Volunteering
Emily Batchelor
After working at Pez I’ve also changed my course at university to Environmental Sciences as the work you guys are doing really sparked an interest in me and made me realise that working for an organisation like GVI is something I’d really like to pursue.
Ben Hughes
GVI were so important in helping me choose a career path I love, it’s great that I can now be part of that for other volunteers that come through.
Emily Sibley
GVI not only gave me an experience of a lifetime, it helped me grow and progress in my career.
Emily LaFontaine
The Thailand elephant project was one of the best travel experiences of my life.
Patrick Rose
The entire experience was amazingly rewarding. All the students I had the pleasure of interacting with were hardworking, dedicated and so appreciative of the work we were doing. Although I was only on the program for a month and had no previous teaching experience, I felt that I was able to play a real part in improving the life opportunities of the students I worked with. I would encourage anyone wanting to make a positive impact while travelling or wanting to experience a culture beyond the tourist experience to seriously consider a project with GVI. My only regret is that I did not stay longer.
Matthew McClellan
My time spent in Huay Pakoot was unforgettable, <span id="98327536-aeba-4fc3-bd8d-ee6f90da65ce" class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">unimaginably</span> rewarding and overall one thing I would definitely tell others to do. GVI has left me with wonder and an honesty that can only inspire you to go back and do more.
Emily Opack
Their sense of fearlessness, persistence, confidence and ability to recover came from an amazing sense of community they created themselves at such an early age. This was something I hadn’t seen in any of my previous travels or experienced in primary school in Boston. Those kids are able to overcome obstacles by learning from each other. I can honestly say that they have inspired me to be fearless and persistent in everything I attempt.
Ida Jones
Taking part in this programme has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life, I had a fantastic experience and have found a career that I am determined to follow in. Every experience that I had was incredible. One of the best parts about being a volunteer for GVI is that I immediately felt a part of the team amongst both the staff and the other volunteers – we all worked together and helped each other out. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and keen to share their ideas and experiences which meant I came away with a new mind set.
Rachel Ross
I gained a whole new family from the people I lived and worked with and experiences I went through.
Elise Greedy
It’s hard not to ramble on about every single experience on offer in Pokhara and Phang Nga. I guess the most effective way to communicate it is to say GO (!!), see it and experience it for yourself, it’s absolutely unreal!
Sam Wattson
Working with the GVI team has been a great way to learn more about the incredible work that GVI guys are doing every day. It is a wonderful way to stay connected and learn about ongoing social and environmental projects and helping GVI amplify the work done by change-makers internationally.
Colleen Donavan
Many GVI programs are great working vacations. They will provide you with skills you can use the rest of your life. You will have an amazing experience and meet people you will remember for the rest of your life. You will be working alongside people as young as college ages, to people between jobs and from all walks of life. The settings are often rustic, but turn out more comfortable than you expect.
Marcos Ferreira
I worked with GVI as a volunteer every summer from 2006 to 2012 and had the opportunity to take part in most inspiring projects where GVI is promoting community development and sustainable livelihoods. Although GVI has been involved in different projects in different continents, all of them were designed to be holistic and focus on people’s needs and resources. This integrated conception of development caught my attention from the beginning, and has taught me that education sits at the center of all efforts to enhance the resilience of fragile communities all over the world.
Jeigh Tu
Just like the mountain, this placement tested me on many occasions, but the positive impact I could see that volunteers have on these kids' lives kept me coming back each day with gusto.
Rachel Smith
Through teaching in schools and working within the community in Baan Nam Khem it has really broadened my mind
Emma Regan
On leaving South Africa I saw a quote on display in the airport. It read "Once you stand under the South African sun you will never be the same" I can vouch for this. It was amazing.
Holly McKelvey
My experience on the community project helped me to gain confidence speaking Spanish
Georgie Harbottle
To someone who has never visited Africa I would say, for goodness sake, go! It's like no other place I have ever experienced and volunteering with GVI was a wonderful way to see it.
Jessica Conway
I feel like I gained so much from my time with GVI, I went to Kenya looking for something different and found it and I am now looking at jobs in international aid work and working with GVI inspired me to do this.
Matthew Sherman
I spent a total of four weeks volunteering on two separate projects in Kenya. It was a truly memorable experience, allowing me to see a totally different world while at the same time providing me with the opportunity to make a small but valuable contribution.
Jes Johnson
Every new experience I had made me fall a little bit more in love with the people, the place and also the work.
Camille Viret
After my first magical experience, I thought that the second trip couldn't be better, but I was wrong.