Volunteer work abroad since Dream. Discover. Make a Difference. AFRICA ASIA AUSTRALASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA

Transcription

1 Volunteer work abroad since 1997 Dream. Discover. Make a Difference. AFRICA ASIA AUSTRALASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA

2 In 1995, I was living on a remote beach in Malawi running a hostel I had bought from the local chief. At the ripe age of 22 I was the proud owner of a few run down huts on a beach in Africa that you could only get to once a month by boat. Living there, I spent a lot of time in the local village, getting to know people, meeting with community leaders and hearing about the challenges the community faced. Inspired to help them, I began to think about how volunteers could really help address the problems they encountered on a day-to-day basis. We believe that through cultural exchange and education, we can have a happier, more understanding world. I called my old friend Ben who was carrying out marine research in Honduras. During university we had both had amazing experiences volunteering, but felt the experience and the sustainability of the impact could have been greatly improved. Together, we set out to build an organisation that worked hand in hand with local communities to build sustainable environmental and humanitarian volunteer projects. We believed that because of the long-term vision and community involvement in our projects, volunteers would ultimately have a deeper, more responsible and more rewarding personal experience. It is this same commitment to running only long-term projects that demonstrates our passion to help people and improve the communities we work with. Richard Walton, Founder of GVI Share this brochure Outstanding Volunteer Project Award Winner GVI employs a holistic approach to community support and development integrating local youth and international volunteer led programs to promote sustainable village infrastructure, educational enrichment, and environmentally conscious resource use. ~ WYSTC

3 Our Culture At the core of everything we do at GVI, is our unique culture. It s difficult to sum up, but basically, we re passionate. Instead of setting out company principles for our staff to embrace and our projects to live up to, we discovered that what we do, is what it is, because we are who we are. Um, what? The simple fact is that you can t go wrong when you have great people - and we have over 200 great people across the world. Whether in the offices or on the ground, they re passionate about the projects, and about your experience. Most of them started out as volunteers themselves, so they believe in the projects and they re dedicated to ensuring that you have the same amazing experience they did. We do... Work in partnership with local organisations on the ground, providing aid when and where it s needed so you can be sure projects are legitimate Support you every step of the way from pre-departure support to an Alumni Program, your experience is our number one priority Have an impeccable track record over 95% of our volunteers would travel with us again Take health and safety more seriously we run comprehensive risk assessments for every location and are prepared for any eventuality Support local skills development we run National Scholarship Programmes for host nationals with promising futures, but not the means to get there without assistance Care about our planet our impact speaks for itself Keep you in touch our unique GVI Live platform provides real-time updates from the ground, puts you in touch with staff and fellow volunteers before you depart, and allows your friends and family to keep up with you on your trip Work with some of the most respected organisations in the world we re partnered with the South African National Parks Authority and the Jane Goodall Institute amongst others Keep the benefits with our projects and partners - 70% of our funds go directly into our projects and the remaining 30% covers our operations and supports our projects indirectly through the GVI Charitable Trust We don t... Cut corners with our ethics or responsibilities Run static projects they constantly evolve according to the needs on the ground, allowing us to meet the needs of our partners at any given time Sell cheap trips cheap trips undermine your experience, your safety, and the project s impact WHY CHOOSE GVI Abandon you in an unfamiliar place our field staff are always there for you Abandon our projects - we strategically invest in projects which may recruit fewer volunteers to ensure their continuity Run meaningless projects everything our volunteers do matters Limit your stay you can choose to extend your trip at any stage

4 A GVI Guide to where we are in the world! We operate over 120 programs in 13 countries around the GREECE NEPAL Teaching Novice Buddhist Monks! MEXICO COSTA RICA INDIA THAILAND Learning to speak Spanish! SEYCHELLES Protecting turtle hatchlings on their way to the ocean! SOUTH AFRICA Teaching baby elephants to Collaring a Completing my PADI Advanced Open Water Divers!

5 WHAT YOU CAN DO Where will today take you? Expeditions: Do Things Tourists Can t Looking to shake off those city shackles at let loose? Join one of our unrivalled Expeditions. Work with a team of international volunteers on a broad range of critical humanitarian and conservation issues and push your limits with some epic adventuring in between. Volunteer Holidays: Make Your Mark Travel with a purpose, but still enjoy some R and R. Choose from over 150 different volunteer projects, worldwide, on a range of different focuses. With such a flexible and wide selection of programs offered, the hardest part of your trip will be picking one! Internships: Get Out & Get Ahead! Don t let a lack of experience keep you out of that dream career. Forget stuffing envelopes, join one of our amazing Internships! You ll be mentored by a GVI superstaff member, an exclusive chance to gain certified experience from some of the best program operators out there. School Groups & Under 18 Adventures Shape the future. Exposing youth to the transformative power of participating in international volunteering, education and cultural exchange is a critical part of what we do. We make these life-changing experiences available to schools, youth groups and individuals aged between 13 and 18.

6 Wildlife and Terrestrial Conservation WHAT YOU CAN DO Travel with a lighter environmental footprint. Biodiversity is vital to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Our Wildlife and Terrestrial Conservation projects give you the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the preservation of our awesome little planet. Marine Conservation Projects Dive in. Marine ecosystems are vitally important for the overall health of both our marine and terrestrial environments, as well as livelihoods. Our Marine Conservation projects focus on restoring damaged ecosystems and protecting endangered species. Construction Projects Lay foundations for the future. Infrastructure is key to the health and well-being of local communities. Our construction projects focus on addressing basic human needs and providing for those most at risk, each building a sustainable contribution for the communities that we work in. Teaching Projects: So much To Discover Education is our best weapon in the fight against poverty. We give the little ones a safe environment with support, supervision, socialisation and education in a range of subjects. Increasing education standards and teaching life skills empowers communities to make sustainable improvements. Animal Care Projects Volunteer with animals. A misunderstanding of animal species and how to care for them results in many stray and mistreated pets. We work to remedy this by providing care and rehabilitation for various animal species, a super rewarding volunteering experience. Teach English Abroad Share your knowledge. The ability to read and write in English provides access to higher paid jobs and offers communities the chance to build a better future for themselves. English teachers are by far our most commonly requested resource. Healthcare Projects A healthy, happy world. Access to healthcare varies across countries, and is largely influenced by socio-economic conditions. Our Healthcare projects serve many areas of public health interest, such as hygiene, water security, maternal health, and the reduction of child mortality rates. Childcare Brighten the Future. Provide care and skills-development for orphans and at-risk children through education and extra curricular activities like arts, drama and music, combating social pressures and boosting the children s self-confidence. Sports Projects Share your skills. Sport is a viable, valuable tool, when working with children. Our sports volunteering projects help fight depression, improve concentration, teach the fundamentals of teamwork, respect for rules, and boost the confidence of disadvantaged and at risk children.

7 SOME TOP TRIPS Trips from 850! Volunteer with Buddhist Novice Monks in Laos Discover Laos ancient city of Luang Prabang, and teach English to Buddhist novice monks, improving the quality of their education and enabling them to access more opportunities, bringing a higher quality of life for their families. Visit local cultural sights, waterfalls and breath-taking mountains in your spare time. Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand Travel to Thailand s Chiang Mai Province and volunteer with elephants rescued from working in the tourist industry. Assist with the elephants rehabilitation and help mahouts (traditional elephant keepers) and other villagers with establishing alternative livelihoods. Discover the fascinating culture and lush mountain forests in your free time. Marine Conservation Expedition in Mexico Earn your PADI diving certificate when you discover Mexico s Mesoamerican coral reef and its abundant wildlife. As a member of an international team of volunteers in partnership with highly regarded organisations, you can be sure your marine conservation efforts are making a serious and valuable impact.

8 MORE TOP TRIPS Volunteer with Children in Fiji Travel to the exotic islands of Fiji and volunteer to support under-resourced local schools and teachers. Assist with teaching and extra-curricular games and activities, supporting local children s educational and personal development. Enjoy island hopping, hiking, scuba diving, dolphin watching and exploring the local waterfalls and beaches in your free time. Jaguar Conservation in Costa Rica Discover the rainforests of Costa Rica and assist in the protection of the elusive and endangered jaguar. Conduct surveys and set up remote cameras, gathering data for use in a long-term wildlife conservation effort. Develop new skills and an in-depth understanding of the rainforest and its ecosystem on this unique tropical adventure. Island Conservation Expedition to the Seychelles Travel to Curieuse Island and join one of the leading marine and terrestrial data collection organisations in the Seychelles. Take part in critical research within a national park and help support the creation of conservation policies. Live amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world while contributing towards the long-term survival of endangered species.

9 OUR IMPACT Gender Equality Assisted in providing micro-loans for female entrepreneurs Run workshops and education classes for women s groups in Africa, Latin America and Asia Hunger & Poverty Supplied over 1,800,000 meals to school children, improving their health and their ability to learn Initiated 12 sustainable livelihood programs Environmental Sustainability Education Supplied 11,409,110 students hours of primary education Supported 44 reserves and protected areas - 3 million hectares of habitat Over 100,000 trees planted Over people taught in secondary education and beyond The GVI Difference What we do at GVI is pretty amazing, and it makes long term, sustainable contributions towards local and global issues as described by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

10 OUR IMPACT Maternal Health Run workshops for mothers-to-be and women s groups in 5 countries Opened a rural clinic in Kenya and sourced funding for its on-going operation Child Health Provided 14,7102 student hours of child health workshops Built and repaired almost 500,000 cubic meters of rainwater harvesting capacity Empowerment Trained over 600 researchers, professional divers, professional guides, fishermen and tourism related workers Global Partnerships Major Disease Awareness Running health programs in 6 different countries 14 locations providing support for HIV / AIDS Raised almost 1 Million GBP for the projects we support Partnered with some of the most respected global organisations, including the Jane Goodall Institute, Dian Fossey Gorilla Foundation and various national conservation authorities

11 TESTIMONIALS The entire experience was amazingly rewarding. All the students I had the pleasure of interacting with were hardworking, dedicated and so appreciative of the work we were doing. Although I was only on the program for a month and had no previous teaching experience, I felt that I was able to play a real part in improving the life opportunities of the students I worked with. I would encourage anyone wanting to make a positive impact while travelling or wanting to experience a culture beyond the tourist experience to seriously consider a project with GVI. My only regret is that I did not stay longer. ~ Patrick Rose I ve already had two unforgettable volunteering trips with GVI. After my first magical experience, I thought that the second trip couldn t be better, but I was wrong. This journey was even more amazing than the first one. We were 30 volunteers on base (the marine conservation team lived on the same base) and we had an amazing time all together. The staff were also incredible, and I really appreciated that in the staff there was a local Fijian. After all those unforgettable experiences I m already looking to go back somewhere around the world with GVI, because when you start to travel you just can t stop anymore. ~ Camille Viret

12 ABOUT GVI Our award-winning projects receive over participants every year! And we re proud to say that the vast majority of them describe their experience with us as life changing. Our approval rate from over participants since 1997 is over 95%. We re a family-run organisation with an amazing culture and an awesome team of people across the world who are passionate experts in their chosen field and will make your experience a truly unforgettable one (in a good way). To be part of a community working toward a common goal feels very special. The sense of achievement I felt when I completed my training was wonderful and to get out there in the ocean and start doing your own surveys, knowing that you are contributing towards a bigger scientific goal is very fulfilling personally ~ Carl Brown, Seychelles Intern

13 UK: France: US: Hong Kong: Canada: New Zealand: Share this brochure Australia: Ireland: South Africa: International: