Volunteer Feedback
Your experience volunteering will be enhanced by the people working with you to prepare for your placement. See what past volunteers have said about GVN and its endeavors to make our volunteers' placements the best they can be
"Meeting amazing people who became like family to me, getting to know and love the children I worked with, exploring a beautiful country and culture: all of this is just the beginning of what my experience in Viet Nam was. What GVN does is unbelievable, and I’m very thankful to be able to say I’m a part of it." Mariana Azcarate |
"GVN Vietnam has certainly changed my whole outlook on everything. English teaching worried me, but as they say, if you know how to speak the language, you’re qualified! So here I am with no previous experience, teaching basic English to young children. You can have the opportunity to work with adorable babies as well! They have so much love to give and you can’t help but give it back. In the 2 months volunteering, not one day has gone by where I have regretted my decision to come to Vietnam. The Vietnamese are so friendly and helpful, if you just put the smallest smile on your face, you’ll get a bigger one back.” Shirley Haisty |
"I think GVN does great things, and I'm proud to have been a small part of it. I've gone from someone who's never left the country and never traveled alone, to someone who felt comfortable traveling 7,000 miles to a foreign country by myself." Christopher DiMarco |
"GVN staff were great. All the information before the program was worthwhile and informative. The contact in Costa Rica was excellent; she always rang and popped by to check everything was OK and she was able to arrange, change and adapt with ease." Nicole Johnson |
"I had a wonderful time at San Cristobal. I was so sad to leave. The staff at the station are some of the most helpful and friendly people I've ever met, and I was sad to have to say bye to them. Thank you for providing such opportunities that make the world a smaller place!" Pooja Sawrikar |
"The program information was fantastic! It insured I knew where I was going and what to expect when I arrived. It was very informative covering everything from what to pack to how to get to the program on local transport." |
"I have volunteered twice for GVN and both times I found that GVN did the ground work necessary for me to go into a remote area so I could safely do the work I volunteered for. You go with a feeling of security that you're not out there alone. Yes, physically you may be but GVN is not far away! After I retired, I use to travel as a backpacker for months at-a-time. Since I've found GVN, I now get to travel and experience something better. Thank you for the opportunies you have provided me with. I plan on working as a volunteer as long as life allows me to." Sami Buisson-Daniel |
"I think this is a perfect opportunity to get out and help a group of people who have been through so much, and to live in a very different environment. I have a much greater understanding of disabled persons, and an appreciation of how life lived simply can be just as exciting. Anyone who has spent time with Nicu will know the excitement that comes when he visits the local shop." |
"Volunteering was magical on so many levels. The partner is inspiring, well organised, passionate and a privilege to be aligned with. The opportunities available to impact directly on the lives of those in need are incredibly special, and the rewards are felt by the children, their communities and the volunteers themselves." |
"Great programme. Worked hard and played hard! Volunteering does make a difference- slowly but surely. Volunteering has made a huge impact on my life. I should have done it years ago! Just go for it. You will make great friends, see new places, learn different cultures, have a sense of achievement and make a difference." |
"I was very appreciative with the amount of information provided prior to placement. This was very useful for me and also comforting as it gave me a sense of 'knowing' something about what I was going to." Liane Oldfield |
"The GVN Coordinator was great- I asked her a thousand questions and she always replied promptly and politely!" Jennifer Duncombe |
"I had the most unbelievable experience. It was hard work but hugely rewarding and after 6 weeks I didn't want it to end. I met so many great people and learnt so much about the environment. By the end it felt like my home; an experience I will never forget and recommend to everyone." Catriona Moss |
"I can't begin to explain what a tremendous experience it was. I would definitely use GVN again. I did a lot of research before I chose the program and GVN seemed to be the best fit. I always felt like the personnel were being straightforward and honest with me." Gaelyn Georgia |
"My stay in a rural Maasai village working as a nurse in their clinic was a once of a lifetime experience. I saw the overall needs of a population while at the same time experiencing the tremendous sense of community so lacking in my country. As one of the oldest volunteers, I challenge anyone of my age to also share their life experiences in whatever field such as I did. You will be a better person for it and if I can do it so can you!" Kathy Schaefer |
"Teaching in Ghana was such a worthwhile experience, not only for me but for the kids I taught as well. The impact you make on the school is something that benefits the children massively, allowing them to experience fun and a different method of teaching. Volunteering is a great way to see the world, whilst benefiting others." |
"All information was relevant and any questions I had were answered quickly and accurately." Melany Rhodes |
"My experience was absolutely spectacular. The owner of the reserve and his wife are simply good people and made me experience something I will take with me the rest of my life." Ben Li |
"The site of my placement (La Esperanza) is a wonderful town with incredibly friendly people. Respect their culture and you will be in for the best experience of your life." Adeel Haque |
"Any questions that I had prior to the program were promptly answered with a 'no problems at all attitude' meaning the whole process was stress free." Carrie Hesketh |
"GVN staff are extremely efficient and I'm so happy I volunteered with them!" Charlotte Evans |
"I would definitely say I made a difference, but not just for the people in Kibera and Kenya but in my own life. Volunteering has allowed me to come back home with a different perspective not just in the way I live but how I interact with others. I recommend volunteering as it allows people the true experience of those we are trying to help going beyond what you see on television or in magazines." Brian Chan |
"Going to Kenya with GVN was the most rewarding experience of my life so far. GVN works with a great organization in Nairobi (VICDA) who were very supportive and offered up a great safari at a discounted price. But the best part of my travels was not watching lions mate 10 feet away, but the children. They are beautiful gems, both inside and out. Their smiles and laughs can light up any room and leave a stamp on your heart that will never go away. I thank GVN for making it possible for me to go in such a safe and inexpensive manner. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but next time with my whole family." Chas Young |
