My glass is already filled with so much priceless hands on experience and with my continued path into this field with GVI I believe my opportunities will be endless whether abroad or home in England. I was lucky to find out about our project on a university page, as I was required to complete an internship for academic credits. Even better than that, was being able to actually get stuck in and help them through various assigned projects. GVI have provided the tools I need to start a career in conservation if I want to. Life on base was exceptional; I liked to get up a tad earlier than the bulk of us to go on the beach and admire the sunrise, then we would all have breakfast together and start gearing up for ‘Wave 1’, the morning dive. Volunteering was also a great opportunity for travelling and my highlights included trips to local temples, Phnom penh, Angkor wat and Hanchey. Excessive demands (working too long hours in often harsh field conditions) for far too low compensation (very low wages, no benefit). Show specific ratings Accommodation 4/5 Transportation 4.5/5 Meals 4.5/5 Value for money 4.5/5 Guide 4.5/5. When I decided to go help the planet on the other side of the world ! Being so close to such monumental animals was within itself mind blowing although when submerged by so much beauty from the land beneath us to the ever changing sky above us I found myself being taken aback by such small seemingly overlooked things. The team helped us settled in quickly and I felt right at home. In addition, there are more people volunteering later in life that I realised. You are alwaaaays welcome to come back as quickly as you like. Hope to see you back on base soon! We'd love to have your input and passion back on base again. Their beauty, grace and endurance being affected by their outright vulnerability in and out of the water gives me a heartfelt desire to do something to give them and their future a chance, even if that is only a few weeks to help a small amount on their, hopefully, long journey. Global Vision International (GVI) is an organisation that runs responsible volunteering programs in over 40 countries around the world. I volunteered with GVI-Global Vision International in south Africa and had the best 10 weeks of my life. Additionally, you are fed three proper meals a day within the village (the food is INCREDIBLE) that is typically prepared by your host family. I'm so happy to hear that you had such an amazing time, whilst being able to experience a new culture, new cuisine, and new life! Rachel is a fun loving people person who loves adventure and challenges. Join one of our award winning projects worldwide. Aspects were challenging but this made the project increasingly worthwhile and humbling. Many of GVI staff members have served as volunteers abroad, so they have confidence in their projects, have the first-hand experience as participants, and want to share those same amazing experiences with fellow travelers who want to volunteer overseas. The Ecuador project was very well organised, and i was able to be completely informed before I left home. Tweet. Hey Macy, thanks for your review! The trainer was kind, professional and gave amazing feedback on all questions and assignments. 32 GVI reviews. These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders. Wildlife Expedition in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (28n+) 4.5 Excellent. The experience I had then blew my mind and I simple had to get myself back out to South Africa and immerse myself fully into the experience. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a good time with us in India! I came out convinced of my career choice and more motivated than ever to make it happen. H Anonymous . Share your experience to help others. There is also a small kitchen where the we cooked breakfasts and weekend meals. It’s so hard to be fair to any organisation like GVI during COVID times, but I’ll try. All this has enabled me the GVI program, so that today I'm very glad that I participated. They have also been consistently flexible during this time, adapting their schedules and the work to changing circumstances. Kenza, it's great to hear that your program has such a huge, positive impact on yourself! 2021 perhaps?! My favourite part was collecting data for Coral Watch. Each person gets the necessary amount of attention and more. All in all, I have gained an infinite amount of experience over the six weeks, been able to get to know many different people of different cultures and nationalities, and I was able to contribute a small part to the environmental protection necessary to preserve the beautiful nature on the Seychelles. See what employees say about what it's like to work at GVI. I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with environmental/wildlife conservation and travel at the same time, and GVI Phang Nga was able to hit every criterion I could've had. Making a world of difference and providing international experiential education since 1998 Due to the remote and basic living conditions you quickly form very close friendships, unforgettable memories and meet amazing, like minded people along the way which makes the experience so wonderful.My high expectations of this program were massively exceeded, and I wish I choose to stay for more than 8 weeks. Find Reviews Filter. Unlike “eco-tourism” companies, GVI position volunteers in areas and on programs that are required for the wildlife and local communities, not the other way round. The common room was spacious enough, with a bookshelf and a site laptop we used to watch the occasional movie on the projector. As far as safety goes, when in the city or at airports, the most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings, stay with or near people you are familiar with (other GVI people), and exercise the same precautions you would anywhere in the US. 15 reviews. I had the most incredible time and never wanted to leave which is a feeling I have never had when volunteering abroad before. See all . The dormitories were basic, with room for 6 and an adequate bathroom. At GVN we align with the idea of 'local solutions to local problems', so we work with local community organizations in each country. Sending the first email was scary and exciting at the same time. Overall, volunteering with GVI in Cambodia has been a personally enriching which is giving my life perspective. It's surprising how much you don't need in life to be happy. Learn about GVI! 7 years ago. The reception from time landed at the airport until departure was all supported as well as tips in what to do locally. This volunteer experience taught me new skills in self-reliance and social awareness. This level of proactive support ensured the reassurance of safety for not only me but my family and friends too. The first few weeks were hard due to the language barrier but the whole family were very welcoming and as I began to understand their language, Pakinyaw, I began to feel more at home and became good friends with them. Overall I had the most amazing cultural experience as part of my GVI volunteer trips to both Laos and Cambodia which can only be achieved through living and working in country. But GVI is more than that. I volunteered on Women's Empowerment, Teaching English to Buddhist Monk, and Global Health programmes. The sense of fulfilment I got upon completion of some of these projects were unmatched! From the first break of morning sun across the mountain tops to the scurrying sounds of dung beetles battling over the mounds of dirt covering the path in front of us. In June of 2019, I volunteered in Greece on GVI's turtle program - but I wish I had stayed longer! Conservation is not always a glamourous and exciting endeavor but the Program Manager made it fun and engaging. !The reserve has a metapopulation of Cheetah as do most across Southern Africa, the focus was KCF the newly transferred young female. Unbiased program reviews by real program participants. We welcome you back to base again sometime in the future. I have no complaints about the setup, the work or the onsite staff at all. The best about this program was the quality of learning and the opportunity to apply it all in real life. Thanks for your fabulous review. Most of the animals are pretty indifferent about you being there, but the dogs and cats can be fairly interactive if you pay them any kind of attention (they do have fleas from living outside, but they are vaccinated and cared for). I did this course out of interest and its great for that, but would also recommend this for anyone looking for a career in this space. Eight weeks here has been time well spent, and I’m pleased with how it’s gone, considering that it was not my ideal project. Excellent. From the first point of contact, I felt supported and cared for as I booked on and prepared for my trip. H. Holly Wildlife Expedition in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (28n+) 4.5 - Excellent. ... all GVI reviews worldwide (21 reviews) Claim this company page. Best Cities for ... interesting job and projects, very good working culture. GVI Reviews. Does anyone have any information on them. The second program that caught my eye is working with monks in Laos. 15 reviews. What was the most surprising thing you saw or did? I am also sure that many of us chose to volunteer with IVHQ because it seemed established and reliable, with tons of glowing reviews. Was this review helpful? GVI: What's it like to work here? GVI are not the cheapest volunteer organisation. Always a party! We were 10 minutes away from both beach sides and it was usually empty (great hideout to workout!). GVI volunteers and interns have such an incredible opportunity to directly make an impact in the lives of those community members in which they work and live. I’d definitely pack much lighter, spend less money on the side, and relax a bit more than I did, but it was definitely a life-changing experience. We had a cook who made us both lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday.I did this project as part of my placement year for university and I have been inspired to work in marine conservation. Questions. Overall I had the most amazing cultural experience as part of my GVI volunteer trips to both Laos and Cambodia which can only be achieved through living and working in country. Locally, we were within walking distance from two convenience shops where you could buy snacks, drinks, and toiletries if you ran out. Our mission is to empower human connection through perspective-changing travel. Join one of our award winning projects worldwide. … Hey Jonathan, thanks for your review! 32 GVI reviews. The food was amazing and at no time did I feel insecure or unsure. 75 GVI Reviews Excellent 81% Good 11% Average 1% Rather Poor 1% Bad 5% Accommodation 4 / 5 Transportation 4.5 / 5 Meals 4.5 / 5 Value for money 4.5 / 5 The field staff are great as are the office team who made me feel supported throughout my experience. There is also enough time off at weekends to explore neighbouring islands, or simply relax. In your free time, you could go snorkeling, climb up the island's mountain or just chill out with the camp-tortoise "Obama". What would you improve about this program? Search; My kununu; Add a review. Want to know more about working here? Report inappropriate content . 1:32. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to feed and get up close to the elephants once a week to do health checks.During my time in Thailand I stayed with a homestay family getting to know them and how they lived. I was lucky as the timing was right for a couple of unusual events. I made great friends with the other volunteers and we enjoyed working together on project, socialising, and travelling during time off. When you share your living and study space with others of the same mentality, drive and ambition the interactions and conversations never fail to disappoint. Very organized and overall very enlightening. Finally, you have weekends off, which most people take the opportunity to travel around the country together to visit other tourist attractions and cities. Volunteer Teaching in Cape Town, South Africa (Former Employee) - Cape Town, Western Cape - 9 June 2016. I was there at the start of the rainy season which meant rain nearly every night and it got pretty chilly which made sleeping comfortable. Diving at BTNE, doing a Fish 2 spot and exploring the reef, we were warming up to play soccer that day, The assignment was to draw a healthy balanced plate, I was teaching these little girls how to play rock paper scissors. I took part in the Wildlife Conservation Short Term Internship in Limpopo. I took my own regulator and enjoyed using it but there is ample kit if you either can't afford or don't want to get your own. I can honestly recommend this programme to anyone interested in wildlife, research or conservation, or anyone who just wants to have a great time in the African bush and meet some great people!I will certainly never forget my time there and I'm sure it will be the same for you! You may want to try: all GVI reviews worldwide (21 reviews) Claim this company page. My time in Jalova in Tortuguero National park was something special to me. I have now committed to volunteering for more GVI projects once a year if possible. Cons. We always had food leftover in the fridge if you were looking for something to munch on.Surprisingly each week differed in their own ways, but typically we always had a few consistent activities. In my homestay, I was given a private room with a thin mattress/thick mat, a pillow, sheets, a blanket, and a mosquito net that was draped over the bed (surprisingly beautiful). GVI is an international volunteer organization that allows people of all ages to travel to countries and help out with the local community, this could be conservation, teaching English, or community support. However I decided I would also learn adult fish and just before the end I started to learn coral. He ensured that I had all my documentation in place ready to travel. The Spanish lessons were … I joined the GVI Seychelles marine conservation program in 2019 and it exceeded all of my expectations! I’m an international student doing a Bachelors of Environmental Science at Deakin University. They help to answer any queries, doubts, or worries you may have along the way. Join one of our award winning projects worldwide. It was so easy to fall completely in-love with the location, but the people I got to meet and the work I was able to contribute towards will forever be apart of who I am. Thanks so much for the fabulous review! On weekends, we were also able to make some trips to the other islands, whereby the Stuff could always give us very good tips for sights and accommodation. 248K likes. I wouldn't have been able to create such a passion without GVI and their hard work. However looking at other sites convinced me further that GVI was the right one to go for. Every day we went on versatile excursions on the island with the amazing GVI-Stuff and got to know its flora and fauna. 32 GVI reviews. Cons. I have been volunteering with GVI since 2014. I felt very supported by GVI and received TEFL training as preparation for my role and ongoing staff mentorship. While one of the main attractions was experiencing elephants close up, there was a lot to do within the community of Huay Pakoot!The fees you pay to GVI do include housing, transportation to the village from the airport upon arrival, and your return. 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