“As a first year animal science student living in Australia’s countryside, I decided to look into veterinary internships overseas as that is where I would like to end up working. Global nomadic was the most enticing program that popped out, so I enquired and within a few weeks I was planning for the trip to Rarotonga! Not knowing what to expect, I packed my bags and headed for the two leg trip from Sydney via Auckland. I arrived at around 11:30pm and was greeted by the two loveliest vets and I all my nerves went away as I knew I was in safe hands. We arrive at the clinic, and was greeted by loud barks, puppy barks as well as the resident dog Mama, and the resident cat, Orlando, both of whom decided that my room would be the best place to sleep for the next two weeks.
Over the duration of the internship I met some amazing vets and vet nurses from around the world who gladly shared their knowledge of the veterinary profession. The days were busy, but the work was always worth it and every minute in the surgery room or in the clinic room and even feeding and bathing and walking the dogs were worth it. It was easy to see how happy the dogs were being cared for as well as they could be under the circumstances, and it was so nice to be able to help out.
I think my favourite moment on the trip was helping out Mark, a vet from America, do 10 desexing surgeries in a row. The skill, patience, care and determination that he had for that day and the whole time I knew him was something I will always admire and strive towards.
This project has showed me a completely different side of the animal care world and everything I learnt, participated in and observed have been so valuable for me and my future.
I would definitely recommend this project to others, as it is such a rewarding and valuable experience to even be able to travel, let alone doing a wonderful internship in a career you are passionate about.”
Veterinary Internship in the Cook Islands
“As a medical student, I really wanted to go volunteering at a hospital in a developing country. In my search for a proper organization, Global Nomadic stood out. The staff was so helpful. They gave me all the information about the project, helped me with my flight tickets, the vaccinations, brought me into contact with the local staff, informed me about the placement in Arusha, and so on. They made it so easy for me.
I was placed in an apartment in Arusha. Being in contact with the other volunteers at the apartment was for me one of the highlights of my 5 weeks in Tanzania. The apartment was so good: the rooms, the food, the entourage, it was perfect!
The medical project was also really good. Although there were a lot of volunteers when I was there (July), the doctors and nurses made you feel very welcome, asked you questions, let you do some vaccinations, taking blood pressure, assist in some delivery’s and other operations. During my stay at the hospital, I learned a lot of things and practiced my skills. For me, it was an incredible experience.
I would definitely recommend Global Nomadic for everybody who wants to go volunteer in a foreign country. The program and the placement is so well organized, plus they really make you feel at home. Also, the local staff is very helpful in organizing to go on safari, relax at Zanzibar or do the Kilimanjaro trekking”
Medical Internship in Tanzania
“I would like to extend a great deal of gratitude to Global Nomadic for their hand in assimilating me into the Thai culture. Through the paid teaching program, I have been successfully implanted into one of the most amazing school systems I could ever have hoped for. I have set up shop in the southeast of Thailand in the province of Chanthaburi. My apartment lays along the Mae Nam Chanthaburi river, in a valley at the base of a small mountain range and within striking distance of a handful of impressive beaches.
In regards to teaching, I have been brought on as an English and Health teacher for ages 10-12 at a school in the center of town called Anuban Chanthaburi. The school is fully loaded with an arsenal of intelligent staff and top-tier resources. The kids at this school are fantastic. My classes don’t exceed 25 students and despite a few hiccups with some chatty older boys I have been extremely grateful for such a wonderful group.
Having only been in Thailand for one month, my cultural knowledge is flourishing every single day. I am consistently blown away by the ability of the Thai people to completely absolve themselves of stress and worry. The people I’ve meet through this program and through my own adventures have left a lasting impression upon me.Those who choose to take part in this program and assimilate themselves into the Thai culture should find that they will take from it only as much as they are willing to put in. This has been an amazing first month of traveling, teaching, and constant learning and I look forward to shaking a few more hands while I continue my adventure. While I am not an authority on Thailand, I could certainly recommend being a traveling teacher and keeping a detailed catalog of your experience to share for future teachers and adventure-seekers.
Below are some videos that I have compiled from the past few weeks, enjoy.”
Having a Wander: Traveling South to Chao Lao
Weekend Trip to Khao Yai National Forest Preserve
Posted by Evan Jansen – September 2013
TEFL Training and Paid Teaching in Thailand
“Michelle had come to fruit chop to say goodbye to everyone. My hands were covered in dirt and grime from the water hyacinths, but she gave me a hug anyways; I made sure not to get my grubby hands on her nice white shirt. We quickly said goodbye, and she told me, “Have a really good time taking care of the manatees!”
She probably didn’t know this at the time, but that resonated quite strongly in my thoughts for the next few hours and days. I have only been at the project for a little under a month now, but I have already seen the manatees take such large steps towards full recovery and release. Two of the big events were that a manatee named Twiggy was moved from a concrete enclosure to the lagoon enclosure with three other manatees, and Khaleesi has started soft release and has been out in the lagoon three times! In the day-to-day, it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of the larger pictures, but that simple goodbye did a lot to remind me that I get to participate in something that is larger than me, something that is making a difference, and something that is making a valuable contribution to legitimate needs in this area and around the world…..”
“Thanks to the Global Nomadic team, my recent experience volunteering with the Child Welfare Development project in Bali, Indonesia was nothing short of extraordinary. From the minute I arrived I felt welcomed by the organization and completely at home in Indonesia. Bali is rich with culture and offers visitors adventure along with tranquility; you decide which you prefer. The food was easy to adjust to and I came to enjoy eating at local restaurants called Warungs almost nightly. The biggest challenge I faced was not with the language or food, but driving the scooter. The roads can be quite hectic with little traffic lights and even fewer rules however, once you get used to it, you will enjoy travelling around. English is spoken in most places and you can easily get by without speaking Indonesian.
In my past volunteer experiences I always felt that I was on the outside, never really being able to immerse myself in the organization. At the project, it was the complete opposite. The staff sat down with me and asked me what my goals were and what tasks I felt comfortable doing. They then worked with me to create a list of future and ongoing tasks for me to work on daily. This gave me direction and purpose and allowed me to create a timeline to complete everything. A lot of what I was doing was new and challenging but I was supported along the way and had regular meetings to check in on my progress. With some assistance I designed and built a personal Fundraising Kit, Corporate Fundraising Kit, Volunteer Welcome pack and a Press pack. I worked closely with the staff as much of what I was doing required all of our attention. I was also able to interact with the kids at the Street Centre and assist there when needed which provided me with a more hands on experience. As a volunteer, you must be flexible and open to try new things as your role isn’t always defined. However, I think one can use this to their advantage and take the opportunity to challenge yourself and gain some new skills along the journey.
I would not have had this experience had it not been for Global Nomadic and their wonderful team. When I stumbled upon their website, I sent an email to enquire about the internship and was responded to immediately. They offered me continuous support, advice and information while I applied for visas and booked flights. They checked up on me before the project, during and afterwards. I think when volunteering or working abroad, especially alone, the idea can be slightly overwhelming and scary at times. Having the support from the staff at Global Nomadic eased the transition and took some of the weight off my shoulders. I knew that if I had a question or a concern, I always had someone to ask. All in all, I felt that I benefited personally and professionally from the Child Welfare and Anti-Trafficking Internship in Indonesia. The project had such an impact on me that I decided to stay in Indonesia and continue volunteering with them. They are a wonderful organization with amazing people who are truly making a difference in the lives of children. I would absolutely recommend Global Nomadic along with this internship to anyone interested in this type of NGO work and is looking to learn, grow and explore. ”
Posted by Elisha Gauthier – 2013
Child Welfare Development project in Bali
“I really enjoyed my time in Mongolia, I got to do everything: from sleeping in a ger like the old (and still current in some areas) times, to interviewing the President in his modern palace (see the picture attached). I think what really made the program good for me was its lack of overbearing structure. What I asked to do, I could do, because the newspaper is very loose. I chose not to do the international page, like most foreigners do, and made my own contacts and generated my own stories in the city.
That was very passionate work for me, as I felt like I was contributing to the society there in much more relevant and significant ways that I could do back in the States. My coworkers, although not immediately embracive, got to know me well and even hosted me on a country trip they did. I really enjoyed working with them, hearing their perspectives on National issues, and having them as local friends. I feel that I shall be friends with some for life. Plus, the host family was awesome, hospitable, and unbelievably generous. It all combined to make for a meaningful and life-changing experience.”
TV & Print Journalism Internship in Mongolia
“I did the India road trip earlier on this year with a friend, there were 2 other girls who came by themselves and we all got on really well as a group, which was great. The guides are 
brilliant, they totally know what they are doing, which was perfect and at no point did we feel unsafe with them. With the amount of bus rides and travelling around we did, it was good to have someone who could communicate with the locals without having to resort to acting out everything, and who helped us not get to badly ripped off at the markets.
The tour itself was great because it covered so much of India, starting up in Shimla where I got to climb my first ever mountain, then heading down to the chilled out beaches of Goa where the sea is warm and the sun is HOT. From there you could head home or carry on travelling around by yourself, maybe check out what the rest of the south has to offer.
The accommodation was very basic, I mean it wouldn’t pass basic English standards, BUT it’s India and after your first couple of nights you get used to it all, chill out and loose your western fussyness. If you like your creature comforts and fluffy cushions you will find the trip tough.
I was so glad that I brought a backpack and not a suitcase, due to the fact that you are lugging it around with you most of the time, it would have been a nightmare with a suitcase.
Overall this was the perfect tour as it covered so much of India, I felt safe and would totally recommend it to anyone, male or female, but especially females who don’t feel comfortable going on their own. India is such an exciting and different place to visit, I would definitely say go! ”
Volunteer Teaching in India
“I chose Global Nomadic’s NGO Communications Internship in Argentina because I was fresh out of University hoping to broaden my digital publishing and multi-media skills before stepping into the competitive job market. I’d always wanted to work for a non-profit organization, and I had already fallen in love with Buenos Aires when I briefly visited in 2014. The organization offered a Communication program where I could use my editorial skills to help recruit international volunteers for their eight projects, and in turn, make a difference in the lives of many underprivileged Argentinians.
I joined the Communications team during a time of much action: every week we visited around 2-3 projects, where we’d organize an interview with each director of the project, take video footage and photos, and gather information to write articles about the place and its volunteers. Since I spoke Spanish on the team, I went to every project as a source of communication, where I facilitated the interviews and translated the videos to include subtitles.
I saw places that I never would have thought to visit, and talked to inspiring individuals I would have never met otherwise. I loved speaking to passionate community members about their projects that I was promoting and seeing them come to life and continue to prosper with the help of international volunteers and community resources.
I recommend Global Nomadic’s NGO Communications internship opportunity in Buenos Aires for the open-minded travellers interested in community development, and for those who want to use their digital content creation skills to help promote a diverse range of important projects that help low-class neighbourhoods in the city. Thanks to the program, I returned home with a vast portfolio of published work and a meaningful experience that will stay with me forever.
TIP: While you aren’t required to speak Spanish on the Comms team, I highly suggest that you come armed with basic Spanish or take the two-week intense Spanish class offered (if you are a quick learner) to make your time here easier and more rewarding. The people who work in the projects do not speak English and our coordinators prefer to have meetings in Spanish.”
NGO Communications Internship in Argentina
