45 hrs of fieldwork per week
1:6 staff to participant ratio
Includes GVI Experiences
On this research fellowship you’ll live and work on the island of Nosy Be in Madagascar. Advance your career skills under the mentorship of expert supervisors and learn how to conduct research that contributes to educational initiatives. Working in collaboration with local partner organisations, the data you collect can be used for your individual research project or for GVI’s ongoing research.
On this teaching research fellowship in Madagascar, you’ll work in collaboration with GVI’s partner schools and members of the local community. You’ll learn how to carry out practical research and gather data that can be used for your dissertation or for ongoing educational research projects. Specific topics on this fellowship include teaching English as a foreign language, education and gaining insights into teaching methodologies. Focusing on one of these topics for your research project is an opportunity to develop career-boosting skills like data research and presentation, leadership, cross-cultural communication and project management. Working alongside and learning from industry experts, typical activities on this fellowship include delivering workshops, teaching English to members of the community and learning how to use qualitative data collection methods.
Boost your CV even further by completing three online courses that are included in your research fellowship: Leading Teams for Impact, Careers in Sustainable Development and Community Development.
Our community hub in Madagascar is situated on the island of Nosy Be. Located next to Lokobe National Park, our base is built from sustainably-sourced local materials and is partially solar powered. We are located 10 minutes away from town by tuk-tuk, and a stone’s throw from the beach.
Participants on this program will contribute to UN SDG 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality and Goal 10: Reduced Inequality.
This internship is specifically useful for someone who has or is actively studying the below subject areas at school, university or college, or has an interest in these subject areas.
Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Our base is located on Nosy Be island – also known as the “Perfumed Island” because of its ylang-ylang plantations, which give off a beautiful floral scent during their flowering season. This island is also renowned for its extinct volcanoes, ancient rainforests and an abundance of rare and incredible species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as the Nosy Be panther chameleon, the Hawks’ sportive lemur and the Madagascan fish eagle. Nosy Be means “big island” in the local Malagasy language, and is located off the northwestern coast of Madagascar.
On our community development programs, you’ll have the opportunity to work on projects with a focus on teaching English or gender equality.
On our teaching programs you’ll assist with teaching the English language – supporting the younger students with the language, as well as assisting with their grasp of environmental education. That will take place in the mornings. In the afternoons, you will be doing the same for adults. English is a vital skill for people to learn as it’s highly sought after in the local job market and tourism industry.
When you join a gender equality program, you’ll help tackle gender disparities. On Nosy Be island, women and girls have created a network centred on mutual support, confidence and skill growth. This initiative covers areas like career advancement, conservation awareness and gender equality. Your role involves collaborating, leading workshops, and assisting with community empowerment initiatives.
If you choose to complete a wildlife conservation program in Nosy Be your work will include trekking through the Lokobe National Park, (a “strict reserve”), looking for signs of critically endangered lemurs and the great variety of bird, reptile, amphibian and butterfly species that call this rainforest habitat home. Forest surveys are conducted in the morning or at night. With spectacular sunsets and sunrises over the Indian Ocean, there are bound to be many priceless photo opportunities during the course of your program.
We want you to make the most of the chance to live in – and contribute towards – the most diverse and unique wildernesses and communities on earth. Introducing GVI Experiences – immersive adventure, cultural and wellness activities exclusive to GVI that have been specially designed in collaboration with our local partners to support and stimulate sustainable economic development.
Enhance your impact. Expand your adventure. Explore your world.
By joining a GVI program, you not only have the opportunity to work in collaboration with local communities, you also get the chance to explore the surrounding area or venture further to see what else the region has to offer on weekends.
Our field staff are a great source of advice on local travel options. Many participants choose to travel before or after their experience, solidifying friendships made on the program.
Engaging with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in today’s world. Cultural immersion is encouraged, and there are many activities to enjoy during your free time or before and after your program. Please note, these suggestions aren’t included in the program fee and are at your own expense.
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Program Manager
Meet Padraig, also known as Pod, our Program Manager in Nosy Be, Madagascar. Pod is a passionate wildlife photographer and used to work professionally in the film and TV industr ...
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals.
We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile.
This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
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All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
With an abundance of diverse natural landscapes, a variety of unique, endemic species and a diversity of distinct cultures, there are many opportunities for expanding ethical and responsible ecotourism and cultural tourism throughout Madagascar, including on the Nosy Be island where we are based. The country’s truly special biodiversity makes it a precious conservation area. Our work on Nosy Be includes assisting local organisations and community members with gender equality initiatives and increasing their English language literacy so that they can better achieve education, economic development and conservation goals.
Conversational workshops with park rangers and other adults
We’re based at the edge of Lokobe National Park and work with the local community to improve their English language literacy through conversational English workshops. This skill assists them with achieving their conservation and professional development goals.
Primary school educator and student support
We work with several primary schooling educators in communities surrounding Lokobe National Park. We support them in improving their English language literary resources for learners between six and eleven years of age. In addition to creating resources for English language literacy, we also assist local educators with improving their resources on a range of other subjects and topics related to their goals for their students.
Community-led gender equality initiatives
Gender disparities exist in Madagascar, limiting opportunities for women and girls, especially in education and jobs. On Nosy Be, a women’s network promotes support, confidence and training, addressing key health and equality issues. We collaborate by expanding skill access, enhancing economic empowerment, and providing guidance for growth. This includes workshops, resource development, and capacity building within the network. Together, we work towards driving positive change.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals the GVI Nosy Be community hub contributes towards are Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 13: Climate Action and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
GVI Nosy Be long-term objectives:
1. Improve English language literacy resources for adults in the communities surrounding Lokobe National Park.
2. Improve English language literacy for Lokobe National Park park rangers.
3. Improve resources for primary school educators and their students in communities surrounding Lokobe National Park.
4. Support teacher training through workshops in educational approaches, skills and techniques.
5. Improve the opportunities and autonomy of local women and girls and raise awareness about the importance of women’s empowerment.
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
Learn about gender equality, skills development and examples of income-generating activities.
Learn about our empowerment principles.
In this course, you’ll explore the most common pitfalls of community development initiatives so that you can avoid them. You’ll also learn how to carry out community development work effectively and ethically and how local context impacts program development. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
Career paths in social and environmental impact are not as well-established as in other fields. That’s why we’ll provide our interns who have successfully completed their program with our Careers in Sustainable Development course. In this course, you’ll learn about current and emerging opportunities in a range of sectors, allowing you to make the best decision about your future.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all internships. Full course details can be found here.
Leadership is a critical skill set for anyone looking to make an impact or drive sustainable development. Develop your own leadership style and learn how to set achievable objectives, give effective feedback and manage conflict successfully. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.
