5 min read Ghana is West Africa’s golden child, drenched in sunshine and adventure opportunities. If you travel to Ghana as a volunteer with GVI, make sure you tick off the top attractions. There’s a lot to love in Ghana: Brightly coloured fishing boats lined up along beaches, the flavours of fresh mangoes and fried plantains, and the sound of birds calling from rainforest canopies. There’s a lot to learn too: How to navigate the hot and sticky streets of Accra, the sobering history held within the imposing walls of coastal forts, and how to speak a few words of Twi. Get ready for your West Af ..read more

4 min read Whether you’re setting aside time each week to help someone you know, making a donation, or becoming a volunteer, you have the opportunity to make an impact on the world right now.  Set aside an hour a week to help someone Making an impact on the world can sound like an exhausting, full-time activity. But it’s okay to start small! Often, favours that seem mundane can make a huge difference in someone else’s day.   If you set aside an hour a week to help someone in your local community, we guarantee you’ll start to see a difference in yourself and those around you.&nbs ..read more

Summer abroad programs offer a chance to experience life in another country, learn about new cultures, and develop valuable skills and independence. Whether you’re interested in language immersion, cultural exchange or volunteering, there are plenty of programs out there to choose from. When choosing a summer abroad program, it’s important for students to consider their interests and goals. Some programs may focus more on language learning, while others may focus on cultural immersion or volunteering. It’s also important to consider the location and duration of the program, as well as the cost ..read more

7 min read If you’ve decided to take a gap year, congratulations! You’re looking ahead at a time of adventure, learning and personal growth.  Deciding to take a gap year, and deviating from the conventional path of full-time study followed by full-time work, takes courage. Now that the hardest part is behind you, you can think about how to make the most of your gap year.     What should you do in a gap year? Weighing up all the things to do in a gap year can feel daunting – the options are vast. The good news is, there is no right or wrong way to spend your gap year. What y ..read more

Animal conservation internships provide a unique opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing a career in conservation or animal science. These internships offer hands-on experience working with animals, often in their natural habitats, and provide valuable skills and knowledge that can be applied to a variety of careers in the field. What are animal conservation internships? Animal conservation internships are unpaid or paid positions that allow individuals to work with animals and assist in conservation efforts. These internships can take place in a variety of settings, including wildl ..read more

4 min read For travellers, Peru has long been a popular destination to explore. This might be to witness the majestic sight of Machu Picchu or the floating islands that some call home. These are just some examples of the amazing places to see in Peru. This country is brimming with unusual cultural and historical facts for travellers to learn. To feed your imagination and tempt you to travel, we at GVI have listed some of our favourite fun facts about Peru. The Amazon River starts its journey in Peru The Amazon basin is home to one of the most biologically diverse rainforests in the world. And ..read more

6 min read There are plenty of reasons for volunteering abroad, but to make sure your good intentions translate into a meaningful experience, you’ll need to be clear on why making an impact ethically is a top priority.  Ethical volunteering can be examined in two parts: the person volunteering and the organisation offering the volunteer opportunities. The first part is simple. Before you volunteer, make sure you’re wanting to do it for the right reasons – you’re not looking to gain any form of money, social or professional gain, or get pictures of you with wild animals or vulnerable peopl ..read more

As more and more young people look to make a difference in the world through volunteering, many are drawn to the idea of volunteering with animals abroad. After all, what could be more rewarding than spending time with adorable creatures in exotic locations? But there’s a problem with only wanting to experience adorable animals or ‘exotic’ locations. For the most part, it implies that the only reason to volunteer with animals abroad is for personal enjoyment.  In reality, volunteering with animals abroad should be about making a positive impact on the animals and the local community. It’s ..read more

As you explore the crystal clear waters off the coast of Mexico, you may be struck by the vibrant colours of the coral reefs and the abundance of marine life. From playful dolphins to graceful sea turtles, Mexico’s waters are teeming with life. However, these ecosystems are under threat from human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. In this article, we explore why marine conservation is needed in Mexico to protect these valuable ecosystems and the species that call them home. Marine conservation volunteer work in Mexico As one of the world’s most biodiverse countries ..read more

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