Septuagenarian Maggie Caison is a retired middle school teacher who, since retiring, finds herself busier than ever. Apart from volunteering internationally with Global Volunteers, she also volunteers with several organizations in her home town of Lenexa, Kansas. “I feel it’s an honor to give a little of what I can. I love teaching and volunteering […]
Your Guide to Volunteer Travel in Nepal, Stephen Raja Chinnappan. Stephen Raja Chinnappan was born and raised in Bangalore, India. He joined Global Volunteers in 2001 after serving as a free-time tour guide for volunteers in Chennai. After being promoted to Country Manager, Stephen led volunteer teams until the India program was suspended in 2018 […]
Global Volunteers professes that every volunteer helps wage peace and promote justice in partner communities worldwide But, you might wonder: “Can I really make a difference in my two weeks of service? Can I truly impact at least one person’s life?” If you have doubts, this story may just convince you how important you can […]
Cassidy Matz, an early childhood education student, learned that expanding her comfort zone on a service program in Greece was the impetus she needed for a new lifeview on genuine service. This reflection is excerpted from her team journal. By Cassidy Matz, 2019 Greece volunteerBefore embarking on my service experience with Global Volunteers, volunteering to […]
A dedicated and experienced team leader is an essential component for the success of the Global Volunteers service programs worldwide. Global Volunteers Team Leaders arrive in-country a few days before the teams’ arrival in order to meet with our community partners, coordinate logistics, and prepare work projects. All Team Leaders are Global Volunteers alumni or […]
Blind-Link began in May 2013 as a dream-come-true for its co-founder and manager, Huong Nguyen. The NGO was established with her lawyer-husband, Phan Vu Anh, to train and employ blind and vision-impaired individuals as massage therapists in Hanoi, Vietnam. Through research and intuition, Huong single-mindedly employed the business advice she acquired in the U.S. on […]
First-time volunteer Kathy Lafond was motivated to expand her volunteering options once she retired. “It’is time for me to give back to those less fortunate,” said the former IT project manager from VA. She chose St. Lucia for the opportunity to tutor 6- year-olds for two weeks. There, she said she learned more than she […]
May 1st is celebrated in many countries worldwide, with two seemingly contradictory intentions. One dates back to ancient times – officially welcoming spring with flowers, festivities, and Maypoles. The other dates to the 19th century, when May 1st was chosen as the date to celebrate International Workers’ Day – a celebration of worker solidarity and […]
A dedicated Global Volunteer, Thomasina Tafur is once again getting ready to pack her bags. But, before she did, she shared her story about working at Sagrada Familia outside Lima. It’s here, she said, where she found a clear commonality with the children she worked with – especially “helping young people maneuver through their life’s […]
By Maho Jordan This was my first experience with Global Volunteers. Being of service as part of a team taught me the importance of connecting with other cultures through education, service and friendships, and small acts of kindness. It just differs so much from being the “regular tourist.” I was able to learn about the […]