Retired professor and avid amateur photographer Dr. Candice Francis and her husband Mike like to combine service work with their travels for pleasure. To celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary this year they traveled to Ipalamwa, Tanzania to take part in the RCP (Reaching Children’s Potential) project. Here Candice shares her thoughts with her excerpt from […]
With an interest in Eastern European countries and the will to contribute where help is needed Nancy Haga, volunteered in Barlad, Romania this past May. Nancy taught at the middle school students of different ages using various techniques to keep them focused, interested and made all her classes worthy to attend. She was very energetic, […]
“A healthy mind in a healthy body” was an ideal first advanced by the ancient Greeks as a prescription for living wisely. Staying active physically and mentally in retirement is mentioned by many of our volunteers as a reason for service. In an online interview, five-time Global Volunteer Elsa Boykin, says volunteering enhances her well-being […]
Linda Noonan says teaching English to children as a volunteer abroad was an opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream. But, it wasn’t without a bit of anxiety as well! As a retired teacher from Illinois, she knew her knowledge and education were top-notch qualifications. Yet, teaching students in a Mexican classroom was initially daunting on […]
First-time Global Volunteer Denise Nelson Nash has always had a passion for volunteering. In Hanoi, Vietnam, she accomplished a long-held goal – teaching conversational English at the Vietnamese Institute for Development Strategies (VIDS). She shares her story here: “As a young adult, I lived and worked in Venezuela. Living in another country taught me the value […]
Volunteer Ruth Curran reflects on sharing her experiences as a volunteer in Africa with her friends and family at home, and how difficult it can be to do justice to the depth of those experiences. As A Volunteer in Africa After serving as a Global Volunteer in Africa, Ruth writes about how to tell that […]
In November 2017, Louise Kelly decided to take a trip to the Caribbean, but not for the crystal-blue bays or soft sand beaches. Louise was craving something different, something more. She wanted to meet, learn from, work with, and develop friendships with the local people. Louise chose volunteer travel in the Caribbean. Read on for […]
In an interview with Matt Mayes, Florida-based videographer, Global Volunteers Team Leader Cindy Murray talks about her experiences volunteering and leading teams. Her advice, take a chance and volunteer. Background: Cindy served on her first Global Volunteers service program in 1997 in Mississippi. She trained to become a Volunteer Team Leader and has led teams […]
A four-time volunteer tells why Global Volunteers programs are the best volunteer vacations available. In an interview with Matt Mayes, a Florida-based videographer, Lynn describes her experience looking for, and finding, meaningful travel. Matt: You were searching for the best volunteer vacation. How did you learn about Global Volunteers? Lynn: About three years ago, I was looking […]
Volunteer Robert writes about his “reverse culture shock” upon returning home to Washington after volunteering at a secondary school in the the cloud forest region of Monteverde, Costa Rica for a week. Here’s his list of 20 things he had not expected! Reverse Culture Shock Attention Global Volunteers Costa Rica Team #233: There is a […]