Contribute to important construction projects and explore the best of Asia

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Project Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Join this short term but vital construction project in Laos, and travel to the protected world heritage site of Luang Prabang, a fascinating town packed with culture and surrounded by stunning mountains and waterfalls.

Your project focus is always based on what the need within the community is, so your work could involve building water tanks for rain water storage and filtration systems or sanitation facilities that offer improved hygienic conditions.

Despite being a short term project, your contribution can make a very real difference to the lives of many children and families, as well as the wider community.

Volunteers will have time off at weekends to explore the region and so can take a scenic boat trip up the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves, watch the sunset from atop Mount Phu Si, swim in the Kuang Si Waterfalls, marvel at the many temples, trek, raft or take an elephant tour. This is the perfect way to explore one of the countries in Asia least tarnished by tourism.

Scholarships

We are always looking for enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our team. This project offers qualifying and high-performing volunteers the chance to stay on the project for a longer duration on a GVI Scholarship free of charge and as part of the staff team in the field. If you would like to work towards a field career and make the very most of your time abroad, you might want to work towards a place on a GVI Scholarship. Successful scholars may find themselves offered full time employment with GVI, and many of our current staff have come through this route. Contact us for more information!

Please note, the awarding of scholarships is at the sole discretion of GVI and may be offered immediately after the completion of your program or at a later date.

Life on the Program

The majority of your time you will become fully immersed in the project at hand. With early starts, your days can be long and the weather hot, which you should prepare for. Much of the day will be spent digging, planting, brick laying and other physical activities related to the project.

After a hard days’ work, your evenings are free to relax with and get to know your fellow volunteers. You will also have the opportunity to further explore the region around Luang Prabang on your weekends off to experience more of this amazing country and its culture.

Accommodation can vary depending on the project site. On remote sites you will reside in simple tents or huts within a traditional rural community, but if based in town you will have a private but basic room in a conveniently located guest house.

Project Details

Laos ranks as one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, where its people often live without clean water, sufficient nourishment or basic sanitation facilities, all basic human needs and rights which we can often take for granted.

As such the country relies on external aid and many people and whole communities are denied the assistance they require and deserve.

This program aims to ensure that the communities with which GVI work have access to basic resources aimed to improve their overall health and living standards.

How this project makes a difference:

This project focuses on fulfilling the basic needs for Lao people. With your help and contribution we can successfully look to improve these conditions and the overall lives and health of the people of Luang Prabang and traditional rural communities.