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 volunteer experience in Crete

Family Volunteering, Volunteer Voices Greece

“Our family volunteer experience in Crete was one of the highlights of my life.”

Reflections from Colleen Shannon, who volunteered with her daughter, Lauren, and two grandsons, Max and Darwin in Crete, Greece: Our family volunteer experience in Crete last month was one of the highlights of my life. Not only was…

teaching English in a school in Poland

Volunteer Voices Poland

Teaching and “Adopting” a School in Poland Motivates Retiree

Alumni volunteer Gary Gullikson talks about his experience teaching English in a school in Poland, his 3rd service program in the country. This year was my first year of organized teaching English in a school in Poland. Previously I taught…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Debbie O’Connor: “Volunteering is good for the soul…”

A year ago, upon going into my 30th year of teaching Special Education, (Wallenpaupack Area School District, Hawley, PA), I made the decision to celebrate by planning to do service work In Rarotonga, Cook Islands. My friend, Kim,…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Volunteer Voices Italy

OUR FIRST DAY – FULL OF NEW EXPERIENCES

Today we were launched on the first day of high school. We each met the teachers we would work with. My wife, Margaret and I are working with Annamaria in the scientifico concentration. We met several other teachers in the teachers lounge,…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Free Time Options Cuba

Cultural Weekend in Cuba

A busy weekend of people-to-people events started with an historic museum visit ending with a Conga line. We said a sad farewell to our one-week volunteers. On to Moron, stopping at Rancho Palma for a lunch under grass roofs among the caged…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Reaching Children's Potential, Volunteer Voices

Truly an International Team of 13 Volunteers from 7 Countries

Team Journal for Sunday, 13th September 2015 After a wonderful night sleep in the very homely facility provided by Stephen, the India country manager, we came into the orientation session on Day 1 fully refreshed. We started…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Conversational English, Volunteer Voices Italy

Celebrating 20 Years Of Service In Monopoli Italy

I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary service program in Monopoli Italy. As a team leader for Global Volunteers, I have made new friends, renewed friendships and I am kept young at heart with my time…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Volunteer Voices Cuba

Wrapping Up a Memorable Volunteer Week in Cuba

The evening classes continue to be attended enthusiastically by a sizeable student body. Of particular note was a fourteen-year-old girl who received some one-on-one tutoring. She already had a rather good grasp of English sentence structure…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Reaching Children's Potential Cuba

Volunteer Projects in Ciego de Avila

Today our team split into 3 groups to support the community in different ways in the morning. Two volunteers worked with Alejandro at the church to sand rusted window grates. Using only single pieces of sandpaper, they were able to remove…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Volunteer Voices Cuba

First Day With Our Students – Cuba Volunteering

On our first day of teaching, our team quickly spread into different rooms that varied by English proficiency, and we all got to work! I was in the front room with Joanne and the beginners. First I must applaud Joanne for her incredible translating…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Volunteer Voices Cuba

Opening To New Experiences – Volunteering In Cuba

My experience of my first day is Cuba is what I will be sharing… my thoughts, feelings, judgments. I KNOW that I can easily focus on the details (Varying room temperature, food surprises, loud noises at 3 am, lukewarm coffee, unrelenting…

Family volunteering in Tanzania

Family Volunteering, Volunteer Voices Tanzania

Family Volunteering in Tanzania

Carol Ann signed up for the Tanzania Volunteer Program with her husband, Ray, and their two teenage daughters, Mary Kathryn and Emma (19 and 17 years old). Read as Carol Ann beautifully reflects on her meaningful experience with…