Serving in Greece
Picture this: You’re riding a bus up a winding mountain road in the mid-morning sun, the Mediterranean air warm and alive. Below, the turquoise Aegean sparkles. Above, the village of Kroussonas clings to the mountainside, waiting. When you step off, a chorus of children’s voices rings out—”Teacher! Teacher!”—and suddenly you’re not just visiting Greece. You’re home.
This is volunteering in Crete. Not the postcard version with ruins and tourists, but the real thing: evening classes where teenagers practice English phrases for their dreams of working in tech startups, summer days when ten-year-olds perform skits they’ve created themselves, moments when a shy student finally speaks up and the whole room erupts in celebration.
Greece has weathered economic storms that would have sunk other nations. Now it’s rebuilding, one generation at a time. English isn’t just another subject here—it’s the difference between a good job and a great one, between staying local and going global. In a country where tourism drives the economy and international business is booming, confident English speakers have the world at their fingertips.
That’s where you come in. Not as an expert. Not as a savior. Just as someone willing to share your voice, your creativity, and your time.
You’ll use Global Volunteers’ Conversational English Language Guide as your foundation, then make it your own. Love music? Teach English through songs. Into theater? Stage a production. Prefer games and movement? Turn learning into play. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection, confidence, and joy.
Summer volunteers head to Krousonas, where children ages 6–12 gather for English activities mixed with sports, crafts, and theater. These kids are just beginning their English journey, which means every word you teach feels like magic to them.
Academic year volunteers work evenings at local English Language schools, helping students ages 7–18 prepare for crucial language certification exams. You’ll model pronunciation, lead conversations, and become the encouraging voice that helps them believe they can actually do this.
The best learning happens in the margins anyway—during water breaks when you’re joking around, or in those quiet moments when a student asks you about your life back home and suddenly realizes they’re speaking English without even trying.
Greece is a country where ancient history blends effortlessly with modern spirit. Crete—the largest of the Greek islands—is a place of dramatic mountains, clear turquoise seas, and famously generous hospitality. Serving here means being welcomed not as a tourist, but as part of the community.
“Embracing Greek culture in general has made me realize the benefits of honest, yet hard work. And I sense (in Greek culture) a lack of urgency about financial gains. For them it’s more about people.”
~ Sarah Walter, Global Volunteer in Crete
Community Partner & Work Projects
Since 2005 Global Volunteers has partnered with the municipality of Malevizi and the nearby city of Heraklion. In the summer, volunteers take a scenic bus ride up to Kroussonas, a picturesque mountain village where children gather eagerly for summer English classes and activities. During the academic year, volunteers teach in the evenings at local English schools, supporting students as they prepare for important language exams.
Summer (June–July):
Volunteers lead FUN English activities in the village of Krousonas, supported by materials and guidance from Global Volunteers. Children ages 6–16 participate in sports, crafts, theater, and beginner-level English lessons. Many are just starting to learn English, making your presence particularly valuable. Volunteers work in pairs and often become instant favorites among the children.
Academic Year (September–May):
Evening English classes at local language schools give volunteers the chance to support students ages 7–18, including those preparing for advanced English diploma exams. Your conversations, pronunciation modeling, and encouragement help students gain confidence and succeed academically.
Learning also grows naturally through casual activities—games during breaks, art projects, walks outside, or simply chatting about daily life.
Service Program Logistics
Team Leader
Global Volunteers Greece Team Leader leads all teams in Greece. In cooperation with our community partners, the Team Leader will facilitate your team’s orientation, assist you in being fully engaged in your assigned work project(s), and manage all project-related logistical issues. The Team Leader will introduce you to the community, help acclimate you to the local culture, invite you to community events, and engage you in the day-to-day life of the community.
Meals
Three meals per day are included, with menus varying by season:
Breakfast: Served at the hotel each morning, featuring fresh breads, fruits, yogurt, and other classic Greek options.
Summer:
- Lunch: A light meal, such as sandwiches or salads, is provided after summer camp classes.
- Dinner: Enjoy traditional Greek cuisine at local tavernas, including fresh salads, grilled meats, vegetables, olive oil, feta, and seasonal fruit.
Spring & Fall:
- Early Dinner: A hearty, traditional Greek meal is served at local tavernas before volunteers head to afternoon or evening classes.
- Supper: A lighter evening meal is provided, giving you energy while keeping your schedule comfortable.
All meals showcase the fresh, vibrant flavors of Greek cooking, offering volunteers an authentic taste of Cretan hospitality. Vegetarian options are plentiful. Desserts, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are readily available for an additional charge.
Lodging
Volunteers stay at Annas Studios for all service programs whether you serve in the municipality of Malevizi or the municipality of Heraklion. Annas Studios is a family-run hotel situated in the small town of Ammoudara, just 70 metres from the sandy beach and within a short walk from restaurants and shops. It offers self-catering accommodation with free Wi-Fi and a private balcony. The simply decorated studios and apartments of Anna have a kitchenette with dining area. Featuring a private bathroom with shower, each unit is equipped with a fridge, cooking hobs and a TV. Each room is double occupancy while triple (family) rooms are also available. Single rooms are available for an additional fee. All rooms are air conditioned and have balconies and a beautiful view. The hotel reaches capacity quickly for the summer, so volunteers are encouraged to register early.
Transportation
All in-country transportation related to your service is included. Your Team Leader will:
- Ensure a Global Volunteers representative meets you at the airport and transports you to the hotel.
- Arrange your return trip at the conclusion of the program.
- Coordinate daily transportation to and from your work project, via taxi or bus.
- In summer, organize the scenic bus ride to Kroussonas for summer service programs.
Please note: transportation for personal free-time activities is not included.
Program Mobility
Our program in Greece in spring and fall requires volunteers to be mobile for the following reasons:
- Volunteers must independently enter and exit public buses and taxis.
- Volunteers will need to climb at least one flight of stairs to enter the local language schools.
- Volunteers will need to walk to local taverns for dinner. The walk is typically about 1/2 mile from the lodging.
- There is no elevator at the lodging. Volunteers must be comfortable climbing stairs. There are four rooms on the ground floor, but plan to navigate the stairs daily.
Our summer camp program in Greece requires volunteers to be somewhat mobile for the following reasons:
- There is no elevator at the lodging. There are four rooms on the ground floor, but plan to navigate the stairs daily.
- Volunteers will need to walk to local taverns for dinner. The walk is typically about 1/2 mile from the lodging.
Free-Time Activities
During your free time—whether before or after classes, depending on the season—and on weekends, you’ll be able to visit local sites. Opportunities for exploring this area during your free time abound. You can relax on the beach in Ammoudara, a six-kilometer sandy beach ten minutes’ walking distance from the hotel and which boasts 340 days of sunshine a year, or visit the Preveli monastery. Traveling to nearby Rethymno, you can stroll around its old Venetian-Ottoman quarter, which is dominated by the impressive Venetian Fortezza (fortress) of 1574. The area’s narrow, curving streets are lined with small churches, cafenes (Greek coffee shops), and old houses with Venetian façades and wooden Turkish balconies. You can travel east to the island’s capital, Iraklion (a 15-minute drive from the hotel), with its archaeological museum and the excavated and reconstructed palace of King Minos at Knossos just south of the city. Or, in nearby Fodele, birthplace of painter El Greco, you can walk through his childhood home and see many of his famous works. There are also several short nature walks through parks and wild areas for the nature lover to explore. In addition, several shopping areas draw a significant number of tourists to this popular region. Relaxing and soaking up the Mediterranean sun at various beaches is another popular way to relax. There is Boutari Winery just a 30-minute drive away where you can do a wine tasting. You will never be at a loss for free-time activities here!
Some resources for weekday trips:
- Little Fun Train (5 minute walk from hotel) 2 hour tour of the area including a visit to a small mountain village and monastery.
- Gazi Town: (15 minute walk from the hotel) Home of the Malevizi Museum, also offering a bakery, banks and pharmacy.
- Archaeological Museum of Heraklion: One of Greece’s most important museums, featuring the world’s finest collection of Minoan artifacts.
- Minoan Palace of Knossos: The legendary Bronze Age palace complex believed to be the center of Minoan civilization and the home of King Minos and the Minotaur myth.
- Cretan Aquarium: (30-minute drive) One of the largest in Europe.
- Water City (water park): A lively water park featuring slides, pools, and family-friendly attractions.
- Dinosauria Park: An interactive theme park where life-size dinosaur models and activities bring prehistoric creatures to life.
- Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: A fascinating museum displaying reconstructed inventions that highlight the ingenuity of ancient Greek engineering.
- Natural History Museum of Crete: A rich museum exploring Crete’s flora, fauna, and geology through hands-on exhibits.
Weekend Destinations:
- Rethymnon Town: (1.5-hour drive west)
- Arkadi Monastery: (20-minute drive into the mountains from Rethymnon).
- Chania town: (2.5-hour drive west) Agios Nikolaou: (1.5 hr drive to the East)
- Visit Spinalonga Island the old Leper colony, short boat ride from Agios Nikolaou.
- Matala, the Roman Caves Phaestos/Gourtys Palace: Archaeological ruins famous for the Phaestos.
- Santorini Island: (2.5 hr boat ride from Heraklion port). World-famous Volcanic island with black and red sand beaches…and the best sunsets in the world!
Service Program Contribution
Global Volunteers’ service program contribution covers all lodging in double accommodation, three meals a day, in-country team transportation, emergency medical evacuation insurance, all preparatory materials, onsite orientation, a full-time team leader, and administration costs. Single rooms are available for an additional fee. The Greece service program contribution is $3,046 for one week and $3,345 for two weeks. Please ask your Volunteer Coordinator about extended stay options; referral credits; and discounts for students, companions, alumni, and children under the age of 12 with an accompanying adult. We also encourage you to use Global Volunteers’ online fundraising tool to create a personalized webpage to request partially tax-deductible donations from family and friends to help cover your service program contribution. Airfare and free time activity expenses are your responsibility. The service program contribution and airfare are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
“This incredible opportunity given to my children is truly a chance of a lifetime.”
– Marina Gonianaki, parent of a child in English classes with Global Volunteers
Upcoming Volunteer Dates in Maleviziou, Island of Crete, Greece
Reserve your spot today. Call one of our volunteer coordinators at 800-487-1074 to register.
You CAN make a world of difference!