Excellent
Based on 262 reviews
GIVE Volunteers4.9Honesty, pricing, process and quality scores appear once 5 customers have rated them.
So, you want to travel the world and have an impact? Us too. Our meaningful travel combines sustainable volunteer projects, cultural experiences, and epic adventures so you can discover the world and your purpose in it. Apply to GIVE today!With over 8,000 past volunteers, numerous Community Choice Awards, and hands-on customer support, GIVE is the leading organization in responsible travel. Start your journey!Why book with GIVE? Transformative Travel With trips from 1-7 weeks in 6 countries, we have the culturally immersive, transformative experience you've been looking for. Locally-led & socially responsible Travel to extraordinary new worlds, immerse yourself in local cultures, and build lifelong relationships. Read reviews from past travelers of the impact GIVE has had on their lives. 360° Support From booking flights to packing lists, we're here for you every step of the way. We provide unparalleled support before, during, and after your trip.
GIVE Volunteers (givevolunteers.org) has 262 customer reviews on Folks Told, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Showing 6 reviews with 4 stars · Clear filters
Dallin
Tanzania and Zanz experience was amazing. Favorite parts was teaching english to the locals, working on construction projects for the school in Kairo and the safari. 100% worth it. Baboi, Talha, MC, Amour and Bighead are the best and will show you what their culture means to them and you'll be able to embrace that fully.
Reply from GIVE VolunteersAug 13, 2026
Thank you for taking the leap with GIVE and embracing the experience so fully.
Claire
I went on a trip with GIVE in 2023 to Tanzania. I want to preface with the fact that all of the staff and people who work for GIVE were very kind and accommodating. I will also say that I had a very good time on the trip. It’s super well organized and the activities they plan for you are great. However, if you’re looking for a chance to properly experience a culture and to volunteer, there are other ways to do so which cost a fraction of what GIVE requires you pay. It may take a bit of research online, but there are definitely programs out there that will house you and allow you to stay for various durations. AIESEC is an example of a student run association which has chapters worldwide which is focused on global exchanges and leadership. If you’re interested in religion, you could even look into ministries abroad. My Swiss cousin has volunteered numerous times in countries like Uganda and Tanzania where she goes to care for children for practically FREE. This isn’t a coincidence. I think that in the US, we are an easy target demographic for companies like GIVE because we don’t question international trips when they cost a small fortune. With how much we already pay for our college tuitions, who better to convince to pay thousands of dollars for two week trips abroad to get a glimpse of other cultures than young Americans? I spent at least $5,000 for my two week trip, including airfare. It’s clear that most of the money probably went into paying GIVE’s staff, the excursions themselves, and funding their local projects. You pay to participate and for GIVE sorting out the logistics. If that’s the kind of experience you’re looking for, then for sure go for it! Absolutely nothing wrong with it. I would say it’s much more about sustainable tourism than anything else! But to call it a true volunteering experience, I’m not sure I would venture so far as to say that. Personally, I feel like that’s more of a marketing ploy to reel in young Americans (and occasionally people from other places) looking to get out of their comfort zones. It feels more altruistic to be called a “volunteer” than a “sustainable tourist”. Better for marketing and for convincing parents and relatives to help pay for the trip. So, would I recommend GIVE Volunteers? That depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. All in all, I considered it to be a very cool trip with fun excursions. We went on a safari, snorkeling with dolphins, on walking tours, to a spice farm, got to meet and support locals etc. I had a lot of fun. However, I’d recommend you look at different options if you’re interested in more traditional volunteering experiences for much less money where you do more of the logistics legwork.
Reply from GIVE VolunteersJul 28, 2026
Hi Claire, Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We genuinely appreciate you recognizing our staff, the organization of the program, and that you had a great experience in Tanzania. We’re especially glad you enjoyed the people, wildlife, and cultural experiences that make East Africa so special. We also appreciate your perspective on cost and the role of volunteering within our programs. It’s an important conversation, and one we welcome. You’re absolutely right that there are organizations around the world offering volunteer placements at a much lower cost, particularly for more experienced travelers who are looking primarily for accommodation and a volunteer opportunity. Those programs can be a great fit for the right person. GIVE, however, is intentionally designed to offer something different. Our programs combine community-based volunteering with immersive cultural exchange, responsible adventure travel, reflection, leadership development, and comprehensive support before, during, and after the trip. In addition to project funding, program fees cover accommodations, all meals & drinking water, ground transportation, local guides, experienced international staff, cultural activities, adventure experiences, risk management, emergency support, extensive pre-departure preparation, and year-round program development. We recognize that this isn’t the least expensive way to travel, but it is the experience we’ve intentionally chosen to create. As you mentioned, a significant portion of those fees also supports our community partners year-round. That includes fair wages for our local staff and guides, long-term partnerships with community organizations, and ongoing investment in projects that continue whether volunteers are present or not. We’re incredibly grateful to travelers like you for helping make that possible. One example is Skuli Ya Kairo GIVE, the school you supported. What began as a community vision has grown over many years into the #1-ranked school in its district and #3 in its region. While no single volunteer can claim credit for achievements like that, we’re proud that thousands of travelers, local educators, and community members have contributed to its long-term success together. One point we’d also like to address is your comment about young Americans being “easy targets.” We see our participants very differently. They are thoughtful people who choose to invest their travel dollars in local families, educators, conservation initiatives, community projects, and personal growth, rather than more conventional forms of tourism. Throughout our programs, we make a conscious effort to explore the complexities of global development, responsible travel, and the limitations of short-term volunteer experiences. Our goal has never been to suggest that a two-week trip can solve systemic challenges. Rather, we hope it provides meaningful context, fosters authentic relationships, and inspires participants to become more active global citizens long after they return home. If that message didn’t fully come across during your experience, that’s valuable feedback for us, and we’ll continue looking for ways to communicate it more effectively. In fact, many of our alumni go on to pursue longer-term opportunities like Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, international careers, graduate study, and other forms of service. We see GIVE not as the finish line, but as the beginning of a lifelong journey of global engagement. Thank you again for traveling with us and for sharing your honest perspective. While we may view some aspects of the experience differently, we’re grateful you chose to spend part of your journey with us and wish you all the best in wherever your travels and service take you next.
Fabian
I really liked my experience, my first trip I went to krabi to scuba dive and I had Hannah, nice and Seth as my guides and each one had a unique personality that made up the best trio of guides they were all amazing. I really enjoyed my scuba diving in krabi and all the activities and people I’ve met. For my second half of my trip I traveled to Chiang Mai for the elephant trip and again when I thought it couldn’t get better I had Vic as my guide and I really loved her she completely matched my energy and one of the best guides by far. I did enjoy my trip with the elephants however, the whole program was a bit underwhelming in the end. Don’t get me wrong I did learn a bit and I loved getting the experience to touch an elephant, but I had expectations, such as I thought it would be more hands on meaning I thought we would do more to help elephants or at least look after them more, the only time we did that through the whole trip was probably day two in the elephants roam free village, I did have the best part of the trip there, we got to hand feed and also bathe with the elephants and even clean after their huts where they slept, that day was amazing and I just thought that was the beginning of it and I was excited to be more involved, however the rest of the trip just consisted of hikes to observe elephants from a distance which I honestly didn’t mind. I love hiking and getting to see a free elephant is reward in itself, but I thought I would be doing more to help elephants personally rather then just the idea of paying money for the trip which helps them, I know that the ones we saw were retired and are in a no touch sanctuary, I can respect that. But it just made the rest of the trip kinda underwhelming and quite boring. The best way it could’ve been better was for more hands on experiences, I’m a vet tech myself so personally I wanted to learn more about elephant health care and day to day activities and if there was ways we could help out. But regardless I still enjoyed my time, I appreciated being in a new country and getting to see such beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, I had a great time and I don’t regret it. I loved the guides and the people I met so what more can I ask for.
Casey
Going to another country where you don't know anyone or the language is terrifying especially when you're doing the whole SouthEast Asia package, but right as you walk out of the airport you are immediately greeted by the the guides! They were so excited to meet us and so so kind and immediately start getting to know who you are. I talked with all of my guides and can say without a doubt that without them the experience would have been 10 times different because they are all so amazing and put the GIVE in a GIVE trip! There might need to be a little extra training about what to do if a bacterial infection gets a majority of the group including guides... but the chances of that happening again are hopefully low. Finally, I just want to say that doing this with GIVE has truly changed my life, the locals I got to meet, the kids I got to teach, and the different experiences I got to have are things that I will look back on with joy for decades to come and I am already planning my next GIVE trip!
Erica
Overall the trip was amazing. You really get emerged into the culture, and learn about the people you’re helping. There’s a lot of team bonding which I thought was great. It felt rewarding and gave more perspective in life.
Blake
I absolutely LOVED my GIVE trip. All the people were so welcoming, it was well organized, and the communication was stellar. The volunteer work felt meaningful and the activities that we did were super super fun. My one complaint is that it was not enough service. A 14 day trip with 6 days of service should not be advertised as a volunteer trip. If I had one thing to change about give, it would be to add at least 2 more volunteer days.
Reply from GIVE VolunteersJul 26, 2023
So great to hear, thank you for sharing your experience! We appreciate your honest feedback and always strive to improve. Our trips are responsible travel with a focus on volunteering in various ways. We support the local economy and social entrepreneurship. So even on days where it's not "typical" volunteer work, it may still be supporting our local non-profit partners or host-communities. We hope to see you on another trip soon! Sending good vibes.
