GVI
Why choose GVI?
GVI is an award-winning organisation that tackles critical local and global issues through our travel-based volunteer, internship, fellowship and apprenticeship programs as well as online courses, and virtual programs. At GVI, we believe that long-lasting impact is locally-led, which is why our programs are run in partnership with local organisations like the National Parks of South Africa, Madaga...
GVI is an award-winning organisation that tackles critical local and global issues through our travel-based volunteer, internship, fellowship and apprenticeship programs as well as online courses, and virtual programs. At GVI, we believe that long-lasting impact is locally-led, which is why our programs are run in partnership with local organisations like the National Parks of South Africa, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Mexico and Thailand. We’ve been connecting thousands of change-makers, like you, through an extensive range of nature conservation and social development programs in some of the most vulnerable habitats and communities around the world for over twenty years. Our projects tackle a number of critical global issues from turtle and elephant conservation to citizen scie...
Follow Us
GVI Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Provides lots of great sightings found nowhere else in costa rica
March 31, 2025by: Daniel LakeProgram: Wildlife Expedition in Costa RicaI had a great time at Kekoldi. Its a special place that provides lots of great sightings found nowhere else in Costa Rica The staff are incredibly knowledgable and show constant attention to your wellness and wellbeing. Even a 4 or 6 week stay is plenty as well you'll experience so much in that time.
Great experience thanks to the staff
March 31, 2025by: Maurya VaidyaProgram: Thailand Coastal Conservation ExpeditionThe trip was one that was engaging and helped me gain insights into an ecosystem that I had minimal knowledge about. The staff was extremely welcoming and explained everything with great detail. Moreover, the experiences that I gained are ones that I will cherish forever. Overall, it was a great experience thanks to the staff and the support of GVI.
The most wonderful life affirming month.
March 21, 2025by: Jane BalmbraProgram: Women’s Empowerment Volunteering In CambodiaI've had a fantastic month in Siem Reap with GVI The accomadation/base is fabulous. The GVI staff were great, always around to help, chat and were great fun. There was a great balance of volunteering time with the women and free time. Siem Reap is beautiful and I can't wait to come back. The most wonderful life affirming month.
GVI Programs
Browse programs you might like
In Northern Thailand, support local community members and elephant mahouts to reintegrate these intelligent land animals into expansive forest gr...
Travel to a country known for its equatorial climate and enter a year-round summer in Seychelles. Spend your days diving in the supreme clear wat...
Live on a private reserve in Limpopo, surrounded by wildlife in their natural habitat. Collaborate with GVI staff and other participants to contr...
Volunteers will live and work in a wonderful beach location and travel to indigenous communities to help improve the infrastructure that supports...
Take part in this wildlife conservation expedition and be an active member of GVI's research team in the Costa Rican rainforest. Work on a variet...
Join our international team in the spectacular city of Cape Town and work with children from the local townships while developing teaching experi...
Media Gallery
Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff
Jill Walker
Interviewed in 2014
Jill Walker oversees all of GVI’s projects in Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Australia, and parts of Africa even. She understands the ins and outs of not only...
Jill Walker
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
I had finished college and I was doing side-jobs and things like that. I didn’t really know what I was going to do, and I had a friend that was living in Taiwan teaching who would visit Thailand every year for a Chinese New Year holiday. So she just asked if I wanted to be here for a couple of weeks, so I said sure. I figured, I didn’t have much money, so I was going to save up the money and stay there for a while and just wander around and do some volunteering and see what happens and then I never ended up leaving. I didn’t plan for that!
Dee Drinya Totrakool
Interviewed in 2014
Dee works as GVI’s Thailand Country Director. Prior to joining GVI she worked for other volunteer organizations and has specifically worked in the vol...
Dee Drinya Totrakool
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
Well, it’s a big market. I would say there are so many volunteer orgs in Thailand offering the same programs. From my experience, talking to our volunteers, they are looking for something a bit more, different. They want to travel, they want to get an authentic experience, something a bit beyond any touristic experience. To experience the place, the people and the culture. The fact that GVI operates our own projects makes us stand out among the crowd.
Steve Gwenin
Interviewed in 2014
Steve started with GVI in 2002 as a marine biologist and commercial diver with a history of working around the world with NGOs and commercial companie...
Steve Gwenin
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
Our founder and director, Richard Walton, volunteered internationally when he was 18. He had a great time but felt the experienced was focused upon his personal development as opposed to community development. I think he built a bandstand or some such thing which was pulled down by the community afterwards and used for firewood.
Ready to Learn More?
GVI is an award-winning organisation that tackles critical local and global issues through our travel-based volunteer, internship, fellowship and apprenticeship programs as well as online courses, and virtual programs. At GVI, we believe that long-lasting impact is locally-led, which is why our programs are run in partnership with local organisations like the National Parks of South Africa, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Mexico and Thailand. We’ve been connecting thousands of change-makers, like you, through an extensive range of nature conservation and social development programs in some of the most vulnerable habitats and communities around the world for over twenty years. Our projects tackle a number of critical global issues from turtle and elephant conservation to citizen scie...
GVI
GVI
Ready to Learn More?
GVI is an award-winning organisation that tackles critical local and global issues through our travel-based volunteer, internship, fellowship and apprenticeship programs as well as online courses, and virtual programs. At GVI, we believe that long-lasting impact is locally-led, which is why our programs are run in partnership with local organisations like the National Parks of South Africa, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Mexico and Thailand. We’ve been connecting thousands of change-makers, like you, through an extensive range of nature conservation and social development programs in some of the most vulnerable habitats and communities around the world for over twenty years. Our projects tackle a number of critical global issues from turtle and elephant conservation to citizen scie...
Articles
Awards
Check out awards and recognitions GVI has received
