Volunteer with Children in South East Asia
Volunteer with Children in South East Asia
Discover three South Asian countries, filled with ancient history, cultures and traditions as you contribute to education and child development initiatives.
Program Code: NPHE0445M
Program Information
Remote-Working Friendly
Reliable WIFI
Part-Time Options
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Overview
Program details, highlights and videos.
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Dates & Prices
Choose your start dates and durations.
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What's It like?
Search for and chat to alumni who've been there and done it.
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Covid-19 Response
Read up on the response measures we have in place to keep you safe.
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Training
All the training you'll complete on this program.
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Arrivals
Information on your airport arrival and pick up.
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Our Ethics
Read about GVI's Ten Ethical Commitments.
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Program Ethics
Our ethical practices and policies.
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Parent Info
Information for parents and guardians.
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Support & Safety
GVI's detailed health, safety and support protocols.
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What's Included?
What's included and excluded on this program.
Overview
Explore Asia to its fullest by traveling to not one, not two but three countries. Experience the exotic cuisine, the rich culture and breath-taking scenic beauty to its fullest while you volunteer with children to help them develop fine motor skills and provide educational support.Contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4, Quality education while spending 2 weeks each in Nepal, India, and Laos. Live and work with GVI staff and other volunteers in all three of these locations where we run long-term sustainable development programs. Weekdays will be spent teaching and volunteering with children at local educational institutions, giving you a chance to fully immerse yourself in the local cultures. On the weekends, you will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding regions, visiting significant cultural sites and experiencing first-hand the unique natural environments.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Contribute to UN SDG, #4, Quality Education.
- In your free time trek up to Everest base camp in Nepal.
- Go on a river cruise down the famously lush Keralan backwaters in India.
- Learn about Theravada Buddhism in Laos.
- Gain an in-depth understanding of several Southeast Asia countries, their landscapes and cultures.
Program Details
Further Program Details
First you will travel to Pokhara, in Nepal, world-renowned as the gateway to Everest. During the week, you will be working at local educational centers throughout the community. After a busy day, spend time relaxing with fellow volunteers at the centrally located homestay accommodation. Here you will have the opportunity to experience homecooked Nepalese meals. On the weekends explore the many markets lining Lake Phewa, visit the small Hindu shrine in the centre of the lake, or undertake a trek to Everest base camp.
INDIA
Then, for your next two weeks travel on to Cochin, the seaside town in the Southern East Indian state of Kerala. Here you will live with other volunteers and GVI staff, and work at local educational institutions in the region teaching English. On the weekends you will have a chance to go on a riverboat cruise through the lush landscape the province of Kerala is known for or relax on Cherai beach. During your time in Cochin, you will have plenty of opportunities to sample South Indian cuisine and learn about the many diverse cultures of India through attending dancing and cooking classes.
LAOS
Finally, travel on to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, and immerse yourself in several cultural traditions, including Theravada Buddhism, while contributing to the education of Buddhist novice monks and other students from the local community. From Monday to Friday you will be supporting English education. The evenings will be yours to relax on base with fellow volunteers. On the weekends visit the many Buddhist temples, go on a Mekong river cruise to the sacred Pak Ou caves, or swim in the crystal clear pools of the Kuang Si falls.
*Please note travel between Nepal, India and Laos is not included, but please speak to your enrolment manager about options.
*The details of project work may vary at any given time. During the school terms, participants may work with novice monks, or other children and young adults in the community. During the summer months, from approximately June to late August participants may also contribute to a range of summer programs for children and young adults. Laos also has many festivals and holidays. During these times the community might not be holding educational classes but participants will have the opportunity to get involved in local celebrations and other cultural activities.
What's It like?
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Covid-19 Response
Health and Hygiene
For over 20 years, GVI has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GVI has created the GVI health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet or exceed international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of GVI’s participants, staff and communities around the world. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.
The work GVI is contributing to across the globe remains important and the following measures allow our participants to continue to join GVI’s programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. The following changes to our existing protocols have been made by the GVI health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities.
Training
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
For All GVI Participants
Orientation: Your Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Learn about COVID-19 pre-departure guidelines, base expectations, personal and area hygiene practices and what we are doing to keep you safe.
Orientation: Travelling Responsibly and Ethically
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Orientation: UN Sustainable Development Goals
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Orientation: Further Opportunities for Impact
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
Arrivals
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
COVID-19 Safety
Please note that the above images were taken pre COVID-19. All airport pick-ups and program operations now run with enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Our Ethics
Below is a list of core ethics and best practices we believe are essential to the operation of high quality, ethical volunteer and sustainable development programs. We believe that all responsible volunteer and sustainable development operations should focus upon these principles. If you are considering volunteering, these are some of the key considerations you should question, to ensure that your time and money contributes towards positive change.
We want to constantly develop our own understanding of ethical best practice. In so doing, we aim to provide an exemplary industry standard for other education institutions, international development organisations, and social enterprises. Our Badge of Ethics stands for the drive to always do good, better. Find out more, click on the Badge below.
Our 10 Ethical Commitments
Locally Driven, Collaborative Projects
We aim to design all our projects in collaboration with local organizations and communities and ensure that they are locally driven.
Clear Objectives & Sustainable Outcomes
We aim to clearly define short-, mid-, and long-term objectives with sustainable outcomes for all our projects.
Impact Reporting
We aim to track, record, and publish the impact of each of our projects.
Working Against Dependency
We aim to build in-country capacity by assisting local organizations in becoming self-sustaining.
Responsible Exit Strategies
For each local organization we work with, we aim to have a plan in place for withdrawing support responsibly.
Clear Roles & Specialized Training
We aim to ensure that ever participant is assigned a clear role and that they are fully trained and supported to carry out their work by specialized staff.
Respect for all
In all our actions we aim to respect the skills and efforts of all and seek to protect the rights, culture and dignity of everyone who engages with GVI.
Local Ownership
We work to ensure that credit for the results of any project, along with any data collected, research conducted, or Intellectual Property developed, remains the property of local organizations.
Transitioning from the Orphanage Model
We do not condone and aim to withdraw support of orphanages and residential care centers.
Child and Vulnerable adult policies
We will live by our Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult policies.
Continual Development
As an organization, GVI is committed to striving toward best practice, and to educating both our potential participants, our partners, and the world at large about them. Both the volunteering and sustainable development sectors are increasingly, and rightly, under scrutiny. Many recent local and global articles highlight poor practices and questionable ethics. GVI is widely recognized for striving to apply global best practice in the volunteering, education and sustainable development sectors throughout our operations by reputable organizations such as ChildSafe.
However, global best practice is always evolving and we dedicate both time and resources to engage with internationally respected experts and learn from the latest research to ensure our programs both fulfil their potential to create maximum positive impact, and minimise their potential to create unintentional negative impact. Along with and as part of the sustainable development and volunteering community, we are constantly learning and applying this learning to practice. We do not always get everything right, but we seek feedback from our community members, partners, participants and our staff, and react accordingly. We know are already doing a great job, and feedback we have received confirms this, but we aim to do even better and are continuously refining our operations to improve upon our already excellent reputation.
Program Ethics
NO ORPHANAGE PROGRAMS
We don’t support or allow participants to work in institutional residential care facilities, also known as orphanages. We partner with ReThink Orphanages and Freedom United.
CHILD AND VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION POLICY
Our Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy requires all our staff and participants to complete a criminal background check and to learn why you shouldn’t reveal a child’s identifying factors in photographs. We support the ChildSafe Movement.
NO MEDICAL VOLUNTEERING
We don’t offer any programs where our participants engage in medical treatment. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country. Our participants only assist with public health programs.
NO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
We don’t offer any programs where our participants work directly with people with disabilities. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country.
Parent Info
‘If only every student could do this. It changes your life in all the right ways,’ says Chris Heritage, parent of Luke Heritage, one of our teen volunteers who has participated on two GVI programs, one in Costa Rica and another in South Africa.
We are a parent-run organisation that is incredibly serious about health and safety, and increasing the impact, as well as the long-term career benefits of our programs. Our programs help young people develop the skills to select a career path that is personally fulfilling, and live a life aligned to the well-being of our planet and the global community.
Ken and Linda Jeffrey, whose son Sam volunteered with GVI in Thailand, talk about how the experience affected Sam. He also went on to volunteer with GVI again in South Africa. ‘I know it sounds like a cliche but in a sense, he did go away as a boy and he came back as a young man. Both of us could recommend GVI without any hesitation to any other parent thinking about exploring an opportunity for their children to explore the world and to see different parts of it.’
Parent Info Pack
Download the Parent Pack and learn more about:
Our staff: All our projects are run by staff, selected, vetted, trained, and managed by our central office.
Health and safety: Our safety practices include a child and vulnerable adult protection policy and high participant ratios.
Staying in touch: See what’s happening on base, by following a hub’s dedicated Facebook page.
Free parent consultations: We would love to talk to you about exciting opportunities available for your child.
Support & Safety
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures are in place throughout each GVI program. Learn more.
Support
Once a participant books, they will be assigned a personal support coordinator who will oversee their pre-departure journey. The support coordinator helps to bridge the gap between program enrolment and arrival at one of our field bases. Your personal support coordinator will ensure that you are provided with all the necessary information required to apply for visas, background checks, and any other documentation.
Safety
Upon arrival at the airport, participants will be greeted by a GVI staff member. All GVI staff are our own and all our programs around the world are run by our staff. All GVI field staff are background checked, Emergency First Response and safety trained. The minimum staff to participant ratio on GVI’s programs is one to six, although on several bases we have a ratio of one to three. When finishing the experience, participants will provide feedback on all aspects of their program.
Health & Safety Case Studies
HOW GVI UPHOLDS HEALTH AND SAFETY
It takes courage to book a GVI program, get on a flight, and head off to somewhere new. Volunteering offers a level of cultural immersion that typical backpacking or holidays just can’t achieve. This is why thousands of people around the world participate in paid GVI programs.
GVI’S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY
As the saying goes: ‘Expect the best, plan for the worst’. Cliched or not, we take it to heart. This tenet is at the core of how GVI operates when it comes to promoting the health and safety of our participants, staff, and local community members at all of our 20+ bases around the world.
HOW GVI REMAINS PREPARED FOR NATURAL DISASTERS
The weather isn’t just a topic for polite small-talk here at GVI. We have emergency action plans in place for all scenarios. So when the weather, or other natural forces, takes a nasty turn, we are prepared to respond to stormy situations.
HOW GVI MANAGES PARTICIPANTS EXPECTATIONS
Once GVI has matched a participant to a program that suits their passions and goals, our team aims to set the right expectations for them. In the event that false expectations around a program are created, the GVI team takes immediate action to ensure that the situation rectified.
What's Included
- 24-hour emergency phone
- 24-hour in-country support
- A two day orientation, including an introduction to the Nepali language and culture
- Access to Alumni Services and Discounts
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- Internal transportation – related to project work
- Location orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships)
- Orientation on teaching methods and techniques
- Project equipment
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- Training
- Travel advice
- Welcome meeting
What's Not Included
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- Flights
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Medical and travel insurance
- Personal items and toiletries
- Police or background check
- Visa costs (where necessary)
Life On Base
Base Tour
Highlights
Your accommodation is a comfortable and friendly three story homestay, which is self-contained. The rooms are all dormitory style with electricity, fans and attached bathrooms. There are two common areas for relaxing, socialising and planning sessions, as well as a rooftop terrace. There is also a separate kitchen for participants to use if they would like, as well as storage and resource rooms and a workspace on the ground floor. Laundry can be hand-washed, or you can make arrangements with the guesthouse down the road who provide a laundry service, or others in the local community. GVI is well established and respected within the community, which helps it to feel like you are visiting a home from home.
Pick-up and transfer are available from the airport. You will be based in Fort Kochi, and experience the surrounding communities. We will arrange all transport to and from your activities, and in your free time, we can help you arrange safe public transport.
You will have regular access to wifi, to stay in touch with friends and family! There are local restaurants or internet cafes available, including one located at the end of our street, which you can use to maintain contact at your own expense. Your home country SIM card may work in India, but we recommend purchasing a local SIM card as it is really simple to do. If you may do this, please bring a simple unlocked phone to use.
Breakfast will usually be prepared at the accommodation and could be a mix of fresh fruit, eggs, bread cereals or dosa. Lunch and dinner will be made by our wonderful local cook in a traditional Keralan style and may include rice, chapatti or appam, a mix of South Indian curries, fresh vegetables and fried snacks, as well as lentils, chickpeas and other pulses. Care is taken to ensure food is not too spicy if requested. Vegetarian or vegan options are always available and usually more common.
Fort Kochi has a year round tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27.3 degrees celsius (81,14 fahrenheit). The weather generally stays clear and sunny from September until June, and temperatures can reach the mid 30s in the months leading up to monsoon season. Monsoon season usually falls between June and September, during which time the climate is more wet and humid. Around the month of July there is usually a slight dip in temperature and frequent tropical storms. The weather then starts getting clearer again in August or September and will stay clear and dry for about eight or nine months.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Live Updates
Meet the team - Senior Field Management
Cheryl Martin
Regional Director for Nepal and India
Another role came up as Program Manager for Pokara, Nepal, which Cheryl took on before finally getting to where she is now.
Cherly has always possessed a love for travel. She has backpacked across Europe, working as a nanny. Her main highlight however has to be Peru. In fact it was her experience here that inspired her to volunteer in the first place.
Jill Walker
Deputy Director of Programs
Now she is based in Chaing Rai, Thailand. Jill's role involves providing support for all of our programs around the world. Working closing with each base, she looks to identify and manage any issues that occur so GVI are able to offer the best programs possible.
Paul Whitehouse
Program Manager
Meet the team - In-Country Staff
Jutten George
Program Coordinator
Meet Jutten. Heis originally from Kerala in India, where he currently works as a Program Coordinator at GVI’s hub there.
Jutten has been with GVI since 2010. He started his career as a translator and a Community Liaison. He really enjoys the work that he is involved in, as it helps him to empower and help the people in his community.
Training
Free time
Joining a program not only allows participants to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer.
Long term field staff are a great source of advice, and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. Many decide to travel before or after their experience (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program. Please note that the below suggestions are not included in the program fee, and are for the individual to organise at their own expense.
Weekend Trips
Kochi City Tour
White Water River Rafting and Kayaking
Waterfalls
Wildlife Parks
Beaches
Luxury Houseboat Tours
Further Travels
Further Travel
Cultural Immersion
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.
Festivals
Unique to Kerala:Thiruvathira: This festival is held either during December or January, depending on the movements of the moon and stars. It celebrates the birth of the god Shiva, in the Hindu tradition. The main customs of the festival are observed by women in the community. It features a specific dance known as thiruvathirakali performed only by women, seen as an embodiment of traditional feminine elegance.
Vishu: This festival is celebrated in April and is seen as New Year celebration in the Hindu tradition. A older family member, typically the mother, create shrines of auspicious items, usually yellow and gold items, to allow them to go into the New Year with good expectations. She lights lambs before the sun rises on the first day of the Hindu New Year and then wakes each family member to ensure that their first sight is one of joy and light.
Onam: This is possibly the most famous Keralan festival which is celebrated during August or September. It is a rice harvesting festival and celebrated with much fanfare including massive parades and boat races. In homes and business, Keralans create flower carpets, large, ornate patterns created using a range of fragrant flowers including marigolds, magnolias, jasmin, and hibiscus.
Other Festivals: Kerala is a multicultural city and the region honours many of the celebrations popular in other locations throughout India. Some of the popular Hindu celebrations include Diwali, Holi, and Navratri. With a high Christian population, Easter and Christmas, are also major festivals. Eid is also popular among the significant islamic population of Kerala. Although there are fewer attendees, significant dates in the Judaic, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh calendars are also honoured in their communities.
Handicrafts
Kathakali Masks and Figurines: Kathakali is a symbol of Kerala and as such many of the souvenirs on offer are representations of this performance style. You can buy colorful masks and little figurines of the dancers in many locations throughout Kerala.Coconut Crafts: The Kerala area is abundant in coconuts. Therefore it is no surprise that many of the local crafts are based on this major resource. You can purchase numerous homeware items that are both functional and beautifully made from coconut wood and fibres.
Pulpaya Grass Mats: Although popular throughout Indian, pulpaya grass mats are particularly popular in Kerala. Making them is an ancient tradition and they are possibly the original yoga mats. Grab one at the local market for your morning yoga practice.
Keralan Saree: The Keralan saree is a symbol of traditional elegance in India. Many of its unique features are lost on those who are not familiar with this style of dress. However, the traditional colours and pattern, of crisp white with a bold gold border, are universally recognisable. While in the province, be sure to try out the Keralan Saree.
Yoga and Meditation
In the West, yoga is most commonly associated with a specific physical exercise of holding certain postures. This is, however, a very particular type of yoga activity known as Hatha yoga, falling within the broader umbrella of yoga as a kind of psychological or spiritual practice. The term ‘yoga’ is interpreted in various ways by ancient texts. In general it is seen as the integration of the human body, mind, and spirit and alignment with divine will using discipline and thereby attaining enlightenment. Hatha yoga is practiced throughout India and there are plenty of ashrams, Hindu monasteries, and formal teaching organisations, throughout Kerala, where international visitors can learn Hatha yoga, as well as more about the overarching yoga philosophy. Meditation practices and areyuda medicine are also often taught at these facilities.Mehndi or ‘Henna Tattoos’
Mehndi, temporary staining of the hands and feet in lace-like patterns, has been popular in South Asia for many centuries. Ancient Vedic texts refer to the use of the leaves of the henna plant and tumeric to create these designs. While it is most commonly applied during weddings, festivals, and other special events, there are many designers available year round to offer this beautifying service to international visitors.Kathakali Dance
Kathakali dance is one of the eight classical Indian dance forms. Its name derives from Sanskrit and can be loosely translated as ‘story art’ or ‘folktale performance’. It’s designation as a dance form is a bit of a misnomer because it includes not only specific choreography, but unique music, costumes, and acting styles. It is therefore rather a performance style akin to classical opera. Kathakali performances tell stories from Hindu epics, through elaborately dressed and painted male actors, dancers, and singers. More modern Kathakali groups have incorporated women into their performances. The specifics of this artform are detailed and complex ranging from the instruments used to the eye movements of the actors. The Kerala Kathakali Centre is located in Kochi and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to visit one or more of the performances.Keralan Cuisine
Keralan dishes are typical of South Indian cuisine, featuring lighter, fresher dishes as well as plenty of coconut and seafood. It is also rumoured that southern cooks are more liberal with their use of chillies. A famous Keralan dish is a Sadya, a kind of mini buffet of about two dozen distinct dishes served, with rice, on a plantain leaf. Due to its Hindu heritage many Keralan dishes are vegetarian, and Sadya is no exception. This is however, only popular during celebrations. Everyday Keralan dishes include, dosas, a kind of light crispy pancake filled with vegetable curry, ethakka appam, fried bananas, and, of course, chai, sweet milky tea flavoured with spices. Some ethno-cultural groups like the Jewish and Syrian Christian community have their own specific cuisine. In your free time, feel free to book one of the many Keralan cuisine cooking classes available in the region.Kochi
This port town has been a centre of global trade for many centuries, known to European explorers since at least the early medieval ages. Its main trade was in spices and the region’s cuisine still reflects this penchant for flavour complexity. Due to it being a merchant hub, the city has known influences from all around the world including China, Middle Eastern territories, Portugal, Holland, and Britain. This has resulted in a very specific ‘kochiite’ culture. Languages and religions common to the city reflect this diversity. The language of Kerala, Malayalam is popularly spoken, but Hindu, a language more common in North central India is also spoken here. Religious traditions include common practices in the South of India such as Hinduism and Jainism, but specific communities also practice Islam, Judaism, Syrian Orthodox Christianity, and Catholicism. Visitors can learn about these historic influences by visiting the old town, but it should also be noted that Kochi is very much a modern Indian city, and is the economic hub of the Keralan province.Kerala
Kerala is one of the Southernmost provinces of Indian, known for its luxury houseboat tours through the region’s lush, tropical backwaters where wildlife like the Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and lion-tailed macaque can be spotted. It’s uniquely delectable cuisine, featuring lots of coconut, which grow abundantly in the region, and seafood, common in a coastal region, is also a major attraction. The region was popularised in the Western mind, by author Arundhati Roy, who grew up here, and set her Booker-Prize -winning novel, The God of Small Things, in Kerala.India
The great diversity of the Indian subcontinent, and a perceived contrast to many Western norms, keeps international visitors coming back for more. India’s unique cultural milieu, featuring over 22 languages, seven major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and distinct cooking traditions, make for a life-changing cultural experience, no matter which location in the region you choose to visit. Tourists also flock to its many breathtaking landscapes, including snow-capped mountain ranges, tropical evergreen forests, mangrove swamps, and grasslands, not only to spot endangered species like the Bengal tiger, the snow leopard, the Indian Rhinoceros, and Asiatic lion, but to experience adrenaline-fueled activities like white water rafting, waterfall rappelling, or paragliding.- Life On Base
- Live Updates
- Meet The Team
- Your Impact
- Publications
- Training
- Free time
- Cultural Immersion
Life On Base
Base Tour
Highlights
Participants live in a guesthouse and typically share a room with one other volunteer. Bathrooms are also shared and feature hot water showers and Western-style toilets.
Participants can easily walk to project from their accommodation.
Wifi is available at the accommodation and at our GVI offices.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at one of two local restaurants on base. Cuisine includes both traditional Laos dishes and Western meals. Eggs, pancakes, toast with butter and jam, and a range of southeast Asian fruits are common for breakfast, and or lunch and dinner, participants can choose from a range of dishes.
Like the many other Southeast Asian destinations surrounding it, Laos has a tropical climate. Temperatures reach their height from March to April at 35 °C or 95 °F on average. The coolest time is during November to February when the temperature can drop to 14 °C or 57 °F. The Laos rainy season starts in May and ends in October. During this time temperatures remain rather warm however, ranging from the high 20s or 30 degrees °C or high 60s to low 90s °F.
Bear in mind that Laos is a rather conservative country. You will need to dress modestly and behave in a way that shows respect to local novice monks and those who have taken their full monastic vows. Upon arrival in the country, GVI staff will teach you about all these practices so as to know how to act in an appropriate manner.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Live Updates
Meet the team - Senior Field Management
Jill Walker
Deputy Director of Programs
Now she is based in Chaing Rai, Thailand. Jill's role involves providing support for all of our programs around the world. Working closing with each base, she looks to identify and manage any issues that occur so GVI are able to offer the best programs possible.
Katherine Ippolito
Program Manager
Meet the team - In-Country Staff
George Williamson
Education Coordinator
Introducing you to George, who is 27 and from England. Geoge first found GVI in 2015, when he volunteered in Laos as part of a career break. After completing his program, he realised this is what he wanted to do with his life and decided to return to Laos as a six month intern. After this he got a job with GVI working with the interns in a village north of Luang Prabang.
Soon after this he earned the position of Field Staff, before being promoted to Education Coordinator, which is his current role. As part of this job he is responsible for: creating curriculums, mentoring, lesson planning and resourcing.
Lyly
Women's Empowerment Coordinator
This is Lyly. She first found GVI after her brothers and sister came to study English with GVI. Now Lyly is proud to say that she is GVI’s first Lao female member of staff!
Valee Xiong
Local Partners Coordinator
Meet Valee. Valee lives in the mountains and was a Novice in a temple for 7 years. He has worked for GVI for 4 years and since introduced some of his siblings to GVI programs. His role includes teaching and translating for classes, and organising locations for meetings.
Your Impact
All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. Then, once on base you’ll learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
Laos, specifically Luang Prabang, is quickly becoming a popular Southeast Asian destination among international visitors. As a result the tourism industry is a growing rapidly which provides many locals with new career opportunities. However, English language skills are an important requirement for accessing these jobs.
Three quarters of the population live in rural areas and economic limitations, limited infrastructure, and deep-rooted cultural values, restrict access to education for many. Boys from rural villages travel to cities such as the capital of Luang Prabang to seek out a good education by joining the temples and becoming novice monks. While women are accepted into the temples they are not able to study there, so women are further restricted from accessing employment opportunities through entrenched gender roles.
Our program in Laos assists the socio-economic development of the country by supporting English language learning at temple schools and other local educational institutions in the city of Luang Prabang. We assist local teachers, novice monks, lay students, including both children and young adults, and run a program that focuses specifically on providing further educational support for young girls and women.
As such, the main UN Sustainable Development Goals of this project include, #4, Quality Education, #5, Gender Equality and #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Our Partners In Kerala
Project Objectives
GVI Luang Prabang Long-term Objectives:
1. To develop relationships with educational institutions, temples, partners and individuals with the aim of increasing their ability to provide educational opportunities (local leadership and capacity building).
2. To improve the quality of education in Laos for students taught by GVI and the local teachers, and in so doing provide educational opportunities, regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity and gender.
3. To improve the health and wellbeing of the Lao community, through health demonstrations and access to a medical support program.
4. To improve employment opportunities and socioeconomic status of community members.
5. To reduce the carbon footprint of the community, by encouraging them to reduce their use of unsustainable electricity, fuel and single-use plastics
6. To improve GVI’s systems of monitoring and evaluating overall progress, through more diverse forms of data collection
Publications
The best decisions in international development and conservation cannot be made without accurate and up-to-date data or informed research. Our many field teams around the world collaborate with local and international partners to analyse data and draw conclusions. In addition, many of our participants have used research they have collected on their various GVI projects to complete their Masters, Doctorate, or postdoctoral studies. We also run a fellowship program which connects postdoctoral researchers at globally-respected universities with our many sustainable development programs around the world to support their research and ensure continuous improvement of our best practices on base.
Annual Report
GVI Laos Luang Prabang Annual Report 2018
2018
Training
For All Participants at Luang Prabang
Cultural Orientation
Laos is a mostly Theravada Buddhist country, and before starting on the project you will learn how to dress and behave in way that is respectful to Buddhist practices. You might also have the opportunity walk around the local area and chant in a local temple.
Lao Language Demonstration and Lesson
Learn some key Laos phrases.
Introduction To TEFL
Learn best practices for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Experience an immersive TEFL-inspired lesson, where no English is spoken throughout the entire class. This gives participants the opportunity to walk a mile in their students’ shoes.
Teaching Training
This includes an introduction to the resource room, writing and grammar training, as well as lesson planning.
Additional Lao Lessons (optional additional training)
Buddhism Culture Talk (optional additional training)
Hmong Culture Talk (optional additional training)
Tsev Neeg Microenterprise Talk (optional additional training)
Free time
Joining a program not only allows participants to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer.
Long term field staff are a great source of advice, and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. Many decide to travel before or after their experience (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program. Please note that the below suggestions are not included in the program fee, and are for the individual to organise at their own expense.
Weekend Trips
Rice farm visit
Learn how rice is made and even participate in the production by visiting one of the many nearby rice farms.
Kayaking
There are plenty of opportunities to kayak down the Mekong or other smaller river.
Mountain Biking
Another way to explore the scenic landscapes of this Southeast Asian gem is on a mountain bike. Rent one in Luang Prabang and choose one of the many trails in the nearby countryside.
Nong Khiaw Hike
Trek up to the top of Nong Khiaw to Phadeng Peak to be rewarded with amazing vistas over the famously spectacular scenery of Laos.
Royal Palace Museum
Visit the sprawling Royal Palace complex to learn more about Laos history or relax in the colonial gardens.
Buddhist Temples
Visit some of the many beautiful Buddhist temples, or Wats, in Luang Prabang. Some of the most popular include Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai.
Pak Ou Caves
Take a Mekong river boat ride the sacred cave site filled with thousands of image of the Buddha.
Kuang Si or Tad Sae Waterfall
The magical cascading turquoise pools of the Kuang Si and Tad Sae falls are not far from Luang Prabang.
Weaving Village
Laos has been known for its silk production, unique dying and weaving patterns since ancient times. Visit the weaving village to learn about how this textile is made the traditional way.
Further Travels
Southeast Asian Mekong River Cruise
Book a luxurious Mekong river cruise from Laos through to nearby Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Vat Phou
Much like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Vat Phou is an ancient Khmer Hindu temple. Learn more about the ancient Khmer empire by exploring the vast complex.
Vang Vieng
Visit the Vang Vieng, a holiday resort town catering to international visitors to Loas. Tube and kayak on the Nam Song river and hike or climb the local hillsides.
Nam Ha Npa
Experience the biodiversity of Laos by visiting Nam Ha Npa. You could spot rare species like the the Asian elephant, tiger, and the clouded leopard.
Cultural Immersion
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.
Festivals
April: Lao New Year is celebrated in mid-April and is a massive festival in which just about every citizen participates. It represents the lunar new year and during this time homes are cleaned and people visit temples to wash the figures of the Buddha.
May: The Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in May with much fanfare.
August, September, October, and November: The Boat Racing Festival starts in August and continues for six weeks until October. This corresponds to when Buddhist monks complete their three month retreat. The retreat ends with Boun Awk Phansa, a festival of lights and water dragon boats.
Spirituality and Religion
Laos has a mostly Theravada Buddhist population, however there is also a significant portion of the population who still practice their traditional animist customs.
Weaving and Pottery
Silk creation is a centuries old craft in Laos, although it has become less popular due to its time-consuming process. You can learn about how this beautiful textile is hand-produced in a nearby village. Ceramics are also an important part of Laos traditional art and culture. You also learn more about this Laos artform by visiting a village near Luang Prabang.
Cooking
Laos cuisine shares many elements with other Southeastern Asian neighbours. Staples include the famous sticky rice and fresh, spicy papaya salad. Its French heritage comes out in the many baguettes still sold by street vendors.
Languages
Other than Laos, there are also opportunities to learn some of the other languages native to the country like Hmong and Khmu.
Luang Prabang
Discover Laos’ ancient capital of Luang Prabang, a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has roots dating back more than 8 millennial but first became an official city under the Khmer monarchy. Later the city became a French colonialist outpost forever impacting the cuisine and architecture. Its many temples feature traditional Laos and French colonial elements combined.
- Life On Base
- Live Updates
- Meet The Team
- Your Impact
- Publications
- Training
- Free time
- Cultural Immersion
Life On Base
Base Tour
Highlights
Our base in Pokhara is a homestay-style accommodation that gives participants the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into Nepali culture. You will be living in the homestay with participants from all over the world, allowing you to learn about their individual cultures as well. Most rooms are shared, with ensuite bathrooms.
Some project work sites are located a short walk from our accommodation. For others, transport is provided.
Most participants use the internet cafes located nearby to keep in touch, as wifi is not available at the homestay.
The host family prepares breakfast and dinner. Evening meals include the traditional Nepali dish of dhal bhat, a lentil curry served with rice. More western dishes such as pasta are also sometimes available. Lunch is a local snack. Most food is vegan or vegetarian due to Nepal’s majority Hindu and Buddhist populations.
Nepal’s autumn season is considered to be the best time to visit the country and is the most popular among international visitors. Autumn runs from September until December and occurs just after the rainy season. During Autumn, the skies are clear but the region’s abundant plant life is lush after the plentiful rainfall occurring from June to September. If you are looking to see the famous rhododendron forests in bloom then Spring, February to April is the best time to visit. Summer in Nepal, from April to June, can be incredibly hot, with temperatures in the high 30s °C or high 90s °F, while the coolest season, winter, occurs between December and February.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Live Updates
Meet the team - Senior Field Management
Cheryl Martin
Regional Director for Nepal and India
Another role came up as Program Manager for Pokara, Nepal, which Cheryl took on before finally getting to where she is now.
Cherly has always possessed a love for travel. She has backpacked across Europe, working as a nanny. Her main highlight however has to be Peru. In fact it was her experience here that inspired her to volunteer in the first place.
Hannah Westcott
Program Manager
This is Hannah, the Program Manager at GVI’s base in Pokhara, Nepal. She has been visiting Nepal for several years now, mostly working in Kathmandu. When she heard about the opportunity with GVI she was very excited, acknowledging that GVI is a purpose-driven organisation, which she respects and values.
Hannah believes that the small things are what have a large impact on communities. The projects she has been working with include teaching, women's empowerment and more. Hannah can observe the positive change the work brings to the communities. On top of this, she also sees the change that the work can have on the volunteers and how it develops them in their journeys.
Jill Walker
Deputy Director of Programs
Now she is based in Chaing Rai, Thailand. Jill's role involves providing support for all of our programs around the world. Working closing with each base, she looks to identify and manage any issues that occur so GVI are able to offer the best programs possible.
Meet the team - In-Country Staff
Rhythm Gautam
Teaching Coordinator
Sita Thapa
Project Coordinator
Meet Sita. Sita is one of the Project Coordinator for the Women's Empowerment project in Pokhara, Nepal.
She has been with GVI for a year now, and it has since become family for her. As part of her role she works with community members and leads volunteers. She finds inspiration working with volunteers and is grateful to do the work she does, empowering women in different ways.
Your Impact
All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. Then, once on base you’ll learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
Early Childhood Development and Education
We support several educational facilities for young students in Nepal. GVI participants contribute by improving the infrastructure of learning environments, developing educational resources, and helping students achieve learning objectives. In addition, GVI staff and participants also sometimes run informal educational workshops with students from the local community. Subjects we support include English language learning, maths, science, and computer skills. With younger students arts and crafts lessons are held to promote fine motor skills development. Sports lessons help promote gross motor skills development, teamwork, and healthy lifestyle.
Preventative Healthcare
GVI participants support health in Nepal by conducting WASH, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, workshops. This includes facilitating practices like hand washing and tooth brushing in the local community.
Women’s Empowerment
Staff and participants contributing to our women’s empowerment program in Nepal participated in a number of educational and professional development workshops. These encompass many subjects but might include lessons on topics like conversational English, mathematics, resume writing, and alternative income generation. In addition we also support women’s health workshops to address issues like prenatal health and human rights presentations to address the prevalence of human trafficking in the region.
All these initiatives offer support to the community and local partners, and to address many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as #4 – Quality Education, #3, Health and Wellbeing, #5 – Gender Equality and #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
Our Partners In Kerala
Project Objectives
Pokhara’s Long-term Objectives:
1. Providing support to students to reach learning goals appropriate to their age, grade level, or individual needs through increasing access to educational resources and their effective use in providing quality learning experiences.
2. Increasing the knowledge and understanding of healthcare in the community with an emphasis on prevention, and developing health-related skills such as Emergency First Aid.
3. Increasing professional and vocational skills held by women in the community, through education and empowerment.
Publications
The best decisions in international development and conservation cannot be made without accurate and up-to-date data or informed research. Our many field teams around the world collaborate with local and international partners to analyse data and draw conclusions. In addition, many of our participants have used research they have collected on their various GVI projects to complete their Masters, Doctorate, or postdoctoral studies. We also run a fellowship program which connects postdoctoral researchers at globally-respected universities with our many sustainable development programs around the world to support their research and ensure continuous improvement of our best practices on base.
Training
For All Participants at Pokhara
Community: Women’s Empowerment
Community: Human Empowerment
Introduction to local Hindu and Buddhist Culture
Anti-human Trafficking Presentation
Nepali Language and Culture Lessons
Free time
Joining a program not only allows participants to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer.
Long term field staff are a great source of advice, and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. Many decide to travel before or after their experience (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program. Please note that the below suggestions are not included in the program fee, and are for the individual to organise at their own expense.
Weekend Trips
National Parks
Mountain Bike
Canyoning
Paragliding and Skydiving
Further Travels
India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan
Kathmandu
Himalayan Treks and Flights
Cultural Immersion
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.
Festivals
February: The Tibetan New Year celebration, Lhosar, is held in February. Buddhist monasteries decorate their temples, known as stupas, and there is music and dancing in Tibetan communities and families exchange gifts.March: The Nepalese version of India’s Holi celebration, the festival of colours, is celebrated in March. In Nepal this festival is known as Fagu Poornima. This is an incredible visual festival during which crowds throw one another with coloured powders.
May: As the birthplace of the Buddha, Buddha’s birthday is a big event in Nepal. This is known as Jayanti day and is celebrated during May.
September to October: Probably the most popular and well-known festival celebrated in Nepal is Dashain. Taking place over the course of 15 days, it honours the main goddess of Hinduism, Shakti, in all her forms. This is a time when families come together and celebrate. Parades and feasts are common throughout the festival. It corresponds to the Navratri festival held throughout India.
October to November: Tihar is another festival held around the end of October or early November each year and corresponds to Diwali, the festival of lights, popular in India. The festivities extend for five days and each day features a unique celebration.
