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.
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, […]
Diego Acosta was born in Arequipa, in the south of Peru. At age three, his family moved to Lima, where he was raised and attended school. After serving as our English translator for four years, he became Global Volunteers’ team leader in 2022. In cooperation with our community partners in Peru, Diego leads all teams […]
James Puati and his wife, Debi, both New Zealand-born-and-raised Cook Islanders, moved to their ancestral home of Rarotonga in 2003 with their two children, Samantha and Jordan, to immerse their family in their Cook Islands heritage. Now with three grandchildren (mokopuna) and extended family on the island, they retain ties with their birth country through friends and […]
Stephen Raja Chinnappan was born and raised in Bangalore, India. He joined Global Volunteers in 2001 after serving as a free-time tour guide for volunteers in Chennai. After being promoted to Country Manager, Stephen led volunteer teams until the India program was suspended in 2018 and the Nepal program began. Stephen also provides service program […]