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GVI Volunteer case study

Name: Jen

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Country of Residence: England

Start Date: April 2011

Volunteer Program: EGB066 Marine

Conservation, Pez Maya

Why did you apply to do this programme with GVI?

Ive wanted to scuba dive ever since I snorkelled in the Galapagos a few yearsago and Ive been meaning to visit my Mexican friend Ariadna since we leftschool. Ive been studying and working for a few years and as I start training tobecome a solicitor in September, I wanted to combine the two and make themost of my freedom before the 20 days annual leave and hard graft kick in.

How did you find it?

Harder than I expected living on a self-sustained remote tropicalbase, pushing boats and diving regularly is a bit different to myprevious 9-6 in front of a PC! I couldnt clear water from my scuba maskat first so I thought Id never be able to actually dive properly but myinstructors were hugely patient, helpful and encouraging. Now I donteven have to think about it and it certainly wasnt on my mind when Isaw a turtle swimming at 18 metres on Saturday!

Your reflection on what you got out of it?

As my expedition friend Krissy says Jenni you are strong. I swam and cycled before butafter five weeks of carrying dive tanks, buckets of water for my daily shower and climbingthe Mayan ruins of Coba and Ek Balam at weekends, Im definitely a lot fitter than before.Ive made great friends, acquired a hammock, proved beyond any kind of doubt that I haveno common sense whatsoever and gained some fantastic memories. Oh and I havecontributed to our understanding of the Meso-American barrier reef system too.

What do you hope to do in the future?

Qualify as a solicitor so I can afford to dive more often

About Global Vision International (GVI)

8/6/2019 Diary extract- Jennifer Simpson - April-May 2011

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GVI is an internationally based volunteer abroad organisation which offers

volunteer programs in Africa, South America, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Formed in 1998, GVI provides support and services to international charities,

non-profits and governmental agencies through volunteering opportunities and

direct funding, filling a critical void in the fields of environmental research,

conservation, education and community development. Various types of overseas

volunteer work are offered including volunteer holidays, gap year volunteering,

short term volunteering, long term volunteering, volunteer internships, intern

abroad programs, student volunteer abroad programs and employee

volunteering trips abroad. Available subjects include marine biology,

environmental research, teaching and scuba diving courses in various locations

around the world.

For more information on volunteering abroad, please visit http://www.gviusa.com

or http://www.gvi.co.uk.

http://www.gviusa.com/http://www.gvi.co.uk/http://www.gviusa.com/http://www.gvi.co.uk/