Program Reviews

I felt like it would be a life-altering experience going to Thailand for four weeks with GVI, and I was so completely right. Meeting volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds was so enriching and the friendships formed were so touching. The staff were all so caring and energetic, I felt inspired and excited about the work we were doing. It didn't take long to feel part of the team and when there were challenges I always felt like I could speak to people and that I was not alone.
I fell in love with this part of Thailand and getting to experience a side to it that was so unique felt really special and the kind of responsible travel that I was looking for. The people on the GVI base clearly cared so much about the community and had such a positive impact, it felt amazing to be a part of it all.

I met the most amazing and kind people. They are truly still my best friends even though they live halfway across the world. I stayed in Tenerife working on a whale and dolphin conservation project. We got to see pilot whales, atlantic spotted dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins so closely. It was surreal. Beach cleans were incredibly rewarding and actually fun with the friends we made. There were all kinds of cool activities for when we weren’t busy- surfing, canarian cooking, and hikes. It was very cool and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything!

Coming from a background In sustainability and recently completing a master's, I felt like I could make a difference when volunteering in GVI Ghana, the pre-departure systems gave me a lot of comfort before arriving and gave me realistic expectations. My experience has been nothing but spectacular, the culture in Ghana blew me away, and GVI gave me such great training in how to deal with cultural differences and classroom behaviours! although there were challenges, mainly the heat and unexpected power cuts, GVI made my 8-week stay comfortable and maintained communication while offering me support through projects and any queries I may have had. The Staff at GVI were considerate and made me feel welcome. I am most thrilled about having the opportunity to reach so many students and experience the real culture of the community. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to make an impact and learn more from the people.

GVI Chiang Mai has a very high volunteer return rate, and now I can see why. The villagers of Huay Pakoot made this experience spectacular, as well as the staff and other volunteers. I’ve made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories, and especially want to express my love for this village. The food was always delicious, the hikes hard but rewarding, and the activities always exciting and unique. The staff have done such a great job here and deserve so much credit. Everyone should come visit for as long as they can

If you are considering volunteering abroad, I can highly recommend GVI. My experience with them at their Ghana base has been amazing. I was looking for a project that has good ethics and is happy with older volunteers. GVI Ghana has fulfilled both of these requirements. During my time here there has been an age range between 75 and 18. The training, support and encouragement has been first class. The work in schools is both demanding and rewarding. There is a perfect balance between project work and socialising, with great trips organised for the weekends and barbecues on the beach and beach cleans. If you at all nervous about taking this leap of faith, my advice is to do it! It has been a fantastic experience and one I'm glad I did not miss out on.

My experience in Madagascar was incredible and ended all too soon. I spent a month completing an internship in wildlife conservation at Nosy Be and got to get up close with almost every species on the island. Not only did I Receive support from GVI from day one all the way through to after the completion of my internship, but I got to work with the most amazing people. Working with GVI is a great way to travel solo, make friends and make an impact on something you're passionate about. Staff were super supportive of what I wanted to do and I felt very safe.

In October 2023 I worked on the GVI Nepal Community Development internship for 4 weeks. During my time I worked one to one with the women’s empowerment project to teach computer literacy skills as well as English language skills in a group and one on one setting. The work was very rewarding as I got to build rapport with the wonderful women I was working with. Whilst completing the internship I gained valuable communication skills as learnt a great deal about Nepalese culture from the women we worked with. At weekends and evenings we visited the local surroundings including hiking to take in the beautiful scenery, watching films at an open air cinema and enjoying food in the lakeside restaurants. It was so lovely to meet likeminded people and it felt like a big family by the end of my time.

GVI Ghana was both a challenging and very, very rewarding experience. I loved the core principle for sustainable and IMPACT led change and the care and good intention of the GVI staff at base was evident throughout. It is hard not to be inspired by their dedication and the engagement of the community, especially the schools and pupils, that are positively impacted by the GVI Ghana programme. I would recommend to those looking to explore volunteering opportunities abroad and make responsible impact.

My journey started out pretty chaotic as my flight to Ghana got cancelled. I got on a new flight and when I arrived in Ghana a day later than expected, the airline had lost my luggage. I called GVI Ghana and the staff helped me to sort the situation quickly. Overall I am really pleased about my experience with GVI. All of the staff is very effective, acts fast and it is clear that they care a lot about their work. They make sure to give you the right tools and knowledge through training before starting any projects.
I have grown personally, learnt about cultural differences and gained a new worldview and would highly recommend GVI to anyone who wants to volunteer.

I participated in GVI’s volunteer with children program in Fiji, Dawasamu supporting early childhood development and the youth. We worked towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. I collaborated with a diverse team of volunteers from different countries to plan themed lessons for the children and the youth. I assisted in planning and teaching lessons, making resources for other volunteers to use with the kids now and in the future and writing up progress reports.
From this experience I learnt to be grateful, kind and happy In the life we are given, in our circumstances and be thankful for what and who we have to support us. Coming from the western world it really does make you question what is worth worrying over in life, what you think you need but actually want. This was a transformational experience for me personally and professionally. Being able to travel over 9000 miles to a different country independently has unlocked a whole new level of opportunities and memories for me that i will forever cherish. Furthermore, this trip really helped me reconnect with myself and have a new optimistic outlook on life. I will forever be grateful for GVI and Jack Petchey for helping make this trip happen, one person I will always remember from Fiji is my Na (mother) Rosa who welcomed me with open arms and took such good care of me. The level of warmth and comfort she had was something i had never felt from a stranger before. I also want to thank Vanessa from GVI by reaffirming that I can do trips like this by myself and make a difference and recommending me to do some work with the under 18's in Ghana as she could see how much I loved this experience.