Community Partner since 1994.
Global Volunteers CEO and Co-founder Bud Philbrook claims that in all his travels across the world, Vietnam remains one of his favorite places to volunteer. Why? Read on for Bud’s eight reasons to volunteer in Hanoi! 1. Americans are welcomed and appreciated. “I’ve been to Vietnam numerous times over the past 22 years. The one […]
Sidelined from travel by the 2020-21 pandemic Global Volunteers Alumnus Don Marshall of Sebastopol, CA, isn’t slowing down now that travel has resumed. As he considers his next adventure in service, he recently reminisced about about his rewarding Vietnam service journey, and continues exploring new opportunities to serve the Vietnamese people. Since 2006, Don and […]
Working toward self-sufficiency is related to many of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, and is a baseline criterion of Global Volunteers’ service programs. This post illuminates how volunteers assist two of our community partners in Asia work to elevate local people’s capacity and confidence to become agents of their own progress. When volunteers teach conversational […]
Two Vietnamese adults who have worked with Global Volunteers teams relates the realities of living with a visual disability, and how community partner Blind-Link has enabled them to thrive. Read on to learn the obstacles and opportunities they encounter, and how you can help. Global Volunteers’ partner, Blind-Link, is a nonprofit social enterprise with a […]
While the global media focused on COVID-19 cases worldwide, Vietnam quietly proceeded with their containment campaign and now is cautiously restoring daily life. Despite its dense population and proximity to China, Vietnam has held onto one of the world’s lowest infection rates. How have they succeeded where the richest countries with the best health care […]
Three-time volunteer Melinda Staveley says she chooses Global Volunteers service for her travel abroad for the deeper human connection and cultural learning. In Vietnam, Melinda taught conversational English to visually impaired young massage therapists. The non-profit spa where they train and work serves mainly international clients where English language skills are essential. Read on for […]
In Hanoi’s city center, people for generations have integrated Hoàn Kiếm Lake into their daily lives. Central to their social, physical and cultural routines, youth and adults crowd the site day and night. In the early morning, community elders congregate in traditional areas to practice Tai Chi, while youth and young adults jog on the […]
Seven–time Global Volunteer and Colorado retiree Rene Moquin employed his legendary optimism and enthusiasm to captivate students at Nguyen Binh Khiem School (NBK) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Through skits, music and personal charm, he urges them to “dream of new possibilities.” In these journal entries, Rene reflects on his singular experience and offers personal insight to […]
Elizabeth Wang, Senior Marketing Product Manager at Google, sought both a different way to travel and a meaningful way to give back to the global community. After reviewing several organizations online, Elizabeth selected Global Volunteers’ Vietnam service program. She served in Hanoi at Blind-Link, a non-profit organization which trains visually impaired adults in massage therapy […]
Relatively little research is available on the wellbeing of the large population of visually impaired or blind adults in Vietnam. Global Volunteers’ partner, Blind-Link, a social entrepreneurship program, professionally trains blind young Vietnamese adults for a career in massage therapy, affording them the opportunity to significantly elevate their lives. In this interview, two Blind-Link staff […]