GVI - Exeter

Isabelle E.

I had an incredible experience volunteering with the GVI teaching program in Siem Reap! The staff are all so so friendly and helpful and there’s such a strong sense of family. The food at the Secret Harden Hotel is all delicious especially the Amok :). The teaching timetable works really well and is timed so you are back for the hottest part of the day! The teachers are all lovely and very helpful and the students are all so willing to learn and have conversations and play games with you. Overall I had so much fun and learnt so much from the incredible community in Siem Reap 😊

Max R.

GVI Limpopo has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Arriving on base you are met with well trained staff who perfectly reflect the core values of GVI, as well as many passionate, friendly and helpful volunteers. Life of base is incredibly fun and the time you get to be able to meet and form friendships with the other participants and staff is incredibly valuable. On the two drives you go on each day you are driven by an incredibly knowledgable staff member who knows a literal unbelievable amount about the wildlife on the reserve and are always up for chatting with us and going on fascinating tangents about all sorts of wildlife. It is clear that GVI and the staff working on base care an incredible amount about the participants, our life on base and our life before and after GVI.

GVI has been a time of formative experiences and has helped guide my thinking in the weeks after landing back in the UK.

Rebecca S.

GVI Limpopo, SA - 4 Week Research Fellowship:
My 4 weeks at GVI Limpopo's base allowed me to collect the necessary data for my university research project. The fact that GVI was able to cater to my specific project's needs was absolutely brilliant.
Very nice, accommodating staff on base, as well as a very friendly communications team throughout my booking/application process. The Limpopo setup really was the true African safari dream.
What could have been done better however, was a clearer description of my day-to-day (before arriving), ALL the duties/activities I would have on base and how the WIFI setup would be (I was sprung with quite a few things upon arrival I did not know were included - these were positive things, but they could have been nice to know in advance).

Olivia

The most incredible time of my life. I feel so lucky to have experienced all that is Nosy Be, Madagascar.
I chose GVI because they are so impact driven, and during my time in Madagascar that was the evident.
Being able to immerse myself into such vibrant and joyful community was a remarkable opportunity. From base life to weekend fun, everything about this trip was wonderful. The students, the staff, the locals, the volunteers, the nature, the wildlife, the music…everything about it. Meeting the students and going into schools was so much fun and I am so glad to have met such exceptional people. If you are reading this review unsure whether or not to do a program with GVI, this is your sign to book it…right now. You will not regret it.

Jake W.

When I signed up to GVI Costa Rica I was excited to see and work with the exotic animals in the rainforest. What I was not expecting was the amazing people that I would be working with, from making close friendships with the other participants, to lifetime bonds with the staff members themselves. This made the experience that much more rewarding and made it a joy to go out on surveys every morning and night to look at wonderful snakes and frogs, with equally amazing people.

hacked S. F.

I stayed in the Canary Islands doing conservation of dolphins and whales and I have 3 things to say. Wonderful environment. Wonderful people. Wonderful experience! I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend time in my summer and I will be back as soon as possible but for longer. Seeing the marine life up close felt magical and understanding and learning about the intricacies of their species was so interesting. I would 100% recommend to anyone who is interested in marine life

Rich G.

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with GVI.
When first registering for the 12 weeks Marine Conservation program in the Seychelles (starting Feb 2020), the whole process was easy and well explained and any questions I did have were answered promptly and thoroughly.
Upon arriving in the Seychelles, the team at Cap Ternay were excellent. Everything was well set out and I settled in quickly and felt right at home. There was a lot of information to take in but the learning was very enjoyable and the staff were always available to answer any questions or if extra help was needed.
I have stayed in contact with GVI since returning home and as always they have been incredibly helpful and have made me feel like part of the GVI family.
I am already planning my next adventure and I would highly recommend GVI to anyone wanting to volunteer abroad.

Mia A. C.

The program was perfectly planned to include activities which both challenged and energised us as teenagers keen to explore Thailand and give back to the community. The staff were absolutely amazing at keeping our safety and well-being protected, while always bringing fun and laughter to our days. The experience definitely would not have been the same without them, so shoutout to Georgia, Sofia, and Jiyad! Some of the activities we took part in, I never could have dreamed of doing; from caring for sea turtles, swimming in waterfalls, kayaking through mangrove forests, and bamboo-rafting, we definitely made memories which will last forever. As well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences, we were also educated on some of the implications of volunteering. The staff made sure to keep us informed with presentations covering the ethics of animals in captivity. I have total faith that GVI are an organisation which genuinely do care for both the environment and the community, and I felt reassured that the work we were doing did have a positive impact.