Projects

These projects offer volunteers the opportunity to work closely with children of different backgrounds from all over the world.

GVI supports a variety of programmes providing assistance to underprivileged children, which may appeal to volunteers interested in gaining hands-on experience in social work, teaching and childcare.Joining one of GVI’s ‘volunteering with children’ projects could take you to work in an orphanage, teach sport to HIV affected communities or care for street children, amongst a variety of other programmes. Without GVI’s and volunteers involvement many of these projects would not exist and the majority of these children would not have access to any form of education.

See all of GVI's Work with Children Projects

Climate change is one of the most important issues society faces today, and increasingly people are looking to find ways to help to mend the damage that has been done to the planet’s fragile ecosystems.

Joining one of GVI’s climate change programmes gives you the opportunity to support a variety of worthwhile projects around the world which aim to protect our planet. This support could be by joining conservation projects in Europe or Australasia to conduct research on key species, or by joining construction projects in Latin America. GVI’s conservation projects monitor temperatures and analyse how variations affect animal behaviour. Our construction projects require volunteers to get hands-on, helping local masons to build energy efficient stoves in poor communities. The stoves burn less wood (to help these communities economically) and have significantly reduced the number of people suffering from breathing problems.

See all GVI's Climate Change Projects

GVI has a variety of programmes for volunteers interested in marine conservation.

Joining one of these programmes could see you monitoring a variety of marine life that includes whales, dolphins and manatees, or helping on one of the turtle research programmes we run throughout the year in several different locations. You could even join a marine expedition to go on in-depth dives and have scientific training to enable you to collect data on the state of coral reefs.Some of the projects require you to have diving qualifications but the majority of programmes are just after volunteers with enthusiasm and a passion for the marine world. You could even join one of the scuba diving courses GVI runs. All training is given on site.

See all GVI's Marine Conservation Projects

GVI has English teaching placements available in five different continents, open to everyone from beginners to experienced teachers.

Our range of programmes offer individual or small group placements, which take you to work in communities deprived of teachers and resources. GVI staff will provide you with the necessary training and orientation, and will be there to support you during your stay. Some of our programmes offer basic teacher training and an introduction to Teaching English as a Foreign Language, yet for those of you that have teaching experience you may prefer to join one of our more remote and challenging projects. If you want to get qualifications so that you can go on to teach after your time with GVI then look at our teaching expeditions that offer 50 or 100 hour TEFL course. The TEFL course will leave you confident to teach English anywhere in the world and has led many past volunteers and teachers into new careers and jobs overseas.

See all of GVI's Teaching English Projects

GVI and our partners will teach you everything you need to know to help construct vital resources for local communities.

These include building classrooms, schools and constructions to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in underprivileged areas. It also includes helping to build low emission, energy efficient stoves which help the health of poor communities. If you have an interest in construction work or just want to travel and get involved in worthwhile building projects, come and join us in the field. Once there, you will be working with local masons to help make a difference to the community and the environment.

See all of GVI's Construction Projects

These volunteer programmes give you the chance to immerse yourself in the local culture of a new country, by being made to feel part of the community that you will help.

All of GVI’s programmes have the full support of the local community, which becomes clear during your time on the project. Indeed, many of you will live with a host family, to live as they do during your stay and feel entirely welcomed into the local community. All our projects include an orientation and many include cultural and language lessons which help to immerse you into the local community. The types of programmes on offer are numerous and are sure to have something for everyone: teaching children, helping on conservation projects or even helping with construction work. On each of these projects you will work closely with the local community.

See all of GVI's Community Volunteering Projects

We have a huge range of wildlife and conservation projects available to volunteers on 6 different continents.

The programmes offer volunteers the chance to take part in projects with the following aims; scientific research, Animal husbandry, Care and rehabilitation, Construction, Restoration, Archaeology, Environmental Education, Awareness. Most of our programmes are open to those with no previous experience in these fields and they all provide training where relevant. Many of our volunteers join these programmes to gain field experience which is invaluable when trying to enter the competitive world of conservation. A key component of conservation is education and many of our projects see volunteers teaching environmental education to the local communities. Whatever your interest there are opportunities aplenty with GVI.

See all of GVI's Wildlife & Conservation Projects