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.

We welcome your ideas on topics you’d like to see here. Please contact us at marketing@globalvolunteers.org. Enjoy our blog!

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

Reaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcome to Jamila Makilika

Every month, Global Volunteers’ caregivers in the Ukwega Ward of Tanzania meet with families who wish to participate in the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Demonstration Program. The goal of RCP is to eliminate childhood stunting…

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Development Impact

Mercy Corps and the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future" to be achieve by 2030. The SDGs were preceded by the eight Millennium…

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

Welcoming the December RCP Newborns in Tanzania

What’s more fun than BABIES? In this series, we focus on the newest members of the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Demonstration Program in Tanzania -- newborns. In this post, we welcome seven babies born in December 2020. Their moms…

connecting to the world

Volunteer Voices

Alumnae Committed to Human Connections Through Service

Alumnae Gail Ferguson is eager to return to volunteering curtailed by the pandemic. Serving each year since 2017, she's traveled to Cuba, St. Lucia, Peru, and the Cook Islands. Read on for her inspiration about volunteering abroad. by…

International community development

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

International Community Development Profile: Rachel Kigala Family in Tanzania

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…

Volunteer Voices Peru

Alumnus Recalls Peru Daily Volunteering Schedule as “An Unforgettable Adventure”

Peru Volunteer Mark Bierbaum says each day working with the children of Sagrada Familia is "building on community goals and being part of something larger." Read on for his description of a typical day's volunteering schedule in Peru. By…

Development Impact Tanzania

Harvesting Rainwater in Tanzania Transforms Families’ Lives

According to the World Health Organization, most of us, about 57 percent of the world's population, simply turn a tap to get clean running water in our homes. It's a convenience we repeatedly take for granted. But hundreds of millions of others…

Volunteers and teachers with new mural and renovated exterior of early childhood development Center #1 in ecuador

Development Impact Peru

School Environments Improve With the Service and Resources of Volunteers

According to UNESCO, half of Latin American fifteen-year-olds can't achieve minimum reading proficiency. That is, they're able to read, but fail to understand what they read. This is one of many sad outcomes of inadequate infrastructure, lack…

International community development

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

Reaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcome to Fathanida Kimbavala

Every month, Global Volunteers’ caregivers in the Ukwega Ward of Tanzania meet with families who wish to participate in the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Demonstration Program. The goal of RCP is to eliminate childhood stunting…

Cultures and Traditions, Volunteer Voices Cuba

Welcoming the New Year as a Volunteer in Cuba

Six-time Global Volunteer Ann Sweeney has served in Cuba three times - including twice for New Year's celebrations, where she enjoyed Cuban graciousness and tradition. She writes of making connections and nurturing friendships as the focus…

International community development

Reaching Children's Potential Tanzania

International Community Development Profile: Emola Mbata Family in Tanzania

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…

child is happy being praised by volunteer in Greece

Conversational English

Youth and Adults Learn English Language Skills from Generous Volunteers

It's easy to underestimate the importance of English to the 95 percent of the world population who aren't native speakers. But the volunteers who teach English to children and young adults in classrooms, small groups and language camps directly…