GVI: Alumni Network

Lots of knowledgeable staff and work to be done in Kisite & Mpunguti National Marine Park, you definitely feel like you're part of a team no matter your age or where you come from while based on Wasini Island. I was only there two weeks, but had the trip of a lifetime and miss being on the boat everyday, conducting dolphin surveys and snorkeling during our free time. Wish I could've stayed longer! I recommend this program to anyone who loves marine life and wants to help out as much as they can. This will give you more than just a vacation, it'll be an experience that changes you for the better - in ways you won't realize until months after returning home. Do it now and don't think twice about it!

My time in Otavalo, which I spent teaching my second graders at Larcacunga indigenous school, has changed my life in so many ways. The first week of intensive spanish lessons was at first slightly overwhelming, but the lessons gave me the skills and confidence to get me straight up into the community as soon as possible. Although i didn't know what to expect of the school, or myself as a teacher, I fell in love with my kids, and took immense joy and pride in teaching them. The role as a teacher gave me the opportunity to express my creativity, and forced me to expand my thinking. There are no words to adequately describe the way my kids captured my heart, they were the things that got me up at 5:30am every morning to climb up into the Andes! I arrived as a solo traveller, but I met so many amazing people, and made many friends, with whom I shared memorable experiences with! The social scene is great fun, we as volunteers had a lot of great and crazy nights out, and I also had the chance to explore other parts of Ecuador. I highly recommend this trip, as well as any GVi experience. I hope to return as soon as i can!

I really enjoyed my 6 weeks volunteering in Peru! The people were great, it was well organised and the project coordinators were very helpful and supportive and the work that GVI are doing in the community is amazing!

I really valued the work being done there! The kids are not only being supported in the schools but are being provided withgood nutritous food (cooked by a local mum who GVI employ), are provided with school equipment and scholarships to continue schooling after primary school, they're given the opportunity to be involved in fun activities such as inter-school soccer tournaments or swimming lessons and there's support for kids with learning difficulties. I was really impressed once arriving in Arequipa to find out the work they're doing there. An organisational downside is that I didn't know much of this before going so found it hard to know how to prepare for my trip. But once getting there and meeting everyone, communication and support on the field is excellent and the work inspiring. I found the language barrier very frustrating. GVI are good in that your first week there is dedicated to language learning, however as someone who knew nothing before arriving, one week wasn't quite enough for me to feel like I could be really useful.

GVI are good in ensuring you're with a good family and are being looked after. They organise weekend side trips which were a great experience. Overall I highly recommend volunteering with this project!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time out in Peru and would jump at the chance to go back, as the work the project does out there benefits both the children and the community (through teaching and the construction projects). The experience was truly eye opening as it made me realise how much I had taken for granted and lucky I have been in life. Although it is based in Arequipa, there is not much of a night life, however if you don't end up in a bar with a game Jenga this was a common appearance during Friday nights and on Saturday! all of this make the experience even more amazing, as you also get to know the other volunteers making it even more enjoyable, not only would I jump at the chance to go again I would recommend this program to a friend without hesitation

You are the Difference is GVI’s motto but one could also say that GVI is the Difference. My friend and I “discovered” GVI on the internet while searching for an organization to do volunteer work with internationally. GVI was not my first experience, but it has definitely been my best. In fact, out of 4 years doing this sort of work, I’ve gone with GVI twice…with every intention of going again. There is no reality gap in terms of what they say they will provide and what actually is provided. Once you arrive in the country, the logistics of your volunteer experience are completely looked after, so you can give yourself over to totally enjoying the adventure.

GVI’s commitment to sustainable development is impressive. A community invites GVI to be involved in development, areas of need are identified, local partnerships are forged, and then specific projects organized. I have personally been involved in constructing ecologically friendly wood-burning stoves in Guatemala and most recently, a large community water tank in Peru. Yes it is hard work, but it is immensely gratifying to know that when the project has been completed, the community assumes control of it. This is significant in that this responsibility ensures that benefits will continue to accrue to everyone in the community. You really see your contributions impacting and making a difference in the lives of real people on a daily basis.

Having said all that, the adventure does not start and end with only a project. GVI provides daily language instruction and a cultural or adventure tour in addition to the volunteer project (and it IS an adventure racing down Chachani Volcano on a mountain bike!). I also had abundant time to see the country, experience the culture and cuisine, get to know my project team mates from around the world, meet local people involved with the project, and make new friends at my home-stay.

There is definitely something for everyone, and I have no hesitation in recommending GVI. Enjoy the experience and Be the Difference.
- Rhonda

Who would have thought that you could work so hard yet have so much fun? I have been doing volunteer work for over 12 years with various agencies and can honestly rate GVI a 10 based on my experience. I have worked with them previously in Guatemala. They come through with everything that they promise and are true to their word.

Each project is carefully selected . I helped to construct a much needed water cistern for a community and school desperately in need of water. What I really like is that once completed the project success is put back into the hands of the community and they must work together to ensure that they monitor their water consumption each day so that all can benefit,

The work is hard and laborious . You get a chance to meet and interact with other like minded volunteers from other countries as well as share laughter and memories with the local people and children..

I have made new friends, been adopted by my home stay family, enjoyed the beauty of a new country and culture and learned how the borders of our countries that separate us can quickly dissolve...

I was physically and mentally challenged..I never dreamed I would be mountain biking down the side of a volcano nor have the opportunity to try guinea pig or llama..( I declined on the guinea pig)..

I can't wait to decide which program I will volunteer next,,

I had such an amazing time on this project and really didn't want to leave! The community were so welcoming and it was good to experience how they live on a daily basis. The night that stood out the most for me was when the local maasai danced and sung for us, it was fantastic and not many people can say they have seen that for real! We watched them for a bit and then they got us to all join in. We also taught them some dances from home, such as the macarena!
On the construction, we built a storage facility for animal skins and hides in order to generate an income for the community. We worked with the community and we were seen as one of them for the week. It was really nice to see how grateful the community were that we were helping them. Extra side trips made the experience really special and we got to see lots of different sides of Kenya.
GVI organised everything and made sure you had done everything you needed to do prior to leaving (visas, flights, CRB's etc). Meeting them at the airport/hotel was easy and they offered very valuable advice whilst we were staying there.The cost of the project was very reasonable considering all food, accommodation and transport (apart from flights) were included. I would recommend this project to anyone, it is defiantly worthwhile!

We, GVI staff and 7 volunteers, travelled over 7 hours on bumpy road to what felt and looked like the middle of nowhere arriving at the remote and beautiful village of Kasaini Lepolosi.
The landscape was amazing and i felt like i had stepped into a National Geographic magazine article.
We were greeted by the locals with great warmth and shyness. The locals consisted of Maasai and Kamba men, women and children.
We slept in an open hut on the ground each nigh under mosquito nets and the local men took turns guarding our camp against wildlife. We cooked and occasionally washed with water the local women collected by walking 1.5 hours to a creek and carrying it back on their heads and on their donkeys backs.
During the day we worked together with the locals to build a new Storage facility that will provide space which is optimal for storing partially preserved hides and skins before they are collected for export.
This space will also be used as a training centre to ensure top quality skins are being supplied for export, meaning higher prices can be fetched for the skins!
the purpose is to strengthened the capacity of the Kasaini Lepolosi comunity to survive without returning to poaching and charcoal burning.
I would recommend this trip or others like it to everyone- it is important to be open minded and not be compulsive about being clean!
My experience of hanging out with the Maasi people and playing football with the children is not one i will ever forget
i have come away from this experience feeling so grateful for all i have and have such admiration for the human spirit and how people with so little can be so loving and generous and joyful!