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!

The Legend Behind the Great Wall

Cultures and Traditions China

The Legend Behind the Great Wall

This is the seventh part to our series on Myths and Legends. Now in China, this the legend behind the Great Wall. What’s the first thing that pops out in your mind when you think about China? Exactly. We all think of Meng Jiangnü. Or…

Internet access in Cuba

Cultures and Traditions, Volunteer Voices Cuba

Internet Access in Cuba

Internet access in Cuba is relatively new, and it’s limited in several ways. There is only one telecommunications service provider, ETECSA, which is government owned, like most things in Cuba. ETECSA sells Wi-Fi cards which can be used…

healing ethnic divisions in Cuba

Cultures and Traditions Cuba

Can Volunteerism Help Heal Ethnic Divisions in Cuba?

Of the many similarities between the U.S. and Cuba, one of the more serious social problems we share is the historical racial divide between black and white citizens. The Creole, African, and Spanish descendants who have, over six centuries,…

Cheap domestic flights in Peru

Free Time Options Peru

Cheap and Awesome Touring Destinations in Peru

Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar talks about some cheap domestic flight options for touring in Peru. Thanks to the arrival of low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Peru, touring in Peru might be cheaper than you thought. If you would…

Help build bridges and volunteer abroad

Volunteer Voices

“I have a very different view of Americans now…”

Every day, you choose how you impact the world. When you contribute your energy and knowledge on a Global Volunteers team, your efforts become part of others’ success. You can be exactly what local people need – by assisting them on projects…

teaching in India

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices

Creative Teaching in India – Cow Girls and a Banana Phone

Global Volunteer, Michelle, reports on creative ways to engage students in learning English when teaching in India. After dropping Steve and Barbee at Assisi Illam, Jennifer and I headed back to Christ the King School for a second day…

Indian culture

Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options

Immersion in Indian Culture – Sights, Smells and Spirit

Global Volunteers on our India Service Program remark on the many opportunities to take in Indian culture on the streets, in the classroom, and sharing conversation in a local family's home. Our day began early to make time before breakfast…

volunteers-building-stairs-at-a-shanty-town-in-peru

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential

The Goal of Development

In the last article for our series on the concept of poverty, Peru Country Manager and development expert Daniel Salazar discusses the goal of development. In the past blogposts, we have seen that poverty is the inability to enjoy…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential

The Dimensions of Poverty

This is the third part to our series on the concept of poverty. Here Peru country manager and development expert Daniel Salazar discusses the dimensions of poverty. On our last discussion about poverty, we saw that poverty isn’t about…

Four Approaches to Poverty

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential

Four Approaches to Poverty

Continuing with our series discussing poverty, Peru country manager Daniel Salazar talks about four approaches to poverty. On the last blogpost about the concept of poverty, we briefly discussed the traditional conception of…

teaching English in Mexico

Conversational English

Teaching English in Mexico: Bringing Together the Peoples of our Nations

Two University English Instructors in Querétaro, Mexico made a point to express their gratitude to our recent volunteer team. In case you think you can't make a difference by teaching English in Mexico as a volunteer, please read on, …

the concept of poverty

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential Peru

What is Poverty? – The Concept of Poverty in Real Life

This is the first of a four-part series where Peru country manager Daniel Salazar, who has a Master’s Degree in Human Development, discusses the concept of poverty. We all know poverty is bad and try to avoid…