Global Volunteers staff are some of the most dedicated and resourceful people on Planet Earth! Read about their commitment to service, admiration for volunteers and what motivates them to give their best to make every service program the best experience for all involved.
In the remote highlands of Tanzania’s Iringa Region, nestled at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, lies the small village of Ipalamwa. This rural community, home to the first families enrolled in Global Volunteers’ Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) program, is the epitome of off-the-grid living—hours from the nearest city and accessible only by rugged dirt […]
Born in Colombia and raised at Sagrada Familia in Ventanilla, Peru, Jorge Sánchez Prieto, Global Volunteers’ Peru Team Leader, has spent most of his life within the very community he now serves. From a young age, Jorge dreamed of learning English, not only to open doors for himself, but to teach and help others reach […]
Born and raised in the coastal beauty of Tanga region in northern Tanzania, Fatna Mbugi, Global Volunteers’ Team Leader in Tanzania, has always been inspired by a deep commitment to social and economic development. From her academic foundation in Sociology at the University of Dodoma to her transformative experiences working with vulnerable families and youth, […]
Born and raised in the picturesque town of Castelvetrano, Sicily, Giovanni Parrino, Global Volunteers’ Manager of International Operations and Italy Country Manager, has always been driven by a deep passion for serving others and contributing to the well-being of his community. From his academic achievements in Economics and Finance at the University of Palermo to […]
When I left the UK and moved to St Lucia in 2007, I had no idea what the future held. I worked in Europe and North America as an electronics engineer, promoting components from large Japanese companies to large corporations. But my then husband and I were fed up with that stressful lifestyle and wanted […]
Rosie has a heartwarming story about her meaningful relationship with Montana to share. She is currently Global Volunteers Montana Team Leader, having joined the staff in 2023. In this blog post, Rosie shares her connection to the Blackfeet Reservation and Global Volunteers Co-founder and Senior Vice President, Michele Gran. A resilient community lives in their […]
Samantha Pinakoulaki is Global Volunteers Greece Country Manager, having joined the team in 2005. As country manager, she manages all aspects of the service program in Greece including the logistics, project assignments, and cross-cultural experiences, making sure that all volunteers have a safe and meaningful experience. When Sam is not busy leading teams, she works in […]
Upon completing her 50th service program, Volunteer Coordinator Phyllis Thompson paused to consider what first motivated her in 2003 to join a Global Volunteers team, and what inspires her to enable others to serve. We asked her to share with us her insights as a volunteer, team leader, and employee of Global Volunteers. What advice […]
This January, Dr. Mindy Lull joined Global Volunteers as the Director of Domestic Programs and RCP Research. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team that will enhance our ability to achieve our goal to help children reach their full potential. As the Director of Domestic Programs, Mindy will be responsible for […]
Olga Storozhenko has a story to tell. She is currently Global Volunteers Poland team leader, having joined the staff in 2022. But she came to Global Volunteers in a most unusual and unfortunate manner. After Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February 2022, Olga fled her homeland and settled in the small city of Siedlce, […]