GVI is compliant with British Standard 8848, a set best practice standard for adventure expedition providers outside the United Kingdom. We require all field staff to complete health and safety training. This includes learning how to conduct in-depth risk audits and on-the-spot risk assessments as well as developing, updating and acting on Emergency Action and Crisis Management Plans. GVI is also a proud member of the Gap Year Association.

All of GVI’s programs on the ground are run by staff recruited, vetted and managed by us. Each has passed a police clearance check and is certified in Emergency First Response. Many are also Emergency First Response instructors. A minimum of one staff member is assigned to a group of six participants although the ratio is often as high as one staff member to three participants.

Many parents of GVI alumni become enthusiastic GVI ambassadors, often joining one of our programs themselves after their child returns home. If you’d like to speak to one of these incredibly inspiring parents and learn more about their experience, let us know and, depending on your location, we can arrange for you to meet up or set up a phone call or online chat.

We’ve set up WhatsApp groups to help staff manage airport arrivals effectively. Once a participant arrives at the airport, a GVI staff member will be there to take them to their accommodation and guardians will receive an email confirming safe arrival.

We are training the next generation of leaders, who need to be prepared to step into the world of tomorrow with confidence and empathy, and with the interpersonal communication and collaboration skills necessary to build a successful future. Our programs are focused on teamwork, togetherness and skill sharing, while encouraging participants to discover and develop their personal leadership and communications styles through practical introspection.

One of our core missions is to build a network of like-minded and passionate people who care about making a meaningful difference. We can do this through connection, openness and mutual respect – and through having fun together. Sharing such a unique and thrilling experience inevitably fosters lifelong friendships among our participants. At GVI, you will find your people.