I had a great call with Mariela Pero from Volunteer World. She was kind, patient, and took the time to clearly explain all the steps of the process. She also shared valuable insights and followed u... See more
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
The call I had with Josefiene was really helpful — especially the follow-up email summarizing my program details, along with the visa and vaccine information I needed. I still have several programs op... See more
Company replied
Laura has assisted me in my queries on numerous occasions, and I am deeply impressed by her! She is always patient and friendly, and able to assist in resolving any issues or answer any questions yo... See more
Company replied
The booking experience with Volunteer World was great! Plenty of information on the projects in an easy to read format. Questions were answered quickly by Volunteer World - thankyou Mariela and by my... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Volunteer World is the world's leading volunteering platform. We show you how to volunteer abroad! Search & compare the best international volunteer programs offered by volunteer organizations and local NGOs with just a few clicks.
Contact info
Rolandstraße 44, 40476, Düsseldorf, Germany
- helpcenter@volunteerworld.com
- www.volunteerworld.com
4.8
Excellent
314 reviews
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This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 2 weeks
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Great Support
Outstanding customer support! The team responded super fast, was incredibly helpful, and answered all my questions regarding orientation and booking right away. I felt completely supported throughout the planning process.
28 August 2026
Unprompted review
The support is amazing
The call I had with Josefiene was really helpful — especially the follow-up email summarizing my program details, along with the visa and vaccine information I needed. I still have several programs open and haven’t decided yet, so it was great that the email included a comparison sorting through all of them. Josefiene was lovely and made the whole process much easier.
18 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Paul! 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re really glad that Josefine could make the process easier for you and that the follow-up information and program comparison were helpful. 💛
We hope you find the perfect program for your adventure! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
Mariela was very clear and nice
Mariela was very clear and nice, I recommend!
14 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Antonino! 😊
Thank you so much for your kind feedback and recommendation! We’re really happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with Mariela. 💛
All the best for your volunteering adventure! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
I spoke with Mariela
I spoke with Mariela, it was very informative and helpful, answering all my questions and more, giving useful materials right after the call to help with the process, also. Thanks a lot!
13 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Mikaal! 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re really happy to hear that your call with Mariela was helpful and gave you the information and resources you needed to move forward. 💚
Wishing you a great experience with your volunteering project, and thanks again for choosing Volunteer World! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
All my questions have been answered…
All my questions have been answered politely and helpful. The service was kind and helpful.
11 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Niki! 😊
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really happy to hear that your questions were answered clearly and that you felt well supported throughout the process. It means a lot to us! 💚
Wishing you all the best for your volunteering experience! 🌍
Sophie from Volunteer World
Helpful Video Call
My call with Mariela was very insightful, she gave me a rundown on how to navigate the Volunteer-World website and helped explore which programs best align with my interests, skillsets and education. She was able to answer any questions I had regarding what different programs may require (How long is the recommended stay time in order get the most out of volunteering/best support local communities? etc). I thank volunteer-world for their tentative responses and support :)
5 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Tara! 😊
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! We’re really happy to hear that Mariela could help you navigate the different programs and find options that match your interests and background. 💛
Wishing you all the best as you choose your program and prepare for your volunteering experience! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
The conversation was really clear and…
The conversation was really clear and helpfull
27 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Ella-Mae! 😊
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re really glad to hear that the conversation was clear and helpful. 💛
Wishing you all the best with your volunteering adventure! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
A very friendly and open exchange
A very friendly and open exchange. Some questions can only be answered by the travel agent, so not everything was answered, but guided to the right contact person.
21 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Anilegna 😊
Thank you so much for your kind review! 💛
We're really glad to hear you enjoyed the exchange. Whenever a question can best be answered by one of our local coordinators, we always try to connect you with the right person as quickly as possible so you receive the most accurate information.
We wish you an amazing adventure and all the best! 🌍✨
Sophie from Volunteer World
Not as advertised
I spent 3 and a half weeks here and it was not what I expected. The host mum Shirley was very nice and welcoming but upon arrival I was quite surprised about a couple things; firstly the room I was in had 2 fans instead of AC, one of the fans was completed rusted over and so blew out dirt when it was on (this led to a chest infection I got) and the other did not help. Upon starting doing my volunteering program which was meant to be 'Teach English to LOCAL students' I was surprised on my first day to find out that nearly all the kids spoke English as their first language and that it was a private school. I did my first day which as listed on the website included looking after, teaching and helping the kids, so I taught them what I could during lesson time (given they were all native speakers it was mostly helping with coloring and drawing- which is very different to teaching English) and sat with them during lunch time and played with them during lunch time as they all wanted me to. All very normal things for one to do, and after my first day with no notice I get an email saying my 'program has been terminated'. After just having travelled half way across the world and I'm being told I now can't return, with a reason that I still don't understand: I was told that kids need time to build confidence around you and so playing with them at lunch time is extremely inappropriate. The next best option they could offer me was working at a dog shelter down the road. I had come all the way to Costa Rica from the UK to teach English to kids who seemingly lack resources and need help but instead I am fired on the first day and then told you can look after stray dogs instead, so I went from being able to 'teach' for 6-7 hours a day to looking after dogs for 2-3 hours a day. On top of this, a big part of me going to Costa Rica was to practice my Spanish and in the Volunteer house (the interior photos on the website is not how the accommodation really looks) everyone apart from me was German, so not only no Spanish was being spoken but also it got very awkward for me as I don't speak any German and very often we would be speaking in English and everyone else would start speaking in German and I would have no idea what anyone is saying. Maybe the worst thing as well is one of the girls met this guy from where she was working and I was outside the accommodation at night and he insisted on speaking to me and almost immediately he started speaking to me in Spanish so the girl couldn't understand because she didn't speak any and threatened that him and his friends would kill me and leave me to be eaten by the chickens if I ever said anything bad about him. After all of this I was not offered any kind of refund except a small voucher for their website, so I had to spend a lot more money on then trying to make the most of my time in Costa Rica and travel around. If you have any questions or would like to see the videos I have of the place feel free to reach out on instagram : elfalafel_tri
Also the only food they give you is rice beans and tinned pasta.
19 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Harry,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are genuinely sorry that your stay in Costa Rica did not meet your expectations.
We took your concerns very seriously and carried out a thorough review together with the local organization. During this process, we gathered information from both parties and carefully assessed the circumstances surrounding your placement.
While we understand that your experience was disappointing, some statements made in this review were not raised during the complaint process and therefore could not be investigated at the time. Based on the information available to us, we were unable to conclude that the local organization had breached its contractual obligations.
We nevertheless appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue reviewing and improving our partner programs.
Best,
Sophie from Volunteer World
Kind, Helpful, and Professional Support from Mariela
I had a great call with Mariela Pero from Volunteer World. She was kind, patient, and took the time to clearly explain all the steps of the process. She also shared valuable insights and followed up with a list of volunteering projects tailored to my preferences, along with other useful links and resources.
Thank you so much, Mariela, for your support and guidance. A wonderful experience! 😊
3 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Laura 😊
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! 💛
We're so happy to hear that your call with Mariela was helpful and that she could guide you through the process while finding volunteering opportunities that matched what you were looking for. It's wonderful to know you felt supported every step of the way.
We wish you an incredible volunteering adventure and hope it's an experience you'll always remember! 🌍✨
Best wishes,
Sophie from Volunteer World
I cannot recommend Volunteer World…
I cannot recommend Volunteer World enough, and a massive, heartfelt thank you goes to Mariela! From start to finish, the support I received was absolutely incredible. Mariela made the entire process so much easier, guiding me with so much patience, warmth, and professionalism. Knowing I had someone so dependable in my corner made all the difference. Thank you, Mariela, and the whole team for your outstanding support and for making this such a positive experience!
6 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Anrika 😊
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💛
Reading your kind words truly made our day. We're so happy to hear that you felt supported throughout your journey and that Mariela was able to make the whole process easier for you.
We'll be sure to pass your lovely feedback on to Mariela – it will mean a lot to her! ✨
Thank you for putting your trust in us. We wish you all the very best and hope to accompany you again on another adventure someday! 🌍😊
Take care and all the best! 💚
Sophie from Volunteer World
The team are very helpful and…
The team are very helpful and communicate openly making it easier to make arrangements and prepare for the trip. The travel expert call is a fantastic service.
16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Alex 😊
Thank you so much for your kind review! 💛
We're delighted to hear that you found our team helpful and that our communication made it easier for you to prepare for your trip. It's especially wonderful to know that you enjoyed the Travel Expert Call—it’s a service we’re really happy to offer! ✨
We wish you an amazing experience and can't wait to hear all about your adventure! 🌍😊
All the best and enjoy every moment! 💚
Sophie from Volunteer World
Great support in the early stages as…
Great support in the early stages as this is all new to me.
2 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Adrian 😊
Thank you so much for your kind review! 💛
We're really happy to hear that you felt well supported during these first steps. Starting a volunteering journey can feel overwhelming, so we're glad we could help make the process a little easier.
We're always here if you have any questions along the way. Wishing you an amazing adventure! 🌍✨
All the best,
Sophie from Volunteer World
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Anne 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely review! 💛
We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience with our team and appreciated our fast support. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us!
We wish you an amazing volunteering adventure and all the best for what's ahead. 🌍✨
Best wishes,
Sophie from Volunteer World
The call was really nice
The call was really nice and she was very fast with sending me experiences that could be a fit for me.
28 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Victoria 😊
Thank you so much for your kind review! 💛
We're delighted to hear that you had a great call and that the project recommendations were helpful in finding opportunities that match your interests. We always aim to make the search for the right volunteer experience as smooth and personal as possible.
We wish you an amazing volunteering adventure and all the best on your journey! 🌍✨
Best wishes,
Sophie from Volunteer World
A very smooth booking and support…
A very smooth booking and support process
21 March 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi 😊
Thank you so much for your kind review! 💛
We're delighted to hear that you found both the booking process and the support smooth and straightforward. Making the journey as easy and enjoyable as possible is exactly what we strive for.
We wish you an incredible volunteering experience and all the best for your adventure ahead! 🌍✨
Best wishes,
Sophie from Volunteer World
Great experience booking I needed to…
Great experience booking I needed to change dates and communication was fantastic!! Looking forward to my trip!
13 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Shannon 😊
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💛
We're so happy to hear that everything went smoothly, even after changing your travel dates. It's great to know that our team could support you throughout the process and make everything as easy as possible.
We hope you have an incredible trip and an unforgettable volunteering experience. Have an amazing adventure! 🌍✨
Best wishes,
Sophie from Volunteer World
Great knowledgeable feedback
Mariela answered all my questions thoroughly and made good suggestions
28 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Volunteer World
Hi Kelly,
Thank you so much 😊
We’re really glad to hear that Mariela could support you well. ✨
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