Overview
The Great Asian Volunteer Explorer

This 12-week ‘Volunteer Explorer in Asia’ will allow you to experience some of the diverse gems that the majestic continent of Asia has to offer. The best of GVI’s Thailand, India and Nepal projects have been combined to create this unique volunteer program, which focuses on long running educational projects aimed at teaching English to the local communities of these countries. For just over three months you will help a variety of underprivileged communities, whilst becoming part of their traditional society and submerging yourself into the exciting and varied cultures of the East.

This volunteer tour allows you to enjoy a mixture of different projects and countries and offers you the opportunity to explore the region in-between your time on each program. You will arrange the travel/flights from one location to the next, allowing you more flexibility and the option to build these worthwhile programs into your travel itinerary.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, stories from the field, video diaries and more at the programs media centre

I just wanted to send you all a brief email to thank you for all your efforts in making my time in Asia such a wonderful experience.

Ed Bieske, GVI Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

As you explore through Thailand, India and Nepal, you will discover three beautiful countries that are each unique in culture, history and society. Each country, however, shares a common requirement. Despite having gained remarkable progress over recent years, there are still certain regions of these countries that remain in need of access to education. GVI volunteers are assisting with basic literacy and numeracy at under-resourced, under-staffed and over-subscribed schools. By having extra teachers class sizes can be reduced and more time can be spent with individual students.

Highlights

Exploring three culturally diverse and beautiful countries, gaining valuable teaching experience to become a qualified TEFL teacher, enjoying cultural interactions with local communities, helping essential educational programmes, and experiencing some magnificent jewels of the east.

Location

Thailand – The Krabi Province, located on the Andaman Sea, is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, numerous national parks, stunning scenery and a wide range of attractions.

India – Volunteers are based in the state of Kerala, known as 'Gods own Country.' This program takes place around the stunning city Kochi (Cochin), a port town since the early centuries.

Nepal – Volunteers will explore the Kathmandu Valley to see the scattering of temples and the ancient city of Bhaktapur, which is located high up in the majestic Himalayan Mountains of Nepal.

Field Conditions

Thailand – Accommodation will be in dorm room that has bunk beds, a basic kitchen, a communal area and a small library. Cooking and cleaning of the base is shared on a rotational basis by volunteers.

India - The accommodation is in basic but clean apartments, in dormitory style rooms. The accommodation is well located, it has electricity, running water, and flushing toilets.

Nepal – Volunteers will live in homestays with local families to give you a great chance to participate in everyday Nepali life. Sometimes other facilities, such as simple guesthouses or our trekking basecamp, are utilised.

*All have running water, electricity and basic amenities (Nepal has limited hot water and electricity)*