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!

Cuban car

Cultures and Traditions Cuba

What ‘Life In The New Cuba’ Is Really Like

Broadcast on NPR April 13, 2014 Summary: Since Fidel Castro ceded authority to his brother Raul in 2006, life in Cuba has slowly been changing. Young Cubans are more comfortable talking about their government, and cellphones have begun…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices Cuba

Our last day in Ciego de Avila

Our last day in Ciego de Avila - Thursday - was spent in the heart of the city. We met Eduardo at his church where we gave all the donations we carried with us - toys, fabric, toothpaste and brushes. Zoe led us on a short walking tour of the…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices Cuba

A Full Day of Activities in Havana

Our morning began with a stop at the US Interest Section. It operates under the Swiss Embassy, with the purpose of protecting US citizens while they are in Cuba. They also issue visas (both immigration and visitor). The line for visa appointments…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices Cuba

Tangible Poetry

Tangible poetry: That is what the artists who work there call Muraleando. Our morning began at the "neighborhood of art". The community was there - the neighbors, the residents - filled the streets as they were enjoying a street fair. Children…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices China

A Letter to Global Volunteers from a Student in Xi’an

Anna is a sophomore student in Xi’an Biomedical Technical College. She majors in Medicine Making but loves English and translation very much. She gets excited each time when Global Volunteers goes to her school and takes all possible opportunities…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices

The Same Moon

"No matter what our differences are, we all look at the same moon." We are preparing ourselves to leave. That does not mean to pack clothes. It means we are packing memories. We may be discarding ideas or preconceptions we brought…

Internet access in Cuba

Cultures and Traditions Cuba

The Culture of Cuba

“To be cultured is the only way to be free.” José Martí For a small country, Cuba has a very large soul. It’s all owing to a culture which is rich, vibrant and immensely varied. At the island’s heart are the Cubans, brought here…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices

Real Progress Delights and Surprises Us

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” -Ambrose Redmoon Today started out with the nice relaxation we all needed: We watched the Aristocats and Cars (In Romanian,…

Internet access in Cuba

Cultures and Traditions, Free Time Options

Kancheepuram – Pondicherry – Mahabalipuram

Up early on Saturday in anticipation of our adventure to Pondicherry. We are leaving Chennai in high spirits with flowers in our hair. The road out of town is filled with new construction of apartment houses and businesses to meet Chennai's…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices

A Good Week

Today is the end of our first official week as Global Volunteers in Chennai, India and what a week it has been. The culture that seemed so overwhelming when we first arrived is starting to feel like the norm. The group working at Assisi…

Internet access in Cuba

Volunteer Voices

Where Would They Be?”

"No matter what our differences are, we all look at the same moon." – Anonymous Today, we met with Dan before our first day of volunteering at the Children's Hospital. Carolyn, Tabatha, Justin and I were anxious to begin our day…

Internet access in Cuba

Conversational English, Reaching Children's Potential

Getting Our Feet Wet

Our first day of classes. We set out in 2 teams with excitement and trepidation. Steven had given us a description of the schools and number of students to expect, but we did not know what level of English we would find in our students.…