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!

Cultures and Traditions

Mount Festival

Today, the 18th of December, is celebrated as Mount Festival. The festival is celebrated at St. Thomas Mount, Chennai. The belief is that St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ who lived on this Mount around 72…

Volunteer Voices Vietnam

Grateful for the Gift of Service!

After the first week of teaching, I have familiarized myself with the living environment and working rhythm. A typical day would consist of the following: getting up at 6:30, go for a short jog around the lake to kickstart the day; washing…

Volunteer Voices

Visit to St. Thomas Hospital

Message of the Day - Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity. - Hippocrates I got to see the love of medicine and humanity today when Stephen took me to St. Thomas Hospital. It was a substitute for my daily…

Volunteer Voices Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam – First Impressions

The Global Volunteers program was kicked off by a name game during breakfast in the hotel. I got to know all my team members: Steve, John, Roger, Keith, Tom, Liz, Kay and Janice. To my surprise, some of them had served on over…

Volunteer Voices

Toddlers greeted us with their giggles and hugs

Message of the Day - Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. - Napoleon Hill Today was a hot day in Chennai, and one that required patience and persistence and then gave perspiration in return. Denise…

Volunteer Voices China

Goodbye students, we’ll go home with you all in our hearts…

Thought for the day: " Whoever is happy will make other happy too." - Anne Frank Breakfast was filled with the usual mixture of American and Asian food groups and everyone arrived for breakfast at their usual time excited and talking about…

Volunteer Voices China

Bingo games, songs, shapes, sentence construction, objectives …

Thought for the day: When you come to a fork in the road- take it. Yogi Berra The day started with breakfast followed by a trip to our respective campuses. The group at the Biomedical Technical College taught the students bingo games,…

Volunteer Voices Peru

Our Visit to Alto Progreso, Pamplona Alta

Day 10: Last day of our volunteer experience We were off in the morning through the crazy hectic traffic in Lima and arrived at our one-day experience to teach children coloring, painting, and drawing. We had a confidence in our ability…

Volunteer Voices Peru

Students of Life

Today was our ninth and final day at La Molina. We could not have foreseen that we would be the active learners in this ongoing exchange of respect, culture, camaraderie, and knowledge. Every day new lessons were learned – about…

Volunteer Voices China

Our classes included a variety of teaching games – fun!

Thought for the day: Don’t look back, they may be gaining on you. Today started with breakfast at 6:30am. The 4 volunteers that went to the Biomedical Technical College taught a review of animals’ names, prepositional phrases, use…

Free Time Options

You Have Made a Difference in our Lives

Speech given by volunteer Priscilla Zobel at final celebration in Queretaro, Mexico: How many of you remember when you decided to become a teacher? How many of you remember a teacher who changed your life, a teacher who encouraged you? How…

Volunteer Voices Peru

Everday is a Little Bit of Heaven

We are ending our fifth day in Peru, and I have treasured three days at La Molina Language Center. Each day is a lesson in graciousness, as my students teach me the meaning of the word by their attitudes and actions, and I teach them the…