Community Partner since 1995.
It’s understandable that many individuals choose to return to volunteer in Italy two, three, four, sometimes five times. This service program offers the opportunity to teach conversational English to engaged middle school and high school students while enjoying the spell-binding Sicilian coastline and blue skies in Italy’s Trapani region. Here are just three simple reasons many of our alumni […]
Global Volunteers’ pandemic-delayed Sicily program successfully launched more than a year late with with two teams in November 2021. Team Leader Phyllis Thompson said the long-awaited immersion into daily life through service, conversation, and cultural activities in Castelvetrano was her “dream come true,” and all the team hoped for and more. Phyllis, who first served […]
The history, architecture, scenery, cuisine, safety, and climate of Europe make the continent a favorite travel destination. The bonus of getting to truly get to know local people through community projects – experiencing the fullness of their culture, and making life-long friends – is a highlight of a Global Volunteers program. Each is summarized here […]
On the beautiful island of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean sea, tourism starts winding down during the month of September. But there’s no rest for our Sicilian friends; in fact, it’s one of the year’s busiest times for local families. It’s harvest time in Sicily. Long-time Volunteer Country Manager Phyllis Thompson shares her […]
English is the international language of opportunity. For 26 years, Global Volunteers have helped Italian students strengthen their conversational English skills. Volunteer Team Leader Phyllis Thompson, who has served on 42 programs since 2003, reflects on her first service program in Italy and cites students’ gratitude for volunteers’ significant contributions to their English language learning. […]
Known for its delicious food, beautiful coastline, sandy beaches, and crystal clear water, Sicily has it all! Here Susan Bedford, a three-time Global Volunteer, gives us some insight into the culture of this fascinating region of Italy, and Global Volunteers’ newest partner community, Castelvetrano. By Susan Bedford Sicily has everything a traveler could desire: stunning […]
Marilyn has served in three different service programs. Here she speaks about the experience of teaching English in three countries. The eyes are equally expectant, although the faces are different. Silent, shy, and incredibly polite college freshman in Xian, China; raucous, rambunctious and never quiet high school seniors in Ostuni, Italy; and respectful, mature adults […]
WHAT A STUPENDOUS DAY – CELEBRATING 20 YEARS Fond Farewells – Final Glimpses of Our Beautiful City of Monopoli. Everything was happening for the last time – last class, last lunch, last time to shop, but more importantly the last time to feel the soul and spirit of Italy. But, along with the sadness […]
Today started the usual way a real yearning to turn off the alarm and go back to sleep. But what would the Galileo Galilei students do without us or, more to the point, how could I think of missing a day and not see all those smiling eager faces? So, off to breakfast, our morning […]
The volunteers got off to a good start on a brisk, sunny morning. The Galileo School had become a familiar and comfortable environment for us now. We relax in the teachers lounge; share teaching ideas and strategies; walk the halls with smiles; and make new friends with teachers and the hall monitors. We lunched […]