Yuda Ventures

Trips sponsored by Yuda Bands that empower youth, parents, and teachers to become better global citizens through travel, service, and cultural experiences.

Yuda Ventures

Trips sponsored by Yuda Bands that empower youth, parents, and teachers to become better global citizens through travel, service, and cultural experiences.

Upcoming Yuda Ventures

Zimbabwe

Dec 26, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024
$2,500 Volunteer Fee

Guatemala

July 23 – Aug 1, 2024
$1,900 Volunteer Fee

Nicaragua

Summer 2026
$1,600 Volunteer Fee

Upcoming Yuda Ventures

Zimbabwe

Dec 26, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024
$2,500 Volunteer Fee

Guatemala

July 23 – Aug 1, 2024
$1,900 Volunteer Fee

Nicaragua

Summer 2026
$1,600 Volunteer Fee

“Scared was just one of the many words to describe how we felt when our daughter said she wanted to go to Guatemala with the Yuda Bands organization. This is not something a teenager should be doing. It was too scary and much too risky. The world scared eventually turned into BLESSED. What our daughter experience in going to Guatemala far outweighs anything she could have seen or learned in a textbook. This trip was not just a regular mission trip helping out in areas of need; it was that and so much more. It was about understanding, strength, bravery, confidence, and the start of genuine friendships. When she told us of her amazing stories upon returning home, we could hear in her voice and see in her face that she had truly received more than she had given. We never thought we would say this, but we were very glad she had changed our skeptical minds.”

N. Spady

Mother of Yuda Venture Volunteer

We’re not in the travel business. We’re in business to end poverty.

Although we take every precaution to make our trips safe, fun and rewarding, Yuda Bands service trips are not our main focus. Rather the main thrust of the Yuda Bands organization is building scholarship funds for educating youth in developing nations, and implementing leadership and character building training to make the most of that education. Our trips SUPPORT that on-going quest. When you volunteer with Yuda Bands on one of our summer service trips you are adding strength to a constantly running program that will continue after you leave. That’s call sustainability.

We’re not in the travel business. We’re in business to end poverty.

Although we take every precaution to make our trips safe, fun and rewarding, Yuda Bands service trips are not our main focus. Rather the main thrust of the Yuda Bands organization is building scholarship funds for educating youth in developing nations, and implementing leadership and character building training to make the most of that education. Our trips SUPPORT that on-going quest. When you volunteer with Yuda Bands on one of our summer service trips you are adding strength to a constantly running program that will continue after you leave. That’s call sustainability.

How do I know my child will be safe?

An experienced travel guide will be with your child from the time they arrive at airport to the time they return. We will share pictures on the trip’s Instagram throughout the day and your child will have access to Internet each night to communicate with home. Parents are also given a phone 24/7 emergency direct line to trip guides.

@YudaVenturesGuatemala
@YudaVenturesAfrica
@YudaVenturesNicaragua

More info available at the bottom of this page

How do I know my child will be safe?

An experienced travel guide will be with your child from the time they arrive at airport to the time they return. We will share pictures on the trip’s Instagram throughout the day and your child will have access to Internet each night to communicate with home. Parents are also given a phone 24/7 emergency direct line to trip guides.

@YudaVenturesGuatemala
@YudaVenturesAfrica
@YudaVenturesNicaragua

More info available at the bottom of this page

Fees and Fundraising

We realize cost can be the determining factor for our volunteers. That is why we’ve spent 14 years cutting travel costs without cutting impact. Due to our longtime relationships our trips are substantially less expensive compared to similar trips. Here are some helpful links to learn more:

Whats included >

Making payments >

Fundraising >

Fees and Fundraising

We realize cost can be the determining factor for our volunteers. That is why we’ve spent 14 years cutting travel costs without cutting impact. Due to our longtime relationships our trips are substantially less expensive compared to similar trips. Here are some helpful links to learn more:

Whats included >

Making payments >

Fundraising >

Creating an Atmosphere of Service and Learning

Yuda Ventures are a wonderful way to expand your service reach as we enjoy cultural experiences and complete service projects and leadership trainings with the International Yuda Bands students. Trip volunteers are self motivated and service oriented students, parents, and teachers anxious to help other. Yuda Ventures provide unmatched travel adventure, service and cultural experiences unique to each country we visit. This gives volunteers the chance to see how locals live and build life-long friendships.

Creating an Atmosphere of Service and Learning

Yuda Ventures are a wonderful way to expand your service reach as we enjoy cultural experiences and complete service projects and leadership trainings with the International Yuda Bands students. Trip volunteers are self motivated and service oriented students, parents, and teachers anxious to help other. Yuda Ventures provide unmatched travel adventure, service and cultural experiences unique to each country we visit. This gives volunteers the chance to see how locals live and build life-long friendships.

Hakuna MatataIt Means No Worries

Hakuna MatataIt Means No Worries

Gateway Airport

One of the biggest concerns that parents have is sending their child off to navigate immigration, customs, or other “unknowns” of landing in a foreign, non-English speaking country. Because of this we will all meet together at a US based gateway airport. This way our trip guide(s) will escort your child from the gateway airport to the final destination.

Parents Are Welcome

Our groups are primarily made up of youth but family members and teachers are invited to accompany us. Each year since 2007, a handful of mothers and fathers have added a wonderful variety and maturity to the group. Sometimes teachers and students that ran a Yuda Bands project together will travel together to meet their student they worked together to sponsor.

Easy to Get in Contact

International communication has become quite convenient. Most carriers extend service internationally for $9 per 24 hours. However we recommend communicating with home and posting on social media only at night at our hotels and lodges where Wifi will be available. Parents are given a 24/7 number to contact their child in case of emergency.

U.S. and Local Support

Both US guides and local Yuda Bands directors will help with language and culture. Local directors share valuable insight to culture and traditions while US guides fill a parental role and maintain a high standard of hygiene, safety and behavior in the group.

Safe & Clean Lodging

We stay in clean and simple accommodations on all of our trips. Security, location, and comfort are all taken into account when selecting lodging for our trips. A long history with owners and managers of these facilities helps us negotiate pricing, helping us keep our volunteer fees low.

Clean Meals & Water

Where we eat our meals varies by country and even location within each country. Volunteers and guides eat together during specified meal times (itinerary provided a week before departure) either in the homes of trusted locals or in established restaurants. Both take great care to properly clean and prepare the food to avoid any stomach issues. Purified water is provided throughout the trip.

Yuda Venture FAQ’s

If accompanied by a parent or older sibling we can talk about your specific situation, but if you’re traveling alone the age restrictions are as follows:

Guatemala and Nicaragua: 14+ Zimbabwe/Botswana: 16+

Yes. Typically we go to Nicaragua every November over Thanksgiving break and we go to Guatemala and Zimbabwe/Botswana in the summer.

The volunteer fee covers your living expenses and costs to visit tourist sites and complete activities.

You will room with 1-3 others of your same gender and similar age.

It helps to understand some Spanish when traveling to Guatemala and Nicaragua but it is not necessary. Your guide and local support will help translate.

Normally between 8-18.

Because airfare prices are constantly changing. We don’t have control over the prices, so we don’t include them in the overall cost of the trip. We do however try to find the best prices and shortest flight times.

A liability release form as well as a media release form. This gives us permission to use photos and videos of you on our website and social media so we can update your family members back home.

We realize that while these trips are a great value, they are a lot of money. We recommend you checkout our fundraising page for ideas of how to raise enough money for your trip.

No you don’t. If you sold bands you will visit your student in their home. If you didn’t then you will be able to pick your own student that you will visit during your trip.

Yes. Many people have returned to the same location in following years and others have joined us on all three of our trips around the world.

Currently we do not offer any kind of financial aid. You can however checkout our fundraising page.

If there are enough available spots on a planned trip you are welcome to join us. For family/friend groups of 10 or more we can work with you to schedule your own private trip to one of our locations.

No, most volunteers do not know anyone before going on the trip.

You can see the estimated costs of flights on each country’s itinerary page. Once the group is full your trip guide will purchase the airfare for you, however you are responsible to pay for the ticket.

The trips are pretty much all inclusive. There might be a few meals you will be responsible to buy and you are also responsible for COVID-19 tests, visas (Zimbabwe) and souvenirs.

All payments are made through Yuda Bands and are tax deductible.

COVID-19 Update

We are traveling and serving again and have completed multiple Yuda Bands trips during the pandemic. We have been diligent and thorough when determining which countries to visit and who is able to join us, based on the following criteria, local government restrictions and in-country director insight and direction. We have also made adjustments to the expeditions to make sure we have as safe of an experience as possible, including:

We have also made several adjustments to the expeditions themselves to ensure as safe of an experience as possible, including:

  • Reduced group size to 10-20 volunteers
  • COVID-19 vaccination recommended for Nicaragua and Zimbabwe Yuda Ventures
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for Guatemala (required by Guatemalan Govt)
  • Enforced mask wearing and social distancing, especially when interacting with community members
  • Strict adherence to international travel guidelines, which may include COVID-testing or other safety requirements