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Visit GVI's website to learn more about their programs abroad

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Overview

Overview

GVI is an award-winning organisation that tackles critical local and global issues by operating education and training programs on sustainable development projects around the world. All our programmes are run in in partnership with acclaimed international partners like Save The Children, WWF, The Red Cross, PADI, Project AWARE, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the National Parks of South Africa, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Mexico and Thailand, among others.

Formed in 1998, we have been operating our award-winning programmes for over two decades and over 25,000 participants have volunteered or interned with us. GVI consists of a vibrant group of friendly staff members who regard each other as family and passionately work together towards making a difference in the world.

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Types
  • Intern Abroad
  • Teach Abroad
Activities
  • Health & Medicine
  • Children & Youth
  • Internship
  • Conservation
  • Teach English
  • Ecotourism
  • Animals
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Intern Abroad
  • Environment
+5 more
Countries
  • Fiji
  • Mexico
  • Laos
  • Oceania
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • India
  • Nepal
  • Thailand
  • Costa Rica
+5 more

Editorial

Sarah
By Sarah Vandenberg

Director of Partnerships

Sarah has worked in the volunteer travel industry since 2004. She supports all of our partners, and shares stories, trends, and advice for travelers who want to volunteer, intern, or teach abroad.

Global Vision International (GVI) is an award-winning organization offering conservation and community development programs. Founded in 1998, GVI places more than 2,500 travelers on volunteer and intern abroad programs each year.

Sustainable and responsible travel

GVI’s high-impact programs last one-week to six months, with short-term trips designed for younger volunteers and high school students. Longer-term programs are perfect for gap year travelers, students pursuing internships, and even professionals embarking on career breaks.

The programs you can choose from with GIV are designed to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which build upon the Millennium Development Goals. These focus on sustainable development in social, environmental, and economic areas within local communities.

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Staying connected to communities and travelers

GVI builds long-term partnerships with the communities that they serve, and the NGOs and entities they support. A few of their partners include Coastal Jaguar Conservation, the WWF, and the South African National Parks. Because each partner organization is different, GVI offers different degrees of support and resources, including fundraising and PR in addition to volunteering opportunities.

And through GVI’s alumni program, participants are encouraged to stay in touch with fellow travelers, connect to new friends, and even receive discounts on new adventures! By staying connected, you may also have the chance to live and work abroad with GVI: 60% of their employees are alumni.

Read on to see what travelers have to say about GVI!

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52 Participant reviews

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Hannah D

18 May 2020

Review star
Review star

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...Read more

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.

Taylor Hall

20 Feb 2020

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Review star

I participated in the construction volunteer program based in Pokhara, Nepal and had an enlightening experience. From the moment that GVI Nepal representatives met us at the airport in Pokhara,...Read more

I participated in the construction volunteer program based in Pokhara, Nepal and had an enlightening experience. From the moment that GVI Nepal representatives met us at the airport in Pokhara, I felt safe. This stood out to me mainly because when first looking for volunteer organizations I read that: "GVI's number one priority is safety". This was reassuring and true throughout my time in Nepal, thousands of miles away from my home. One of my favorite aspects of the program was that it was structured. Each day we had an agenda that the GVI representatives and our team had come up with based on respect for the community and environment we worked in. GVI's influence in the town we visited was not abrasive or controlling, nor was there any savior mentality attached to the work our group was doing. In no way did working for GVI feel like a mission trip, and that's what I valued the most about my experience. I knew that working with GVI was promoting a long term sustainable development project, that relied very heavily on communication and collaboration with the community where projects were centered. Every day was a new adventure. Our project lasted for roughly two weeks renovating a government school. When we first started, the classrooms had old paint jobs, huge spider webs (and kind of enormous spiders!) on the walls, cockroaches on the floors, and most of the benches designed for students to sit on were broken. We painted all the walls of the classrooms, deeply swept and washed all of the walls and floors. Some of the adults in our team worked on fixing the seats. Throughout each day on the project, I became much closer to my team. I formed lifelong friendships and relationships that I value and maintain today. I fell in love with the parts of Nepal that I was exposed to. The rooftop of the hotel we stayed at felt like a second home, the endless fields of glimmering rice paddies along all of the roads, the delicious vegetarian meals, the kind greetings we received everywhere we went, the luminous mountains you could see from anywhere. Participating in this program through GVI allowed me to experience Nepal safely, respectfully and mindfully. After this trip, my view on global travel drastically changed. Our GVI representatives emphasized the importance of respectful visitation and having a constant awareness of your impact with a person, environment, or community as a whole. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to spend time in Nepal and learn about Nepali culture while experiencing some aspects first hand. Going to Nepal and experiencing its intense beauty lit a fire inside of me. Through this volunteer trip with GVI, I learned a lot about my passions and future career ideas. So much so that I registered for another program for a longer duration of time, teaching in Nepal this summer. Overall this was an incredible experience with no bumps or mishaps; My time in Nepal taught me many valuable lessons.

Ryan Kennedy

25 May 2019

Review star
Review star

Hi! I’m Ryan Kennedy, and I spent ten weeks volunteering in GVI Elephant Project in Huay Pakoot, Chiang Mai. I was currently studying at university and off for the summer,...Read more

Hi! I’m Ryan Kennedy, and I spent ten weeks volunteering in GVI Elephant Project in Huay Pakoot, Chiang Mai. I was currently studying at university and off for the summer, so I decided very early on that I wanted to do some volunteering abroad and experience the culture. I was conceivably nervous as it was my first time travelling solo. I went ahead after some research and found GVI when I decided to book.

On arrival, all my nerves were quelled as soon as I met up with staff member Myles and two other volunteers. Immediately I felt welcomed and excited to arrive at the village. On arrival at the village and after getting settled in time passed so quickly and every day was so enjoyable. It was such a pleasant experience ethically seeing the elephants and getting to interact with the volunteers/staff and the local villagers. The village itself was hard to describe. I believe all the volunteers agreed we would miss it dearly. The elephant hikes where the reason I came, and they did not disappoint. I felt I learned so much more with the data collection and local biodiversity hikes.

After many weeks it was nearing my time to return home. After spending so much time there it began to feel like a second home, and I began to get very comfortable there. Had it not been for University starting again I would’ve extended my stay without a doubt. Overall the most fantastic experience I’ve ever had, and I can’t thank GVI enough for the great staff and friends for life that I’ve made.

On returning home, my entire mindset had changed. I am more aware of how I can promote change at a local level and continue work in conservation. I still feel very connected to the village. The whole experience was an absolute blast and I cannot wait to return this June!

Marine Vinais

12 Mar 2019

Review star
Review star

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...Read more

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 : https://www.instagram.com/petitbackpack