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, Volunteer Voices Tanzania

A Mother-Daughter Adventure in Service

After mutually experiencing a yearning to get off the beaten track, Lisa Graumlich and her daughter, Maya Graumlich, decided to make a difference in the world by becoming Global Volunteers. So in the summer of 2014, Lisa and Maya embarked on…

Mother-Son Volunteer Duo in Tanzania

Family Volunteering, Volunteer Voices Tanzania

Liz and Jacob Turnage: A Mother-Son Volunteer Duo

In the summer of 2014, Liz Turnage and her son Jacob decided to take some time out of their busy schedule to make a difference in a rural village in Tanzania. This was a difficult task given that Liz is a full-time and hardworking physician…

Family Volunteer Experience of a Lifetime in Tanzania

Family Volunteering, Volunteer Voices Tanzania

Volunteering with the Pollards

In the winter of 2014, Deborah Pollard and her two children, Meghan and Aidan, embarked on a volunteer experience of a lifetime to Tanzania. They volunteered for six weeks, providing a variety of different services throughout their program –…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Cultures and Traditions Greece

May 1st in Greece!

May 1st in Greece. May the 1st (May Day) is a national holiday in Greece and probably one of the only holidays that does not have any religious background. It is a celebration of spring and also “workers day”. Union workers gather in…

Building Walls and Friendship

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential Peru

Building Walls and Friendship

When I asked the community of Alto Progreso what project they needed help with and they replied a wall, I honestly was a little scared. I knew they meant a 40-meter-long wall. I knew they had no machinery whatsoever. I knew it would mean a…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Cultures and Traditions Cook Islands

ANZAC Commemorations in Rarotonga

25 April is a Day that Australian and New Zealanders set aside to commemorate their fallen soldiers. In the Cook Islands, it is no different. With the Cook Islands strong connection to the British Empire via a New Zealand Administration,…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Volunteer Voices St Lucia

Connecting While Serving

Today is the last day of teaching kids at the Anse la Raye Primary School. It makes me sad to think about leaving them. They all showed so much perseverance and everyday brought a smile to my face and the other volunteers. If I learned one thing,…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Cultures and Traditions

Wishing You All a Happy Easter

Wishing you all a Happy Easter. In the photo are the impressions of the 10 fingerprints of St. Thomas, who is also called the Doubting Thomas. St. Thomas who did not believe that Jesus was risen unless he touches the wounds of Jesus…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Free Time Options, Volunteer Voices China

Terra Cotta Warriors Museum is Truly Amazing!

Team Journal for March 31, 2015 Message of the day: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts” Winston Churchill Today was overcast and cooler than predicted. We met Phyllis in the…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Volunteer Voices China

What a Feast of Chinese Cultural Activities!

Team Journal for March 26, 2015 Message of the day: "You're just jealous, because we act stupid in public and people still love us." -Unknown The morning classes went like usual for Montana and LuRue doing their normal competition…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Development Impact, Reaching Children's Potential Peru

First Service Program at a Shanty Town in Peru

And so we finally started our service program in Alto Progreso. Alto Progreso is a struggling community of about 350 families in Pamplona Alta, in the barren hillsides of Lima. Sherry was our first volunteer for the job. Upon arrival, we…

The Dimensions of Poverty

Cultures and Traditions Cook Islands

Ron’s Guide to the Social Customs and Attitudes in the Cook Islands

Third time Cook Islands volunteer, Ron, has come up with some reflections about life in the Cook Islands. Here, we will share a few with you - some are tongue in cheek. So enjoy our programme through the lens of a Canadian volunteer who loves…