This was my first time volunteering with a company and IVHQ China was fantastic, i didn't arrive til 3 am on the Monday morning but David, the coordinator of the program in Xi'an was there to let me into the house and to speak to the taxi driver to get me to the right place.
I volunteered for 3 weeks in the special needs program, the staff at the school were very inviting and helpful. even though English was limited we could still get our message across. I was able to run my own classes and have total creative control which was fantastic. i could choose what i wanted to the kids to learn, to sing ( lots of sound of music) and to draw.
The house itself is very well maintained with plenty hot water and the meals are really great, home made Chinese food, so very different from the western variety. You can also easily access public transport to get around the city and see the amazing sites Xi'an has to offer.
David has very good English and was more than helpful organizing anything you needed, including bus passes, sim cards, tours to see the Terracotta warriors or finding where somewhere local and cheap to eat.
Coming to China was a fantastic experience and IVHQ China made it so very worthwhile. It is a very interesting country and Xi'an is a beautiful city.
Cheers
Ian McKerrell of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
Fully Verified
What's this?
9.3 / 10
after 173 Reviews
Based on overall, support & value average ratings
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is the trusted volunteer organization, providing safe, quality and extremely affordable volunteering placements in developing countries all over the world. Each year they place over 5000 volunteers abroad and have a wide range of volunteering opportunities in Kenya, Kenya - Maasai, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Peru - Lima, Peru - Cusco, Morocco, Ecuador, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bali and Thailand.
Program website: http://www.volunteerhq.org/
For my first volunteer experience abroad, I am happy and grateful that I chose IVHQ Ghana. The staff was professional, prompt and patient when dealing with my questions before and upon my arrival. I was immediately welcomed to the team and briefed on my placement in an extensive and informative orientation.
Although it was a lot of information to take in and I was far from home, Ghana quickly became my new home and my team and staff became my new family. IVHQ staff checked in weekly with both physical visits and phone calls so we felt supported at all times. If there were ever any questions or issues we could call our site staff and they would respond immediately.
The program I worked on was in a town called Kasoa and our group had a warm welcome in the community. I fell in love with the children and staff on our site immediately. The work I did ranged daily from basic childcare , teaching, and event planning. At one point our staff planned an outing to the beach for the site and it was a huge hit!
I volunteered in Ghana for six months (January - June 2011) and it remains one of the most life changing experiences as of yet. It gave me a new outlook on my life, personally and professionally. It taught me that the possibilities in humanitarian work, philanthropy and the human spirit of giving, whether it be your time, funds or ideas, are endless.
I would highly recommend this program for first time volunteers!
Program:
Location:
Posted: February 13, 2013
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: SharleneJ
Age:
22
Comments
- By: IVHQ
- Age:
- Official Program Administrator
- Posted: Feb 14, 2013
Thanks for sharing your experience volunteering with IVHQ in Ghana, Sharlene. It's great to hear you had such a rewarding experience and settled in quickly to life in Ghana with the support of our local staff. Thanks for volunteering with IVHQ.
I was placed in the Maasai teaching program in Kadjiado. Absolutely loved it!
Within 48 hrs. of my application and acceptance, I was emailed a very comprehensive manual. I had a few questions before leaving and my questions were answered within 24 hours. NVS exceeded my expectations with pickup after the placement and transport to a Nairobi host. Weekend trips to Mombasa and Hells gate were arranged and well worth it.
I plan to continue annual volunteer trips with IVHQ.
Program:
Location:
Posted: February 12, 2013
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: laurell
Age:
51
I have volunteered in Uganda with IVHQ during three weeks over Christmas and New Year holidays. It was definitely a well organized trip. Every step of the way from before I boarded the plane to Uganda to when I returned home I always knew where I'm supposed to be and who and how I can contact if something goes wrong. I have always felt very safe and taken care of. If questions came up they were answered very quickly and the staff was very responsive to the slightest requests. I would definitely recommend this program.
Program:
Location:
Posted: January 28, 2013
Overall:
9
Support:
9
Value:
8
By: npinchuk
Age:
31
I volunteered in Ghana in October 2012...
I really can't say enough positive things about my experience with IVHQ, and more particularly the organisation which handled everything on the ground, Volunteer Corps. If you arrive with an open mind, ready to just go with the flow then you'll have an incredible experience. Just remember this is Africa, so conditions are basic. Volunteer Corps were available 24-7 to assist with anything. The guys called a number of times while I was at the orphanage to check all was ok, and visited as well. The team are obviously doing it for the right reasons, not to make profits from "voluntourism". They're incredibly passionate about what they do, and are there to help guide you through the experience.
On weekends I met up with other volunteers and travelled around which was great. Volunteers ranged in age from 18 to 36 and were from all different nationalities. After sharing our experiences it became obvious that conditions vary greatly from project to project. Some stayed with a family close to Accra in a relatively modern house with intermittent wifi, while others stayed out in beautiful countryside in basic huts with no internet, a drop toilet, and a 'bucket shower'. Those staying in basic conditions didn't enjoy it any less, in fact their experience was incredibly authentic and rewarding. When else in your life will you truly experience living as the locals do.
During my time volunteering I started fundraising to build a new orphanage for the orphans at the Drifting Angels orphanage (Grey program). The Volunteer Corps team, and in particular Edward Adeli, gave me invaluable advice.... And now they're going to run the construction for the project and bring in volunteers and I'm just so excited about it! If anyone wants to help build the Drifting Angels a new orphanage in early 2013 then please get in touch with Edward! The website is www.volcorps.org or otherwise shoot Edward an email: info@volcorps.org. Its going to be amazing.
No hesitation, if you're thinking of volunteering in Ghana, then go for IVHQ and Volunteer Corps and you won't be disappointed. And maybe you can build an orphanage too :)
Program:
Location:
Posted: January 16, 2013
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: Chrissyg
Age:
34
Comments
- By: IVHQ
- Age:
- Official Program Administrator
- Posted: Jan 17, 2013
Hi Chrissy, thanks for sharing your review and recognising the extra effort our local staff go to to ensure our volunteers adjust well to life abroad. We look forward to seeing the orphanage being built and thanks for all your fundraising efforts.
Pages
Most reviewed
Highest rated
Resources
- Remember safety first! Travel abroad travel medical insurance at TravelGuard.com for peace of mind.
- Check out Abroad Reviews Forums
Comments