This summer marks 25 years of Global Volunteers serving on the island of Crete, Greece. We will be celebrating this milestone anniversary with new and alumni volunteers on a service program beginning July 18. This is a rare and not-to-be-missed opportunity! What can you expect on this unique team?
Enjoy meaningful teaching with local English students in a summer school setting while being a learner yourself. For this one team only be a part of exclusive cultural events for an authentic and stimulating celebration, Greek-style. OPA!!!
Our Greece Country Manager, Sam Pinakoulaki, and our local community partners are, in fact, organizing a double celebration. Not only are we celebrating 25 years of service in Greece, but we’re also celebrating 15 years working in cooperation with our community partner, the Municipality of Malevizi. This is definitely cause for celebration!
Anniversary Service Program Itinerary Details
Saturday, July 18 – Global Volunteers “Welcome to Malevizi” dinner with community partners.
Sunday, July 19 – Global Volunteers orientation session 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walking tour of the local area. Refreshments at Heaven Beach Café.
and Sheri Sheftel enjoy Greek food and the view at Heaven Beach Café.
Monday, July 20 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Late afternoon (after allowing for the Greek siesta). Lecture on Greek philosophy by Maro Androulaki.
Tuesday, July 21 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lunch at Petousis traditional tavern. Lesson planning/free time until 8 p.m. Dinner with the team.
Wednesday, July 22 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lesson planning/free time until 6:30 p.m. Dinner in Arolithos, a traditional Greek village. There will be time before dinner for volunteers to explore the village, which consists of small shops with Cretan lace, tapestries, mosaic items, herbs, and olive oil. Dinner is a typical Greek wedding/Christening dinner with great food, live music, and traditional dancers.
Greek dancing 
Volunteers enjoy Greek dancing 
Greek dancing
Thursday, July 23 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. At 6:00 p.m. a Greek cooking lesson with Suzanna Tsalopoulou (hotel cook) where volunteers can learn how to make Greek tzatziki, stuffed vegetables, and stuffed vine leaves.
Friday, July 24 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lesson planning/free time. At 7:00 p.m. a talk “The Importance of English for Cretan Students” by local English teachers Tenia Vigla, Helen Pothos, and Athina Terzaki. At 8:00 p.m. a BBQ dinner cooked by Paul, our beloved hotel host, with music and Greek dancing lessons.
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26 – Free time
Monday, July 27 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. At 6:00 p.m. a talk by the Director of the Women’s Association of Heraklion, Mary Paxiadaki, on the shelter for abused women and children and the orphanage House of Angels.
Tuesday, July 28 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lesson planning/free time. At 7:30 p.m. dinner at a local tavern with the English teachers from Crete with whom we work during the Spring and Autumn.
Port in Crete 
View of Heraklion 
View of Herkalion
Wednesday, July 29 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lesson planning/free time. At 7:00 p.m. a lecture on Greek history and culture by Maria Hnaraki.
Thursday, July 30 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Lesson planning/free time. At 7:00 p.m. our special 25th anniversary celebration. Speeches and presentations on the history of Global Volunteers in Greece. Live music, local delicacies, and dancing. OPA!!!
Honored guests for this unique celebratory evening will be:
- the 25th Anniversary Team volunteers
- Global Volunteers Co-founder and CEO Bud Philbrook
- the Mayor of Malevizi, Mr. Bokeas
- Manolis Xenikakis, our first host in Malevizi
- Manolis Koutsoyiannis, President of Education in Malevizi
- local politicians
- community partners
- teachers
- parents
- students past and present
Friday, July 31 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Teaching conversational English to Greek children. Party at the school with water relay races and Greek dancing with the students. Time to pack up for departure. At 8:00 p.m. Final Celebration Dinner with Manolis Koutsoyiannis (President of Education in Malevizi), Greek BBQ, and dancing.
“Join me, my family, the local people, and our community partners in Malevizi and be part of our special anniversary team from July 18 to August 1, honoring 25 years of Global Volunteers’ service in Greece. And a bonus – it’s on the mythological Island of Crete. I hope you’ll join me; it promises to be an event not to be missed!”
– Samantha Pinakoulaki, Greece Country Manager
Join us for this Special Anniversary Program
This indeed promises to be a very exciting two weeks. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to volunteer in Greece, helping to improve children’s opportunities, while celebrating a milestone anniversary of service! Applications are being accepted for both one week (July 18 – 25) and two weeks (July 18 – August 1). These special celebrations won’t happen again! For more information, chat online with a Volunteer Coordinator:
Or register now:
Overall availability and single rooms are limited so don’t wait.
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