Program Reviews

I absolutely loved my time in Chiang Mai with GVI. I spent a month volunteering, which involved elephant hikes, base activities, interacting with the local community, learning the local language, mornings at the nursery and so much more. The staff are so incredibly helpful, kind and caring and only care about your health, safety and enjoyment on the programme. I cannot recommend GVI enough and Chiang Mai is the perfect place for anyone looking for adventure, whether it’s solo or group travels. I will definitely be back in the future!

In October, I volunteered for a week with GVI Phang Nga, as part of Go Overseas' On the GO site visits perk for team members!

I spent half the week participating in the conservation project and the rest of the week with the community project, helping with English lessons. The staff on base are so knowledgable and passionate about what they do, and really care about the volunteers and the community.

1 week did not feel long enough for volunteering, so I do recommend staying longer if you can, to help make a more positive impact.

I will always cherish my time in Ban Nam Khem and miss getting Thai iced teas from the shop across from base :)

I recently spent four weeks volunteering with GVI in Cahuita, Costa Rica. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. After only four weeks I had completely fallen in love with the staff, the other volunteers, and the work we were doing in Cahuita National Park.

We spent most of our days conducting surveys in Cahuita National Park. The surveys contributed to Cahuita National Park's conservation efforts. While on a survey, it was common to see sloths, raccoons, eyelash palm vipers, monkeys, and a few different species of frogs and lizards.

For the birders out there, we conducted several surveys solely dedicated to research on the birds in Cahuita National Park. I saw violaceous and slaty-tailed trogons, keel-billed toucans, white-collared manakins, montezuma oropendolas, and countless other bird species on a regular basis.
We also had the opportunity to watch the migration of several migratory bird species, such as the osprey, turkey vulture and swaisons hawk, from a bird tower in the heart of the Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve. From the top of the bird tower you have a beautiful view of the ocean, the surrounding forest, and the birds flying overhead. We were able to watch the birds fly right above us and help Kéköldi hawkwatch count the migrating birds.

On the weekends, myself, and the other volunteers spent our time exploring Cahuita and neighboring places. We visited the Jaguar Rescue Center in Limón. We went snorkeling at Punta Cahuita. We went shopping and visited the white sand beaches in Puerto Viejo.

Volunteering with GVI in Cahuita, Costa Rica is the ideal opportunity for any animal lover interested in studying and protecting the incredible wildlife in Costa Rica. And, in addition, to being an amazing experience, volunteering with GVI is a worthwhile way to jumpstart a career in conservation. Those looking for a meaningful way to spend a gap year or semester; those who are considering a career in conservation, or those who are simply interested in doing a little bit of good while living on the coast in one of the most picturesque countries in the world, should check out this program.

When I signed up for GVI I was expecting the ordinary volunteer program and let me express there is nothing ordinary about GVI. It all starts before departure, where your Support Coordinator goes above and beyond making sure that all the enquiries, in case they are any left, are answered. Guiding you through every single step of the way, with the smallest factor that you can imagine. E.G. I was helped and guided through the whole visa process on how to fill my application.

I never felt left behind through my time before, during and after. At my arrival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is where I did my program, my suitcase did not make it and the program coordinator made sure to take care of the situation as soon as he was aware. Figured a way out to have my suitcase with me within the week, when we were 4-5 hours out from the airport. Everyone was so devoted to what we were doing in the community and the fact that the sense of family and belonging was very dominant. The village was very welcoming and learning from each other made of everyday a beautiful journey. The time wasn’t enough I could have stayed there for months, gracefully. Joy sparks everywhere you look in the community its people and the staff.

Seeing how GVI has taken on responsibly to help this community is beautiful to witness. Respecting literally surrounding them, the culture, the village, nature and all its people. My experience was so great that I booked my next trip while in Thailand, because I could not get enough of it and I was ready to take on another adventure as soon as possible.

In September 2022 I volunteered with GVI Chiang Mai for 3 weeks. I got to experience so many incredible things and I made memories that will last a lifetime. Seeing elephants in their natural forest homes was awe inspiring and seeing their relationship with the local village and mahouts was eye opening. I really enjoyed living in a homestay and developing a close bond with my host family, teaching in the nursery became a weekly highlight and seeing Gibbons in the forest was truest special. I fell in love with the village and the project there and can’t wait to return to keep helping the project move forward. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves conservation and community work.

I was lucky enough to go on the Tenerife Marine Conservation project as a volunteer and couldn’t recommend it enough. Taking a gap year after school I wanted to make sure that I travelled, got some new experiences and contributed something. I came across GVI and was welcomed immediately, the level of support available to me was above my expectations especially since I had a few unfortunate experiences. With bags missing I got very close to the lovely participants there - sharing clothes on day 1! While I went along as a volunteer, as opposed to an intern, I still believe that I gained an immense amount of knowledge and experience doing things I never thought I would, and of course who could forget the amazing wildlife. This GVI program has definitely set me on an unexpected course that I will never forget and can’t wait to explore somewhere new soon! I think if I could choose I would have definitely stayed longer, while I experienced a lot in one month, I do feel like I missed out on exploring some things that I would have liked to. The accommodation was amazing, while you do share rooms with the other participants, it wasn’t too difficult to find some time alone or make a call if you wanted to.

I spent 8 weeks in Thailand at the Phang Nga base doing marine conservation.

The staff are so welcoming and passionate, and i made some amazing friends through living with the other volunteers on base.

Getting to learn about and care for green seat turtles was amazing and definitely the highlight of my time. You can really see the positive impact you are having on their well-being.

I can honestly say you will not regret signing up to a GVI programme, Thailand was my first experience with GVI and i don’t intend for it to be my last!

I spent 2 weeks on the Whale and Dolphin Marine Conservation Program in Tenerife in the hope of making the most of my last summer before I start looking for a job. I had heard about the incredible experience my friends had had on their GVI programs, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my last summer of freedom than joining one of the conservation projects myself. It was the first time I had travelled abroad alone, and I was nervous as to how well I would cope being so far away from home. However, I couldn’t have felt more at home than I did. The staff were always available to talk to and help with any concerns I had. They also made sure everyone kept the base clean and tidy which, after living in student housing of varying cleanliness for the past few years, I was very grateful for. As for living with the other volunteers, everyone was so welcoming that within a few days I was already dreading the day I had to go home. One thing I did, however, wish was different was how repetitive the weekly schedule was. I think if I had stayed significantly longer, I would have really struggled with this. However, I am fully aware that to create the large, reliable datasets needed for the project, repetitive data collection is needed. Even with this, I LOVED my time at the GVI Canary Islands base and I am already considering joining another of the bases on one of the people-based projects.

I chose Nepal because I wanted to go to a social proyect that had an emphasis on public health. After researching more about the country I realized it also has amazing views and hikes, an amazing culture and delicious food!

Nepal is an amazing country that opens its heart to everyone that visits it. GVI Nepal is not the exception. Every one of the staff members are amazing and day to day it’s fun and full of experiences, from the schools we go to, to the transportation, the food, the scinery, wating every morning to see if the mountains would show up and give us the spectacular view of the Himalais. I had the opportunity to work with the children but also to do 2-3 days of women empowerment. Both very diferent and challenging in its own way.

The children from the school are full of energy and welcoming, always wanting to play and high five, also willing to learn specialy when the classes have some kind of dynamic. The women where amazing. Super powerful to see so many women wanting to learn English for different reasons like to be able to help their children in school, to open their own business among others.

Also all the other volunteers where so nice, and I definitely was able to create new friends and experiences with them. Also the staff is really welcoming, arranging diferent meetups so we could interact with each other generating a very nice environment within the base and between the diferent volunteers.

Nepal was amazing, 1 month was not enough.

As an intern on Karongwe, you get the wonderful experience of being in the middle of the bush. Nothing can beat it. The staff is amazing and always willing to answer questions and help out no matter what. As an intern, you learn how to service and look through camera traps, how to use telemetry equipment, how to be a leader for projects on base, and get to immerse yourself in a new culture. No day out in South Africa is the same. There are always wonders awaiting you. Every day brings magical experiences, one day you may see the Cheetah boys drinking at a dam, or they suddenly walk in front of the car while on a Bird Survey. Another day might have you experience and see the elephants walk in front of the car to munch on the newly green leaves rain has brought.