Volunteer in Zanzibar

Just commit and book it! I’m so grateful I did. I felt the normal worries like “What if I don’t make friends there? What if I do something stupid or culturally inappropriate? What if I don’t speak the language? What if I spend this money and the whole thing just isn’t what I was hoping for?”

The fact is, I’ve met some of the most incredible people in the world on these trips. The people volunteering abroad are generally very accepting and friendly. The culture is generally very accepting and friendly. We all make mistakes, but what we are doing is inherently good. That speaks worlds to how you will be seen and treated abroad. Money is replaceable but experiences like these are one in a million. I’m so grateful I went.

The meals were awesome! It was always clean and tasty. A good mix of local vs. western cuisine.

I felt so safe and taken care of by IVHQ and the local team. They were easy to reach in person or via phone, and always had my back.

I feel like I gained a lot of confidence in myself - volunteering is so worth it!

I've definitely gained a new perspective on things, and I would 100% recommend an IVHQ volunteer program to a friend. It was a really wonderful experience, which i don't think I'll ever forget.

I feel that I learned and experienced so much more from this trip than I ever would have if I had just visited Zanzibar as a tourist. By working in the local community, you get to help make a small difference with the work they do and learn how they live their lives. It has changed how I look at my own lifestyle and has shown me how privileged we really are. If someone is hesitant about going, I can understand that, I was scared before I left too. But once you have an open mind about what you will experience, then you will adapt more easily to the new culture. Everyone in the local team and community there is so kind and helpful, and meeting the other volunteers you get to make lifelong friends!

IVHQ gave me such an amazing set of resources pre-departure to educate volunteers on what to expect at the program. This whole experience was amazing, you learn so much and meet so many amazing new people. My advice would be to dive in and be confident, speak to everyone and ask many questions!