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.

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News and Updates

Reaching Out in Uncertain Times

Now more than ever, our host partners are looking to Global Volunteers for the kind of help we have been providing for 25 years. Our volunteers bring the face of kindness and compassion in person, through their hands-on service to organizations…

News and Updates

In Gratitude for the Privilege and Value of Volunteering

Global Volunteer Rick Koniar in Chennai, India In Gratitude for the Privilege and Value of Volunteering As a volunteer to local efforts apart from my role with Global Volunteers, I personally experience the joy and satisfaction of making…

Cultures and Traditions

Chennai Sangamam

Chennai Sangamam The only Festival of India that belongs to people of all religions, as well as to the non-believers. The harvest fest of Tamil antiquity - The Pongal re-discovering itself as urban thanksgiving. It's Chennai Sangamam. More…

Volunteer Voices

2008 in Review

A year ago, I lead my first team of Global Volunteers. During this year, I have had the privilege of working with 7 teams of truly committed and generous volunteers. I have come to realize to what extent the quality of the volunteers is what…

Volunteer Voices

Thank you for my India Trips of a Lifetime

Thank you all at Global Volunteers so very much. I had a wonderful time serving in Chennai again this year. I have Stephen and Sheeba and the Hosts to thank for my experience. Stephen is a most remarkable, patient, generous, kind and wise…

Volunteer Voices Portugal

Volunteer Team Four: Report From Portugal

Monday, Sept. 29 Bom Dia! We had our first breakfast at the hotel before we set out for our various assignments. Scott and I had a walk of ten minutes or so to our school. In our first class, three girls were selected to show us around…

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Week Three in the Cook Islands

Millennium Development Goals Achieved by this Team: 1, 980 students and 30 teachers taught English language skills, 390 hours of English language instruction The KiiKii Hotel, with the continual sound of the surf, is a peaceful, restful…

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Report from Vaka 102

Rarotonga continues to be a beautiful and meaningful service location for Global Volunteers! Team (Vaka) 102 made a significant impact on the island in addressing Millennium Development Goal #3: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere,…

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

100th Team Celebration in the Cook Islands!

Kia Orana! With over 100 teams of volunteers supporting the Cook Islands over the last ten years, we can truly say we've had something to celebrate. Over 100 people joined together at Takitumu School last Friday evening to celebrate this wonderful…

Volunteer Voices Ecuador

A conversation in Calderón

BY MARIA DE LOURDES (“MARUJITA”), President of FUNDAC, Calderon, Ecuador Welcome to all the wonderful volunteers in our town! Our organization has been in existence for 20 years, 13 of those as a government-recognized non-profit foundation.…

Volunteer Voices Peru

Bricks in the foundations of a Growing Child

Thought of the Day: "One generation plants the trees, another gets the shade." --Chinese Proverb The quote is perfect. It so conveys a begger picture of the collective purpose of Global Volunteers. When I first explored the possibility…

Volunteer Voices

Team Highlights

Highlights of the first week: Our team members have traveled all over the world which makes for wonderful conversations. Several team members have served Global Volunteers two or more times. We range from age 16-76. We live all…