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!

Teaching English in three countries

Volunteer Voices China, Italy, Poland

Grateful Volunteer Says: “I’ll Remember You Forever”

Marilyn has served in three different service programs. Here she speaks about the experience of teaching English in three countries. The eyes are equally expectant, although the faces are different. Silent, shy, and incredibly polite college…

Volunteer Voices

Service Feeds the Solo Traveler’s Soul

by Ladelle Dilli Helen Keller said, "I'm only one person and I can't do everything, but I can do something. I will not let the fact that I can't do everything prevent me from doing what I can." Spending vacation time in travel that feeds…

Volunteer Voices

The Babes of Romania Captured My Heart

by Sue Surma I have many poignant memories of my international travel over two decades, but the ones I most frequently awaken with in the morning is of my volunteer service in Romania. There, I tended and nurtured about 30 infants and toddlers,…

Volunteer Voices Montana

Hospitality, Respect, Pride and Family – My Week with the Blackfeet

by Todd Cannon I nearly bolted from the sweat lodge before the first round was over. I must have looked as if someone had doused me with a bucket of water - a steady stream of sweat running down my head, torso, limbs. The heat and total darkness…

A Different Holiday Story

Cultures and Traditions Peru

A Different Holiday Story in Peru

A Different Holiday Story, by Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar: Holidays in Peru and the U.S. are similar in many ways. In both countries most people think of getting together with the family around a nice turkey dinner. But it is also…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices China

We Continue to Have a Good Time With our Students!

Team Journal for Friday November 20, 2015 Message of the day: The desire to succeed means nothing without the will to prepare - Author unknown We continue to have a good time with our teachers. Today, my class reviewed some…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices China

Everyday it Gets Easier to Work With our Students

Team Journal for Thursday November 19, 2015 Message of the day: "Flowers only bloom when they are ready. People are the same way. You cannot rush or force they open just because you think it's time. Be patient." – Timber Hawkeye Everyday…

teaching English in China through dance

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices China

Teaching in China: Slow Down! Speak Slowly! Keep Trying!

In my class today, I received some helpful advice for teaching in China. I had asked for feedback from our team leader on how to improve our English instructions. She kindly told me that I had to speak slowly. So, this would be my theme…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Young People making a difference

Danielle Silver visited the Cook Islands Global Volunteers program earlier this year. She provided support to Takitumu School and met some amazing young people. Victor was one of them and here she shares her poem about the experience she…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices Cuba

1st Team to Sancti Spiritus!

Message of the Day—“Instructions for living life. Pay attention, be astonished, tell about it” Mary Oliver. The Pottery Factory; The Pottery Factory supports the local Mission and is absolutely a feast for the eyes…well used…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Vaka (team) 151 – Our Final Week

This is the last week of service for the remaining Vaka Team members. We were 15 and are now 7 members strong as the others completed their service. (it is yet to be determined if we are the Magnificent 7 or the Seven Dwarfs!) I want…

Cuban Pottery

Volunteer Voices China

Last Teaching Day – Packing the Loviest Memories of Xi’an China

China Team Journal for Friday October 23, 2015 Message of the day: "Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so." (excerpt from a 17th century…