GVI, Ethical Impact: Volunteering for Teens

Amazing!! Stunning views, amazing people, and great food. What an experience and I can’t wait to go back. I would definitely recommend.
Two weeks for an u18 program was definitely not long enough for me and I’m planning on going back as soon as I turn 18. This program helped me decide what I want to do with my life and I am so thankful to GVI for it.
Not only did I gain invaluable skills but I also learnt so much!! Fascinating debriefs in the evening taught me about important issues such as plastic pollution, elephant tourism and so much more!

My experience with GVI was beyond amazing. It was my first time flying alone on a long haul flight but as soon as I arrived in the airport I saw the friendly GVI staff and felt comfortable and excited to start my trip. The itinerary was very well planned- the first week focused heavily on the volunteering aspect of the trip which gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing I helped out a bit in the community. The second week was more focused on showing us the beautiful country of Thailand- which was super fun and I learnt so much about thai culture. Overall all the counsellors were very nice and helpful and wanted us to enjoy our trip to the max. The accommodation was good the whole way through and we were moving around a lot in the second week. I would 100% recommend this trip.

GVI was one of the best experiences of my life, i was a participant on the U18 costa rica trip! This program allowed me to interact with new people and make lifelong friendships but also i was able to experience new cultures and be up close to a wide range of wildlife. If you are reading this and having doubts about booking, my advice is YOLO! Also do not let anxiety control your actions when choosing to book a trip, the day i left home to come to costa rica was one of the scariest and uncomfortable feeling, but once your out here travelling it is so worth it all!!!

I absolutely loved my trip with GVI!!! I got to do so many amazing things and meet so many amazing people. From tracking and camera trapping wildlife in the South African bush, to helping at a local community project, it was a brilliant and rewarding experience. As a minor travelling alone for the first time, I was very stressed about everything but GVI was great and extremely helpful, allowing me to stop stressing and really enjoy the trip. I loved every second of it. Truly 2 of the best weeks of my life.

I loved my time with GVI. I was volunteering in Costa Rica for the environment and the people. I felt safe and welcomed. I learned so much about life their and the environment. I even got to see a baby turtle. I was taken cared of at all times, even when my bag didn't arrive with me to Costa Rica, GVI did everything to get it to me even when we were 6 hours away from the airport. It was such an eye opening experience. I would 100% recommend doing this, it teaches you so much about Costa Rica and the impact of the environment on turtes.

The GVI experience is one I wish everybody had the chance to have! The staff are so kind and welcoming. The activities are challenging and fulfilling, but still fun. I personally went on GVI Costa Rica, which was a great trip. You really get to know the locals and the meaning of the work you are doing. It is truly an eye opening experience. You get to meet o many people, from a wide range of places, which is really nice. It opens your eyes to more than just Costa Rica’s culture, but you get to learn about culture form all over the world as well.

I just recently returned from my two-week U18s volunteering trip to Thailand with GVI, and it was an unforgettable experience! Not only did I get to explore the beautiful country and immerse myself in the rich culture and history, but I also made some lifelong friends and learned important lessons which I will take with me into life. I was so impressed with how well-organised the trip was, with great accommodation, delicious food, and plenty of fun activities. Overall, it was an incredible opportunity to "give back" while having an unforgettable adventure and making lasting friendships. I highly recommend volunteering with GVI!

The program was perfectly planned to include activities which both challenged and energised us as teenagers keen to explore Thailand and give back to the community. The staff were absolutely amazing at keeping our safety and well-being protected, while always bringing fun and laughter to our days. The experience definitely would not have been the same without them, so shoutout to Georgia, Sofia, and Jiyad! Some of the activities we took part in, I never could have dreamed of doing; from caring for sea turtles, swimming in waterfalls, kayaking through mangrove forests, and bamboo-rafting, we definitely made memories which will last forever. As well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences, we were also educated on some of the implications of volunteering. The staff made sure to keep us informed with presentations covering the ethics of animals in captivity. I have total faith that GVI are an organisation which genuinely do care for both the environment and the community, and I felt reassured that the work we were doing did have a positive impact.