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!

Volunteer Voices Italy

“You can’t stop the wave, but you can learn to surf.”

I spent the afternoon drawing pictures of American bathrooms since our adult students requested information about rooms in American homes. The energy seemed very positive tonight with regard to all settings: the high school, the Mission school…

Reaching Children's Potential, Volunteer Voices

Planting trees to off set carbon footprint.

Journal by Ella: All 3 of us were working on the project in the green house reforestation with the native costarrican plants... sifting the soil to separate it from stones, then filling small plastic bags with it. Small seedlings were…

Family Volunteering, Reaching Children's Potential

Team 209 : Global Volunteers Costa Rica at local highschool

Our team starts the day by digging posts to replace at the new greenhouse site. This new construction will house growth of the reforestation trees (planted at Colegio site and the Santa Elena Reserve) and hydroponic vegetable garden. Here…

Volunteer Voices Montana

June 8 – Daily Life with the Blackfeet in Montana

We started the day with a team meeting to discuss our assignments. The unpredictable weather reinforced the need for flexibility. The assignments for the day included: helping at the pool scrapping the paint off the walls, helping at the…

Volunteer Voices China

My last day…

Journal by: Katrina My last day was sad for me. In just two weeks, I had become attached to the sixth grade boys and all the teachers and students at that beautiful little school with little room and little money. Donald sang two songs…

News and Updates

The time spent in St. Elena will be a welcome change of culture

The day started off with breakfast, and everyone learned about Davone and Chris´ intriguing training diet. Breakfast was similar to an American breakfast plus rice and beans. The simple Spanish lesson learned during will be helpful in the…

Volunteer Voices China

Working at La La Shou (Xi’an China)

Journal by: Katrina Beattie We met at my school for autistic children, La La Shou. There was a room full of teachers, speaking in Chinese all at once. I could feel the panic rising up from my feet and sweat dripping down my back!…

News and Updates

Spotlight on Country Manager Stephen Raja

Summer is upon on us and our program in India is an excellent service opportunity for those looking for a summer adventure! You offer the "extra" attention many children crave and deserve, while also experiencing life in the spiritual land…

News and Updates

pay your good fortune forward

A valued and resourceful volunteer, Esther Schak, shared with us this creative tip for “paying it forward” each year. She enthusiastically shares it here with you: “Dear fellow volunteers: I was curious about the true value of my…

Cultures and Traditions

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo — or the fifth of May — commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has…

News and Updates

Update on Safety in Mexico

In recent months, certain areas of Mexico have been subject to increased levels of violence leading the U.S. to issue travel warnings for a few states in the nation of Mexico. Our website currently states that the states where our service programs…

Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

I Recommend the Cook Islands

I recently returned from Global Volunteers’ Cook Islands Service Program and want to ask you to consider joining a team in the near future. It’s a personally rewarding volunteer opportunity to use your skills in a way and with people who…