Greg and Marcia Potvin have served on eleven service programs with Global Volunteers since 2007. In this interview with Maggie Bjorklund, Volunteer Engagement Manager, Greg and Marcia tell why they continue giving of themselves as volunteers, what they’ve learned from our partner communities around the world, and why they intend to return once the pandemic […]
Tanzania volunteer Marsha Dixon served in Ipalamwa, Tanzania in January 2020 on her first service program with Global Volunteers. She wrote this poem on Ipalamwa and her worries now that the world is facing a pandemic. Her hope is that our futures are filled with more human connection. By Marsha Dixon Ipalamwa It is through […]
Mother-daughter pair Ann Hite and Maddie Hite-Smaka volunteered in Ecuador over Maddie’s 26th birthday to be able to spend time together in a different setting, away from home. At the end of their week in service in Quito, Ann and Maddie reflect on their time together and how this experience differed from any other. Maddie […]
The first team of Global Volunteers served in Española, New Mexico in March, to begin what community leaders hope will be a lasting relationship between their schools and Global Volunteers. The team of 13 volunteers worked on a variety of projects in this Hispanic community, forging relationships with teachers, students, and community leaders. Read on […]
Three-time volunteer Jim Gorski describes his yearning to learn about other cultures, and go beyond tourist attractions to understand how ordinary people around the world live. Here, Jim reflects on Global Volunteers’ Philosophy of Service and how it affords people the opportunity to make a real contribution to local communities and enriches the volunteer experience. […]
In her team journal entry, Ecuador volunteer Maddie Hite-Smaka describes the humbling experience of visiting the home of a child and being graciously welcomed by the family. The team was invited to visit the home of Ana María (mother) and Daniel*, a three-year-old with whom they worked at an early childhood development center for the […]
Student volunteer Josh Elkin describes his experience serving at Sagrada Familia in Peru while learning about himself and from local people. At the age of 18, he sought out a volunteer experience that would present him with challenges and help him to achieve a perspective beyond that of his home and normal routine. Here, he […]
In this journal entry, two-time volunteer Betsy Creedon covers the ABCs of volunteering in Ecuador – everything from altitude to llamas to learning phrases in Spanish. Read on to learn about what fun it is to volunteer with children in Ecuador, and bond together as a team. Betsy concludes it’s so much fun, there are […]
The spirit of Valentines Day is evident to Global Volunteers all year around – all around the world. These reports – in the words of our team members – tell of the human sentiments that can’t be captured on a greeting card. The Language of Love Mark Bierbaum calls his service in Peru “a joyful […]
With a thirst for cross-cultural knowledge, octogenarian Carolyn Gallaher joined her third service program with Global Volunteers in hope to uncover the true heart of Crete. She soon learned she wouldn’t be disappointed. Carolyn was grateful to work on a variety of service projects that put her in direct contact with Greeks of all ages, […]