The 2012 IVHQ volunteer competitions have begun and we are happy to announce the winners of our Volunteer Reviews, Photo and Video competitions from the first month of the year!

The IVHQ volunteer reviews winner for the first month of 2012 is Alyssa Miller from America - Congratulations! Alyssa recently spent 3 weeks volunteering in an Orphanage in Uganda and wrote “IVHQ were very, very helpful! The quick responses to questions and concerns made for a very easy and comfortable preparation. The local staff do an incredible job with placement and taking care of us while they are there. He was constantly in touch, asking us if we were happy with everything, asking us if we need anything. I couldn't have felt more at home...I really believed that I had made a difference in the lives of these children. They are used to volunteers coming and going, but to see such emotion because of me leaving really made me feel appreciated and let me know that I have left the love I intended.”  Click on the link to read more of Alyssa’s fantastic volunteer review. As the volunteer review winner, US$100 is coming out to you from IVHQ!

We always appreciate feedback from our volunteers so that we can ensure we continue to provide the best volunteer programs in the world at the lowest prices! For those who are volunteering or completing their programs soon please remember to send us your feedback or review, and be put in the draw to win US$100!

All the best for this month,

The team at IVHQ

The New Year is well under way and many volunteers have made their resolutions and committed to various volunteer experiences abroad in 2012! With that, there have also been those who chose to bring in the New Year in a new country and culture while volunteering abroad, and over the past week we have been steadily receiving their positive reviews about volunteering abroad with IVHQ.

One particular review is from John Shupbach, currently volunteering on our Health program in India Delhi. He writes: “My first six weeks in Faridabad have been life-changing. Although I came not knowing what to expect, every aspect of my experience has exceeded my wildest expectations. My host family has taken me is as if I were their own son, the hospital staff at numerous hospitals have welcomed me with open arms (even into their homes), the locals call me out of the house to play cricket and badminton nearly every day, and my co-volunteers and roommates have expanded my horizons far beyond the boundaries of any country I have visited.”

John has also been photographing and documenting his volunteer and travel experiences in India through his blog, which is well worth a read not just for volunteers but also for others who may be interested in travelling to India.

We have also received fantastic volunteer reviews about volunteering in an Orphanage in India Delhi, with Beatriz Hildebrand Comin Alves de Oliveira writing “The orientation week was a great bonding experience with other volunteers. I recommend it to everyone. My time was appreciated and the experience very worthwhile. The accommodation and food at the orphanage was great.”. Kimberley Lear also recently completed her 4 week program in India, writing a great review for our volunteer testimonials: “Orientation was brilliant. The hosts were so warmly accommodating they helped us all settle in well and feel comfortable. I had a great experience in this week. I loved cooking with Tooni, the cook and trying to learn Hindi from her. I loved the children in the slum school and greatly miss them. Although there were 230 kids I came to know their faces (definitely not all their names though!).” To read more of Kimberley’s and other volunteers’ reviews for volunteering overseas with IVHQ click here.

From the team at IVHQ, we hope you have a fantastic week and look forward to hearing from you!

IVHQ December 2011 Volunteer Photo Competition

Amanda Byrd and 4 other volunteers travelling together with her spent 1 week on the Street Children Work project on our volunteer in Ecuador program in November 2011. On her program she worked with a number of Market children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. Amanda and her team did fantastic work on this program, also taking some great photos including this month's winner, titled “Luis Stands Alone”! Congratulations Amanda - US$100 coming to you!

IVHQ December 2011 Volunteer Abroad Photo Competition Winner

IVHQ December 2011 Volunteer Video Competition

The IVHQ video competition winner for December 2011 is Hugo Sa from Portugal. Hugo volunteered on the IVHQ volunteer in Kenya program. His video is a short introduction to his experience on the Orphanage Work program in November 2011 and we look forward to seeing more! Thanks for your video, Hugo and US$100 coming out to you.

IVHQ December 2011 Volunteer Abroad Video Competition Winner

Get your entries in and you could have the chance to win US$100, and remember to keep voting!

All the best from the team at IVHQ!

Do you have any like-minded friends, students or colleagues who are interested in giving their time to volunteering? There are great opportunities for group volunteering with IVHQ. We cater for groups with over 10 members and can work with groups to find a suitable start date, volunteer project and accommodation.

We have had two groups start one-week programs this New Year and have many more to starting in March for the Spring break in America. Eleven volunteers from West Chester University started the street children volunteer program in Ecuador on January 3rd. Seventeen volunteers who are part of the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) organization from the University of Wisconsin-Madison began the medical volunteer program in Guatemala on January 4th. Our placements really appreciate your time and work!

We often have particular projects emerging that are not part of our regular programs and we can also initiate projects to suit the group's skills and interests. There are opportunities to fund projects through volunteer donations if you aim to complete a particular project during your time. If you would like to find out more about volunteering as a group, visit our groups page and send us an email at volunteer@volunteerhq.org.