Volunteer in China

Share what you’ve been given.

This may be the most vital time to make personal friendships in China. And one of the best ways you can establish friendships is by responding to the Chinese request for help learning to speak English. At Xi’an International University (XAIU) volunteers work closely with students as they learn to speak the language and develop the confidence and practical communication skills needed to succeed in an increasingly global world.

You’ll stay at the very comfortable Xi’an International University hotel. Most rooms are singles, although some are double and family occupancy. Singles are at no additional charge; however, they are only assigned to the first eight people to register.

Authentic Chinese food is delicious, servings are generous, and the selections are diverse. On the weekend, you can visit the terra-cotta Warriors, one of China’s most famous cultural attractions, and explore Xi’an’s city wall first built in the 14th century.

“I have an appreciation of the Chinese culture, the goodness and quality of their people, that I wouldn’t have known without this experience. Your programs are truly two-way streets!” Alex Doyle, China Volunteer

“I think of my bright, effervescent, eager, bubbly students. Now they’re not just statistics in a newspaper, but are faces I know – and I think they’ll remain in my mind and heart forever.” Judith O’Neill, China volunteer

“We had many scheduled opportunities to experience Chinese culture. Amazing job, “
Esther Schak, China volunteer

“This experience was life-changing. I never saw myself with an opportunity to visit China, but I feel honored to have met such wonderful people.” Scott Deppe, China volunteer

“Your genuine warmth and thoughtful guidance transformed our classrooms into spaces of true connection. We witnessed not just language teaching, but real mentorship—and we are grateful for the curiosity and courage you inspired in our students.” Abby Xiao, faculty member of Xi’an International University

“Your two weeks here enriched our campus far beyond the classroom, bridging cultures and broadening horizons for all of us. We hope this is only the beginning of a lasting partnership, and we look forward to welcoming more volunteers who share your spirit of service and openness.” Michael Hu, Associate Director of International Center and Associate Dean of the College of International Cooperation, Xi’an International University

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China Service Program Information

Experience the heart of Xi’an, China a city of ancient wonders and warm hospitality.

Click the tabs below to learn more about our China service program.

Community Work Projects

Teaching Conversational English in China

Why Volunteers Are Needed

The Chinese recognize the importance of English and encourage their students to become proficient in the language. Those who are fluent often are hired for the most important and consequential jobs in both the private and public sectors. However, few students ever have the occasion to enjoy conversations with native English speakers.

They master grammar, memorize vocabulary, and prepare extensively for standardized examinations, and many students can read academic articles and write well in English. However, opportunities to practice spoken English remain limited. As a result, students graduate with strong academic knowledge of English but lack confidence speaking naturally in everyday situations. This gap has important consequences. Strong conversational English is increasingly essential for careers in international business, science, technology, medicine, engineering, tourism, education, diplomacy, and research. Private and government employers value graduates who can communicate effectively with international colleagues, clients, and partners. Furthermore, English speaking capability is especially important for those who plan to engage in diplomacy, international business, or tourism. English also opens doors to graduate study abroad, international conferences, academic collaboration, and access to global research. Unfortunately, students who are uncomfortable speaking English often hesitate to pursue opportunities that require presentations, interviews, networking, or collaboration with people from other countries. Chinese students are well aware of the value and importance of learning English. It is their ticket to the most important and fulfilling employment opportunities in their homeland. At the invitation of the Sino American Society, Global Volunteers started engaging conversational English teaching volunteers in Xi’an in 1996.

The Difference You Make

By focusing on conversational English, you will join over 2,000 volunteers who have taught conversational English in China during the past 30 years. You will enhance your students’ future opportunities, but more importantly, you will demonstrate that North Americans are kind and generous people who value friendships and want peaceful coexistence on our planet.

Your conversations will address your students’ curriculum, and they will also benefit from listening to you tell stories about your hometown, profession, education, holidays, sports, music, travel, hobbies, interests, traditions, customs, and perspectives from your country. Conversations about everyday life and current events encourage students to think globally while building friendships based on mutual curiosity and respect. By listening to, and hearing the language spoken by a native speaker, Chinese students are able to improve their own speaking skills. When you ask them questions about their student life, family, interests, and hopes and dreams, they are forced to respond in English. This causes them to use the language in a constructive and different way other than merely reading or writing English. Your conversations will expand their ability to become more proficient and fluent. Every conversation gives students valuable experience using English in authentic situations while reducing the anxiety many feel when speaking. No previous teaching experience is required. Volunteers receive Global Volunteers Conversational English Teaching Guide, which includes lesson plans, classroom activities, games, and practical teaching resources designed for volunteers of all experience levels. One of the unique strengths of the China program is the opportunity for volunteers to connect their professional background with students’ academic interests. At Xi’an International University (XAIU) you may be invited to share your professional experience. We encourage you to submit your résumé after you register for the service program so that you can be considered to offer presentations or workshops related to your career and personal expertise. Whether your experience is in business, engineering, medicine, law, education, technology, the arts, healthcare, or another profession, XAIU wants to match volunteers with students pursuing similar fields of study. These specialized sessions allow students to listen to the language, learn professional vocabulary, ask questions related to their field of study, explore international perspectives, and better understand how English is used in their future careers. Volunteer professionals find this aspect of the service program to be most enriching.

Impact

The impact of conversational English extends far beyond the classroom. Building friendships with highly educated Chinese individuals is a substantive strategy to wage peace on our planet. While there will always be disputes among people from different countries, friends generally resolve disputes nonviolently.

By engaging Chinese university students and helping them improve their English proficiency you will make our world safer now and for your children and grandchildren in the future – one person at a time. Students gain confidence using English in real-life situations, becoming more comfortable participating in discussions, interviews, presentations, and international collaboration. They learn to communicate effectively. For volunteers, the experience offers far more than teaching. You gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, traditions, history, and contemporary society. Together, volunteers and students build something much larger than language skills. Together, you’ll foster mutual respect, international friendship, cultural understanding, and the confidence to communicate across borders. Through every conversation, Global Volunteers continues its mission of waging peace through person-to-person exchanges.

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Dates & Fees

Upcoming Volunteer Dates in China

Select Program Community

Find your preferred date by changing the year and program duration.

Change Year:

Change Program Duration:

Registration is quick and easy!

Choose program date and duration above.
Click on the option you prefer in the result list.
Complete the online registration and hold your place with a $350 deposit.

Be sure to select all applicable discounts. All payments tax-deductible.

Groups of 10 or more participants interested in dates not shown below should inquire with our Partnerships Department about adding exclusive dates to the schedule. Please email any inquiries to groups@globalvolunteers.org.

Arrival and Departure

Leave the details to us!

Global Volunteers’ China Service Program begins with the evening meal on the first Saturday. Plan your flight to arrive in Xi’an, China (airport code XIY) anytime before 4:00PM on the first day of your service program. Plan your departure anytime after 8:00AM on the final day of your service program. You must confirm your flight itinerary with Global Volunteers at least two weeks before the service program to arrange your airport pick up. If you choose to spend time in country before the service program begins, please plan to meet your team at the designated airport within the specified arrival window on the first day of the program in order to be transported to the host community.

Accommodations

Your home away from home in China

“The Xi’an International University facilities are excellent, and the campus is just beautiful!” Susan Morgan, 8-time China volunteer

During your stay in Xi’an, you’ll be accommodated in a modern, newly renovated hotel located on the beautiful campus of Xi’an International University, just steps away from where you will teach. Single rooms are available at no additional charge for the first eight volunteers.

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“The hotel was very nice and accommodating. I was very comfortable!” Esther Schak, 2025 volunteer

Designed with comfort and convenience in mind, each private bedroom features a private bathroom, mini refrigerator, and air conditioning, creating a relaxing space to unwind after a rewarding day. The bathrooms are equipped with Western-style toilets, showers, and hair dryers for a comfortable and familiar experience. For added convenience, the hotel also provides laundry machines, available for a small fee.

With its fresh, modern surroundings and convenient campus location, the hotel offers a comfortable and welcoming home away from home during your time in Xi’an.

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Meals

A Taste of Xi’an! Ancient Silk Road Flavors.

Shaanxi cuisine is one of China’s oldest and boldest culinary traditions, shaped by more than a thousand years. Xi’an sits at the crossroads where Han Chinese, Hui Muslim, and Central Asian flavors have mingled for centuries, and volunteers get to taste that history every day, three meals daily.

“The Chinese food is always varied and delicious.” Esther Schak, 2025 volunteer.

Each week includes 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners, starting with dinner on the day you arrive through breakfast on the day you depart. Double those meals when you volunteer for two weeks.

You’ll enjoy breakfast in one of the student cafeterias or at the hotel restaurant on campus. Choices include pancakes rolled up with vegetables, eggs, multiple porridges, steamed bread, steamed buns stuffed with vegetables or meat, milk, soybean milk, and yogurt. Lunch is in the students’ cafeteria. Typical menu choices include various types of noodles, fried rice, steamed rice with stir-fried vegetables and meats, and hot pot.

Dinners are enjoyed as a team in the hotel restaurant or local restaurants in Xi’an. The variety is extraordinary. Biang biang noodles, wide, thick ribbons of dough slapped and stretched by hand until they’re nearly a meter long; Roujiamo, often called the “Chinese hamburger,” braised pork or lamb tucked into a crisp flatbread; Yangrou Paomo, a soul-warming lamb soup where diners tear their own flatbread into the broth; Liangpi, cold, chewy wheat or rice noodles tossed in chili oil and vinegar; Jiaozi, dumplings served by the dozen at Xi’an’s famous dumpling banquets; and Húlàtāng, a peppery beef ball soup, all await you. Then there are foods you likely will not find elsewhere. Persimmon cakes (柿子饼), filled with walnut, rose, or osmanthus. Hulu Chicken, a whole gourd-shaped chicken often reserved for the grandest banquets. And a wide variety of noodle shapes and widths that exist nowhere outside Shaanxi Province.

Wheat, not rice, is the backbone of the Shaanxi table, and it shows up in an astonishing range of noodles, flatbreads, and dumplings. Lamb and beef are the dominant meats, most famously simmered into rich, long-cooked broths, while pork and chicken round out the classics. Every dish leans on bold aromatics, including cumin, chili, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorn, all a legacy of the Silk Road traders who once passed through the city gates.

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Cultural Immersion

Cultural Immersion in Xi’an, China

During your service program, you will have opportunities to participate in extracurricular cultural activities at the university, all of which are included in the service program contribution. Through these experiences, you can learn directly from Chinese students and teachers, gain a deeper appreciation of Chinese traditions, and take part in meaningful two-way cultural exchange.

Included Cultural Immersion Activities
The following cultural immersion activities are included in the service program contribution.

Table Talks: Themed Discussions with Local Experts

Throughout your stay in Xi’an, gather with fellow volunteers for engaging discussions led by local experts on a variety of themes. Sessions may take place over a shared meal or during the day, depending on the week’s topic and schedule. One session might dive into Chinese cuisine and culinary traditions, where a local expert unpacks the history behind regional dishes and explains what makes Xi’an’s food culture, from hand-pulled noodles to street food markets, so distinctive. Another might explore Ancient History & the Silk Road, tracing Xi’an’s role as the eastern terminus of the ancient trade route and home to the Terracotta Army. Each week brings a new topic and a new voice, adding depth and context to your time in Xi’an.

Traditional Chinese Music Instrument Lesson – Guzheng (Chinese Zither)

The guzheng is one of China’s oldest instruments, with a history stretching back over 2,500 years, and its delicate, flowing sound has long been associated with poetry, storytelling, and quiet reflection in Chinese culture. In this lesson, you’ll learn the basics of plucking technique and try your hand at a simple melody, gaining a hands-on appreciation for an art form still widely taught and performed across China today.

Chinese Calligraphy Lesson

Calligraphy is considered one of the highest art forms in Chinese culture, historically valued as much for revealing a person’s character and discipline as for its visual beauty. Using traditional brush, ink, and rice paper, you’ll practice writing Chinese characters and learn the philosophy behind proper stroke order, balance, and rhythm, skills students in China still study for years to master.

Chinese Tea Culture Experience

Tea has shaped Chinese social and spiritual life for thousands of years, from formal ceremonies rooted in Confucian and Taoist ideas of harmony to the everyday ritual of sharing a pot with friends and family. During this experience, you’ll learn about different tea varieties, proper brewing techniques, and the etiquette of serving and receiving tea, a practice that remains central to hospitality throughout the country.

Chinese Incense Art Experience

Incense appreciation, known as xiangdao, developed alongside tea culture as a refined pastime among scholars and nobility, valued for its ability to create a calm, meditative atmosphere. In this experience, you’ll learn about the traditional materials and tools used in incense-making and try the practice yourself, connecting with a sensory tradition that has quietly persisted in Chinese culture for centuries.

Paper-Cutting Workshop

Chinese paper-cutting is a folk art tradition dating back over 1,500 years, historically used to decorate windows and doors during festivals and to mark important life events with symbols of luck, prosperity, and protection. In this workshop, you’ll design and cut your own paper artwork, learning a craft that remains a living part of Chinese folk celebrations today.

Recommended Cultural Immersion Excursion.
The following cultural immersion excursions are not part of our service program contribution, but we recommend them if you’d like to explore further on the middle weekend of a two-week service program.

Terra-Cotta Warriors Archeological Site

The Terra Cotta Warriors archeological site draws visitors from every part of the globe. The Terracotta Army is a collection of hundreds of life-sized sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE to protect him in his afterlife, and unearthed in 1974 by local farmers. You can tour the Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum for a modest additional fee collected on site. It is an amazing display that should not be missed. A full-size replica of a Terra-Cotta General stands in the foyer of Global Volunteers corporate office in St. Paul, MN. He greets all who enter the building.

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Weekly Schedule

A Day in Your Life as a Volunteer in China

Please note that the following itinerary may be adjusted to accommodate the needs of each different service program.

Itinerary

MORNING/AFTERNOON

Arrival. Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by a Global Volunteers representative as you exit baggage claim, who will transport you to your accommodations to check in.

EVENING

Welcome Dinner. Your team leader will join you and all the volunteers for dinner, introductions, and a description of the following day's orientation.

The second week (Monday-Friday) follows the same schedule as the first week of service.

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Team Leader

Excellence in team management so you can focus on service.

“Wang Baoli is extremely efficient, knowledgeable, and cheerful. I cannot conceive of anyone doing a better job than Baoli.” reports Leonard Eilbacher, China Volunteer.

Wang Bao Li is Global Volunteers’ China Country Manager. Born and raised in China, Bao Li loves to share her culture – language, food, traditions – she’ll even explain the Chinese zodiak to you! She earned a degree in English, and worked for the Sino-American Society in Xi’an before joining Global Volunteers’ staff in 2005. She’s experienced in volunteer management, and participates in our intensive annual two-week training. Bao Li works diligently to maximize your service as a volunteer, consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, and is regarded by her team members as “a national treasure.”

What other volunteers say about Bao Li:

“She’s energetic, enthusiastic, kind, gentle, supportive, friendly, helpful. You are in good hands with Wang Baoli!” Paul Whelan, China Volunteer.

“Wang Baoli is a treasure! Very professional and hard working!” Tim Stockdale, China Volunteer.

“BaoLi is the best! She is kind, organized, knowledgeable, curious, and fun. She shows concern for team members’ needs and well-being, and addresses issues quickly. I enjoy her company greatly!” Esther Schak, China volunteer who has volunteered 20 times, 7 in China.

“Baoli created an efficient, culturally enlightening, professional, and enjoyable experience for the volunteers. Her preparation and organization was first class.” Scott Deppe, China volunteer who has volunteered 9 times.

“Baoli is an excellent team leader. She always does more than is requested of a team leader. She is by far one of your best.” Maria Wallace, China volunteer.

“She is a hard-working, supportive leader who maintains a joyful spirit through all activities.” Crystal Spontak, China volunteer.

“A hard-working individual who truly works to promote international understanding and friendship. She is well-organized and helpful.” Judy Mammon, China volunteer.

“Helpful and caring. I knew I could always count on her for guidance and support when needed.” James May, China volunteer.

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Community Partners

Our Community Partners in China

Global Volunteers only serves where we are invited by a local host organization or community partner. In China, we were invited by Xi’an International University located in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.

“I’ve served now on 19 teams at 11 locations, and this university did probably the best job of organizing that I have experienced! … Amazing job!” Esther Schak, 2025 China volunteer

Xi’an International University

Xi’an International University is a private institution established in 1992 with currently 30,000 students across three campuses. Its main South Campus is located in the High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in the southwestern suburbs of Xi’an. The expansive and beautiful campus combines Chinese and European architectural styles, with gardens, lakes, hills, and traditional pavilions creating a welcoming environment for both study and work.

The university offers a wide range of academic programs in Management, Economics, Humanities, Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, and the Arts. It offers 71 fields of study at both undergraduate and vocational levels, providing students with diverse opportunities for academic and professional development.

As its name suggests, Xi’an International University places strong emphasis on international exchange and global education. Many of its faculty members have overseas educational backgrounds or extensive international teaching experience. The university has established partnerships with more than 200 institutions in 25 countries and regions, and many of its courses incorporate an international perspective. It also offers international study programs, short-term student exchanges, and overseas internship opportunities, giving students valuable opportunities to learn and gain experience in other countries.

The university’s educational community extends beyond higher education through its affiliated kindergarten, primary school, junior high school, and senior high school. These schools create additional opportunities for cross-cultural interaction and for Global Volunteers to engage with learners of different ages.

An important and distinctive aspect of Xi’an International University’s educational philosophy is its commitment to preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture and philosophy. The university integrates cultural heritage into student learning through hands-on experiences in Chinese calligraphy, poetry, tea ceremonies, traditional music, and other classical arts. These activities help students connect with China’s rich cultural heritage while exploring how traditional values and artistic practices can remain relevant in contemporary life.

“This was the most well-prepared community partner with whom I have worked with Global Volunteers! They had read our resumes and had matched our specialties to their classes.” Scott Deppe, 2025 China volunteer

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Solo & Couple Volunteers

China Volunteers Serving Individually or Couples

62%

over 50

75%

women

Volunteer solo, but you won’t serve alone!

Most volunteers arrive without knowing anyone; but by the end of the first day, they have new friends to enjoy, laugh with, and serve with. Whatever your age or background, there’s a place for you here.

Global Volunteers offers among the safest and most inviting ways for individuals to travel alone and become part of a group of friends. From the moment you arrive, you’re folded into a team of volunteers. Our team leader and local community partners guide you, look out for you, engage you in meaningful service, and ensure you always know where to be and what’s next, so you can focus on what matters most; the connections you make with local people.

Solo volunteers come in their twenties and in their seventies, between jobs and between chapters of life, and they all find the same thing waiting: a team that has your back and a service program that leaves you with friendships that last for many years.

From honeymoons to retirement, couples serve side by side as their relationship blooms.

Wondering whether a service program is really the right thing to do together as a couple? Consider this: Global Volunteers exists because of one couple. Our co-founders, Bud Philbrook and Michele Gran, spent part of their honeymoon volunteering in a small rural Guatemalan village. That single shared experience moved them so deeply they built an entire organization around it which they called Global Volunteers. Read the full story here: Global Volunteers “Conceived” on Honeymoon – Global Volunteers.

Forty years later, couples are still discovering that serving side by side reveals each other in ways an ordinary vacation never will. You won’t have to choose between time together and making a difference; you’ll get both. Our team leader and local partners handle the logistics, so the only thing you’re managing is how much fun you’re having serving others. And it fits whatever chapter you’re in. Newlyweds, this is a honeymoon you’ll still be talking about at your fiftieth anniversary. Recently retired, with time and energy finally your own again? There’s no richer way to spend it than building something meaningful as a team. Whatever your age, you’ll both come to know China the way local people do, and you’ll head home closer than when you arrived, with friendships among teammates and community members that feel like family.

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Family Volunteering

Families who volunteer together, bond together!

Family volunteering offers a bonding opportunity unlike any other. Whether it’s one parent and one child, or both parents, grandparents, and the whole brood, volunteering together is an incredibly valuable and meaningful experience.

Minimum Ages for Family Service Projects

Country	Community	Min Age	Notes
China	Xi'an	10
Cook Islands	Rarotonga	8
Greece	School Year - Maleviziou, Island of Crete	12
Greece	Summer English Day Camp - Maleviziou, Island of Crete	6
Italy	Castelvetrano, Sicily	12	school year
Italy	Castelvetrano, Sicily	10	summer camps JuneAugust
Malaysia	Johor Bahru	7
Montana	Blackfeet Reservation	8
Nepal	Kathmandu	10
Peru	Lima	7
Poland	School Year Program - Reymontowka	6
Poland	Language Camp Led by Ukrainian Team Leader - Reymontowka	6
Poland	Polish-Ukrainian Summer Program - Siedlce	6
Puerto Rico	Aguada	10
St. Lucia	Anse La Raye	8
Tanzania	Ipalamwa Area	13
Texas	San Juan	12
Vietnam	Hanoi	15

Choose Country

Choose Age Range

Show All Minimum Ages

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Parents and legal guardians of minors – under age 18 – must complete a Minor Registration and travel with their children. Children 15 and under must work closely with their parent or legal guardian on family service projects. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, parents and guardians must comply with Global Volunteers’ minor supervision policy.

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Youth are invited to offer their own perspectives in team meetings and fully participate in the community work projects and free-time activities. In this way, your child gains a personal understanding of the Chinese culture as well as the role and responsibilities of a team member. They might also create life-long friendships with local youth and other volunteers who share their interests and experiences.

Group Opportunities

Imagine your student, employee, or professional association group volunteering together in China!

China is the birthplace of one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, where ancient tradition and rapid modern progress meet at every turn. Helping university students build the confidence to speak English naturally, sharing your professional expertise with students pursuing similar career paths, or simply trading stories about home with curious young minds can be many times more enriching than a traditional China “tour” experience. We work with you to meet your group’s unique goals, objectives, and personality. We work with you to meet your group’s unique goals, objectives, and personality.

Whether you’re planning a corporate team experience, faculty-led student service-learning program, faith-based group experience, or another group program, Global Volunteers can create a meaningful service experience tailored to your group’s goals.

Find your group type:

We work closely with each group to develop an exclusive volunteer program and provide dedicated support every step of the way. Our turnkey approach makes planning as easy as possible for group leaders and staff. Contact our Partnerships team to learn more and explore options for your group.

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Health, Safety, & Mobility

Your health and safety are our top priorities.

Your lodging, food, and transportation are provided always with a mind to protect your health and security.  Your team leader is trained in CPR and first aid to handle most emergencies. Global Volunteers includes emergency medical evacuation insurance in your service program fee. Read more about health and safety here.

However, you are responsible to ensure your own safety by acting prudently and being careful. We strongly recommend you consult your own physician, public health clinic and/or travel clinic for detailed travel health information. For general recommendations, consult the following sources:

Centers for Disease Control | Health Canada Online | Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

We also recommend that you have health insurance that covers you while you are outside your home country, and trip cancellation insurance in the event you must cancel your participation on the service program. Your travel agent can refer you to travel insurance providers. Click here to read risks associated with international travel. Also, please read Global Volunteers’ Respiratory Viruses Policy for Service Programs in the U.S. and Abroad.

Mobility:

Xi'an - Level 3 - Very Mobile
Our service program in China involves a campus environment that includes regular walking and stair use.
Walking: Classes take place in several academic buildings, depending on students’ majors. Most are a short walk from the campus-based hotel (about 5 minutes), with occasional walks up to 10 minutes.
Community Project: Many classroom buildings have multiple floors and do not have elevators. Volunteers need to be comfortable going up and down multiple flights. Most campus restrooms have squat-style toilets, which are common throughout Asia. While regarded as traditional in many cultures, they are more hygienic than standard Western toilets and for some, even more comfortable. That said, they are also unusual for Americans to use.
Lodging: The hotel has elevators, so stair use is not required. All rooms have private, western-style toilets.

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FAQs

Do I need a passport or visa?

For programs outside your country of citizenship, you must have a passport valid for at least six months after your planned departure from the country. A visa may also be required, depending on the country you are serving in and your country of citizenship.

What do I need to pack?

A packing list is available in your volunteer portal after you register. It includes clothing recommendations based on the season.

How does Global Volunteers determine the service project I engage in?

Service projects are first based on the needs of the community and what they prioritize. Other factors include your background, experience, stated preference, and the current requirements of our community partners.

Are cultural immersion events included in this program?

Yes, volunteers enjoy organic cultural immersion events facilitated by the team leader or community partners. They offer moments rarely experienced by tourists.

Why is there a contribution to volunteer?

As a private non-profit organization, Global Volunteers relies on volunteer contributions to serve communities that cannot afford these services on their own. For US taxpayers, your entire service program is tax-deductible.

Every service program includes double accommodations (single rooms available in most places for an extra fee), three meals daily starting with dinner on the first evening through breakfast on the final morning, ground transportation upon arrival at the designated airport, expert team leaders, on-site orientation, 24-hour emergency phone contact, and emergency medical evacuation insurance.

We also supply prep materials before your program, including a Global Volunteers Manual, a community handbook, a Conversational English Teaching Guide, and program coordination. Many volunteers fundraise for their service program and may qualify for a discount — ask a volunteer coordinator for details.

See more here: Service Program Contribution – Global Volunteers

How do I know if this service program is right for me?

More than 43,000 volunteers of all ages and walks of life have served with us since 1984. Each has been a valuable resource in supporting our community partners’ goals. As a volunteer, you’re an essential link in a long chain of those who have come before, and will follow, to help ensure sustainable community development.

In fact, we helped set the standard for short-term international service in 1984 — USA Today called us the “Granddaddy of the volunteer vacation movement.” We recommend speaking with a Volunteer Coordinator who can help you navigate our service programs and make informed choices.

Can I hear from someone who has already volunteered?

We have many testimonials from volunteer experiences we can share. Additionally, many of our program alumni are happy to speak to prospective volunteers about their experience on our service programs. Reach out to your volunteer coordinator to connect with an alumnus.

When should I register?

We highly recommend registering as soon as you determine where you want to go and when you want to go there. Service program dates can fill up fast, and a down payment of $350 secures your spot on the team. The remaining balance is due 90 days before your start date.

How do I register for a service program?

Follow this link to secure your spot on a team: Registration – Global Volunteers, or speak with a Volunteer Coordinator who will answer any other questions and guide you through the registration process.

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Volunteer in China

Share what you’ve been given.

China Service Program Information

Teaching Conversational English in China

Why Volunteers Are Needed

The Difference You Make

Impact

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