I was at Quepos in August 2012 for two weeks, and honestly that was far too short for such an amazing place and project! Between the spanish classes with amazing and fun instructors, to working with the children in Quepos and Boca Vieja who were really amazing to work with, and the rich biodiversity of the place I fell in love with this little town. The children were so full of energy that it challenged me to find innovative ways to get their attention, and the times I did, I got a roaring response! The only possible downside was not being placed with a family to get a better grip of the challenges they face, but obviously this may be tricky, due to volunteers personal levels of comfort. Nonetheless I would definitely recommend this project; and I would definitely try to go back once I've saved up enough to go!
Global Vision International (GVI)
The most amazing 10 months of my life. The greatest way I could've spent my gap year. I met inspirational people who I'll never forget, earned qualifications that will help me towards my future and just had a freekin awesome time.
Whilst on the expedition i constantly felt that I was contributing to something bigger (sorry to sound so cheesy, queso en espanol ;) see i even learnt some spanish!)
The diving was great! Turtles, Eagle rays, Eels, Barracuda. Learning the target species gave you a greater appreciation of the diversity of the reef.And then further study into the target species showed the threats, and gave purpose to contribution of me being there.
The living was basic, but it was worth it just to live on a beach for 6 months. Thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed myself there.
I spent March, April and May of 2013 volunteering on GVI's Marine Conservation Expedition in Mexico. Without sounding cliche, it was without a doubt the best thing I have ever done. Not only did I get to experience living on a Caribbean beach and diving every day for three months but I also got to come home with the sense of satisfaction and achievement knowing I had really helped to make a difference. Although condition were fairly basic such as bucket flush toilets, a fairly repetitive diet and little to no privacy, I really felt it was all part of the experience and wouldn't of had it any other way. Living among such inspiring people, namely the staff, who genuinely cared about conserving the beautiful ecosystems within our oceans was truly eye opening. During the three months I got around 60 dives under my belt which wasn't bad considering the weather dependant dive conditions. I would definitely recommend this programme to anybody who is willing to pitch into a community, work hard and in return be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime!
I spent 3 months in the Costa Rican jungle, living in a cosy timber hut by the sea :-) Sounds nice? No - it was AMAZING. Every day I spent on the Costa Rican Wildlife Conservation program was a dream come true. The staff are super helpful and I met and made so many new friends.
What I loved most was the real HANDS ON approach of the program. We were able to really get involved in the research, which included moonlit beach walks looking for nesting Green sea turtles, and lying under the stars counting turtle eggs while the mother turtle busily dug her nest and laid her precious eggs into the Carribean sand.
I also loved the forest surveys - trekking thought the jungle rain hail or shine in search of new critters to document. I saw so many incredible unique creatures I simply couldn't list them all! Monkeys, Tamandua, Sloths, Toucans, Birds, Iguanas, Crocodiles, Armidillos, some even saw the rare JAGUAR! Speaking of jaguars, they are a reguler around base camp - we know they are because they are caught on video in our camera traps, and the beach is often covered in tracks!
The food is great, the company fabulous and the experience unforgettable.
Definately a two thumbs up!
In February 2012 I volunteered with GVI at an orphanage near Cape Town. From start to finish the experience was unforgettable. On arrival you were instantly made to feel at home. The staff and other volunteers were happy to help you with any questions you had, and within hours I felt comfortable in my surroundings. Before starting work at the orphanage we were given a quick briefing which made me feel confident about the work we were undertaking. Within minutes of arriving at the orphanage I had fallen in love with the kind-hearted yet cheeky children there. Their enthusiasm to learn was inspiring and their English vocabulary was vast, filling me with confidence that the GVI team was doing a great job. It was amazing to watch their eyes light up when it was time for their music lesson and I enjoyed teaching them basic fine motor skills and maths.
Not only does GVI offer some great volunteering experiences, but it also gives you the option to explore some amazing countries. Whilst there I watched the sun set from Table Mountain, visited Robben Island and saw the seals at Seal Island. I honestly cannot wait for my next adventure with GVI!
