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People of all ages and from all walks of life serve on Global Volunteers programs. You’ll find active retirees with a wide range of skills to share; all uniting in a common vision of global possibility.

Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Cook Islands, Cuba, Peru, St Lucia

Alumna Is Eager to Re-Connect Through Service to the World

connecting to the world

Four-time volunteer Gail Ferguson has volunteered each year on a service program since 2017 — first in Cuba, then in St. Lucia, Peru, and the Cook Islands. She writes about uncovering what’s important about meeting different people around the world, and why she hopes to connect through service again in 2021. by Gail Ferguson I […]

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January 16, 2021/0 Comments/by Maggie Bjorklund
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connecting-with-people-1-1.jpg 610 1498 Maggie Bjorklund https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2021-01-16 11:00:002021-01-07 15:45:05Alumna Is Eager to Re-Connect Through Service to the World
Individuals on Teams, Retiree Volunteers Vietnam

Human Connections are Top Outcomes for Volunteer in Vietnam

Volunteer in Vietnam

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 […]

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March 27, 2020/0 Comments/by Maggie Bjorklund
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Volunteer-in-Vietnam-1-1.jpg 600 1495 Maggie Bjorklund https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2020-03-27 15:00:412020-03-31 12:24:09Human Connections are Top Outcomes for Volunteer in Vietnam
Individuals on Teams, Repeat Volunteers, Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices

Global Volunteers is on Top of my Gratitude List

Veteran volunteer and team leader Sue Surma paused at the start of the new year to reflect on how her 28 service programs have changed her life. In her look back, she says Global Volunteers provides a world context that ensures her gratitude and enriches her understanding of the world. “When I am asked what […]

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January 24, 2020/0 Comments/by Millie Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sue-Surma-1-e1568978380242.jpg 761 1492 Millie Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Millie Pinakoulaki2020-01-24 08:26:202020-01-24 12:34:26Global Volunteers is on Top of my Gratitude List
Repeat Volunteers, Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Cook Islands

Teacher Retiree Promises to Explore the World With a Student’s Curiosity

Alumna Carol McNertney’s “second act” began with her students’ suggestion to expand her horizons. She writes how a promise to them led her on a true journey of the “heart” in her retirement – first to Montana, then to the Cook Islands. By Carol McNertney, Global Volunteers Alumna The Promise Everyone who commits to volunteering […]

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January 18, 2020/0 Comments/by Millie Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/COO1908A1-Carol-McNertney-Photo-IMG-0624.jpg 3024 4032 Millie Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Millie Pinakoulaki2020-01-18 15:47:092020-04-23 14:48:22Teacher Retiree Promises to Explore the World With a Student’s Curiosity
Family Volunteers, Retiree Volunteers Montana

Grandparents Share Experience In Service With Teenage Grandson

Ellen Shenkarow decided to spend her time in retirement helping where necessary through volunteer work. She volunteers with Catholic Social Services helping refugees and asylum seekers in Tucson, Arizona. This summer Ellen, a retired ESL teacher, wanted to spread the spirit of “doing good” with her family and teach her grandson what life is like […]

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November 16, 2019/0 Comments/by Millie Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/UMT1908A2-Ellen-Shenkarow-and-Mark-Raven-on-orientation-day.jpg 768 1024 Millie Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Millie Pinakoulaki2019-11-16 10:30:352019-11-15 21:32:44Grandparents Share Experience In Service With Teenage Grandson
Retiree Volunteers Cuba

What Is Volunteering in Cuba Like?

Four-time Global Volunteer Doris Sweet describes her service projects and some of the logistical aspects of her service program in Cuba in September 2019. She writes about the lodging and meals she enjoyed while volunteering in Havana with her grandson. Read on if you are wondering what a day in service in Cuba looks like […]

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October 25, 2019/0 Comments/by Maggie Bjorklund
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AdobeStock_68940950.jpeg 3401 5016 Maggie Bjorklund https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2019-10-25 18:06:542019-10-28 10:05:03What Is Volunteering in Cuba Like?
Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Peru

Volunteer Referrals Ensure Global Volunteers’ Future Success

Personal referrals account for more than 40 percent of Global Volunteers’ team members, on average, each year. Not only do “word-of-mouth” recommendations lend credibility to our work, but they help us engage needed numbers of team members for each service program. Who do you know that would love to experience the fulfillment of volunteering with […]

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October 24, 2019/0 Comments/by Millie Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PER1903A2-Hugh-Neville-Sandy-Neville-and-Najma-Iqbal-with-local-Day-care-teachers-2.jpg 1125 1500 Millie Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Millie Pinakoulaki2019-10-24 16:12:332019-10-24 20:48:21Volunteer Referrals Ensure Global Volunteers’ Future Success
Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Peru

Each Day, An Adventure in Service In Peru

“So how was your trip?” is a common question friends and family ask volunteers upon their return from a service program. How do you summarize in a few words – or even a few sentences – what waging peace through people-to-people service means? Anticipating this question near the end of his Peru service program, Mike, […]

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September 29, 2019/0 Comments/by Millie Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/20190504_031730.jpg 1249 1368 Millie Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Millie Pinakoulaki2019-09-29 13:23:392019-09-30 08:23:36Each Day, An Adventure in Service In Peru
Individuals on Teams, Retiree Volunteers Ecuador

First Volunteer Abroad Experience Launches Retiree on Service Career

In this guest post, Ecuador volunteer Gordon Smith takes us along on his step-by-step discovery of service abroad with preschool children and their teachers in our partner community. Secure as a father and grandfather, he knew he’d relate well to small children – even if they spoke a different language from him. In surrendering to […]

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September 27, 2019/0 Comments/by Maggie Bjorklund
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Ecuador-volunteer-13.jpg 655 1500 Maggie Bjorklund https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2019-09-27 15:24:382019-09-30 08:14:20First Volunteer Abroad Experience Launches Retiree on Service Career
Boomer Volunteers, Individuals on Teams, Retiree Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Cuba

Legal Travel to Cuba Held His Imagination. Then the Cuban People Captured His Heart

Peter enjoys the ride in one of Havana's classic cars, a 1954 Chevy

For years, alumni volunteer Peter Dykstra stood on the southernmost point of Key West, Florida and imagined he could reach out over 90 miles of water and touch the Cuban coastline. But the country remained a mystery to him while it was “off limits” to Americans. But when Global Volunteers made legal Cuba service travel […]

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September 26, 2019/0 Comments/by Sam Pinakoulaki
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CUB1904A1-Peter-Dykstra-enjoys-the-ride-in-one-of-Havanas-classic-cars-a-1954-Chevy.jpg 1125 1500 Sam Pinakoulaki https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Sam Pinakoulaki2019-09-26 11:51:372020-03-06 10:23:29Legal Travel to Cuba Held His Imagination. Then the Cuban People Captured His Heart
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