Current News, Field Reports and Volunteer Voices

Several times each week, we post stories about work we do in our host communities – through the voices of our partners, volunteers, and those we serve. Subscribe using the form below to receive updates in your inbox when they’re published. If you’re looking for deeper insight into service in a specific country, on a particular type of project, how you can share your unique skills or volunteering as a family or a group, you can find a wealth of information here. Use the categories next to the posts here or on any page (below right column) to explore more stories that suit your interests.

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News and Updates Puerto Rico

New Puerto Rico Service Program Supports Country’s Future Leaders

As a commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico is a popular destination for Americans seeking an "international" vacation close to home. As an island in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is also an unfortunate target for destructive…

Family Volunteering, Volunteer Voices Poland

Family Volunteer Account of Serving in Poland: “Ukrainians Ask Only That We Don’t Look Away”

When the war broke out in Ukraine, Adam and Amy Robinson of Virginia knew they wanted to do something to help Ukrainians. Having served in Ecuador in 2017 with their two sons, Reed (now age 14) and Clayton (age 12), they say they knew that…

One of the mothers in Tanzania who is encouraged by Global Volunteers to breastfeed

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

Breastfeeding Workshop a Tenet of RCP Mothers Education

Decades of evidence indicates that there is nothing better for a mother and her baby's well-being than exclusive breastfeeding. But for several reasons, many parents make other choices, especially in struggling communities around the world.…

Family Volunteering, Ripple Effect Montana

Ripples Far and Wide: Family’s Service Program was “Just What they Needed” after COVID

In the fifth of a series of "Ripple Effect" stories, a volunteer referral led physician and mother of two, Laura Lee Swan, to a needed change for her family from their "Covid funk." Following a Google link and social media search, she found…

News and Updates Peru

Peru RCP Program Begins in Target Communities with Child Measurements

In early 2022, Global Volunteers' Peru staff began outreach in the sandy, hilly district of Ventanilla to assess the needs of families and children to lay the foundation for the Reaching Children's Potential Program (RCP) in Peru. This is an…

Volunteer Voices Greece

Mother and Daughter Bond on Greece “Service Adventure”

University student Emmanuelle Dulac was born with the "volunteer bug." For as long as she can remember, she's been an active volunteer in her home town of Québec, Canada. But she began looking for more; a chance to help others while experiencing…

Volunteer Voices Texas

Texas Volunteer Pens Poignant Reflections on Serving on the Border

Laurie Sunderland volunteered in San Juan, Texas on the U.S.-Mexico border on her first service program with Global Volunteers in April this year after having met Global Volunteers while traveling and volunteering abroad. In her blog post,…

Thalassa of Solidarity- Refugee project & Community partner, Greece

Partners' Stories Greece

New Refugee Program Engages Global Volunteers in Crete

In early 2016, Global Volunteers Crete teams were called upon by local authorities to help meet the needs of the sudden large influx of Syrian refugees to Greece. Volunteers worked packaging and sorting donated clothing and preparing boxes…

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

International Community Development Profile: Tobadina Kahemela Family

In this series, families in the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Demonstration Program in Tanzania explain how their participation improves their lives. Global Volunteers’ RCP Program engages short-term volunteers to help parents deliver…

News and Updates Poland

“Peace is a Luxury;” Volunteer’s Lessons From Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

First-time Global Volunteer Pam Ballard said she couldn't have correctly anticipated the impact of working one-on-one with Ukrainian refugee families in Poland. And now, she's not certain she can adequately describe the impact the experience…

Cultures and Traditions, Development Impact Montana

FAST Blackfeet Mobilizes Global Volunteers on 2022 Return to Reservation

Each summer, since 2000 (except for 2020), Global Volunteers has worked in partnerships with the Blackfeet people on community priorities - focusing on labor, elder services and family health and recreation projects. The first volunteer team…

Staff Worldwide

Meet Your Team Leader: Lucy Heegaard

Volunteer Team Leader Lucy Heegaard (left) began volunteering with Global Volunteers in 2015 in St. Lucia. She then served in Poland in 2017 and went through Team Leader Training later that same year. She has also updated her training twice…