GVI Seychelles was recently featured in Seychelles NATION for our Coral Reef Conservation project, aiming to raise $5,000. At the time of publication, we’d already achieved $2,286! Our initiative focuses on critical marine conservation efforts, including surveying coral reef ecosystems and promoting environmental education within communities. 

Collaborating closely with local organisations, we’re dedicated to safeguarding Seychelles’ natural resources amidst challenges like climate change and poaching. We’re proud to work alongside the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority and local non-governmental organisations in this important mission.

“We’d been briefed by veterinarian Dr. Shaun Beverly from Limpopo Wildlife Vets that once the dart takes effect, there is a small window of opportunity to get to the animal, get its horn off, and administer the antidote. While the veterinary team worked, the lodge owners, GVI volunteers and reserve staff cooled the rhino with litres of water. ”

GVI’s team in South Africa’s province of Limpopo was mentioned in the February 2020 issue of Mango Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Juice. They were prominently featured in an article entitled “Horns Off Our Rhino”, written by Dianne Tipping-Woods. The article discussed the efforts of local reserve managers to safeguard the endangered rhinoceros population located within their protected natural area.

“GVI runs ‘conservation expeditions’ in the Seychelles that work on projects in national marine parks and other protected areas. The volunteers contribute to biological research and coral reef monitoring in Baie Ternay National Park and Curieuse National Park. Copies of the research data are sent to the Seychelles National Park Authority bi-annually (Spenceley, 2016). Sometimes the mere presence of tourists in a protected area can reduce destructive and illegal activities.” – International Union for Conservation of Nature document on tourism and visitor management in protected areas.

In their own words: how solo travel transformed the mental health of these teenagers

“While some see travel as a means of escape, others see it as a way to heal wounds. Working on projects and meeting people overseas certainly proved to be cathartic for these teenagers.”

“Looking out at the view made me feel like I didn’t have a care in the world.”

Jonathan Berry, 19, from Liverpool, struggled with depression in the aftermath of his parents’ divorce, but working with elephants in Chiang Mai, on a GVI program, helped him feel happier. Read more about Jonathan’s experience in the article below.