The Global Innovation and Education Fund

Lluvia is from Veracruz, Mexico; she has a degree in Biology from the Autonomous University of Veracruz (UV) and is a PADI qualified Dive Master and EFR provider. Before GVI, Lluvia worked in the north of Mexico with dolphin craneometry, in the south of Mexico with coral growth, and in her home town took part in various environmental education programmes. Lluvia came to GVI Pez Maya as a participant in the National Scholarship Programme in October 2007. After falling in love with the charm of the place and the work GVI does here, she stayed on working with what passionate her most, marine ecosystems.

How did you get selected for the GVI National Scholarship Program?

A friend of mine participated in a GVI programme and she gave the details of where and how to apply. I thought it was a great opportunity as my passion was reef ecosystems.  I emailed GVI with my CV and cover letter. After a selection process that GVI does, where they look for people that would be benefit from this programme, I was chosen to participate. 

Did the National Scholarship Program offer you opportunities for personal and career development? Please explain.

Yes, I did a degree in Biology and had some working experience while I was at University. Doing the scholarship gave me even more experience and allowed me to put in practice all the theory I had learnt at school. Also I acquired new skills on areas that I never thought I would work with.  

What other opportunities or benefits has the National Scholarship Program offered you?

It gave me the opportunity of developing other areas of knowledge, like getting involved with local communities and knowing how to work with them; also to pursue a job within GVI staff.

How have these opportunities shaped your career or improved your future prospects?

After doing the scholarship programme I stayed over as a staff member. That gave me even more knowledge and experience on the field. As well as created new relationship with people alike around the area. My life changed completely, after being an NSP and then staff member I was promoted to base manager.  Sometime after this, my experience on field got me the Country Director position, so now I am in charge of the two expeditions we have in Mexico.