GVI USA (volunteering abroad)

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that's what it seems like. Then you can change can make status about volunteering with _____ in ________. Only costs you a billion dollars. I think for what it costs to go to Thailand for 10 weeks you could buy a fucking house there, actually probably for half that. A decent house too

It's a business, just like anything else. There are many of these "programs." The idea of volunteering on the African plains (or elsewhere), doing animal counts for theoretical scientific benefit is a romantic notion that appeals to many. "Vacations with a cause" are becoming increasingly popular each year.

When it comes down to it, the average unskilled tourist who wants to do good for the world has no skills, little ability to actually help, and must be fully guided in every activity. Obviously they should be charged for this. Any menial, unskilled labor in 3rd world countries can be done extremely, extremely cheaply by the locals.

I've done one of these programs (not through GVI) and had a great time. However, the "work" I did was certainly not overly beneficial. It was a glorified vacation, and can look good on a resume. When you really look into it, there are few if any actual programs that let you volunteer for free abroad. The volunteer programs that "work" with dolphins, sea turtles, elephants, lions, etc, are usually the most desirably and most expensive. For what one pays to "work" for a month, one could fund a round-the-world trip and stay in fine hotels, frequent fine restaurants, and have an amazing time.

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That would be very shitty. Was hoping that it was to pay for the program. Well off tourists that want a vacation with turtles pay a ton of money and a good amount of that goes into what ever the program is supposed to be about and helping out the local region. IF not that's pretty fucked.

iFlipIt's a business, just like anything else. There are many of these "programs." The idea of volunteering on the African plains (or elsewhere), doing animal counts for theoretical scientific benefit is a romantic notion that appeals to many. "Vacations with a cause" are becoming increasingly popular each year.

When it comes down to it, the average unskilled tourist who wants to do good for the world has no skills, little ability to actually help, and must be fully guided in every activity. Obviously they should be charged for this. Any menial, unskilled labor in 3rd world countries can be done extremely, extremely cheaply by the locals.

I've done one of these programs (not through GVI) and had a great time. However, the "work" I did was certainly not overly beneficial. It was a glorified vacation, and can look good on a resume. When you really look into it, there are few if any actual programs that let you volunteer for free abroad. The volunteer programs that "work" with dolphins, sea turtles, elephants, lions, etc, are usually the most desirably and most expensive. For what one pays to "work" for a month, one could fund a round-the-world trip and stay in fine hotels, frequent fine restaurants, and have an amazing time.

There are actually quite a few legit seeming ones I've found. A bunch in South America. Where you can live in low quality group housing or even live with a family. That seems pretty dope. You're paying a small fee for either rent or in the case of the family, a fee to the company because I guess a lot of the families are too proud and wouldn't ask for money so the company gives it to them for other reasons to help em out. Anyway rent was super super cheap. And the experiences seemed legit. You did need some kind of skills however in the field you wanted to work in though. But def some legit, at least seemingly legit places.

That's cool that you had a good time though. I just don't get why the prices aren't a little bit lower, I can understand what they're doing, but I feel like you shouldn't be able to ball out and party the whole time like a king for half the price of working.

Maybe I just don't get it. That said some of the shit is probably a dope experience if you can afford it.

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Idk, was just curious about it. Popped up on facebook and was like hmm I'm curious I'll bite, then saw the dates and costs and was like wut.


Fucking threads, fucking scams, fucking fuck the fuck out of errrthang bro.

I have a major issue with this sort of company.

As already stated, you're basically paying for them to teach you a skill since you very likely lack the skills needed to actually make a difference.

The major issue that happens the most often is that people will try to build something or have some sort of labor intensive work and then they think the project is complete, but it's done to such a shit degree that it needs to be redone by the local people meaning you just gave them extra work since they need to take down what you did and rebuild.

The best programs are ones where it requires an application and skill. This is why you can't just join the peace corps, it's really fucking hard to get into the peace corps. The type of program that is typically beneficial is one where you act as a teaching aid where kids are learning English. It is such a major deal for kids to be exposed to multiple English speakers. It also allows more individual assistance and the only requirement is that you speak English.

Other non profit volunteer work that I have seen that most people can do is working as an administrative assistant for an office.

The coolest ones that I have seen though are being a volunteer camp instructor. This is a newer thing as it's seen as a luxury. But there are some surf camps popping up in Africa, South America and so forth that work towards giving the kids a hobby. Same with Skate camps like Skateistan.


I love that volunteer tourism is a fad right now, I just hope that it survives long enough for actually helpful programs to be developed and become sustainable.