GVI, Ethical Impact. Volunteer in Thailand

I was volunteering for a month with the elephants in thailand and it was the most amazing experience ever! The daily hikes were exciting and interesting and all the villagers and mahouts were so nice and friendly. The staff and all the other volunteers were so kind and nice and i’ve made friends for life over there, I would highly reccomend this programme as every aspect of it is amazing. Waking up each morning at 6am seemed very hard at first but it’s really easy to get used to like everything on the programme. You’re all in the same boat with the other volunteers and you all bond quickly making it very comfortable during the day to relax with eachother. Eating dinner with your homestay family is amazing because you get to know them well and experience their daily life.

I joined this program thinking it would just be elephant hikes. I was amazed at how there were so many activities everyday, the staff and volunteers always interacted with us. No one was ever excluded, we all became a big family so quickly. The staff and long term interns/volunteers were super helpful in the adjustment of the culture shock as well. I loved how we got right into it coming to the village after settling into our home stays. We always had something to do. If we weren't interest in one thing, there would be other activities going on at the same time. It was amazing to learn so much about the elephants, on every hike the leaders would be so well prepared and full of knowledge. We got to learn the village's dialect which was nice to practice and communicate with the people from the village. It was incredible to see how well GVI works as a team with the locals. I really enjoyed living the local lifestyle and everyone came form different places. It was such a diverse experience and would recommend going through GVI! They are super quick to respond to any questions or concerns in advance to prepare you for all you need to know for your trip. So easily reachable and I can honestly say I have made so many new friends. I want to go back already!

My experience at GVI Phang Nga was incredible! I am currently a dental student at Cardiff University and used this to create dental workshops for the children. Combining my devotion to help others and the career I love was something I had aspired to do. Phang Nga trusted me with this and attached are some images of my work with the children. The disabled centre, visited daily, will forever have a special place in my heart. The children are the most kind and caring children I have ever met. The 'land of smiles' that Thailand is known for most certainly exceeded expectations. Activities outside of curriculum time were also enjoyable. Quiz nights occurred every week, cocktails at Thai life were cheap and tasty! Zumba classes in the village were so fun. The community really did make us feel welcome and only a 'donation' was required. I also attended a Mai Thai class just outside of the village. The heat and hard work combined was a nightmare! Sweaty to say the least! Nevertheless, very enjoyable and instructors were hands on and a good laugh. The staff on base and off base were phenomenal. Supportive, considerate and a great laugh. That leaves the other volunteers. I can truly say that I have made friends from all over the world; majority I'll stay in contact with for the rest of my life. The weekends off base we all spent together were some of the best experiences of my life. We visited Bangkok, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Old Town Phuket and Patong. And yet, there was still more I wish I'd seen!

Hello! My name is Ben and I spent some time I had away from work at the GVI Chiang Mai project that’s focusing on elephant conservation. Before signing up with GVI I had never completed anything like this but have had an interest in all things natural and animals from a very young age. It was a very spontaneous decision to go, planning only started 4 weeks before and we booked on just 3 weeks before our plane took off! When booking I knew I wanted to go somewhere but where that was I had no idea. After searching for all of ten minutes I came across GVIs website and the ‘call back request’ button. Filled in my name and phone number and within the hour Masi gave me a ring. A very nice man, who was very knowledgeable on the whole GVI experiences, took me through a couple of the programs I could attend narrowing down to the GVI program in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’m so glad he helped me pick GVI Chiang Mai! Then when my sister came home I asked her if she’d like to join and she jumped at the chance.

When getting ready for the trip I was a bit nervous as anybody would be but as soon as I landed all these nerves quickly dispersed. Getting off the plane we met with smiley staff member Liane, who then introduced us to the others on our intake. They were all so friendly and welcoming, something I’m not to used to coming from England.

The village it’s self, Huay Pakoot, is like no where I’ve ever been before. Everybody has such a big smile on their face and greets you with the friendliest ‘da blue’ (hello/bye/thankyou in the local language of Pakinyaw). We were shown to our homestay and met the family we’d be staying with, again so friendly and so welcoming.

The days are organised for you and a schedule is written on a white board in base so you always know what’s going on, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want but I suggest you try an do everything! The elephant hikes and other biodiversity walks were just amazing, walking through thick forest for an elephant to just appear only metres in front of you was really mental. Who knew such a big animal could blend in so well! After the walk there would be lots going on whether it was pakinyaw lessons, teaching English at the local school, playing football with the mahoots or even making baskets down at old chiefs house. No way could you ever be bored or feel like you hadn’t done enough with your day.

On my first weekend in the village the staff had organised a 57km walk from base to Mae Chaem to raise money for the new baby elephant. I love walking so of course signed up and despite what you might think had the best time in doing so, it was a really great opportunity to talk to as many of the other volunteers as possible. At lot of then I believe will be life long friends, most of which are already looking to come back at similar times. I also spent a lot of the hike with the local community liaison Don and his friend who was doing some of the driving. Even going for breakfast in Mae Chaem with Don the day after the walk, I would now consider don to be a life time friend after the time we’ve spent together and been one of the meany reasons I’m definitely going back to Huay Pakoot!

When in the village you can really see everything GVI has help them achieve, they now have 5 shops, I think 2 restaurants, a smoothie shop, a Internet cafe and even a launderette! Things that wouldn’t existed in the village if it wasn’t for all the ‘golas’ coming through the GVI project. With one of the local lads even building a art Gallery to showcase and sell his paintings, incredibly impressive pieces so much so I’ve now got one myself! All of this really helps to add to the incomes the family’s already had through farming, also showing the children how much they can achieve in life.

When my time came to leave I really didn’t want to, if work wasn’t calling I’d of definitely extended my stay. Nothing I’ve ever done has been like that place, spending time there has really helped me grow as a person and helping me to decide the direction I want my life to go in. Making me much more aware of how I can help climate change from my home, even with small things like what products contain unsustainable palm oil to knowing what can and can’t be recycled. Over all GVI Chiang Mai has changed me for the better and I couldn’t be more thankful for the experience it has given me! To anybody that’s sat on the fence thinking about heading out, just jump in and do it you really won’t be disappointed when you get there!

I had the time of my life in Huay Pakoot! The staff and other volunteers are so inclusive and are all genuinely good people. The program itself combines animal conservation with community development, which is a really unique opportunity that made it the perfect fit for me. First of all, you get to spend nearly every day outside, which is just incredible. And most days, you're hiking to see elephants that are being reintegrated into the wild. You really feel like you're making a difference by collecting data on each elephant's behaviors and activities. In the future, the data we have collected will be analyzed and used to show the potential benefits of keeping Asian elephants in the wild. In the afternoons and evenings, there are plenty of opportunities to get plugged in at the school and in English classes for the villagers. It's easy to immerse yourself in the Karen culture while there--especially because you live with a host family during your entire time in the village. All of the villagers are incredibly kind and want to make sure you have a good experience there as well. This was a trip of a lifetime, and I hope to return to Huay Pakoot soon!

I was quite nervous before arriving in Chiang Mai but i was immediately made to feel so welcome by all the other volunteers and staff members.
Seeing how happy the elephants are in their natural habitat is such a priceless experience and consolidates how life-changing GVI's work is. Learning to record various types of data on these Asian elephants is just one of the many skills i will take away from this trip, skills that will stay with me throughout the rest of my life,
It was so interesting and inspiring learning about the Karen culture and getting the opportunity to completely immerse yourself within it. The villagers are such lovely people and i thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them all, even attempting to converse in Pakinyaw.
I could go on forever about the massive array of exciting activities that were provided for us just within the two weeks i was there, there is most definitely something for everyone. From hiking with elephants to teaching English in the school to playing football with the mahouts to learning a new language, there is never ever a dull moment!
I can not recommend this program enough! It was an absolutely unforgettable trip that i honestly wish everyone could experience. The two weeks i spent in Huay Pakoot were the best two weeks of my life and i can not wait to return!!

An unforgettable trip full of elephants, language learning and teaching, fun and animals! You'll make amazing friends with like-minded people and be immersed in the culture that Huay Pakoot village has to offer. All of the villagers are so kind and settling in is much easier than expected, I found getting back into a rhythm at home more difficult in fact!
I can't recommend this programme enough as it has something for everybody, from bio diversity hikes, teaching English to the people from the village, participating in classes held by the different interns (which range from boxing to body image workshops to painting when I was there) to quiz nights every Wednesday!
If you're going on this programme, I am so jealous of you as I'd love to be back!

Volunteering abroad with GVI in Chiang Mai, Thailand was a dream come true! I will always cherish the moment I saw an elephant for the first time in its natural habitat. Working with the Elephants in an ethical way and learning about environmental and wildlife conservation has been very insightful. I learned so much about the elephant tourism industry and the environments in SouthEast Asia. While volunteering in Chiang Mai, I also got to spend time engaging with the community from teaching English to the children in the village and the homestay families, to sitting down with an elder in the village and hearing stories that have been in their culture for generations. What I experienced was full cultural immersion and countless magical moments and memories that will stay with me forever. I also became incredibly close with the other volunteers, making lifelong friends that I keep in contact with. GVI is more than just a volunteer abroad experience; it leaves you with a new family, new life skills, and incredible growth. I can't recommend this program enough!