Global Vision International (GVI)
I volunteered to do construction work in Kerala, India during the summer of 2016. It was one of the best experiences of my life, so good that i was only home a month before i had booked another two trips with GVI again! My first week was spent renovating the outside area of a school for children with special needs, an extremely rewarding experience. In the evenings there was always an activity for us today since this was the under 18's group, such as martial arts or indian cooking classes. My second week was spent in the district of wayanad hiking through the mountains getting to see the most beautiful views and camping in the evenings. My time in India certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone but with the fantastic support from the staff and my fellow volunteers whom i am still in contact with, the thought of being so far from home wasn't so bad.
If you're looking for an under 18's trip this is definitely the one i'd go on!
Completing an internship on the Elephant Reintroduction programme is one of my proudest achievements to date. It was a complete honour to have had the chance to experience the real authentic Thai culture, whilst living with my host family and being immersed into the community.
It was always a pleasure to hike and see the elephants every day, and completely mesmerizing to see these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.
There was always plenty of activities to get involved in on a daily basis, and I learnt more than I anticipated. The friends I made from around the world, during my time on project, I shall remember for the rest of my life. The elephants, mahouts (elephant keepers), villagers, staff and volunteers made my experience unforgettable and I am so thankful to have participated in the project.
