Community Partner since 1990.
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 […]
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 […]
When schools were closed on March 11 in Poland, primary school teacher Katarzyna Niedziolka immediately thought of how much her students would miss their classrooms in Grala-Dabrowizna. And then, she said, she realized the suspension of classes until April 15 would also impact the program with Global Volunteers. She sent this message to Poland Country […]
One International Truth About Children One thing that unites children the world over is their love of new experiences. On their journey to adulthood, kids learn life’s lessons through daily interactions with the people who surround them. It’s where trust, generosity, strength, love, curiosity, and insight are formed. Our community partners invite us each year […]
Linda Noonan says teaching English to children as a volunteer abroad was an opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream. As a retired teacher from Illinois, she knew her knowledge and education were top-notch qualifications. So she was eager to try teaching students in a foreign culture and test her creative skills in many different ways. […]
20-time alumni Steve Fox is a retired teacher from Washington State who participated on his first Global Volunteers program in Minnesota in 2003. 15 years later, as a retiree and octogenarian, Steve has contributed 1360 hours of service on 20 service programs worldwide. Here he shares his reflections on volunteering in retirement. (pictured here with […]
“A Dream Volunteer Vacation.” Retired College Professor Lori Wedeking has served yearly in Poland since 2002 – on a total of 34 programs teaching conversational English. She says she’s drawn by the children, of course, but lists “so many other reasons” that make Poland a dream volunteer vacation. She shares her top four reasons for […]
By Lori Wedeking, Repeat Poland Volunteer. “Hey, Lori, can I use your phone to check the weather?” This request came from a boy who had been my student two years ago at a language camp in Poland. He made this request while the language camp students were enjoying a disco dance evening. I was just […]
Global Volunteers 2020