Women's Empowerment Project in Laos

My time in Laos with GVI was an unforgettable experience that I will forever cherish. From arriving until the day I departed the base team in Laos were extremely helpful and supported through any problems I had. I felt super nervous in the first week because I had never really been abroad, nor any teaching experience, however after a couple of days it becomes second nature to you with guidance from the base team but also from my fellow volunteers. This experience opened by eyes to the world, working in a developing community and living in a completely different way of life (culturally especially), changes your perspective on so many things when you return home. The children appreciated education and they would even come into the school on their vacations because they are so eager to learn!! I made friends for life in Laos and I am still in contact with today many of the people I met on this program. I recommend this to everyone, especially if you're having a gap year or want to travel in your break whilst participating in a valuable project! I will be graduating this July and plan on travelling the America's where I will be stopping off in Costa Rica for my second GVI experience.

I had a brilliant time in Nepal, and would recommend anyone to go out as well! The programs are tailored to what the community has asked for, and the participants in the women’s empowerment are all enthusiastic, engaged and totally lovely!

A really amazing experience. Staying for 4 weeks, I met so many different characters, all lovely and an absolute pleasure to get to know- staff included. If you are doing women’s empowerment be prepared to be teaching English quite intensively with individual women as well as classes of up to 10. Whilst challenging, the overall experience was definitely one I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.