Students and young people who had paid thousands of pounds to spend their summers and gap years working on conservation projects abroad have been left with nothing after the company entered liquidation.
GVI announced it would be closing on 1 July and removed its website, despite advertising trips in the days leading up to the announcement.
School leavers who had paid to embark on projects in locations such as Peru and Ghana were informed via email that their trips had been cancelled, with many claiming to have lost up to £10,000 as a result.
Taking to social media, several participants have expressed their shock at the announcement, with one person writing: “I do not know what will happen to the funding that has already been paid to the organisation”.
Students said they have received emails stating that no refunds would be offered, while many said they are not protected by credit card refund rules because they had been encouraged to pay by bank transfer.
Meanwhile, overseas conservation and wildlife protection charities have been left without a lifeline, with the Kawsay Biological Station in Peru telling The Guardian it is owed over $56,000 (£42,000) by the company.
GVI had been established by Andrew Valentine and Brett Akker in 1998, but went into voluntary liquidation last September.
A statement on the GVI website said: “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we share today that GVI is closing its doors. The business will now enter a formal liquidation process.
“This is a deeply sad conclusion to a remarkable journey, but we look back with immense pride and gratitude for everything we achieved together.
“While we navigate this final chapter, our priority is ensuring our community and stakeholders have the practical clarity and support needed for the road ahead.
It added that “all current and future programs have been cancelled. GVI staff on the ground are supporting participants as they make plans to depart GVI bases”.
The notice adds that “all impacted participants will receive formal correspondence detailing the liquidation process and instructions on how to lodge a claim”.
