Program Reviews

My internship with GVIwas a great experience. Having a mixture of theory and practical allowed me to really understand what I was working on and I felt like I was contributing to the projects a lot. The theory and presentations that I worked on also have given me a lot more confidence with everyday things and presenting with jobs I have at home. My staff mentor was really encouraging and always around to answer any questions or doubts I had about anything and generally just very encouraging towards all of my work. I am now thinking more and more about Community Development being something I would like to work on further and my internship helped me to realise that. I'd definately reccomend interning with GVI to anyone.

Overview: When I signed up to complete GVI online courses I knew based on my past experience with GVI that the course content would be amazing, and more importantly would be usable in the real-world. What I wasn't expecting was the great people I would get to meet - virtually of course! I'm very excited and proud of have these certificates on my resume :)

Course content: The content was really usable and the topics taught will be things I'll refer back to throughout my developing career. For me personally, some of the material was a refresher as I've had lessons in that topic before but because the examples were unique to GVI and the individual instructors it almost felt like new material and didn't feel boring to re-learn about. I would recommend these courses to individuals starting out AND career professionals who was to deepen their knowledge and expand their network. For the topics that were new to me, the material was presented in such a way that it made me want to research it even more after the course was complete!

Instructors: The instructors were so knowledgeable, kind, professional and still very personable that even by class two I felt like I really knew them, and therefore could appreciate what they were saying even more. They provided great examples based off their real-life experience, but also gave other examples to broaden the picture. They went through the material in great detail, but still kept the lessons entertaining!

Fellow students: It was great to zoom chat with people from around the world who have similar values and qualities, although we weren't in a proper "class" together, many of us were able to connect on platforms like LinkedIn to diversify our network!

Prior to my trip, I didn’t have any experience travelling, and though the program had amazing reviews and I’d never be truly alone, I was away from my family for the first time. Hell I was terrified, I didn’t know what to think. I quickly got to know the rest of the volunteers, who felt the same way, about it. It’s a scary step. The program was brilliant, I got to learn the karen language, Pakinyaw quite well which turned out to be a very rewarding venture, as talking to the villagers was so interesting! Day to day activities consist of the morning hike (either elephant hikes or other bio hikes, which are like caves and cool shit) lunch at base, theres always school going on in the afternoon, so you can wander up to teach English to the locals village kids, (who are all to fun and crazy) theres truly a lot to do! It was about 3 weeks that I realized that though the elephants were incredible, the people were truly the magic to this program. You’ll realize by the end of your stay your not leaving a group a strangers you met by circumstance, you’re leaving a family, a GVI family.

I spent five weeks in Nepal four of those were spent in Pokhara on the "Womens Empowerment Program" what a truly amazing experience, Nepal is a beautiful country, people and the scenery is breathtaking. The program was a very rewarding experience, Im 52 and would never have thought I would have had the confidence to stand up in front of a class and teach English to a room full of strangers. Thanks to Hannah and Sita the lovely GVI staff they helped me overcome my nerves and help me find my confidence. I thought I was there to teach and empower these lovely girls and ladies, in actual fact they were there to teach me. I learnt so much about myself, and loved spending time with the students, children and fellow housemates in my homestay. I have made lifelong friends and any travel I do in future I will do as a volunteer its so very different than travelling as a tourist, you are embraced into the community and really feel you are making a difference to peoples lives. What a fabulous experience , do yourself a favour and step outside your comfort zone, It really is life changing.

I completed the short-term conservation internship program on the beautiful Curieuse Island in Seychelles from September to December 2019. The experience truly exceeded my expectations. I don't even know where to begin. The staff, rangers, and volunteers on Curieuse were all wonderful and friends that I'm still in touch with 6 months after returning home and expect to be for a very long time. The accommodations may not be the most glamourous but you are steps away from the ocean and always have the sound of waves to fall asleep to (also how many people do you know can say they've lived in ruins from an old leper colony?! Pretty cool!). As an intern, I had the opportunity to conduct my own research project which was one of my highlights (you don't need to know what you want to research before you apply for the program). Also, as an intern, you become certified in Leadership and Management (ILM) and get to lead volunteers on surveys, which was a fun way to introduce new volunteers to the amazing work GVI does and what Curieuse has to offer. While I was there I got to experience the peak season for sea turtle nesting and shark pups. I never felt unsafe (even though I was standing in water with sharks and stingrays) and the staff makes sure you are well prepared before being put into any situation. Although, the days can be long and definitely physically demanding (you will get very in shape and the hikes will feel easier every time you do one) the work is rewarding and you have the weekends to relax and leave the Island or stay and explore Curieuse!

I undertook the community development internship in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. It was an unbelievable and lifechanging experience that really broadened my horizons. I learnt so much about the local community and the developmental challenges to the region; I underwent Spanish lessons and was immersed in a vubrant and welcoming culture, and I successfully completed an ILM-endorsed leadership course. More than all I gained though, the GVI community at the base is so homely and family-like, it felt like I never left home and I was able to make friends for life. I would highly recommend to anyone and look forward to my next program.

Volunteering with GVI in Limpopo, South Africa was one of the most incredible experiences. The six months I spent there I really felt I had the opportunity to experience the country and the culture to the full and say I had lived there for part of my life. The wildlife experience in Limpopo is second to none and being part of ongoing research and conservation in to endangered species like cheetahs, rhinos and elephants was such a privilege. The internship expanded my knowledge of field biology and biodiversity and allowed me to practice field study skills, as well as debating and discussing important conservation topics with like minded individuals. Whether visiting as an opportunity to enjoy nature at its very best or using the time as a taster of a career in that sector, this internship has it all. During my time in South Africa I worked with some amazing, kind and knowledgeable staff and met some great life long friends. If it's a fully immerive bush experience you after, then this is for you!

The writing academy was interesting,challenging and really well organised. It's a fast paced timetable but it pushed me and so I ended up writing or editing something most days. Writing takes practice, regular practice and so as the course progressed over the 12 weeks I began to get more ideas and my writing definitely began to flow a little more naturally and easy. The team that provide the feedback were fantastic.The feedback is really thorough but so helpful and it is really cool to see you work published on the GVI blog.

It's been 5 months since I got back from Jalova, and don't I miss it!

It was just nice being able to live with bare fundamentals...stuff like cold showers, vegetarian meals, unflush-able toilets, sharing bedrooms. But it was great.
I enjoyed making an impact on our planet, I loved making friends from all around the world. it was one of those experiences that I will never get again. But I need to go back!

If you have been thinking about volunteering abroad and need somewhere really in nature miles away from any kind of civilisation. Jalova is for you.

I have now volunteered with GVI twice - in Seychelles and South Africa on wildlife conservation projects, both experiences were genuinely life changing. The staff are incredible, providing support from the very beginning, and the people that you meet become life-long friends because they are all like-minded individuals looking to make a difference.

I had very little knowledge and no experience of wildlife conservation before volunteering with GVI but that didn't affect my contribution and experience. GVI have provided the tools I need to start a career in conservation if I want to.

10000% recommend to anyone looking to give back while travelling, have a career break and learn something new, or gain valuable experience for a career.

I am now receiving regular job updates from GVI and I am planning another trip with GVI next year.