GVI

I worked for GVI as an education coordinator in Fiji. This was one of the worst jobs I have ever had. They mask themselves as a charity- don't be fooled though. Everything is about profit for them. They do not care about the community or the real needs of the community and many community members actually did not want GVI in their village anymore, it was disturbing the peace. The organisation also care little for volunteers. This is an experience which is so expensive anyway for volunteers to go on and GVI do little to give these volunteers the incredible experience they deserve. I was new to GVI and education volunteers were due to come yet during the dates they were coming the school was actually closed, GVI had lied to them. I had to create meaningless activities and be super positive about this despite the volunteers who had been looking forward to this experience of teaching for months. The locals and volunteers all deserve better. The manager I had was absolutely awful as well, rude, bitter, unpleasant and antisocial. I am so happy I made the decision to quit this job early on. Disgusting organisation that should be exposed.

I was offered a free transfer due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Nepal, the country I was travelling to, is currently in lockdown and my flights have been refunded as I am not allowed to travel there.

GVI REFUSE to call this a cancellation so I am unable to get any refund from them, my travel insurance or my credit card. I did everything I could to protect myself against cancellation but I am still 拢1400 out of pocket.

While trying to save enough money for further education fees I now have to find 拢1400 to pay for a trip I will never get to go on.

鈥淔or more than 20 years, the well-being of our participants has been at the forefront of everything we do…鈥?

How anyone who works for GVI can sleep at night knowing they鈥檙e emailing out this pack of lies is beyond me. How they dare call themselves is charity is a disgrace.

TAKE SOME LIABILITY. At a minimum cancel the trip so people can claim something back.

Truly disappointing that an organisation such as this would take advantage of the CV-19 pandemic to make profit from young people.

Those who CANNOT make their assigned program slot due to travel restrictions have been refused refunds (often thousands of pounds).

GVI doggedly refuse to "cancel" these programs themselves since that would make them liable.

Instead they insist that these young people accept a new slot within the next five years – WHO on earth can confidently plan a 6 week sabbatical in the next 5 years? Careers/personal circumstances etc can all change.

Alternatively GVI offer to transfer fees to online/virtual experiences which they claim 鈥渨ill enable you to develop the skills and key competencies that you hoped to gain on a program with us鈥?

Really? Online offerings instead of travelling to an ACTUAL place and meeting ACTUAL people and having ACTUAL experiences?

All so they can justify refusing a refund.

Absolutely despicable people hiding behind a thin philanthropic veneer.

DO NOT TRUST GVI

I can say without hesitation that the GVI Mexico Marine Conservation was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The opportunity to work as a volunteer on a coral reef to survey and help maintain the overall reef system and knowing you are making a difference was such a satisfying aspect of my trip. I met friends I will have for a lifetime and I learnt more in the 4 week program than I have in my 4 years at university studying marine science. My time in Mexico was a time I will cherish forever and look forward to doing again in the very near future.

I have now volunteered with GVI twice – in Seychelles and South Africa on wildlife conservation projects, both experiences were genuinely life changing. The staff are incredible, providing support from the very beginning, and the people that you meet become life-long friends because they are all like-minded individuals looking to make a difference.

I had very little knowledge and no experience of wildlife conservation before volunteering with GVI but that didn't affect my contribution and experience. GVI have provided the tools I need to start a career in conservation if I want to.

10000% recommend to anyone looking to give back while travelling, have a career break and learn something new, or gain valuable experience for a career.

I am now receiving regular job updates from GVI and I am planning another trip with GVI next year.

My honest advice before committing to working with GVI is think twice! What I thought was going to be an educational, rewarding experience over six weeks turned out to be a combination of daily chores, weekly duties and additional cleaning tasks. The island is beautiful and although base is very basic it is not unlikeable. However this programme did not educate beyond what was already provided pre departure nor did it encourage questions or discussions to expand on the basic information provided. Outside of survey time (usually two a day although a survey may only be an hour long) staff are nonexistent and trying to engage in conversation with them makes for awkward interactions as it is clearly not welcome. They hide away in their staff Hut only to appear to eat (volunteers cook for them)or remind you of a chore that needs doing. I had expected, as per many pictures online, to be included with writing up the survey data etc however this was clearly beyond any volunteers capacity! There is a very real feeling of us and them. After a full first day of dos and don'ts (more don'ts than anything else), staff rely on the interns to inform new volunteers of how things work and what can be expected from each survey. It felt like the staff were tired of the same conversations from volunteers and therefore avoided them at all costs. Also, be warned that due to erosion there is no beach at base so between surveys time is spent, unless cleaning, waiting on an uncomfortable picnic bench. There is really very little to do in the evenings (you will need your own entertainment) and as a result more often than not everyone was in bed by 8pm. I paid a lot of money for six weeks, although surprisingly others paid more for less, and it felt like I had just paid to cook and clean. If it wasn't for coronovirus suspending the programme I would have left after two weeks. The only positive from my experience are the islands of the Seychelles themselves, they are truly beautiful and worth visiting. I recommend using the money that this programme costs to visit them in pleasure.

WARNING WARNING please be aware if you book a course with this company you will get no refunds if they cancel your course. Everybody that was on a course in mexico on jan 20 where sent home in march 20 with no money also had to pay for their own flights home .all they have been offered are credit notes
considering they were sent home due to covid-19 and told everyone this course has now been cancelled is not what the terms and conditions report they have kept everyones money in their banks and earning interest on it not fair at all this needs to be reported so everyone out there understands this is not a caring company at all .as the world is going through bad times at the moment money is hard to come by and needed. Companies that keep your hard earned money need to be claimed and shamed you all need to demand your money back
if you still want to take your course please make sure you take out very expensive insurance that covers everything

Best summer of my life!

I am currently a university student studying Environmental Science (hence the relevance to my amazing summer). I went to Thailand, Phang Nga base for a total of 6 weeks and did the short term internship, earning myself a leadership qualification out there. This was my first summer solo travelling, having not taken a gap year and it was everything I had dreamed of and more! I went on this trip alone and it was the best thing I could have done, it benefitted me in ways I didn鈥檛 even imagine 鈥?cringe but 鈥業 found myself鈥? I gained more self-confidence and developed my people skills; communication to people of all ages 鈥?from teaching school children to making friends with the older volunteers.
GVI and the programme itself was amazing, they were so accommodating and made me feel at home for my summer, the base felt like home and the staff were friends. It鈥檚 not like being at school as you are all on the same level and treated equally, if you have a suggestion whether it be for around base or an activity you would like to do they will always try to accommodate it. GVI Phang Nga hub has 2 other programmes being run from the same hub so there will always be a group of people there, this is great for your weekend travels. While on programme every other weekend is a long weekend (free from Thursday evening to Sunday), this means there is plenty of time to explore southern Thailand and perhaps even further with your new friends; I visited Khoa Lak, Khoa Sok, Phi Phi islands, Phang Nga Bay, Phuket town and even Patong!

The marine conversation programme has such a variety of activities meaning every week is different, even after being there 6 weeks I was still doing new activities. Every week you visit the turtle conservation centre twice 鈥?cleaning tanks, treating their wounds and collecting data for a wider database. Along with the turtle project you do; beach cleans, butterfly surveys, bird walks, working in national parks, teaching conservation/English lessons at local schools in the community, mangrove surveys on canoes, once a month there is a week-long trip off base to stay on 2 islands doing camera trap work and whole hub Friday projects including: village cleans and teaching at English camps. Even in your down time at base there鈥檚 still optional extras to do such as cooking classes, weekly Wednesday night quizzes, early morning sun rises and movie nights. Before getting to Thailand I had my doubts and worries about the teaching aspect of the program as this is usually something I would shy away from however it was one of my favourite projects, along with the turtles of course, but the children are so keen and happy to learn and have so much respect for you. You are not forced to do anything you don鈥檛 feel comfortable doing while on project however there is plenty of opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone, if you鈥檙e not already out of it in Thailand!

Food is great, people are fab and the experience was one of a kind. There is something for everyone.

Truly a unique experience volunteering in Costa Rica with GVI. The work they are doing is invaluable and I had the most incredible time. The wildlife you see is unforgettable and camp is just like family. I can't wait to go back.

Bad customer service and support and when I addressed my problem, the response was quiet defensive.I was promised high expetcations and full on projects and did. not get much of what I was told, "basic accommodation" which included bed bugs and rat faeces on floor…bit of a health hazzard, too expensive for what I received, clearly more into business than taking care of the volunteers….sorry but I will not choose nor recommend GVI it was quiet a disappointment…

I鈥檝e always been interested in conservation, but thought I鈥檇 never have the time to really explore what was available. Recently one opportunity arose, so I started to plan. One of the first websites I looked at was GVI. They have many many hubs around the world with a diverse range of projects. I was interested in working with turtles. After several informative and guidance emails and chats, it was clear that the time of year and my dates gave me 2x locations to look deeper into. I struggled to get the correct dates and thought another opportunity would pass me by. However looking at other sites convinced me further that GVI was the right one to go for. I changed my dates based on my research and the enthusiasm and support I was given from the GVI team. After spending 2 weeks in Phang Nga, Thailand on the conservation project, I can easily say this experience has surpassed all of my expectations. The projects have been very informative and diverse. I was lucky to go on the islands project which provided even more diverse countryside and community involvement. The fellow volunteers come from many countries and are all friendly, helpful and fun to be with, the age ranges went from 18 to 50 during my time, me being at the top end! Weekends off enabled visits with some volunteers to other Thai holiday locations to take in more of the country. My only regret is that I only have had 2 weeks here, I could easily spend 4 to really feel I鈥檇 had the fullest experience possible. I achieved my goal of working with turtles from 2 weeks old to many years, but so much more besides. Thank you so much GVI Thailand, I have no doubt my daughter will be with you when she is old enough, and she will have my whole hearted blessing!!

Tony

GVI South Africa is the biggest money scam ever. I was signed up to do the 6 month placement but left after 7 weeks. Its sold as an intimate internship program with a maximum of 10 people on base, I turned up to 27 not including staff.

The duty of care the staff have to each participant is never met. When people get ill they wait until they have to go to hospital to get them any help. One girl had to go home for an operation yet the lead staff members didn't take her seriously and even said she was faking for attention!

This so called internship doesn't teach you anything, the lectures are almost offensively dumbed down to the point where a 6 year old would know more. The lectures are also often canceled or "rescheduled".

The website states that you go on two game drives a day when in reality they have you doing slave labor in the 40 degree heat for either the morning or afternoon and you can only see the animals when you are on drive for a maximum of 10 minutes. When all the animals are found for the day you there is nothing to do because the lodges are the only ones allowed to see the animals.

Placements are done on a favoritism basis. If the so called "head intern coordinator" (Who quite frankly has no personal skills and only got the job because hes sleeping with the person that hired him) likes you then you will know whats going on, if not you're in the dark until they decide where it is. I tried to ask if they could look into a new placement for me as I was unhappy with the one I was given; even going out of my way to find the placement myself; and they did nothing.

The only saving grace of this whole program was the head Science Officer who went out of her way to defend the interns and tried to make the most out of a bad situation by training us in GIS and letting help with her research data. In my opinion she should be running this entire base and deserves a pay rise.

In conclusion DO NOT COME HERE! If you want to work in any area of animal conservation run the other way and don't look back!

I spent ten weeks teaching English in school in June 2019. I鈥檓 not sure that there are enough words to describe this place and how brilliant it is, and the large impact it made on me. Leaving was very hard as I truly fell in love with the area and the people in it.
The community really make you feel like you鈥檙e a part of it and not a tourist. I know the whole point of the program was about teaching the adults and students from the village but I feel like it taught me a lot more than I thought was possible, it opened my eyes to the real world and showed me how much is out there and the world is bigger than my corner of England, it helped me grow so much as a person and just changed my whole perspective on life in general. I didn鈥檛 know you could fall in love with a place until I arrived in Ban Nam Khem and this place will always have such a huge part in my heart forever, and so will the people who live in it and the students I taught. This program has a massive impact on the community and its so clear to see that, we took part in village clean ups, temple clean ups, parades and so much more which proved how much of a good relationship GVI has with community and the respect each side has for each other. During the week we taught at two different schools, a Thai school and a Burmese school and had multiple lessons at each, having the same classes each week helps build up such a strong relationship between you and the students and there was such an age range from 6-16 which gives you such different experiences with every class. And every second Friday we had a group project were all three programs would come together to do something, this was different every time from, a beach clean, making chicken wire bins, fundraiser for menstrual cups, summer camp at a school and so much more. we also had weekly Thai lessons to help you with communicating with others in the village which I found very beneficial.
My first two weeks were a massive struggle and I found it very hard, however the staff team were just amazing and gave me a lot of support and made things so much easier, base felt like a home and the staff really made it feel like a family, without such an amazing, kind and supportive staff team I think I would of found the whole experience a lot harder, every single one of them helped me so much while there, they constantly supported me, checked I was coping okay and were always available if I wanted someone to have a five minute chat with, it was my first time out of the country without my mum and the staff team made it a lot more easier and it didn鈥檛 feel I was as far away from home as I really was.
The initial shock of finding out you have no hot water, sharing a room with six people in bunk beds, Geckos everywhere and so much more seemed like it would be impossible to cope with but being away from it is weird as I miss these things so much.
I made friends for life here and speak to most of them on a daily basis even though we are in different places around the world, and the ones in England I meet up with as much as we can, and am planning on visiting a group over in America next year.
GVI as a whole has been amazing throughout my time with them, before I went I received many emails and calls making sure I was prepared for my trip, since being back I still get regular emails to check how I am, I鈥檝e joined the ambassador programme where I now go to lots of events around the uk and meet other past volunteers which I really love as its amazing to see so many people who believe in the same thing as you, and I love hearing about past trips of other people, I can say without a doubt this isn鈥檛 my last trip with GVI as I will definitely be returning in a few short months. GVI changed me for the better as a person as it was the first time I felt truly happy and I couldn鈥檛 recommend this enough to anyone, my confidence and self-awareness grew so much I don鈥檛 recognise the person who came back and it鈥檚 a very good thing.

FIRE YOUR EMPLOYEE LEPANI VUNITURAGA FROM GVI SUVA, FIJI IMMEDIATELY IF YOU WANT TO REPRESENT A PROFESSIONAL AND HONEST ORGANISATION!!!WARNING!!STAY WIDE AWAY FROM LEPANI!!HE IS VERY DISHONEST AND COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!!BETTER DESCRIBED AS A FRAUD/SCAMMER AND A BULLY !!! RENTED US A HOUSE IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS: LEAKING ROOF, RATS IN THE HOUSE, STOVE/OVEN AND FRIDGE DEFECT, LEAKING TAP, UNSAFE OPEN ELECTRICAL WIRES etc. LEPANI FALSELY CLAIMED THE ROOF WOULD HAVE BEEN REBUILD "LAST YEAR" AND TOTALLY RUINED OUR DREAM VACATION IN FIJI!!ON TOP OF THAT HE TRIED TO BREAK IN AN ENTER INTO OUR RENTAL鈽癸笍鈽癸笍鈽癸笍 PROPERTY, AND TO ENFORCE HIS ILLEGAL INSPECTION BY LYING AND INTIMIDATING US, EVEN THREATENING US!!! LEPANI AND HIS FAMILY WENT AS FAR AS HARASSING OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS!!! WE HAVE REPORTED HIM TO FCCC!!! SEEMED OK AT FIRST BUT HIS TRUE CRIMINAL COLOURS ARE SHINING TROUGH!!! DO NOT FALL FOR HIS DECEIVING LIES !!!

Spent 4 weeks with GVI volunteering and it was the best month of my life. The camp was lovely, staff incredibly friendly and passionate, and the work we were doing had clear results (even in the brief period I was there we had record numbers of nests!). We got to witness female sea turtles digging nests and laying eggs and then hatchlings making the precarious journey from underground nest to sea, and to hep this process continue by protecting nests and raising awareness amongst locals and tourists. I loved every day I spent there and wish I'd been able to stay longer. Wonderful work if you love conservation – terrible if you hate sleeping in tents and insects, though!

Volunteering with GVI in Phang Nga was the most rewarding opportunity! I spent two weeks teaching English in a small rural village in southern Thailand. Even in the short time I volunteered, I managed to make long-lasting friends and experience so much more than your average traveller. GVI have an amazing relationship with the community and you can tell the local villagers respect the development and education they offer. Aspects were challenging but this made the project increasingly worthwhile and humbling. The atmosphere on base is so friendly and I would love to volunteer with GVI again in the future!

Overall I had the most amazing cultural experience as part of my GVI volunteer trip to Kampong Cham, Cambodia which can only be achieved through living and working in the country. I felt very supported by GVI and received TEFL training and mentorship for teaching. As a volunteer I was privileged to teach English to monks in a Pagoda and facilitated discussions on women's health with students and staff at a University. Whilst volunteering I valued the mutual respect and benefit from working with such a warm and gentle community. I gained direct experience of GVI following the UN SDGs framework which made volunteering feel really worthwhile. Volunteering was also a great opportunity for travelling and my highlights included trips to local temples, Phnom penh, Angkor wat and Hanchey. Overall, volunteering with GVI in Cambodia has been a personally enriching which is giving my life perspective. I would highly recommend volunteering with GVI to everyone!

Hi, my name is Berni. I鈥檓 from the UK and I have just returned from three months working on the GVI Wildlife project at Jalova, Costa Rica.
Well, where do I begin??? …..so much I want to tell you.
I鈥檝e always had an interest in wildlife but I will confess to being an 鈥榓rmchair鈥?enthusiast. I love watching anything wildlife related on TV, have a love of being outdoors and take an interest in conservation but have never actually done any conservation work before. My work involved helping children and young people with emotional difficulties, so doing wildlife conservation work was very different for me.
Circumstances within my work environment provided me with an opportunity to take some time out…. a gap year. So I decided to stop sitting in the armchair, get out there and do something about my conservation interest. I knew about Costa Rica鈥檚 diverse wildlife and, in terms of places I wanted to visit, it was right up there at the top of my bucket list.
I started to do some research into companies offering ecotourism and was overwhelmed by the choice! I鈥檇 heard that some organisations would quite happily take your money and not give you a genuine, worthwhile experience, and I wanted to make sure I would be working for an organisation which was credible and was making a real difference on environmental issues. So I contacted several organisations and asked lots of questions! And, for me, GVI ticked all the boxes. After a lot of extensive research, I knew I鈥檇 found the organisation I wanted to work with.
The weeks leading up to my trip were busy. Flights; insurance; making sure I had all the right equipment… the list seemed endless, but finally the day arrived when I was ready to go. To say I was nervous was an understatement! But as soon as I was met by Vix, Amber and Ben at San Jose airport, I felt at ease and knew I would be well looked after. Some of the other volunteers and interns were also at the airport, and I met others when we arrived at the hostel in San Jose.
Then the following day, we were all transported to Jalova, which was going to be my home for the next three months. After a good night鈥檚 sleep, I was able to get used to my surroundings and I fell in love with Jalova straight away. Yes, the facilities are basic and not what I was used to at home; electricity is solar powered 鈥?Jalova is in the middle of a rainforest which meant that some days there was no sun – and therefore no power – so charging devices, and even lighting was limited to say the least; there was sufficient water to have a shower each day, but all other water came from the well. Still, base camp has such charm and I saw a multitude of wildlife within a few metres of my dorm. Oh, and did I mention that the beach (and the Caribbean) is only metres from the camp???
Very quickly after arriving at camp, the training began. As a mature traveller, it was several years since I鈥檇 done any studying and I felt as though I was never going to learn the names and characteristics of all the necessary birds, lizards, frogs and mammals. But the staff and other volunteers were so supportive. We would all study together and test each other on our knowledge. It seemed the staff鈥檚 motto of 鈥榳e believe in you鈥?paid off and the studying, along with getting out in the field and seeing some of the species 鈥榠n the flesh鈥?(which I did very soon after arriving at Jalova), helped me to pass the necessary tests.
As I鈥檇 signed up for the Wildlife programme, I became involved in all aspects of the project which was exactly what I wanted. Surveys were varied; – forest surveys, butterfly walks, night walks, nest checks, jag walk, jag cams, frog walks and bird boat. I loved going out on the bird boat 鈥?the canals which surround Jalova are absolutely stunning 鈥?so peaceful and calm, and we saw an abundance of birds and other wildlife (but be prepared to do lots of rowing!). But my favourites have to be nest check and night walk because that was where I had the opportunity to see turtles! For me, seeing these beautiful creatures in the flesh, after years of only seeing them from my armchair on TV, was beyond my wildest dreams! I got the opportunity to 鈥榳ork鈥?some green adult female turtles 鈥?this involved counting the eggs as she was laying them (what an experience!), measuring her, marking the nest and doing a body check. I can鈥檛 begin to describe the feeling I got the first time I did that. And then on nest check I saw baby leatherbacks making their way to the ocean 鈥?so many special memories that I will treasure forever.
Going to Jalova and working with GVI has truly been a life-changing experience for me. Every single person I met was warm, friendly, accepting and kind, and we all shared a passion for helping the beautiful creatures we encountered. The staff could not have done more to make me feel welcome, accepted, and that I was truly making a difference to the work we were doing. Their belief in me has really boosted my confidence. I can鈥檛 thank them enough.
If you are thinking of doing some wildlife conservation and considering going to Jalova, my advice would be 鈥榡ust do it鈥?

During my holidays I chose to go 3 weeks in Thailand including 2 in a "useful" way by being a volunteer for GVI Phang Nga.
As a nature lover, I opted for the Conservation program, this experience allowed me to learn about the various species on which we work: green turtles, birds, butterflies, coral … but also, to make nice meetings with people with different life projects. The members of GVI on site are really passionate, listening, it was a pleasure to be with them and help them in their projects.
I think that beach cleaning has made me even more aware of my environmental impact and the really negative impact of plastic on our Earth.
And I also discovered the UN Sustainable Development Goals shared by GVI, which I did not know and which gives hope for our future.
These 2 weeks were very rich in terms of learning, relational, discovery, today back in France I want to get involved and help GVI to be known and I know that GVI will be again a choice for my next vacation!
Thank you for this amazing experience GVI.

Follow my adventures on IG ; petitbackpack

If you want to go on a few weeks voluntourism then GVI is perfect for you. If, like me, you want an internship in conservation and to kick start your career as the programme is advertised then AVOID GVI at all costs.

The 'volunteering' you do is a joke. You help the owners of the private game reserve manage their property after having paid substantial amounts of money. The property had no electricity and the vehicles and equipment constantly broke. Sure, you'r living in the African bush so expect basic conditions but after 10 weeks of no power, only one vehicle out of three so 'internship drives' are cancelled and a whole host of broken equipment you start to question how much money you parted with to come.

The three month 'internship' at GVI Karongwe is not an internship, instead it is the deluxe voluntourism package. You get two day trips to Kruger, get to put up a camera trap to assist the private game reserve owners with a private project of theirs, and you'r called an Intern. Thats it.

If like myself you also signed up to do a 3 month 'work' placement after being trained by GVI then you are in for 3 months of hell. Myself and three other Interns were made to pay and arrange our own transport half way across the country with one weeks notice. We were told very little and what we were told turned out to be untrue. The people who hosted us were deeply unprofessional, rude, unqualified, uninterested and all round horrible people. I was with a girl who was leered at and flirted at by the boss, before having her phone and passport stolen. This same boss then physically grabbed and intimidated another intern. The 'work' we were given was cleaning out their chickens and mice and feeding their pets everyday, even Sundays. Made to work 6 days a week, 9 hours a day. After two months GVI took us back to Karongwe were we were made to feel unwanted and ungrateful for being taken back. I had my belongings searched without my knowledge by a staff member who became increasingly hostile.

Overall if your actually interested in leaning about conservation or doing volunteering that actually makes a difference then steer clear of GVI.

South Africa was my first ever GVI project, which ended up being the start of a range of GVI adventures! The reason I chose this particular project is because I was desperate to see the big 5 in their natural habitat and Karongwe certainly delivered that!
After landing in Johannesburg, we had a 5 hour drive to base which allowed us to get to know each other and start learning about with whom we would be sharing the coming weeks with. My first game drive was phenomenal with sightings of Elephants, lions, hippos and the rhino! One of the most memorable experiences of my life was being less than 4 metres away from a female cheetah as she was feeding… it was simply breath taking!! Not only the things I saw, but the people I met and friends I made will stay with me forever.
This particular project is very scientific and the research they carry out is very informative. I learnt the basics of telemetry, species identification and tracking of animal footprints. The living conditions are basic, but not in comparison to other projects. You still have hot running showers, variety of food including fruit and veg and comfy beds in a mixed dormitory.
Overall, I would rate this project a 10/10, it is one that cannot be missed nor forgotten!

I volunteered with GVI in Thailand for two weeks on their under 18s program. I had many invaluable and varied experiences during my time in the country. One one of the days, we were given a presentation about marine litter and its importance. Plastics especially are a huge problem in the world. It takes the average water bottle 400 years to fully degrade in the ocean. This is especially poignant in Thailand because they love plastic; plastic water bottles with plastic straws in plastic wrappers with plastic carrier bags are given out everywhere. GVI is helping to try and tackle this cultural issue by raising awareness of the dangers of polluting the ocean with plastic. They have just started up a project in the community whereby everyone buys a reusable water bottle for 200 baht and with it they can fill up for free at water coolers which they will install in local businesses. After the presentation, we all donned gloves and brought big sacks and headed down to the beach nearby to do a clean. We also used an app which allows users to input the rubbish that they find in order to try and tackle pollution. I was absolutely astounded by the sheer volume of trash that had washed up on what at first seemed like a relatively clean beach. We picked up literally hundreds of lighters, shoes, bottles, pieces of discarded fishing gear and other assorted items. The fact that this beach appeared to be one of the cleaner ones in the area really highlighted to me the importance of preventing pollution in the worlds oceans. After about an hour, we all returned back to the resort with a good 8-10 sacks completely full of trash which had washed up on the beach. This experience was very rewarding and taught me a poignant message about marine litter. I would thoroughly recommend travelling with GVI to anyone because of the amazing experiences they provide.

My experience with GVI is all over fantastic. I attended the marine conservation program on the Seychelles. We were diving almost every day in the crystal blue water. When diving there are risks, but diving with the GVI you ALWAYS feel safe. They rather want to cancel a dive than put their volunteers at risk. You aren't allowed to dive with GVI unless you have an insurance. I never felt unsafe with GVI. Apart from wonderful and amazing dives I also received an education about the ocean and an emergency first responder course. The other people attending the program were lovely and kind people. I've had the time of my life withe GVI on the Seychelles. I will always recommend people traveling with GVI.

I went on the Nepal Volunteer and Adventure Experience with GVI in January of this year (2014). On this trip I spent two weeks trekking in the Himalayas to Everest Base camp and one month volunteering with children in Pokhara. One word to describe this trip was phenomenal. I have done a lot of traveling in my lifetime and hands down EBC trek was one of the coolest things I have ever done. I did the trip in winter, so although it was cold it added a whole new level of beauty to the Himalayas. There is nothing like the Himalayas covered in a fresh layer of snow! Before I left for the trek I started to underestimate myself, but that being said I didn't need to worry. The group I was with was very caring and understanding (both the other volunteers and the guides). If you want to do the Everest Base camp trek — don't underestimate yourself like I did, just go! I guarantee you will have the opportunity of a lifetime. Volunteering in Pokhara with children was also an extraordinary experience where I was able to to meet and work with many unforgettable individuals. This is the perfect trip for someone who wants a bit of outdoor adventure while also having the opportunity to give back!