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!

Family Volunteering Cook Islands, Cuba, Greece, Italy, Nepal, Peru, Poland, St Lucia, Tanzania

Best Family Volunteer Abroad Programs for Summer 2024 & 2025

Volunteering as a family is a remarkable opportunity to bond, grow, and positively impact the world. Families strengthen their relationships by coming together to serve others and instill valuable lessons of empathy, compassion, and community…

News and Updates Cuba

Volunteering in Cuba: A Journey of Service and Connection

With anticipation and excitement, Global Volunteers' 113th volunteer team in Cuba embarked on an adventure in service. The team comprising eight dedicated volunteers, arrived in Havana ready to make a difference and served for two weeks. With…

Volunteer Voices Puerto Rico

Service, Amid Colors and Coquis, in Puerto Rico

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…

News and Updates

40 years of service: Global Volunteers’ Guiding Principle – We work under the direction of local leaders

In this series, we delve into each of Global Volunteers' guiding principles. With ten fundamental principles at the core of our approach, Global Volunteers has seen remarkable success in our partnerships with communities worldwide. These principles…

free time activities in the Cook Islands

Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options Cook Islands

Cook Islands Volunteer Vacation Features Diverse Free-Time Options

Volunteering abroad with Global Volunteers guarantees that you will assist children and families in partner communities while immersing yourself in diverse cultures within some of the world’s most captivating locations. The Cook Islands is…

teaching in Cuba

Conversational English Cuba

“Reluctant Teacher” Says Cuban Teens Inspired Her Confidence

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…

active retirement

News and Updates Cuba

Welcome to Cuba! Travel Legally and Meet Amazing People

Visiting Cuba is a remarkable experience that we wish everyone could enjoy. Since Global Volunteers’ first group of travelers visited Havana in 2012, our focus has centered on the Cuban people – their hopes, dreams, and goals. We have worked…

News and Updates Greece

Summer of Conversational English in a picturesque, mountainous village in Crete!

Since the summer of 2005, Global Volunteers has partnered with the Municipality of Malevizi to conduct the English Language Summer School, focusing on basic conversational English, pronunciation, and motivation for learning for elementary school…

News and Updates

40 Years of Service: Global Volunteers’ Guiding Principle – We Serve Only Where We Are Invited

Global Volunteers relies on ten guiding principles. These principles have proven essential to the success of our partnerships with communities around the world. We share them with all our volunteers as they prepare for their service program…

High school volunteering abroad

Service-Learning

Students Volunteering Abroad Gain Résumé-Enhancing Experience

International service, when properly administered, has the potential for mutual benefit to those who serve and those who are served. When this is achieved, a deeper understanding between cultures produces greater and more long-term outcomes.…

Cultures and Traditions Italy

Sicily Volunteer Lodgings Boast Historical Roots

We always strive to provide secure, comfortable lodging in all partner communities; a bonus is sometimes, the building where we stay also is culturally and historically significant to the area. Such is the case in Castelvetrano, Sicily, where…

Classroom Assistance, Conversational English Italy

Beyond Tourist Trails: A Volunteer’s Journey of Cultural Immersion in Sicily

The curiosity of meeting new people and sharing knowledge with young minds, combined with her desire to visit the land that her paternal grandparents were born led Gail Licciardello, a retired Occupational Therapy Professor from Maine to serve…