In addition to working with elephants, Emily also conducted biodiversity surveys of plant and animal life, and helped out at the local school and daycare. Her internship allowed her to be truly immersed in the local culture, so much so that at the end of her three-month stay, she found it difficult to leave. Parting with such close friends was hard, but at least she left knowing that her work had made a lasting and sustainable difference. “The internship gave me not only field experience, but also life experience that I will never forget.” When asked why she decided to go with GVI and this particular project, Emily replied “I knew I wanted to combine work experience with travel, and I found that GVI had the most reputable, high-quality opportunities.”
Emily found her experience so convincing that she now represents GVI at uOttawa. She promotes GVI’s international volunteer and internship opportunities, and connects students with programs that might interest them. If the thought of volunteering abroad interests you, and you would like to learn more about Emily’s experience or GVI, you can contact her by email or check out the GVI Canada website.