I was lucky enough to have been born in a country of bounty.  Everything I desire is at my fingertips, available whenever I want it.  I well  understand that I am one of the fortunate ones and that I needed to find a way to give back.  And so, I began to look around for an opportunity to say thank you for all the blessings I have.  The GVI South Africa Orphanage appealed to me immediately.   My two weeks at Ikhaylethemba Village  was an experience I will never forget.  I thought I was going to be teaching English, but I learned much more than I taught.  Yofesa taught me that everyone needs someone who has his back.  Masithembe taught me that silliness is an important part of life.  Aseza showed me that hunger is a failure we all share.  Nombulelo confirmed that a child’s smile is sometimes all we need to get through the day.  These children have become a part of me and I hope they will never forget the English words to “Who Let the Dogs Out”.  Education is the most  incredible opportunity we can give these kids.  Volunteer experiences are an incredible opportunity we can give ourselves.  We all win!

My time in Arequipa teaching was amazing! The kids were beautiful and I really loved coming to understand the work that GVI was doing there, as I didn’t know exactly too much about the projects before arriving. The work GVI are doing in the two schools (as well as in the tanking projects) in Arequipa is fantastic! Feeding the kids, providing for some of their practical needs, supporting their education, providing employment, helping maintain the school etc is wonderful and it’s great to think these kids have an opportunity to improve their futures. The team of volunteers and project coordinators were lovely to work with and I especially loved working one on one with a girl who had learning difficulties. For so long she’s been ignored and left to her own devices with nothing expected of her. Yet she had ability and just needed the correct attention and help for her to realise her potential. It was hard work working with her, but she was such a beautiful person and her smile and the joy she had in her being was a pleasure to encourage and experience. Overall, the work everyone was doing was inspiring and a great thing to be a part of.  It’s great to think of the difference being made in the local community and that there can be a glimmer of hope for these children, struggling in an unfair world devastated by poverty. If only I could’ve stayed longer!

I've recently returned from the Yasawas, in Fiji, where I worked for 4 weeks in the GVI rainwater harvesting system construction project. Collecting fresh water is a priority there and GVI, in partnership with the Yasawa Trust Foundation, is already making a strong impact in people's everyday life. Nevertheless, this project is conceived in a holistic way, reflecting the conviction that development is a complex process and investing in education is always the best asset to preserve all kinds of material achievements. Therefore, I also had the opportunity to work at school and school related activities, as well as on the alternative gardens projects.

This all relates to my previous experience with GVI, in Latin America (Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador and twice in Nicaragua) where I worked for the Phoenix projects teaching at both GVI and state-run schools. Although these are mainly education projects, other activities make up a larger approach to community development , such as food security, intergeneration solidarity or environment sustainability.

All in all, I can say that my resolve to stay with GVI is due to its ability to constitute as a force for change in the world and a means for people to come together and contribute to that very goal.

My volunteer experience with GVI in South Africa was wonderful.  South Africa is the most beautiful place I have ever been to and I was shocked by how nice the accommodations were.  I really enjoyed that fact that GVI set up weekend excursions so that the volunteers could really see South Africa and learn about its rich culture and history.  Standing on top of Table Mountain was truly one of the most breath taking experiences of my life!

As exciting as exploring Cape Town was, the best part of my trip was getting to spend time with the children at both the school and the orphanage.  They were wonderful, smart, funny, playful and really excited to learn.  They made me laugh and also taught me about resilience.  Seeing the bright spirits of children who by most people’s standards don’t have much made me realize that I often take what I have for granted.  I can’t wait to go back!

I have so many amazing memories from the trip - nearly standing on a Fer-de-lance, a Boa Constrictor in the shower block, watching hummingbirds feed in the flowers around base, the gruelling 15-mile Jag walk along the beach, sitting on the beach watching the incredible sunrise and much more.

A particularly interesting memory was when myself and two volunteers found a lost Green Turtle one morning that had somehow gone the wrong way and ended up some distance from the beach. They are big, heavy animals and there was no way the three of us could physically move it. It was still moving and we managed to turn it in the right direction and try and direct it back towards the beach. Unfortunately, we then disturbed a wasp nest and had to retreat back to base.

Later that day one of the afternoon survey teams found what we can only presume was the same turtle, some half a mile or so away, and still some way from the beach. It was now severely exhausted and de-hydrated. Runners came back to base and me and a few others came out to help. We bought a couple of hammocks and using them as makeshift slings managed to actually lift the turtle. It took four of us to do it and it was quite the effort, particularly with me still having a sore head from an earlier wasp sting! Nevertheless, we pushed on and managed to get the turtle down into the surf and the taste and feel of the cool salt water seemed to revive her one last time and she managed to haul herself into the sea and disappeared under the waves. We did tag and measure her whilst we had the opportunity, partly for the biometric information, and partly because there was a chance that we might find her again one night coming ashore to nest again. The more sentimental of the group named her Suerte (Luck in Spanish), but we never saw her again to be able to confirm that she survived her ordeal. Still, there is always the chance that in coming years, a survey team may come across her, coming to nest again. I hope so.