Community Partner since 1995.
Having embarked on their first service adventure with Global Volunteers in 2001 in Greece, Don and Mary Jansiewicz have continued to volunteer internationally as a way to contribute to making the world a better place. They have served in Italy, Cuba, and Peru, and were scheduled to return to Greece in March 2020. Here, they […]
In the year since Greece began its first (of many) national lockdowns due to the fast-spreading Covid- 19 virus, Greek students and teachers have struggled to sustain a reliable school routine. Celia Kopaka, one of our phenomenal community partners in Greece, describes her efforts to keep her students up to date via online learning, and […]
Carole and Jay Kennerly have spent decades sharing experiences together – and among the highlights of their years as a married couple are their four service programs with Global Volunteers. From Greece to Cuba and Vietnam to the Cook Islands, the Kennerlys have enriched their lives through service. They offer a glimpse into their journey […]
Although English is considered “the world’s universal language,” less than five percent of the global population are native English speakers. What role does English have in the lives of the 95 percent? In this first post in a series, Global Volunteers’ international Country Managers explain the importance of teaching conversational English, in two divergent parts […]
Mentoring children of all ages around the world is a meaningful assignment for volunteers from all backgrounds. Drawing on their own experiences and compassion, volunteers can make a significant difference in the lives of youth in as little as one or two weeks. Read on to learn how volunteers of diverse backgrounds and life experiences […]
As we all confront new questions and conflicts each day about our safety, health and economic security during the pandemic, we appreciate our inspired partners around the world. Every Global Volunteers development partnership has its own origin story and offers its unique inspiration. And, local community leaders personally have overcome threats to their own peace […]
Few global events ever impact every country simultaneously as COVID-19 has. Besides its devastating consequences for the health and finances of millions of people around the world, the pandemic also disrupted their education. How have schools in our partner communities been affected? How have they’ve been able to cope with the challenges, and what does […]
After the economic crisis of 2009 and the financial crisis of 2015, Greece was slowly but steadily recovering. COVID-19 has dramatically reversed that rebound. Thankfully, the death toll hasn’t risen to the highs of many other European countries. But, according to forecasts, COVID-19’s devastation to the Greek economy will likely be greater than to any […]
Global Volunteers Community Partner Malamo “Tenia” Vigla says the regression of her students’ English skills during the COVID-19 lockdown will be a challenge to overcome. In a “normal” school year, Global Volunteers would be teaching important lessons in her classroom to help students bridge the upcoming summer holiday. But, she’s determined to employ the techniques […]
When the first cases of the Coronavirus – COVID – 19 made their appearance in Wuhan, China, just before Christmas, my thoughts took me back to the era of SARS, EBOLA, and MERS. It was an unknown virus, but too far away to affect us here on the Island of Crete. Within three months, the […]