ISV selects all Volunteer Projects according to our standards for safety and excellence. Projects are meaningful, fun, safe, have achievable goals, and will truly make a difference in conservation or social community development in your host country.

For a list of the types of projects available, click your host country name on the right-hand side of this page, and then click on Volunteer Projects. Projects are updated on a regular basis as ISV continues to research and secure the best projects possible.

ISV makes every effort to place you on your first preference. Please keep in mind that project preference requests are not guaranteed to be met, since a variety of important factors influence each placement (such as those listed below). ISV encourages you to remain flexible and open to volunteering on any project.

Some Important Factors in Project Placement:

1. Group Size: Group size varies depending upon the host country and type of project. Generally, you will be placed on a Volunteer Project with approximately 10 to 15 other ISV participants and one ISV Project Leader.
2. Friend Preference: If you are traveling with a friend and you both want to participate on the same Volunteer Project, please include your friend’s first and last name on the Project Preference Form in the space provided.
3. Medical Information: IMPORTANT – It is essential that ISV has your current medical information. Be assured that ISV will treat your medical information confidentially. Email our office at isvcan@isvonline.org immediately with any medical updates if the information you provided on your original application has changed. ISV will take medical conditions such as allergies, disabilities, medications and other medical information into consideration when making project placements. Safety is our primary concern.
4. Dietary Information: Email ISV at isvcan@isvonline.org with your specific dietary requirements if any of the information you provided on your original application has changed. ISV can accommodate vegetarians and most other special diets. Participants with specific dietary needs should be prepared to supplement their meals with other foods at their expense. ISV takes no responsibility for participants who fail to notify ISV of their dietary requirements prior to departure to their host country. Also, it is your responsibility to contact the airlines you are traveling with ahead of time in order to arrange appropriate meals on your flight.
5. Departure Date: Most projects are only available on specific departure dates. Therefore, depending on your assigned departure date, ISV will place you on one of the projects available for your date.
6. Flights and Excursions: The Program logistics of flights and excursions influence project placement.
7. Academic Credit: If you are receiving Academic Credit, ISV must place you on a project approved for Academic Credit participants.

Customized ISV Program Participants: If you are traveling to more than one host country for a Volunteer Project, please complete separate Project Preference Forms (one form per host country). If you are remaining in the same country for all your Programs then you only need to fill out one Project Preference Form.

Email Confirmation: Once ISV has received your completed Project Preference Form, you will receive a confirmation by email within 7-10 business days. If ISV does not receive your form by 75 days prior to your departure date, we will assume you have no specific preferences and will refer to the preference you stated on your original application. Please refer to the Deadline Calendar online at www.isvonline.org/deadlines to view the due date for your Project Preference Form.

Project Placement and Project Overview: You will receive your Project Overview with your specific project placement by email 30 days prior to your departure date. The Project Overview contains information on your host organization, the volunteer tasks and goals of these activities, free time, accommodations, meals, a packing list specific to your Volunteer Project, directions on how to communicate with family and friends back home, and many other important details.

Australia

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic

Eastern Europe

Ecuador

New Zealand

Thailand