While short-term volunteering has gotten a bad rap because of ill-conceived and DIY efforts, we know that a steady stream of short-term volunteers, simply put, can change lives and the world. Katie, an Ecuador Global Volunteer and University of Iowa student, reflects on her short-term service trip to Quito. I was given the amazing opportunity to volunteer in […]
On a previous post, Ken, a U.S. and international volunteer, explained why he’s dedicated much of his life to volunteering abroad. His wife Suzanne offers her take on the reasons behind her family’s volunteering abroad experience. Why do you volunteer abroad? I think it is really enriching to volunteer abroad. My husband is a geographer […]
Chenin is a candidate for the Physiology and Biophysics Master’s program at Georgetown University. She plans to go to medical school after she graduates and dedicate her career to serve Native American communities. But before doing so, she wanted to get to know their people and struggles better. So she served with Global Volunteers at the Blackfeet […]
Ken is one of those people who not only tries to live happily without harming anyone, but actually invests his time helping others. He has helped in his home city of Seattle building houses for low income families, teaching at a school for homeless children, and serving at the Board of his local Girl Scouts […]
Maria Maki, 20-time Global Volunteer and Country Manager, shares her thoughts and experiences about the importance to build bridges between borders: Build bridges, not walls. When you hear the words “build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico,” it seems sinister. One forgets that Mexico is a retirement community for many U.S. citizens, who find […]
Over the past 30+ years, Global Volunteers’ CEO and Co-founder Bud Philbrook has led dozens of Global Volunteers teams. In all his travels across the world, Vietnam sticks as one of his favorite places to volunteer. Why? Read on for Bud’s seven reasons to volunteer in Hanoi! 1. Vietnamese love Americans. I’ve been to Vietnam numerous […]
Global Volunteers salutes Bill Spencer, who has served on 16 Global Volunteers service programs – starting with Turkey in 2000. Since then, Bill has gone on to serve as a Global Volunteer in Greece, the Cook Islands, Brazil, St. Lucia and Mexico. Thus far, his favorite Global Volunteers service program has been in Querétaro, Mexico, […]
Female volunteers of all ages have always been the foundation of Global Volunteers’ programs. Some 70% of our team members every year are women. Children, of course, are the focus of every service program. And, mothers are crucial for giving children a healthy start in life. So, it’s obvious why projects to help mothers and children form the […]
Here’s one couple’s story of how they fell in love on one of their service vacations with Global Volunteers – and not fell in love with each other, but instead with three little Peruvian sisters. Told by Jim, two-time Global Volunteer. Let me be honest. When my wife Connie and I decided to visit Peru, […]