GVI: Volunteer in Thailand

My experience with GVI in Phang Nga was incredible. The relationships I built with fellow participants, staff, and members of the local community in such a short space of time was amazing. Being able to fully immerse myself in the local culture, while still helping to deliver an education to children was an experience I will never forget. I’m really looking forward to participating in another GVI programme in a different part of the world as either a volunteer, intern, or staff member. All make possible through the Ambassador programme!

Volunteering for GVI Phang Nga was one of the best experiences of my life. It exceeded all my expectations! I have learnt so much in my time here about fish, coral, turtles, beaches etc. but more importantly I felt supported and looked after all the way. The staff at GVI are so helpful and they really did make me and the other volunteers feel like we were a family. Each day was filled with smiles and laughter, and even only after 2 weeks, I feel as if I have made lifelong friends. I have only been with GVI for 2 weeks, however GVI has definiitely affected the way I see the world around me. In the future I hope to be more diligent in protecting the environment- for example picking up rubbish , and minimising the plastic I use every day. I was always passionate about the environment and the amazing world we live in but GVI has given me new motivation as I have seen the extent of the problem, but I have also witnessed how much progress can be made when we all work together.

I absolutely loved my time in Chiang Mai with GVI. I spent a month volunteering, which involved elephant hikes, base activities, interacting with the local community, learning the local language, mornings at the nursery and so much more. The staff are so incredibly helpful, kind and caring and only care about your health, safety and enjoyment on the programme. I cannot recommend GVI enough and Chiang Mai is the perfect place for anyone looking for adventure, whether it’s solo or group travels. I will definitely be back in the future!

In October, I volunteered for a week with GVI Phang Nga, as part of Go Overseas' On the GO site visits perk for team members!

I spent half the week participating in the conservation project and the rest of the week with the community project, helping with English lessons. The staff on base are so knowledgable and passionate about what they do, and really care about the volunteers and the community.

1 week did not feel long enough for volunteering, so I do recommend staying longer if you can, to help make a more positive impact.

I will always cherish my time in Ban Nam Khem and miss getting Thai iced teas from the shop across from base :)

In September 2022 I volunteered with GVI Chiang Mai for 3 weeks. I got to experience so many incredible things and I made memories that will last a lifetime. Seeing elephants in their natural forest homes was awe inspiring and seeing their relationship with the local village and mahouts was eye opening. I really enjoyed living in a homestay and developing a close bond with my host family, teaching in the nursery became a weekly highlight and seeing Gibbons in the forest was truest special. I fell in love with the village and the project there and can’t wait to return to keep helping the project move forward. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves conservation and community work.

I spent 8 weeks in Thailand at the Phang Nga base doing marine conservation.

The staff are so welcoming and passionate, and i made some amazing friends through living with the other volunteers on base.

Getting to learn about and care for green seat turtles was amazing and definitely the highlight of my time. You can really see the positive impact you are having on their well-being.

I can honestly say you will not regret signing up to a GVI programme, Thailand was my first experience with GVI and i don’t intend for it to be my last!

Went with GVI to Thailand Phang Nga on the community program for 2 months and i absolutely loved it. I’m going again on another program in hopefully a few months. If you’re thinking about, definitely do it -you wouldn’t regret it!

The base is located in such a lovely community and the staff there is honestly amazing. The people i met in the two months i was there was so inspiring from locals to students to other volunteers. I can’t stress enough how this program has inspired me. Go for it, i have nothing bad to say!:)

I travelled to Phang Nga Thailand on the u set 18s course over July/August 2022. To volunteer in the Community and with Turtles and a week of adventure. Every single day was full of new food, places, experiences, we learnt so much and seeing the lifestyles of this country was extremely eye opening. I didn’t full appreciate what we had in the Uk that is just taken for granted. The GVI staff were so friendly, supportive and kind the trip would not have been the same. We explored local communities and visited lots of markets and a Primary school which was incredible. My favourite part was working in the Royal Thai Navy base centre for the conservation of Green Sea Turtles. Been up close to the amazing animals, was so special as they are endangered I felt so lucky. Eve was also so cool to work for, all of us were truly inspired by her and aspire to have the same job as her. During adventure week we explored mangroves, jungles, waterfalls, temples it was non stop! The team spotted many species of wildlife for us to see. Every night we travelled to new accommodation, as my group was quite small we all became close friends pretty quickly and each night we’d be playing card games with our GVI staff ( Jen, Kiz, Gay, George and Kyra) and then sit out on our balcony chatting before bed. Now that I’ve had to come home I miss all my new friends so much! I’d completely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to try something new and make new friends as it was a really great 2 weeks. Travelling alone at 16 was a bit scary at first but I met some other volunteers at Heathrow and the journey was completely fine we were just so excited to land in Thailand and get started. I’d do anything to relive my experience there I loved it so much.