IFRE Volunteers

My time in Kathmandu within the photojournalism volunteer placement was a fulfilling experience. My instructor, Ram, had detailed knowledge of photography and the city's culture. All coordinators were accommodating and helpful making for a great support group. I highly recommend for those looking to embark on international experience as Nepal is an exciting and welcoming country for tourists. There are other volunteer options available which I'm sure are just as impactful, however, I'm partial to the photojournalism placement as it allows for travel access to city's main attractions and newly equipped photography skills for which to store lasting memories!

Pros
New skills and experience
Accommodations and 3 meals/day
Building relationships and learning of culture

Cons
Accommodations are very basic.

I volunteered in Guatemala February 2020. It was an amazing experience. I signed up at the last minute and the organizers at IFRE were very accommodating despite the rush. The contact person in Guatemala picked me up at the airport even though my flight landed at 12am! I was very appreciative. The host at the house where I stayed was amazing. She was always trying to make sure that I was happy. The home stay provides 3 meals a day which can help with your in country expenses. I do suggest that if you are going to a country where they don't speak English, you should take lessons before or during your stay. I spent a lot of time researching volunteer opportunities abroad and IFRE was by far the least expensive! Everyone that I have come in contact within the organization has been very helpful and professional. I plan to use them again next year when I volunteer abroad.

It's great to hear that you had a positive experience exploring Buddhism and basic living, and that you found the experience to be eye-opening and rewarding. The lack of luxury and basic hygiene may have been challenging, but it seems like it allowed you to appreciate the small things in life and gain a new perspective.

It's important to keep in mind that cultural experiences can be very different from what we are used to, and it's important to be open-minded and respectful of local customs and traditions. In some cases, this may mean adjusting our expectations and being prepared for different levels of comfort and amenities than we are used to.

Pros
Different world, different views
Very cheap
Breathtaking sceneries

Cons
Poor hygiene
No luxury

IFREVolunteers a non-profit organization had organized volunteer abroad programs in my school & I had also participated in it. There I enjoyed too much even through their volunteer & humanitarian trips abroad, I enable to spread love and compassion to poor children & improving the lives of destitute children. They offered me a great opportunity to explore new countries get to know about different shades of nature. I am so thankful to IFREVolunteers who has given me this grand opportunity.

Staying these past two weeks with Michael and his family has been absolutely wonderful! This was my first time in Sri Lanka and he made it feel at home. He would always ask how we were and if we needed anything. He also always made sure we were feeling safe while we were here, and he would always check up on us. His hospitality was great. They would make home made traditional meals for us which were delicious! His home was beautiful and right by the coast. It was also in walking distance from the town so it made it very easy to be able to do things. Michael took us on so many different and fun tours around Sri Lanka, while teaching us about history and culture. The volunteering part was also amazing. I loved being able to work with the kids. I really enjoyed Sri Lanka, and it would have been a totally different experience if it wasn't for Michael.

They are just asking for the money, its so bad, if you got lucky you will do the program but if you have a problem no one is there to help you.
For I stoped them when a girl asked me to sent 1100$ via western union in the same day, rushing me all the time to pay, pay and pay, but may placement was in June.
They are crap very bad company and no proffesionls at all.
Now I am no getting may money back, no one reply to my mails.
But I am going to review in every single page I can.

I'm really happy I selected this program for my volunteer project. It was a wonderful opportunity for my personal development. Everyone I've met has been so kind and helpful, and I'm so grateful for the help and support they've given me. I definitely recommend this program to those who are willing to change the life of disadvantaged while also experiencing a new culture from a different point of view than that of a tourist. Although we had an awesome time in Costa Rica, we would be more happy if our project locations were a bit better.

We enjoyed our time in Costa Rica and had good experiences, but we felt that the coordination of our volunteer sites was a bit lacking. It seemed as if the site was not 100% prepared to have us there to help, and we ran out of tasks to help with on all of our volunteer days. It also would have been nice to have a more set schedule for our volunteering hours with more of a description of what we would be doing before we left. While we absolutely appreciate our time in Costa Rica and made the best of it, we felt that the money we paid to participate in the experience was a bit too much for what we really received.

It was a wonderful experience. Helping people and being exposed to a different culture is so valuable. I wish that our tasks as volunteers in the volunteering site were more specific and clear, and more related to our educational background (pharmacy), so we can be more helpful and involved.

The best way to experience Nepal's distinctive culture, a sense of true family, and a glimpse into daily living is to volunteer to uplift the lives of disadvantaged children. It was indeed my greatest experience being around with amazing children. I love them and yes, this is my home away from home and they are my second family. I had a great time with them by playing around, doing homework, cleaning, and washing clothes. I miss their happiness and smiles when I was around, and I am already planning to come back Nepal, again. Instead of calling me by my name, they called me brother. It saddens me to hear their sad life-tales and I feel great sense of achievement that my little effort helped them lead a happy life. I was traveling after finishing my program and project staff often contacted me to see how I was doing and if I was safe.

I, one hundred percent recommend you join IFRE's childcare program in Kathmandu if you are looking for a way to volunteer travel Nepal. The staff were great, the food was amazing, I have no complaints. My experience with the IFRE program had been fantastic. U.S. Based operations and Nepalese field personnel were professional on their work. The Country Coordinator and The Field both responded quickly and efficiently! They were great that to make sure the volunteers had everything they needed for the program.

I miss beautiful Nepal and its children. Had a great journey.

Suggestion
Be in touch with the coordinator before your arrival, so that you can manage perfectly for the program.

My volunteer experience in Sri Lanka was an amazing adventure and challenge. Nothing could have adequately prepared me for the culture and lifestyle differences between 1st and 3rd world countries. Honestly, my initial response once I arrived in Sri Lanka was "What have I gotten myself into?"

However, after I recovered from the initial cultural shock, I was able to appreciate the warm hearts of those who made my stay in Sri Lanka an experience I will never forget.

During my volunteering, My host family accepted me and made me feel a part of their wonderful family. They taught me the most about Sri Lankan culture, customs, religions and the Sinhalese language. Although the children and staff at the orphanage were absolutely amazing, I know I will never forget the kindness, laughter, love, and happiness that I experienced at the orphanage. I will forever remember each and every child who opened their arms and heart to me. It was heartbreaking to leave the children, but I hope to return in the future.

I am grateful for everyone who assisted me during my Sri Lanka experience. I don't know what I would have done without them.

Volunteering abroad ethically, has been an aspiration for my wife and I and we took a chance after a ton of research. Unfortunately we didn't get what we paid for in IFRE's Kenya placement with Boundless Loves, which didn't match their online description of Cultural Conservation. On top of that, communication issues, cost overrun and lack of direction made us leave our project early.

IFRE didn't communicate costs well, and the money we paid for our program placement didn't have a portion go to the project there as the IFRE website claimed. Boundless Loves' projects didn't have a lead or any actual projects for us to join, and we had to create our own. They put us in front of cute children, trying to make us feel sorry for them so that we would donate more, and "coordinators" were constantly asking for more money. For any project we wanted to start, we had to make our own plans, fund and direct help for them--which from everything we've read is not very helpful because we're simply forcing our biased fixes that may not fit the local needs or culture. Without leadership or proper oversight, and not receiving useful information, we were left bewildered, frustrated, and unable to help in a meaningful, long-term way.

Finally, IFRE or known as Global Crossroads in EU isn't a volunteer organization, they're a volunteer placement group, so if you can connect with a group on the ground, you can save $300+ per person. Additionally, extra services come at a premium, for example our safari cost twice the going rate in Kenya with no difference in experience for the other safari goers who paid half the cost.

DO NOT GO THROUGH IFRE! They will try to ask for more and more money! They do not communicate and after 3 days of missed calls, they will tell you that its more money than originally planned. IFRE is a scam company that is not what it appears! The images that they have posted on their Instagram account are FAKE! I crossed referenced those images to google search and they are some the first images that come up for searches such as mission or volunteer abroad. This is a scam company that will try to ask for more money! Get out while you can! I do not want anyone to be scammed by them like we almost were. I started a club to go on a medical mission trip as high schoolers and IFRE seemed too good to be true. Until our contact started acting shady and losing communication. The very first time that we talked to our contact we took detailed notes of everything. From where we would be staying to the cost of the trip... down to every penny. After a few weeks, our contact told us we would not be staying with host families but in hotels changing what he had originally said, and that the price was $200.00 more than what they originally said. Looking back at our notes we knew what they were saying is not what they told us before. However he claims that he had already told us this. Placing the blame on us even though our detailed notes were proof of him lying to us. Looking at more reviews we found out that IFRE was indeed a scam. PLEASE do not book with IFRE! They are a SCAM! And will take your money without delivering and always asking for more!

I volunteered at the Upendo orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania with IFRE. My experience at the orphanage was incredible. My in-country coordinator had prepared a room for me, she welcomed me with open arms and always made sure that I was well taken care of even though I was supposed to be there helping them. It was amazing to see how happy and loving they were even though some had little more than the shirt on their back. It was truly a humbling experience.

I am happy that I used IFRE Volunteers for my first experience in Africa because it provided me with the security and reassurance I needed. There was always someone there to help me. I was picked up from the airport and taken to my host family without any hassle. The country coordinator also did all my paperwork to get a work permit, took me for a few tours around the city to familiarize myself, organized a safari for me, and even took me to the hospital when I wasn't feeling very well. I found IFRE cheaper compared to some of the other companies I researched. Therefore I agreed to volunteer with them.

From all angles it was absolutely an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend the experience.

Our group had an excellent time staying with Michael and his family while in Sri Lanka. Five members of our group stayed at Michael's house while five others stayed with his daughter. We stayed two weeks all together learning about the language and culture of Sri Lanka and volunteering.

Michael is very knowledgeable and was able to share with us a great deal of history on Sri Lanka and help us speak useful phrases.

At all times, whenever our group needed anything, Michael was always quick to respond. He helped us make changes in our volunteer schedule as needed, move students around in the two houses, and was very attuned to our needs. I want to thank Michael for all of the work that he and his family did to help us feel welcome in his home and in Sri Lanka.

I wish our experience with the IFRE office was as great as it was on the ground with Michael. I understand that they are a large organization in many countries, but we had significant issues dealing with them. In the week leading up to the program, our main office contact went on medical leave. As the new person took over communication, they made changes to the total cost we agreed on, then the payment was demanded upfront (before we had agreed to pre-pay half and then pay half at the end). After months of planning, we were told that the program would be canceled unless we met these stipulations.

We were worried about how the experience would be when we began because of our experience with their office, but as soon as we met Michael, his willingness to work with us gave us confidence that it would be a good trip.

I don't believe that IFRE is a bad organization, and perhaps our experience with the office was unique. I recommend being very clear early on about payments especially if volunteering with a large group.

Hello,

I would like to share the experience I had with IFRE in India. I have recently come back from a one month summer volunteering project where I worked in a slum school in Faridabad. Overall, I had an incredible and very positive experience in the country. However I also experienced a couple critical points with IFRE:

1) According to what I had to pay for this four week volunteer program, I realized during my work experience that certainly not a lot (if any) of the money reaches the school. There are no proper tables, no exercise books and few reading books in the school. For this reason I am wondering how the 1,899$ that I paid for this trip has been used by IFRE.

2) I noticed that IFRE does not require any background checks of the volunteers. Anybody, whether with good or bad intentions can work with the children in the school. This could be a potential danger for the students.

3) Volunteers do not need any teaching experience to work in the school. Additionally, no lesson plans or instructions on what to teach the pupils were given to me when I arrived in India.

4) I had difficulties with the payment of the trip; I was overcharged on one occasion and asked to repay the entire program fees on another occasion. Also, I had to email IFRE for an invoice.

5) Unlike mentioned on the website, where it states that "IFRE's staff also visits each volunteer every 1-2 weeks", the other volunteers and I got no such visits within my 3 week stay in the school.

6) IFRE (or Global Crossroads who IFRE works with) did not follow the program mentioned on the IFRE website accurately. For example I did not get to visit the city of Ranthambore at all. Unfortunately no alternative excursion was proposed to me.

7) On one occasion, my parents contacted the country coordinator in India and he gave them incorrect information about my location in the country.

8) During the time I was sightseeing, I was asked by the local IFRE/Global Crossroads contact to give extravagantly high tips to the drivers and guides.

Therefore I do not recommend traveling with IFRE Volunteers.