Laos Volunteer Programs from $21/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

A fantastic experience teaching English in Laos with the monks and children.
The local team were incredible and included us in their personal cultural celebrations as well as taking us on little trips (like bowling on a very wonky lane).
Such a fantastic opportunity for my daughter and I to give to others. Definitely would love to volunteer again.
Some of our wonderful experiences included a bike tour to a village where we learnt pottery. We then had our bowls returned to us in Australia.
We also went to a cultural festival with the local team's village. This was so interesting and the rice wine was pretty good too :)

Feedback volunteering in Laos October/November 2024

My name is Gerburg Ingrid Kamm. After a working life of over 40 years as a foreign language teacher of German and English I now enjoy my retirement “travelling with a purpose”.

Introduction
I consider myself lucky to have signed up for the IVHQ project of teaching English in Luang Prabang, Laos, because the 3 weeks from October 21 to November 8, 2024, have been extremely enriching and enjoyable.

First and foremost, my gratitude goes to the local team, who are responsible for the smooth running of the various projects, like childcare, teaching English, and construction. The coordinators of IVHQ did everything to make the volunteers feel welcome, to help them understand the new culture, and to or get accustomed to their new environment.

The program starts with an excellent, insightful introduction on the first day, which helps the newcomers to get acquainted with the customs and habits of the host country, in particular the dress code and behaviour code at school and in the presence of Buddhist monks and novices, and verbal and gestural expressions like greetings and thanks.

Hospitality
Accommodation: The rooms and bathrooms are tidy and in good condition and get cleaned twice a week, which includes the changing of towels and bed linen. They are equipped with air conditioning and fans.

Food and beverages: the food provided is excellent: three complete nutritious, savoury meals, starting with a good substantial breakfast made up of eggs, bread, and fresh fruit. Lunch and dinner are always abundant and well-balanced, containing protein like meat, fish, etc., carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and fresh fruit. All dishes are always freshly prepared with great care. Dietary needs of the volunteers are taken care of. Hot and cold drinking water is available around the clock in the tea and coffee kitchen.

Transport by tuktuk is provided to and from the volunteers’ “places of action” and often in the case of planned group activities.

Activities
As a volunteer in teaching English as a foreign language, I was placed together with the other teachers at a local English club, which is connected to a wat. My assignment consisted of lessons of 80 minutes in the morning from 8.30 to 9.50, mainly for Buddhist novices and monks from the Wat and for other learners, and 2 courses of 1 hour in the afternoon and evening from 16.30 to 17.30 and from 17.40 to 18.40 for schoolchildren and other learners.

The local teachers, as well as the students, responded with great willingness to get acquainted with new ideas and teaching techniques. Every week the volunteers are assigned to a different teacher and 3 different classes. The enthusiasm and gratitude shown by the teachers and the students made my lessons extremely rewarding.

The school headmaster welcomed the volunteers warmly and organized several occasions to get all his teachers together in informal gatherings such as an invitation to lunch, a visit to a fair taking place at the university campus, or a get-together after lessons in the evening. On these occasions, we, the teachers, could get to know each other better and exchange our experiences.

Finally, teaching was a pleasure, because the classrooms were equipped with a computer with an internet connection, overhead projector, and amplifier, which made it possible for the teachers to use modern teaching techniques.

Thank you

I am back at home now, and my special thank you goes to the local coordinators of the project (IVHQ) who always did their work in good spirits and tried to fulfill the volunteers’ every wish.

I went to Laos for a 2-week Childcare Volunteering trip. IVHQ provided all the support and guidance prior to the trip to ensure complete peace of mind on planning everything. From guidance on insurance, visas, and flights, everything was very easy to follow and very thorough.

Once in Laos, the program coordinators on the ground were the best. A great balance between the volunteer work and immersing ourselves in the local culture with invaluable local knowledge.

I couldn't fault anything and can't wait to book again.

It was truly an amazing experience volunteering in Luang Prabang, Laos. The Local Team was nothing short of exceptional. Truly commendable. The Construction & Renovation Programme was coordinated well by the Local Team from transportation to assignment of tasks. The food provided at the accommodation was delicious, credits to the local chef! The Local Team also helped arranged for excursions during our free time at really affordable prices. I highly recommend volunteers to explore the volunteer programme in Laos to gain a valuable and memorable experience.

The volunteer program was an ethical, engaging and family-friendly experience. It was so rewarding to be a part of the program, engage with students and teachers, learn more about their culture, and have a sense of contributing to the community. My family including a young child were able to witness the positive impact that volunteering has on communities.

The program has gone so well and has exceeded my expectations in many ways.

The teaching itself was not as challenging as I had imagined. The students at various levels were conversational, and willing to make mistakes, so the classroom was a fun and rewarding place to be!

The local team were so welcoming, accommodating and generous with their time, supporting the volunteers around the clock.

My time volunteering in Laos was absolutely fantastic. The local team were really friendly and helpful, they made sure you were comfortable with everything from the program to accommodation. The program was very enjoyable, I absolutely loved joining in and helping the kids with all their activities through out the day. Seeing their smiles and excitement when you walked into the room was lovely.
I also participated in the adventure week which was an amazing way too
immerse your self into the Lao culture.

There was tremendous support from the beginning starting from when I first registered through to my arrival at my volunteer project. I was also impressed with the communication between IVHQ and the local team working on behalf of IVHQ. All information I received was clear and accurate such that there were no surprises on my arrival in Laos where I was volunteering. Even during my time in Laos, the local coordinator continued to be in contact with me regarding my situation. It was all very reassuring.

What an experience! I volunteer for 3 weeks in Luang Prabang, Laos, and it was for sure one of my top 3 life experiences! Everything went super well, starting with all the IVHQ support team to the local team in Luang Prabang. I did a Childcare program and I it was amazing. The kids were great and all the team made me feel super welcome. There's no words to describe the time we spent in school with the kids, teaching and also learning with them. They'll be forever in my hearth and I will never forget the time I had when volunteering,