Program Reviews

I spent 2 weeks on Curieuse, Seychelles with GVI in August 2022, and it was the experience of a lifetime! I was looking for something worthwhile to do during my long summer holiday as a teacher, and my GVI program was perfect. It was very well organised (e.g. organising travel from the airport to the boat pick-up), the staff on-base were fantastic and I learned so much in only 2 weeks. As a science teacher I am passionate about citizen science and being able to be part of a project like this with such a long-lasting impact was amazing. I met some amazing people that I have kept in touch with, and had experiences that I would never have had otherwise. Thank you GVI for creating life-long memories and allowing me to be a part of this amazing project.

Anyone that gets to experience GVI Ghana is one fortunate person. If you’re prepared to work hard and fully embrace the experience, then this will be life changing.

I couldn’t speak more highly of the staff at GVI Ghana, the impactful projects and the level of security in place to protect the volunteers. The base accommodation is well looked after, and the food made in the week is delicious. The staff are extremely supportive, have diverse backgrounds and make you feel at ease almost instantly. There is a large variety in projects, with constant reflection on their impact on the community.
I took part in a female empowerment project and a project focussed on physical education, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The projects are structured with varying flexibility, based on what the person is comfortable with, and I really enjoyed the level of freedom I was given to run with my ideas (ensuring they aligned with the project objectives and aims).
Kokrobite is a vibrant friendly community that GVI has integrated well
into, and the partnering schools are a joy to work with.

During my time it was clear that it didn’t matter what age group, life experience or work experience you had prior, but all that mattered was a willingness to get involved and be proactive.

This experience has developed my communication, teamwork and adaptability skills as well as boosting my overall confidence. These skills are fundamental in any professional setting, so it has provided a great chance to show how I have strengthened them.

Overall, it is very clear why this base has so many volunteers that either extend their stay and/or return. If one review makes up your mind today, I hope it is this one as I couldn’t recommend this experience with GVI Ghana anymore.

Amazing time! The staff are super knowledgeable and organized, always ready to answer questions about the work, animals or any organizational help you need. The volunteer work is enjoyable and interesting, with loads of opportunity for wildlife sightings. Recording the data and the practical conservation drives really make you feel like your doing something useful! On off days there are plenty of places to explore as well, day trips to Kruger or Blyde Canyon are well worth it. Would definitely recommend it to anyone even a little interested in wildlife conservation.

I chose to participate in the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in Tenerife for 4 weeks with GVI during my Gap Year and will never forget the amazing memories I have made. The program included three boat trips a week and there was never a day where we didn't have a sighting. During my time here I have seen Pilot Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, and Spotted Dolphins all in close proximity. On the other two weekdays we completed land surveys, in which we would spend time recording data on the different types of boats out at sea, and Beach or Park cleans, which were extremely rewarding when counting all the litter and calculating our total mass of litter collected. The staff were always accommodating and friendly to participants and ensured that everyone was included in group activities. Overall, I wish that I could have stayed a lot longer than 4 weeks as I thoroughly enjoyed everything about my time in Tenerife and made such amazing friends.

If you're considering this, do yourself a favour and do it <3
Not only did I get a look into a field I'm very curius about careerwise (wildlife research), I also got my passion for nature and wildlife renewed with a curiousity and wonder I thought I'd lost in childhood.
I've also made amazing friends who I couldn't live without and the staff are so amazing and inspiring.
Lions, hyena, rhino, giraffes... The African sunset and sunrise...
Go. Seriously. You'll be thanking yourself afterwards. I promise.

My experience with GVI in Phang Nga was incredible. The relationships I built with fellow participants, staff, and members of the local community in such a short space of time was amazing. Being able to fully immerse myself in the local culture, while still helping to deliver an education to children was an experience I will never forget. I’m really looking forward to participating in another GVI programme in a different part of the world as either a volunteer, intern, or staff member. All make possible through the Ambassador programme!

Volunteering for GVI Phang Nga was one of the best experiences of my life. It exceeded all my expectations! I have learnt so much in my time here about fish, coral, turtles, beaches etc. but more importantly I felt supported and looked after all the way. The staff at GVI are so helpful and they really did make me and the other volunteers feel like we were a family. Each day was filled with smiles and laughter, and even only after 2 weeks, I feel as if I have made lifelong friends. I have only been with GVI for 2 weeks, however GVI has definiitely affected the way I see the world around me. In the future I hope to be more diligent in protecting the environment- for example picking up rubbish , and minimising the plastic I use every day. I was always passionate about the environment and the amazing world we live in but GVI has given me new motivation as I have seen the extent of the problem, but I have also witnessed how much progress can be made when we all work together.

I did an internship at the GVI hub at Tenerife. It was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone! The work you get to do is very rewarding and incredibly interesting, and three times a week, you actually go out on the boat and look for marine mammals! Seeing all these whale and dolphin species is so special, and made me even more motivated to contribute to their conservation. We also spotted some turtles and I got to see some of the beautiful nature that the island of Tenerife holds. The team is very professional and always ready to teach you new skills, but also available to relax and have some fun with! The support that GVI provides you with beforehand and afterwards is also really nice, it really helps to prepare for your trip and make the transition as easy as possible. Would recommend this experience to anyone!

I chose to do a GVI program because I had just finished a MSc in Marine Conservation and wanted to get more in field experience. I did the Curieuse, Seychelles Program for 10 weeks (Oct-Dec) and it was amazing! It took me about a week to adjust to living in such different conditions than I was used to but by the end I didn't want to go back to living in my house again and wished I could stay for longer. The accommodation was the old leper colony female dormitories and the only people on the island were us and the rangers who stayed on the other side of the island. And of course there were tourists that came for day trips. The staff there were amazing and really helped you feel welcome on the island along with the two dogs that lived on base. I feel that I have definitely learned and experienced so many things that will help me in my future career. Some of these were working in hot and tiring conditions as a part of a team, being around people 24/7, and adapting to limited equipment in sometimes stressful moments. But this trip was so amazing that I would love to go back again to see the sharks, turtles and tortoises that we surveyed everyday, and exploring the other islands in the Seychelles again. I have also made some lifelong friends from this trip and am waiting to save up and go on another GVI program around the world

I have just completed my second trip to GVI Fiji, both times doing the community development internship.
Firstly, living within the community is a great experience and it enhances the whole experience. I found myself able to go and socialise with my adopted family in the village and hang out at the beach stargazing with my friends. Being able to be within the village enhances the education and experience of a new culture.
Secondly, the staff and management are excellent, and I have learnt so much valuable knowledge and experience from them. The support network is incredible and feels like a big family.
Thirdly, the internship has greatly improved my CV with my most recent employers being impressed by my time in Fiji; and love to ask me numerous questions in regard to my time with GVI and Fiji.

I can't vouch for GVI enough, and the staff and running of Fiji is incredible. I have made lifelong friends in Fiji. My second time was joined by another intern from my first visit in 2020.