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 Greece, Poland

Summer Service Programs for Kids

One International Truth About Children One thing that unites children the world over is their love of new experiences. On their journey to adulthood, kids learn life's lessons through daily interactions with the people who surround them. …

Kiwi volunteer

Service-Learning, Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Volunteering Enables “Kiwi” to Explore Cook Islands Culture

Juliet Cooke from Wellington New Zealand said teaching at St. Joseph's School in Rarotonga was a unique way to learn about the Cook Islands culture from the "inside." In the classrooms, she helped students improve their reading and literacy…

experienced goodness

Service-Learning, Volunteer Voices Vietnam

Volunteer in Vietnam Offers Compelling Take on “Goodness”

Vietnam Volunteer Diana Swansen notices the "simple things" in life that remind her of humanity's goodness. She offers her optimistic perspective with us, and her teammates, when teaching conversational English on a Vietnam Service Program in…

News and Updates

USA Service Opportunities Expand for Spring and Summer 2019

Additional USA service program dates and new work projects in 2019 provide families, couples, individuals and groups a wide range of choices for spring and summer volunteering. Volunteers of all ages can help mentor children and teens, prepare…

Volunteer Voices Tanzania

Volunteer Expresses Her Gratitude for Life Through Service to Others

Gila Cohen-Shaw marked her mid-century birthday with a "Gift of Service" to herself through Global Volunteers in St. Lucia (pictured above receiving a hug from a teammate). She followed it up with two service programs in Tanzania shortly afterward.…

young volunteer

Service-Learning, Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Reflections of a Youth Volunteer in the Cook Islands

Throughout her childhood, Cassidy Richardson was interested in learning about different cultures and languages. The more she learned, the more she felt drawn to help others while putting her growing understanding to work. When Cassidy…

Bill teaching with Global Volunteers in Hanoi, Vietnam

Volunteer Voices Vietnam

“I Found My Calling in Service” says Global Volunteers Alumnus

Maine Assistant Attorney General William (Bill) Laubenstein has served abroad and in the USA with Global Volunteers since 2007 - contributing his skills to youth and adults in Vietnam, the Cook Islands, Greece, South Africa, India, Ecuador…

“It’s another winters day in Ipalamwa or as I like to think of it, ‘Christmas Village in Tanzania.’

Volunteer Voices Tanzania

Volunteer’s Winter’s Day ends in “Best Day Ever” Story

Retired professor and avid amateur photographer Dr. Candice Francis and her husband Mike like to combine service work with their travels for pleasure. To celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary this year they traveled to Ipalamwa, Tanzania…

active retirement

Volunteer Voices

Achieve an Active Retirement through Volunteering

“A healthy mind in a healthy body” was an ideal first advanced by the ancient Greeks as a prescription for living wisely. Staying active physically and mentally in retirement is mentioned by many of our volunteers as a reason for service.…

service experience in Poland

Conversational English, Projects for Professionals Poland

Poland Summer English Language Camp is a Retired Teacher’s “Reward”

Linda Noonan says teaching English to children as a volunteer abroad was an opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream. As a retired teacher from Illinois, she knew her knowledge and education were top-notch qualifications. So she…

Partners' Stories

Volunteers Learn how Community Partner Creates Safe Environment for Children to Grow

The insight into the poverty of a child served by Global Volunteers' community partner FUNDAC in Calderón, Ecuador was an unexpected highlight for this team of five volunteers. The two early childhood development centers for disadvantaged…

Global Volunteers alumni in Poland.

Service-Learning, Volunteer Voices Poland

“Uber Volunteer” Steve Fox Describes Volunteering in Retirement

20-time alumni Steve Fox is a retired teacher from Washington State who participated on his first Global Volunteers program in Minnesota in 2003. 15 years later, as a retiree and octogenarian, Steve has contributed 1360 hours of service on 20…