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GVI, a company popular among school leavers and gap year students, offered placements that combined voluntary work with adventure travel—a sector often referred to as “voluntourism.” Many young people paid to take part in these programs, viewing them as opportunities for personal growth and career development. However, the company’s recent collapse has left numerous participants uncertain about refunds and future plans.
Among those affected is Amy Taylor, a 21-year-old student from Manchester studying wildlife conservation and zoo biology. She had signed up for a three-month conservation internship in South Africa scheduled for September 2025. Amy described receiving the cancellation email from GVI earlier this month as “gut-wrenching.” For her, the internship was more than just travel; it was a vital step toward gaining hands-on experience in her dream career. “I was so happy within myself when I got accepted,” she told Newsbeat, recalling her excitement about what the future held. Now, faced with the possibility of losing the £4,000 she paid, her main disappointment lies in missing out on this opportunity rather than the financial loss itself.
Similarly, 23-year-old Linus Rowland-Bell from Liverpool discovered GVI at a university careers fair and planned to take part in an internship in Peru’s Amazon rainforest. Having paid the full £2,258 upfront, motivated by the promise of a discount, he worked hard during his studies to save the money. Linus’s concerns grew after a series of “concerning” emails and delays with his online training, which he found suspect since the software used was familiar and functioning for his university courses. His worries were confirmed when the Peruvian center informed him it could no longer host participants due to unpaid fees from GVI. Following attempts by GVI to reschedule or offer credits, Linus received the liquidation notice. Fortunately, he secured a full refund through his bank, but the ordeal has left him wary of placing trust in travel companies.
Other customers have faced similar disappointments. Amy hopes to recover her payment through her bank since her travel insurance was purchased via GVI, but she expresses mistrust toward other travel providers now, saying, “It didn’t seem like they were struggling — everything looked professional.” Another student, Anna from Cheshire, was due to begin a four-week research fellowship in Cambodia on July 3rd but found out about the closure only at the last minute through a group chat. Having spent over £2,500, she has so far only reclaimed part of her flight costs and awaits further information from liquidators. Anna acknowledges the harsh blow for others booked on much longer programs, highlighting the widespread impact felt by many who had trusted GVI through university recommendations
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