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!

Service-Learning, Volunteer Voices Cuba

Student Volunteer Lists Joys of Service Work in Cuba

Journal entry by Ben, Cuba Global Volunteer and University of Iowa Student, written during his volunteer program in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. Over the course of my volunteer work in Cuba, I have tried to think of a way to explain to everyone…

Volunteer Voices

Brenda Pearson: Global Volunteer, Team Player and Friend

Global Volunteers salutes Brenda Pearson, who has served on 9 Global Volunteers service programs since 2008, beginning with Mexico. From there Brenda was "hooked" on Global Volunteers and went on to serve in China, Portugal, St. Lucia,…

Volunteer Voices

Motivated Couple Volunteering Worldwide Reflects on Impact of Service

Global Volunteers Bill and Barb Chase have served together in Ecuador, Tanzania, Montana, West Virginia, St. Lucia and Costa Rica since 2006. This couple volunteering worldwide exemplifies the opportunities to discover the world - and each other…

Volunteer Voices Cuba

“Only two more days in Cuba!”

By Sandy, 6-time Global Volunteer. Only two more days in Cuba for me! As usual, after a nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, everyone went off to their morning project. Daniel and Bethany went to the center to prepare the ground for planting,…

Volunteer Voices Cuba

Cuban Dream Realized

By Stevan, Cuba Global Volunteer It has been a dream of mine of over 30 years to visit Cuba. Even though there were ways to get there via Canada or Mexico, I was just afraid and didn’t want to be a poster child for the U.S. government as…

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices Cuba

How Cubans and Americans Are Connecting Through Service

By Bethany, Cuba Global Volunteer. Question asked during English Conversations Q: "What is different between teenagers in Cuba & The US?" A: "There is no difference; we all want the same things – friends, time, family –…

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices Poland

Retired Teacher Touches Hearts of Polish Students

Lani, a 3-time volunteer and retired schoolteacher, recently returned from her program teaching English in Poland. Lani taught students from kindergarten through sixth grade. She was so touched when she opened her mailbox to a wonderful parcel…

Volunteer Voices

An Inspiring Couple Volunteers 8 times Together!

Global Volunteers salutes Jim and Carolyn Brueggemann. Jim, a retired physician, and Carolyn, a retired teacher, have served together on 8 Global Volunteers service and people to people programs since 2003. Their first service program was…

Volunteer Voices

Incredible Sue Surma – 25 Volunteer Programs

Global Volunteers salutes the incredible Sue Surma, a Global Volunteer and Volunteer Team Leader on 25 service programs since 1989. She volunteered on her very first service program in Guatemala. From there she went on to serve as a…

Volunteer Voices

18 Service Programs and Counting is Volunteer’s Legacy of Service

Global Volunteers salutes Hank Raichle, a Global Volunteer who has served on 18 service and people to people programs since 1994 in Jamaica (2 times), Texas, Mexico (2 times), Mississippi (3 times), Spain, the Cook Islands, North Carolina,…

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices

Thoughts from a 10-time Global Volunteer

Global Volunteers salutes Tom Medsger for his remarkable service making a difference on 10 Global Volunteers service programs since 2007, with nine in Mexico and one in Portugal. Mexico and its students have captured Tom's heart. As English…

Explore Greece as a family

Conversational English, Family Volunteering Greece

Family of Four Serve and Explore Greece!

Global Volunteers salutes Andy, Lucy, Anna and Alice Kligerman, who have served twice as a family on the island of Crete, in Greece, where they taught conversational English to summer camp students. It is obvious they made learning productive…