Program Reviews

I've volunteered with GVI 3 separate times now, and each trip has been a fantastic experience! I most recently volunteered with GVI Kekoldi in Costa Rica for 2 weeks on their turtle programme. The base team are amazing at bringing you up to speed when you arrive with lots of training and then supporting you as you get to grips with the surveys in the field. All the other volunteers are always amazing and it's so great to meet other likeminded people from around the world. The GVI main office team provide you with lots of information before you go on what to expect and pack and are super helpful if you have any questions.

A little bit more about the Kekoldi base: 4 days a week the turtle volunteers support Cahuita Turtle Rescue (a local organisation of some of the most inspirational people I've ever met) with night surveys, protecting eggs from poachers, and supporting efforts to protect the local leatherback sea turtle population. For the other 2 days of the week, the volunteers get involved with the jungle based biodiversity surveys involving bird, amphibian and reptile surveys. It's great to be able to experience both types of survey that the base offers as they're very different!

The programmes GVI offer are a fantastic way to travel and experience a country in a completely different way to normal. I would have loved to spend more time on the Costa Rica programme and can't recommend the experience more highly!

I chose to do a GVI Program because it sounded like a once in a lifetime experience. I had never been to Thailand nor had I ever interacted with turtles before, so this sounded like an exceptionally unique opportunity. In the program we cleaned and medicated turtles, conducted biodiversity surveys and did beach profiling among other things. The staff were lovely and everyone felt like family which created a really nice environment at base. Volunteering with GVI increased my knowledge on conservation tenfold, and I have been able to tell my friends and family so much about how to be more environmentally conscious. I loved the programme and extended my stay for two more weeks! My GVI experience definitely improved my team working skills and my ability to thrive in new environments. Overall I would highly recommend GVI, especially the Thailand turtle conservation programme as I had a wonderful time!

I have been wanting to volunteer for years. I did some research into what different agencies offered and GVI came out on top. I went to Cambodia for 2 weeks to teach English and work with an NGO supporting women! By the end of the first week, I was trying to rearrange flights to stay. The group I volunteered with was amazing, Pat the project coordinator was supportive, inspiring and down to earth, and the Khmer people were beautiful. The base GVI has in Cambodia felt like home and I would go back tomorrow if I could. The need is immense in Cambodia and the local community welcomes support and help with open arms. The teachers love having English speaking volunteers just as much as the students and you witness your impact almost instantly. Your contribution, opinions, and time is valued and greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend and encourage people of any age to participate in an opportunity and experience like this. It changes your perspective about what’s really important and opens your eyes to real world issues, and how each of us can really make a difference. I am committed to continuing to bring hope and support to those that need it.

Following graduation, I was looking for conservation experience in-the-field. GVI has always been on my radar as one of the best organisations for that kind of work, and after graduating it was a no-brainer for me to head out on one of their programmes. I volunteered with GVI as a Research Fellow for two months, at their GVI Limpopo base in South Africa. For eight weeks, I held a daily schedule of fieldwork research, stimulating workshops and beautiful animal encounters - it was incredible. The team at GVI Limpopo are the best mentors you could ask for to show you the ropes of the African bush. Experts in the field, they have a wealth of knowledge to pass on, and every minute was a learning experience.

I was really interested in the career prospects that GVI offers too. Aside from the considerable experience gained from the programme, the online modules and qualifications that GVI provides are impressive, and will help to improve anybody’s career skill-set. I’m looking forward to applying my GVI programme towards job applications in the coming future.

GVI Limpopo helped expand my perspective of conservation, from the lessons learned in-the-field, to the conversations and interactions I had with people from all over the world. The programme enhanced my understanding of conservation issues, as multi-faceted projects. I hope that the experience I gained will help me to make a better impact in a career in conservation.

The programme was one of the greatest experiences of my life. From the people, the place, the wildlife and the projects it was an unforgettable two months. I’d 100% recommend it, and I’m already looking at my next GVI programme.

I joined a GVI project in Chiang Mai concerned with elephant conservation. I was impressed that the community was at the heart of the project and the links between volunteers and locals went deep. The volunteers were knowledgeable about elephant behaviour and welfare and were collecting useful data. I learned some of the local language and culture whilst there. Accommodation was with families in the village set in the hills near the National Parks to the west of Chiang Mai. A life-changing experience!

I highly recommend GVI Ghana for anyone looking for a volunteering program to get involved with! In my 2 week program in Ghana I had a fantastic time meeting new people (both in the local community and with other volunteers), sightseeing around Ghana and spending time on projects helping out in local schools. There were a wide variety of programs available which the staff were happy to provide guidance on, and they all had a strong focus on sustainability. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much free time we were given and all the activities that were organised by staff members and the facilities were much nicer and more established than expected! Definitely no regrets signing up- the only downside is the constant sweating from the heat!

During my recent trip to Costa Rica I had the pleasure of interacting with three of GVI’s finest. The experience began with a friendly welcome at the airport and the following two weeks were increasingly wonderful. The whole time I felt safe in the country. From first aid assistance to communications in Spanish, all the bases were covered. The first week was a rewarding five days of sweat and smiles. GVI ensured everyone was happy and healthy while we worked on the project. The second week… where do I start. The most blissful week I can recall. The activities, people, and sights were incredible. All in all, these two weeks were undoubtedly amazing and life altering. Thank you GVI.

As my end date drew closer I realised that I did not at all feel ‘done’ here, after seeing my project start to actually impact the children I was teaching, I felt it would be too soon to leave. And, without question, the other contributing factors to my extension was the people I had met here and the like-minded nature of all the participants, being truly motivated by impacting the community in the best way they could, whether it be in environmental projects, education, or women’s empowerment, is something so inspiring to be amongst- they are people I likely would never have met had I not been in Ghana and were such an added bonus to my experience here. I was also involved in other projects such as Menstrual Health Management, teaching French as well as computer lessons for young girls.

I spent the best month of my life volunteering for the healthcare program in Phang Nga, Thailand. The staff and the way that the base was run was superb - I felt well supported during my program! It was hard work but so rewarding, and I will carry the connections I made with the community and fellow volunteers with me forever. Whilst the weeks were super busy doing community work, weekends involved travelling around southern Thailand with my new friends. It was the perfect combination of hard work, personal development and lots of fun. I would recommend to anyone looking for a challenge and an experience of a lifetime.

I volunteered at GVI Ghana for 4 weeks on the women’s empowerment programme, and it was the most amazing experience- I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. There is a wide variety in the lessons and projects provided that you can get stuck in to- my favourites being gender based violence, menstrual health, and fit Ed - and within each of those you have the ability to help plan and deliver the classes. The team have a great relationship with the schools, and we work on other projects with them such as painting and beach cleans with the kids. The kids are amazing and definitely are one of the things that made my time there what it was- and I know many others felt the same. Gvi Ghana itself is incredible in its focus on making sure it's impact led, and above all else that all the work done is ethical. From day 1 there is a strong focus on the ethics of the work you’re doing which I believe is so so important, and is definitely something that stuck with me. Beyond your projects, you can spend free time on base which is a beautiful place to live; in Kokrobite which has many social places like Big Millys, Kokrobite gardens and an incredible beach; or there are organised trips every other weekend. These were such a highlight of the experience and you become immersed in the history and culture of Ghana, as well as getting to see some beautiful sights! I went to Volta and we hiked mountains, swam in waterfalls, saw monkeys, drank palm wine... it was the best weekend!! There are also weekend trips to Cape coast to see the historic slave castles, and to Ada. The staff are incredible- shoutout to Will for (sometimes) making everyone laugh, to Naa for her delicious cooking, to Joanna for her beautiful jewellery and much needed laundry service, and most of all to Matt for making GVI Ghana what it is. The base pets are the cutest little things as well (I was very close to putting them in my bag and taking them home)! The overall experience genuinely was amazing, I'm planning to go back already and I would urge anyone to go, you will not regret it. For me it was the best decision I ever made and I would do it a million times over again.