventure from beginning to end. The international guides, local guides and community partners are all exceptional people that really elevated the travel experience. This trip has taught me so much about so many different subjects while also still being fun and safe. As someone with many food restrictions, everyone went above and beyond to ensure that I could eat safe, healthy, and filling meals. I highly recommend booking a GIVE trip and taking on the opportunity to become a responsible international traveler and global citizen.

This was the funnest trip I have been on. P’dee P’on and P’ann are the best 💕. You will have so much fun learning about these elephants and communities and seeing the greatest views of your life.

This organization is incredible. The staff are friendly and caring as well as knowledgeable and supportive. I got to experience and learn so much on my trip, can’t wait to go back.

Thailand:
I had such an amazing experience at Thailand Scuba! This was my first GIVE trip and just like many others I talked to, I was very nervous and a bit apprehensive about flying to the other side of the world with people I had never met before. However, I could not have asked for a more meaningful trip. I had so much fun learning how to scuba dive and gained so much knowledge on the local people and ecosystems. Nice and Seth were the most awesome, funniest, and smartest guides I could have asked for. All of the fellow volunteers on my trip were amazing and many of them I will speak to for years to come. I am so grateful to GIVE for allowing me to live this experience and the amount of effort that everyone put into making this trip what it was. Truly an educational, fun, and fulfilling week spent in Thailand that will never be forgotten.

Laos:
No review I write could ever truly encapsulate the time I spent in Laos. I learned so much about myself and the world while in the most beautiful country around the kindest and most amazing people I have met in a long time. Sop Chem village refreshed my soul and gave me a new perspective on life and how I want to live. I will forever be grateful for the unforgettable wisdom I got from Aiy’ Ton, the many laughs and stories from Aiy’ Sommaiy and Aiy’ Good, and the teaching and permaculture knowledge from Haylie and Mackenzie. Everyone who made this trip possible my heart goes out to you and I am thankful that you are able to share this amazing place with people like me. To the people of Sop Chem, your kindness and hospitality will never be forgotten and you will stay in my heart forever. Thank you to this beautiful world for reminding me why it is so important to care, why I am here, and the passion I have for protecting our planet.

It was such a great experience. Not only working to sustain our natural environment, but the activities and connections you make with people in your group. It is such a great learning experience, and I bonded with 14 people in a week in a way that I'm not sure I will find anywhere else. The company takes care of everything like where we will be staying, transportation, and ensuring that everyone is happy and healthy. They provide most, if not all, of your food and water, and make sure that you are feeling great and enjoying your experience. I was never once concerned about my lack of safety (the guides are trained in first aid, and also for the specific area you are traveling to) and it is very clear that the guides want you to have the best time possible. You do work such meaningful work such as removing invasive plant species, and also things like swimming, tubing, whale watching. All around just such an incredible time to be had and I cant wait for my next trip.

The local and internationally guides were amazing! They really made the trip. They were so passionate about what they were doing and so intentional about what they told and taught us. The local guides took us to the places they had worked and grown up at which was so cool to be apart of.

This was a complete shot in the dark going on this trip alone. However, it was the best decision I could have possibly made. I had an amazing time during the Elephant Experience trip in Thailand. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude being able to experience the things I did. Highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to travel, immerse yourself in a different culture, get to see beautiful elephants, connect with so many people, and eat amazing food!

The staff at Give were the most welcoming and kind people ever!! I was immediately greeted with hugs and love straight from the airport arrivals. Throughout my whole trip, I always felt safe and cared for no matter the situation. My head guide carried a pack with supplies for any possible medical issue and helped people in the group with respect and privacy if any issues arose. The local staff were also excellent to connect with, learn about their culture and their different, but still amazing lives.

This was the trip of a lifetime! I met such amazing like minded people and also had the time of my life. I got to learn soooo much more than expected and see so much of Tanzania! I always felt safe and well taken care of as well with my guides! They are all amazing people and everyone is so beyond kind. ❤️

My experience with GIVE was truly amazing. Leading up to my trip to Hawaii, GIVE communicated clearly and consistently, making sure we knew exactly what needed to be done to ensure everything went smoothly. They responded to emails and texts promptly and were always friendly and supportive. My time in Hawaii was life-changing. I learned so much and came home feeling completely fulfilled. The guides were incredible and made everyone feel comfortable and included. I formed lifelong connections and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I would highly recommend going on a trip with GIVE. It was, without a doubt, the best week of my life.

GIVE was an awesome experience and such a great way to get to know people from different life paths. I really enjoyed spending time with like-minded individuals who want to give back to our planet!

So many things made this trip so memorable. Everything was perfect. Teaching was challenging but it was so much fun and inspiring. The construction was hard work but it was very fulfilling. And the people, the locals were amazing and so kind.

Over the past few years, I have been increasingly involved in my local communities; however, I have always struggled to see the real impact of my actions. When I heard about GIVE Volunteers during my first year of university, it sounded amazing. I would get to meet like-minded individuals, see the world, learn more about cultures, and make an impact that not only would I be able to see but also feel. After being convinced to sign up at 2 in the morning on a random Tuesday night by completely random thoughts to myself, I knew that I had made the right decision, but not until I reached my first destination did I realize just how correct I was.
I went on two different trips: Scuba Thailand and Lao, and let me just say, nothing they can show you online will do either of them justice.
Thailand: The Scuba Thailand trip is an amazing opportunity to learn to scuba dive and to learn about actual applications of it in marine life conservation, but you don’t just get to learn about it, you also get the chance to actually put it to work. Despite this trip being a rather short one at only 10 days, I am certain that some of the connections I made on this trip will last a lifetime, probably more if they could.
Lao: The Lao trip is out of this world. From what I saw and have heard, it embodies the roots of what GIVE is trying to do. You work hand in hand with the community to make a difference through bottom-up development; you can see the effects TRICKLE down into the community. Teaching kids a language while you don’t speak theirs may be frightening to some, but I can assure you, it is some of the most fun that you will likely ever have. Furthermore, the feeling you get from one of your students coming up to you and using what you have taught them to try to talk to you is absolutely out of this world.

Live, Laugh, Love

This trip really helped me get out of my comfort zone and the monotony of life. It plunged me into a whole new world and made me grow as a person. The Give staff were so kind and helpful and the community really did feel like home. Not to say it didn’t come with its own hardships of adjustment and culture shock, but it was truly a life changing experience that I will never forget!

When you’re encapsulated by an environment so intimate and genuine, I sometimes find it difficult to articulate the full spectrum of the impact it holds. With such an intense and immediate impact, my perspectives and journey in this life of mine have forever changed/expanded following my GIVE trip. I think this is because it’s not just one or many things that you learn/unlearn or are inspired by… in my everyday life, since my GIVE trip to Laos, I am constantly reflecting on and utilizing different moments and insights from the trip. It holds a presence in my life no matter where I am or how long ago I was there. The experience guides me through life, helping me grow and become a more open-minded, confident, compassionate, and aware human being. A few highlights from my trip to Laos include ziplining over waterfalls, meditating in caves, learning how to make kombucha, learning from and teaching the women and kids in the village of Sopchem, partaking in an Alms ceremony (sharing food with the monks), once in a lifetime conversation with a monk, hiking to a hidden waterfall, cooking class, working with the free the bears foundation, learning about and visiting the UXO museum (heavy heart when I learned about this information), and SO SO much more! At the end of your time in Sopchem, you get the privilege to be involved in a Baci Ceremony, a Lao farewell tradition, where the entire village comes together to prepare one last union between the volunteers and the village. They prepare dinner, a guided blessing, and then the ENTIRE village will go around and share love, gratitude, and a blessing with each and every volunteer. It was one of the most wholesome, heartfelt experiences of my life. On a broader and more personal note, my trip to Laos helped me realize just how much I value the concept behind being a global citizen. How separation between human life doesn’t actually exist. How walls, distance, religion, ethnicity, etc. don’t change that we all bleed red. That every human on this planet has come from the same source, and we all deserve to live a healthy and fearless life. How mother nature is our home, and anywhere in the world is our backyard! My guides and the community in Laos taught me that no seed, no step goes without rippling out into this world – our world! I am forever grateful to have a piece of every adventure and human I crossed paths with in Laos in my heart – the heart that they all tremendously grew and filled with so much love!
Thank you, GIVE and the crew/community in Laos, for providing the opportunity to grow and learn in such a safe and wholesome environment. GIVE helps nourish your garden – it plants the seeds of awareness into your garden. Whether it be the seeds of culture, permaculture, curiosity, history, or empathy, the seeds are planted, watered, and then you get to watch them grow and form this beautiful garden of your own. How inspiring is it to then watch the seeds from your garden help nourish others gardens!