Program Reviews

I spent two weeks volunteering with GVI in Tenerife and my experience was simply amazing. As a young woman I was looking for a safe way to travel. I wanted to meet new people and do something meaningful. The GVI program was exactly what I was looking for. The volunteering work was very interesting and made me even more passionated by wildlife conservation. I loved to meet all these people and work together in trying to preserve the environment. I learned a lot and came back with so many good memories. I can’t wait to join another program.

It was a brilliant experience and a completely new experience to anything I have experienced before! The villagers that you stay with are very welcoming and although for a slight language barrier are very helpful and friendly. The staff are amazing, very informed on the local culture and wildlife, i learnt a lot from them in the short time I was there. I saw a huge range of wildlife while there, from gibbons calling in the mist to snakes hunting bats and an array of vibrantly coloured birds. Along with the daily elephant hikes which allow you to understand each elephant as an individual as each prefers a different habitat along with their own unique character. It was an experience like no other and I know I’ll be back!

I’m actually on my last day here. It’s 2:30am. I’d first like to comment if you sleep lightly, like I do, be aware dogs will bark at all times of day and night. Nonstop. Earplugs if you can, I personally don’t like wearing them so I usually end up in a bad mood. Nothing really to be done about this but I feel it needs to be said. There’s also a hotel two doors down that is notoriously loud as well. Overall it’s not that quiet of an environment. I’ve been here for two months and while I understand extravagant meals shouldn’t be expected, I find the bland breakfast hard to have EVERY SINGLE DAY, I’d recommend a higher budget to have variety. Or if you’re not fussed, great. The recruiter low balls the amount spent outside of the gvi price a ridiculous amount, Riana claims the average spent a month is $200 so budget for that. Unless you sit in your room all everyday this is completely false. Again, bring more money. You also, according to my past two month experience have to pay for Wednesday “social nights” (if you go out together) and Friday night meals despite it being a “GVI night out” which is asinine to me. I’ve already complained about this and I know previous volunteers did as well. If it’s GVI based it should be GVI funded, end of story. Hopefully for any future volunteers they change that bs.
You have one quick lesson in language, sure you can ask the staff anytime to help teach you more; but I expected to be in legitimate classes and to retain how to speak to locals. I was disappointed.
Construction is limited and lacking. The construction manager is a fun guy and I appreciate his personality and honesty, but the program doesn’t necessarily meet the expectations. You may have no projects. You may only paint. Or maybe you’ll be lucky and have more things to actually construct. The tools and supplies are lacking and minimal to no safety equipment is provided. This is a management and GVI issue as well. Fix it.
Teaching is not for the faint of heart nor inexperienced, there is minimal structure to follow, the kids are energetic and somewhat hard to calm down and have focus on a lesson plan that is almost entirely the volunteers responsibility, or so I’ve been told by multiple volunteers.
Also I’m not sure what they mean by working with children in this program description. After school you spend an hour in CC with super rambunctious children in a random courtyard with books they kind of read or some brief “lesson” or arts and crafts. I’d encourage games so they can burn off energy. It wasn’t my favorite experience especially having to cross the crazy busy roads with the kids but they can be fun and cute, as kids are. I just again, expected more.
Women’s Empowerment: this was my experience. You teach. Every day. You spend one day with the local ngo as they advertise and have a nice little cooking class and they give a presentation on actual impactful programs. The rest of the time you visit SASANE you might teach, if the students show up. Teaching involves unstructured lessons, again, almost entirely left to the responsibility of the volunteers even if you have absolutely no intention nor experience of teaching. I personally wouldn’t mind doing some but I’ve expressed to GVI and staff I did not pay to teach every single day of this program. The women themselves are so sweet and lovely and frankly DESERVE more. The women staff within GVI overwork and are under appreciated by this company, my guess underpaid as well. There needs to be more variety within the program for the women’s sake and for the volunteers. The current management needs maybe some
management courses under his belt. He’s not really involved in any of the project, he seems to only be concerned with taking the commission of the extracurricular adventures that he uses his other company for. I also had a personal experience of him opening my bedroom door while I was undressed and uninvited. Obviously horribly inappropriate and violating of my privacy, I have yet to see GVIs response or actions taken to make my experience better (reimburse me GVI). No doubt swept under the rug as these types of companies do (please prove me wrong GVI).

Overall I put the responsibility on GVI itself. They misrepresent what this program entails when you, especially if you’re American like me, spend THOUSANDS of dollars not including the flights, souvenirs, excursions, MEALS, and any extra things outside of the actual expense of this program. If I had known per description that I’d be teaching basic grammar everyday I certainly wouldn’t have come for two months. I had heard from other GVI volunteers in another country that they did not pay for any meals or drinks (one volunteer, for example ordered 10+ shots of hard alcohol and GVI still covered) but yet we were told certain meals and activities were our responsibility to pay for.
Again the women staff currently (Sita Roshani Mhendo Tsering) are amazing people and I wish them better than GVI, frankly. Bibek in construction gives life to the construction. The women in Nepal are sweet and deserve more than provided for by GVI.
Management here needs rearranging.
I doubt you’ll hate this experience but please do understand it’s overpriced and misrepresented in the initial description that is meant to draw in volunteers. Personally I think that’s fraudulent.

Nepal is beautiful. There are beautiful local programs that are less expensive and potentially more impactful, if interested in working with victims of human trafficking I suggest contacting SASANE and joining their program in Kathmandu or maybe something per their suggestion. Because you certainly do bare minimum if anything at all through GVI, which was my initial desire to join this company in the first place.

I want the staff here to continue getting paid and hopefully the program gets the attention, resources, funding, and transparency it needs for that to happen. But I don’t think I’ll be choosing GVI ever again.

My time in Silana, Fiji with GVI was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Firstly, despite the preschool having just been closed for Summer, GVI staff on the ground made it possible for me to still volunteer in the local primary school. Spending every day with the children in Silana was eye-opening; they are some of the most positive, happy people I have met. Everyone in the village was unbelievably welcoming and I have never felt so at home somewhere so far away from my real home.

I loved how integrated GVI staff and volunteers were in the village, and the numerous opportunities every day to partake in village activities. GVI staff in Fiji helped me to feel safe and welcome throughout my time in Silana. Pick up from the airport and on start date was well organised. I really hope I can return to Silana one day.

I finished my three month volunteering at GVI Mexico at the end of September 2023.
I was nervous as I am older than the average volunteer but everyone made me feel very welcome and included.
The highlights were seeing manatees, turtles and whale sharks.
In my free time and after the program I had the opportunity to explore Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
In Mexico my favourite activity was cenote diving.
In Belize it was the ATM caves.
In Guatemala I loved Lake Atitlan in San Pedro.
The scientific monitoring training has been brilliant and I am looking forward to volunteering with GVI in the future.

The accessible opportunity to gain useful experience in the industry and field alongside professionals. This environment is friendly and pro-learning to encourage each individual to explore their own knowledge and abilities.
This experience has taught me how to go out on my own and create experiences that will help me reach my goals, positively impact the environment and create lasting friendships. The accessibility of this opportunity allows a wide range of inderviduals to gain knowledge and experience.

GVI does a fantastic job of being a positive and supportive environment. My time in Fiji exposed me to the authentic life of the Fijians living in the Silana village we had so many opportunities to engage with the community during the program and in our free time. I love how integrated the GVI base is with the Silana village, this made my time extremely culturally educational. The team is filled with like-minded individuals from all over the world keen to travel and leave an impact. I couldn't recommend GVI and the Fiji programs anymore!!

This year I will be graduating with a master’s in functional biology, however, I wanted to develop a deeper understanding of ecology and biodiversity during my master’s year. Further, I was and I’m still interested in working in an international setting after I graduate, so the internship was ideal for working towards these goals.
For me, it was interesting to see how new partnerships are formed in an international setting and working together towards one collective goal: to protect and preserve the biodiversity of Lokobe National Park. What was also inspiring during the internship with GVI was that we (volunteers and interns) also taught specific English about the fauna and flora that are present in Lokobe to the rangers in Ampasipohy. This is of high value as the protection and preservation of Lokobe National Park on the Ampasipohy side is totally community-based and thus not in the hands of Madagascar National Parks. As a result of teaching English to the rangers, they can better guide the eco-tourists who come to Ampasipohy for the biodiversity of the Lokobe forest.

My experience with GVI was a very positive and impactful resource that allowed me to create a new experience, challenge myself and connect with awesome people who are driven and share the same passion and love for our planet, this internship was great organized and very resourceful! I was able to assist Masterclasses, review my project, have input, network with a new organization, this virtual internship allows you work on a schedule that works alongside your daily life!

I’m hoping to do another program and highly recommend it

The program in Limpopo was without a doubt the best experience of my life! Being able to spend 6 months in the African bush is something I will never forget, and even better it felt like I was making a positive impact on the conservation whilst I was there. We also positively influenced the local community, getting to go into schools, teach the kids about conservation topics, and see the enjoyment on their faces, something I will always remember. I learnt so many new skills whilst I was out there, both in terms of scientific field research and personal life skills, meeting people from around the world and making lifelong friends! The staff on base made every day exciting and unique, and I would recommend anyone thinking about doing this to push yourself out of your comfort zone and go for it, you won't regret it!