My project exceeded my every expectation—this was without a doubt the single greatest experience of my life!
I was ‘over-appreciated’ in many ways! My host family made me feel so at home from the moment I got there. I feel like they were constantly putting me FIRST. I was there hoping to meet THEIR needs and yet all they could concern themselves with was my level of comfort. I was overwhelmed by their kindness... The accommodation was excellent—VERY VERY CLEAN—(they sweep the dirt driveway every day and the sink is so clean you can see your reflection in it!). I left my sneakers outside one night and found them outside my bedroom door the next morning perfectly cleaned and polished. The food was delish and again they are very sanitary in their preparations and clean up. I can’t say enough about the host family—never in my life have I met such wonderful welcoming people!
More people need to have this kind of experience in life!! Thanks for EVERYTHING!

Name: Janet Patry
Age: 32
Country: USA
Program: Kenya - Orphanage
Date: October 2007

I was very impressed with the email responses during the time while I was preparing to go on my trip. Daniel answered each email withing 24 hours (and that is with the time difference!) as well as tried his best to answer my questions. I really felt like there was a lot of support before going.........I really enjoyed living with a Peruvian family and learning about their culture. The other volunteers were great and we all had a good time. I also really enjoyed teaching abroad and contributing to their education. 

I really enjoyed the project.  It was what I had hoped to be doing, more so in many ways. Wth many organisations when you pay your money the work you do is largely fabricated to make you feel like you're doing something.  Here, we were really involved with the kids, feeding, washing them etc and you actually felt that you were easing, even if in only a small way, the daily burden on the nurses. I would recommend the project to anyone and think that the fees are reasonable for what the project offers and the work that it does. Both Luce and and I really enjoyed staying with the family, as it enabled us to learn far about the country and town where we were staying.

One of the reasons I booked with IVHQ was because of the speedy response to all e-mails. You guys were great!.................. I think very highly of IVHQ and I plan to travel with you again

I had the time of my life in Arusha, I can't tell you how much I've cried since I left - single best thing I've ever done in my life. Daniel - thank you for this experience I wanted you to know just how much the orphanage kids and staff have touched my soul; we all cried and cried on my last day - they had a party for me and gave me a maasai blanket as a parting gift; it was so lovely. We did a lot while there..... - took the kids and staff at Paradiso Orphanage to get tested for HIV, painted the orphanage with help from other volunteers one weekend, bought enough food for them to last at least the next 2 or 3 months, bought stationary, books, school uniforms, medicines etc.... Definitely want to go back to Arusha and visit them in 6 months again; they called me from the orphanage here in London the other day and got the kids to yell out "Hi Tanya" - just beaustiful people......

I am so happy here. Guillermo and Cecilia are some of the best, nicest people I have ever met. I could not ask for a better home stay, they are giving and caring. I especially love Huancayo, and I don´t feel threatened at all. I love the kids at the orphanage, and I am very happy there..............I can´t really think of any suggestions except not to be intimitated by coming to Peru. I was at first but now that I´m here I´m not concerned at all. You were right that this is a for the most part safe country and I shouldn´t have been worried about it at all.

I want to thank you for all you have done for us and Meisha. She has had the trip of her lifetime.  Meisha's eyes were opened, especially in the area of child care, and is continuing her studies at college for Developmental Services Worker with a whole new outlook thanks to you and your organization. It's a wonderful service you are providing for the communities and the volunteers. Keep up the excellent work.  - Feedback from Meisha's parents (Michael and Isabelle Casey)

Greetings from Maasailand.  Everything is great here.  Matt (my husband, Matt Hasuly, also volunteering) and I are helping build manyattas, and have lots of blisters as proof!!!  We are living with Damaris.  She and her family are WONDERFUL!!!!!  We could not have asked for more!

The information booklet was awesome!  It is very comprehensive, and after going through it, I pretty much had no questions!  I really enjoyed that there was a bit of Tanzanian history and phrases in there too!.......Daniel was great, I sent an email, and often got a reply the same day.  I felt as if my serivce before I left was awesome, and all my questions were answered, and especially when the Kenyan political situation was ify, Daniel kept me updated weekly, and I REALLY appreciated that!........I really enjoyed the last week of my experience, where I visited a maasai village, as well as got to work in an HIV clinic.  It was such a learning experience and it was increadible.  The other volunteers were so awesome also, it was a pleasure to live with them and get to know them.

The staff did an excellent job taking us around the Kathmandu valley in our first week in Nepal during orientation. The language classes were incredibly useful and taught really well. I was placed in a health post out in Chitwan which was incredibly challenging but just as rewarding. Not many people in the village spoke English and out of the four health workers at the health post, only the auxillary health worker spoke English.