Outstanding Volunteer Project 2018

Global Vision International

The Global Vision International (GVI) Laos project focuses on sustainable progress in the field of education, and empowerment through local partnerships. All GVI programmes aim to empower the local community to increase their access to employment opportunities, to increase the capacity of educational institutions, and to develop the professional and personal skills of volunteers. There are three projects: teaching English to Buddhist novice monks, teaching English to children and young adults, and women’s empowerment.

GVI has helped approximately 800 students gain access to educational opportunities weekly. Six students from GVI’s novice monk programme are now studying further abroad on scholarships (two in Canada, and one in each in Singapore, China, Vietnam and Thailand). As a result of the vocational English offered at the Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm, two women have improved jobs. Through the menstrual health initiative, GVI provided gender equality workshops for men, as well as the reproductive and menstrual health training needed to enable three men to join the initiative.

GVI’s alumni programme allows volunteers to stay connected with GVI programmes by sharing their experiences with potential future participants. Volunteers can also remain involved in the GVI Laos programme through fundraising for the GVI Trust, a charitable organisation that provides essential funding to initiatives on the ground until they can become self-sustaining.

Learn more about their initiative here.