In this fourth installment for Mental Health Awareness Month, four Global Volunteers mental health professionals describe their own experiences working with local people on life-affirming projects in Tanzania. “Global Volunteers had had this incredible idea of helping the children of Ipalama to grow to be healthy mentally and physically and spiritually,” said Volunteer Catherine Mayer. […]
Global Volunteers’ 2023 comprehensive community mental health needs assessment revealed a prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in the villages where volunteers serve. Partnering with Ipalamwa General Clinic (IGC), Kilolo District Council’s Social Welfare Office, local community leaders, the University of Iringa’s psychology department, and collaborating psychiatrist Dr. Petro Lusasi from Ilula Lutheran Hospital, we swiftly […]
Convenient MD volunteers Jo Beltre, Brittany Berg, and Diana McWilliam shared their healthcare expertise in homes, schools, and village meetings, promoting mental wellness in the Ukwega Ward. In this report from the field, they stop to reflect on the community’s uncanny receptivity and the unexpected joys of teaching in rural Africa. The corporate team of […]
Child raising requires strength, resilience, and boundless love from mothers the world over. For mothers living in rural Tanzania, unique challenges make mental wellness not just important, but essential. Read on to learn why Global Volunteers prioritizes mothers’ mental health in our host communities of the Ukwega Ward. In giving birth to and raising society’s […]
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical challenge affecting communities worldwide, with far-reaching consequences on mental health, family dynamics, and child development. In Tanzania where Global Volunteers partners with local governments and community leaders in the Ukwega Ward, we address GBV through comprehensive training programs and targeted interventions. Read on to learn how we collaborate to […]
The Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP) in Tanzania introduced mental wellness as a key component of holistic child and family health in 2018. Working together, Ukwega Ward community leaders, RCP staff and short-term volunteers have built an educational foundation for behavioral and physical wellbeing practices. Two new Global Volunteers projects aim to further address the […]
Some of the world’s most beautiful islands are also the greatest volunteering locations. If you choose service as a way to refocus your mind onto something larger than yourself, you can take a break in one of our partner communities and make a world of difference. Our service programs engage you in genuine development projects […]
Generous volunteering programs can make the difference when a candidate is considering two comparable offers, say hiring agencies. A flexible Volunteer Time Off (VTO) policy is a favorite “perk” attracting Millennials, but mature job-seekers also say corporate community service influences their assessment of a potential employer. While the corporate out-of-pocket costs can be significant, the […]
The faded and peeling murals and empty classrooms at Sagrada Familia bear witness to the punishing lockdown during the pandemic. But the children’s cheery demeanor and spring blooms on trees and stems belie the stress of 19 continuous months of isolation. On the first service program back to the children’s home in Ventanilla, Peru, Global […]
In 2023, Global Volunteers responded to the critical alcohol abuse problem in the Ukwega Ward by introducing the international addiction recovery program Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) through village meetings. AA was selected because its proven “12-Step” program is familiar to a wide range of volunteers, is accepted in Tanzania, and is founded on non-clinical interventions; extending […]