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 […]
Choosing to volunteer abroad in retirement can be the most fulfilling decision you make! Unencumbered by work schedules, you can respond to needs worldwide, and in the U.S., and be assured that your contributions are appreciated and useful. What’s more, the personal connections you make on a service program with Global Volunteers can be profound […]
Barbara Rich believes in giving back. From the rain forest of Costa Rica and the Atlantic coast of Ghana to the plains of Minnesota and the “hollers” of West Virginia, the Massachusetts retiree credits her Global Volunteers service with keeping her informed and engaged with the world. At age 90, she’s registered to serve migrants […]
Alumni volunteer Ann Sweeney serves with Global Volunteers “to learn about other cultures, build relationships with people, and contribute to others in areas of need.” A 10-time volunteer, starting in 2006, Ann returned from her Puerto Rico Service Program in March 2024 with more unique insights about the value of international travel. “We get to […]
The Reaching Childrens Potential Program (RCP) Mental Wellness Initiative was formally launched in 2021 after three years of investigation and research into the community’s mental health needs and openness to co-creating treatments and interventions with Global Volunteers. The major goal is to optimize mental wellness in the Ukwega Ward by educating leaders and families on […]
When first-time Global Volunteer and Ameriprise Financial Director, Cindy Hanson, prepared for her Cuba Service Program in 2022, she “overlooked” the expectation she’d be teaching basic English skills for part of every day. Once onsite, she learned that sharing conversational skills with eager teens need not be daunting. “Just discuss what you know,” she was […]
The 2024 work plan for the RCP Mental Wellness Initiative in the Ukwega Ward of Tanzania leans heavily on volunteers’ personal and professional experience. Despite cultural, communication and geographical differences between volunteers and local people, we know we all struggle, yearn, worry, dream and cope in reassuringly similar ways. When volunteers candidly share how they […]
High school students from Loyola Blakefield School in Towson, Maryland partnered with Global Volunteers on the Blackfeet Reservation of Montana in 2022 and 2023 to apply their school’s values to people’s real-life needs. Read on to learn how our working relationships with schools create enduring service-learning partnerships. It’s been a long day of service, and […]
Flavian Isembert, Anse la Raye Elementary School Principal and Global Volunteers Community Partner, sat down with our November volunteer team to answer questions about the challenges of leading an under-resourced school, and volunteers’ role in improving students’ literacy. Throughout, he stressed that in the face of inevitable setbacks, the outside assistance of patient and caring […]