Stories from students, retirees, working professionals, couples, families, groups, solo travelers, first-time volunteers, volunteer veterans and everyone in-between from more than 20 countries around the world. Learn about your favorite country in their own words.
By the end of the school session today we were more than halfway through our week of service. By now we are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our students. Their school teachers and earlier Global Volunteers have served them well. The students in the upper class can recognize English words that they […]
Reflections by Jody, on volunteering at PPA, Peru’s largest children’s home. Today was our first official day on the job at PPA (Puericultorio Perez Aranibar) for my husband David and me – and the rest of our team. Personally, the enormity of the facility itself, coupled with the beautiful architecture and the state of disrepair was somewhat overwhelming. […]
Global Volunteers salutes Roger Rowley. Roger has served on 5 Global Volunteers service programs since 1991: Java (Indonesia), Vietnam, the Cook Islands, Tanzania and Romania. Roger writes, “My experience with Global Volunteers came after a void of personal involvement in the world after twenty years in a confining business ownership. In my prior field of […]
Reflections on a handshake in Cuba by Michael, Cuba Global Volunteer and Blake School Student. Oh, a handshake! The simplest connection that humans can make. Those from different languages, races, cultures, and worlds are able to feel an instant connection. What becomes even more special is the catalyst that the handshake can produce. The reaction […]
Global Volunteers salutes Donald (Don) and Mickey Marshall for their loyalty, dedication, and service. Since 2006, Don has volunteered on 10 Global Volunteers service programs, and together, he and Mickey have served on 9 of them in the Cook Islands, Peru, Tanzania, Costa Rica, China and St. Lucia. Don writes, As a retired chemistry professor […]
Global Volunteers salutes Greg and Marcia Potvin, who have volunteered with us in Cuba, India, Peru, Tanzania, Romania and Ecuador on 7 service programs since 2007. Greg writes, I have had the opportunity to work with children in Romania (Tutova), Ecuador, and India (twice). I have also taught English in Cuba and Peru and did […]
Global Volunteers received this letter from Don Maher III, who has served on 10 programs since 2006 in Mexico, Romania, Italy, China, Tanzania, Costa Rica, India, Vietnam and Poland. One Man’s View of Global Volunteers Travel Worldwide Do you want to be a traveler or a tourist in life? That is, do you want to […]
Global Volunteers salutes Steve Fox, a dedicated Global Volunteer, who has served on 17 short-term service programs with us. Steve began his journey as a Global Volunteer back in 2003 in Minnesota, helping immigrants to converse in English. From then on, he was hooked, and went on to serve with us in Australia, West Virginia, […]
Although he didn’t know it at the time, Ken Kieffer made a life-changing decision to become a Romania Global Volunteer over a decade ago. The attachment he felt to the children on his 2005 service program became an “early warning” of what was to come. Over these years, he’s assisted the experienced nursing staff with the children’s daily needs through […]
Alyssa, a Global Volunteer in Ecuador, reflects on two weeks of caring for children in Ecuador, offering: “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” – C.S. Lewis. Today is our last normal day at the daycare. Tomorrow, we’ll be celebrating and saying our final goodbyes. It’s hard to […]