GVI, Ethical Impact: Virtual Internships

My time as a climate crisis and clean energy intern was such an excellent opportunity. I really wanted to gain experience in my field, firstly to know what working in conservation/ clean energy would really be like, and also to add to my CV for university applications. Since it was virtual, I wasn't sure what kind of work I would be doing, or how useful it would be. Fortunately, my project was something I am genuinely interested in that made a concrete difference; I made a cost benefit analysis for switching a conservation hub in Thailand to solar energy, which included designing the system best suited for the area. I learned a lot and my mentor, Bex, was so supportive and helpful. I would absolutely recommend this for someone wanting to explore their chosen field and make a difference.

I was able to complete a virtual internship these past two months with GVI and I'm so glad I did. I was able to work with a charity in the field of Marine Conservation, which I want to go into and so this was an incredible opportunity that I would never have gotten otherwise. The charity I was able to work with really fit well with my career and personal goals, so it was amazing to be able to work with a group focusing on something I'm really passionate about, The communication and support I got from my GVI supervisors was great, I would 100% recommend!

I have just completed the Wildlife Conservation virtual Internship which included a course in careers in sustainable development and wildlife conservation. I was partnered with an organisation in Laos who are creating an education centre about the illegal wildlife trade. My group and I got to work with the organisation through zoom meetings and did research and created resources for them to use in the centre. I really learnt a lot on this course, not only about conservation but also about Laos and the culture there, careers advice and also about myself. It’s great because you know you are making a difference to the organisations you are helping.

I would really recommend this program especially to those starting out in conservation but also to those looking for a career change or even those who would just like to make a difference! I can’t wait to join another program in the future.

I am so glad I did the Wildlife Conservation Virtual Internship with GVI. I received constant support from my supervisor and had the opportunity to meet a lot of people and work with amazing partners from Seychelles and South Africa.
By working on 2 different projects, I truly felt that I was being useful to the partners and that my work would help make an impact on conservation.
I have definitely learnt a lot from this experience and I can not wait to join a volunteer programme with GVI soon !

I really enjoyed my 4 week virtual internship in Wildlife Conservation. I am currently off work and wanted to get involved with some hands on volunteering during my time off. Unfortunately due to Covid I could not travel, so I opted for the virtual internship instead.

The program really did exceed expectations! I got involved with two really interesting projects with two different charities. It was great to meet first hand (via zoom!) with the owners and staff working for these charities and my intern supervisor was always on hand to provide strong support throughout. The projects were really rewarding, knowing that the work that you were doing was helping to support the charities.

Aside from the projects I also completed two online courses that were provided with the internship, these were very interesting and had a good mix of reading, videos, quizzes and activities. Another highlight for me were the masterclasses provided every two weeks, where an industry expert would give a talk on their subject area. These were extremely interesting and it was great be able to ask them questions!

Other benefits of the program included networking events where you had an opportunity to meet with other volunteers and discuss current world topics. And last but not least, the careers workshops which provided useful information on how to find your ideal career and were also ran interactively.

As you can see the internship isn't simply just doing some work for a charity, it includes a lot of resources and the majority of it is ran interactively which is a huge benefit as it is more personalised to you! Not only is what your doing rewarding because you are contributing to the greater good, but you will also gain a lot of personal development from the program!

Enjoying my education and passionate about international development but unsure of where it could all take me in a career, I decided to take on a summer of interning with GVI. As a degree-level student of foreign languages, I knew I wanted to travel but my experience with GVI has given me the opportunity to realise where my passion in supporting remote communities lies. I completed an amazing virtual internship collaborating with two organisations in Peru and Nepal who do incredibly important work for their target communities, supporting them while allowing them to not only maintain their independence but to develop it further by strengthening their current skills. I found that through every part of the GVI internship I found myself learning more about myself and the world and I could really see the difference I was making to the lives of the individuals I worked on projects supporting. I’m really looking forward to travelling to Mexico to complete an in-field community development internship and making a noticeable difference!

I have just completed a virtual Wildlife Conservation with GVI and had an amazing experience. I chose the part time eight week programme, as I was also working full time. Everyone who I met during the process were extremely helpful and passionate. The courses that I studied were in Wildlife Conservation and Careers in Sustainable Development. They were well organised and engaging, and could be completed at my own pace. I was assigned a research project in the Seychelles on Aldabra Tortoises, and I really loved the work. Even remotely, I gained a vast amount of kowledge on the ecology and behaviour of the species, and contributed to ongoing studies currently being carried out in the field. I would highly recommend a GVI programme to anyone aiming to begin a career in Conservation.

Going into GVI, I was uncertain about what career path I wanted to follow. I have always been somewhat drawn to working with the environment, but didn't have much experience. Their online Climate Crisis and Sustainability internships allowed me to partner with two unique South African organizations where I got to learn more about the South African school system and about how waste is processed or reused. I work a full time job, so it was nice to be able to space out my research for each internship over the course of several months and then have a little extra time to complete the courses. This program helped confirm that I wanted to continue working with the environment and sustainability, and I plan to go back to school for master in public health (MPH) in global environmental health in the fall of 2021.