Group Volunteering Opportunities

Be “go-givers!” Enable your group to make a real difference. Our group volunteer abroad programs connect you to fascinating people and important projects worldwide. Teaching English, nutrition and health care, nurturing at-risk children, supporting mothers, improving classrooms and more can be many times more enriching than a traditional “tour” experience. On-site, you learn about your group members in a non-traditional way, and know that your unique skills advance the futures of those you serve. In just one to three weeks, you obtain “real life” understanding working directly with youth and families on our long-standing service programs. Change lives – yours and those you serve.

Groups of all sizes and compositions have served with us on six continents since 1984. We strive to meet your service and budget goals through group program discounts and online fundraising. Winter holidays, spring break, J-term, and summer vacation are choice times for meaningful group volunteering abroad or in the USA. Contact us to discuss your particular schedule and needs. Student group coordinators/faculty are eligible to serve at no cost. LGBT groups: contact us about custom programing.

No one has more experience engaging volunteer groups! For over three decades, we’ve excelled in volunteer safety, management and appropriate assignments. Nothing can replace the experience of volunteering together and experiencing local culture each day. Most important, we employ your skills, knowledge and talents to the greatest benefit of local people on development projects with long-term, measureable outcomes. Relaxing together at the end of the day, you compare notes about local people’s needs and struggles, culture, history, language, and opportunities to engage the world for good. Join with colleagues, friends, classmates, faculty and alumni in a true adventure in service!

To Understand the World, you Must Engage the World.

To gain an informed perspective of the world – and your place in it – requires reaching beyond your personal boundaries. Extending your hand to others is an act of faith as much as compassion. With Global Volunteers, your group contributes to optimally structured development projects and shares important, life-affirming insights into the real lives of the people you serve.

We support and prepare your volunteer group

Professional in-country staff and partners
On-site orientation and team-building sessions
24-hour emergency phone contact
Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Volunteer fundraising assistance
Professional skills and work project interest questionnaire
Program summary materials and reading lists
Conversational English Teaching Guide

Global Volunteering Manual
Essential Services Prospectus
Language and cultural introductions
Hotel lodging in most partner communities

College and High School Students and Faculty

College and university groups apply their academic training to projects helping parents and local organizations deliver essential services to children. Provide nutrition and health care interventions, teach hygiene and disease prevention, present conversational English lessons, demonstrate gardening, model classroom strategies, nurture at-risk babies and toddlers, paint and repair facilities, and contribute to sustainable change. Local project leaders draw on every undergraduate and graduate students’ discipline to advance community development goals.

High school groups assist with various projects, such as painting classrooms, playing with babies, or reading to pre-schoolers. “Students as Teachers” is a program to share high school volunteers’ English language skills with local students who need to improve theirs. Help with pronunciation, idioms, and the like through conversations, games, songs, skits, and formal lessons. Our Conversational English Teaching Guide is filled with lesson plans and exercises – so you can “teach like a pro.”

What’s more, we integrate educational and cultural learning activities into your student volunteer program to optimize “real-life” service-learning.

Professionals, Community Leaders, Alumni

Corporate, faith-based, civic and alumni groups expect – and rely on – our development expertise to truly make a difference.

For instance, The Prouty Project’s “Stretch Expeditions” on our Ecuador, Vietnam and India Service Programs enabled executives and their family members to discover together their capabilities outside their comfort zones, and the limitations, opportunities and realities of the developing country. Caring for at-risk children, and helping build a new preschool, they significantly advanced local mothers’ ability to provide for their families. Meanwhile, inVentiv Health Clinical staff has worked with Global Volunteers in India, Poland, Romania, Montana and West Virginia to apply their skills on important projects – and meet each other in service. Together, we’ve laid the foundation for long-lasting change facilitated by their annual service contributions.

Inside classrooms, daycare centers, clinics, libraries, and offices, volunteer groups gain a rare, “insider” perspective of daily life in the partner community.

Group Service Program Fees and Discounts

Details: We take care of everything from the time you land in the host country until you depart for home. All meals, lodging, ground transportation, orientation to the community, community work project assignments, and safety and security measures are managed by our staff.

Dates: Reserve one of our standard, regularly scheduled programs, or propose custom program dates. Depending upon your group size, you can serve as an exclusive, in-tact group or join other volunteers.

Discounts: For most programs, corporate, alumni, civic or faith-based groups and the like of six or more receive $200/volunteer discount.
For student groups over 10, one faculty/staff coordinator or chaperone participates at no cost. Additional savings for student groups*:

10-12 students – $200/student discount on international programs; $50/student discount on USA programs
13-15 students – $300 /student discount on international programs; $100/student discount on USA programs
16 or more students – $400/student discount on international programs; $100/student discount on USA program

*Discounts depend on service program selection and group specifications.

“I knew not to expect a traditional vacation, but I do want to express how impressed I was with Global Volunteers’ management of our trip. I try not to have too many expectations prior to a volunteer trip, but those I did have were not just fulfilled, but exceeded. I would recommend your program to anyone and especially to those new to this type of service program.”

Sandy Edwards, BSN, CCRAinVentiv Health

“We would be so excited for an expanded and continued relationship with Global Volunteers, and I’m already planning on pushing for another week next March in Cuba with the organization. The work projects were personal and meaningful for every group member. I heard countless times how pleased they were with the itinerary, the group activities, the service projects, and the chances for exploring freely the sights and sounds of Havana. It was a lot of hard work on everyone’s part, but having you on our side has been tremendous. I was so impressed each day with every aspect of the opportunity!”

Michael TormeyNortheastern University Resident Assistant

“I have given talks on the experience of volunteering in Tanzania throughout the world, highlighting the positive contributions Global Volunteers makes. I’m currently sharing my wonderful experience in Pommern with my 33 students, as I have shared with students at our University for nine years.”

Professor John AlsupBlack Hills State University

“We experienced more than I ever thought we could in one week. This is a great way for a group to get to know another culture. I have visited a number of reservations over the years and have worked with people on a number of them. These have been among the most meaningful and beneficial experiences in my life.”

Gary SandefurProfessor of Sociology, UW Madison Member, Chickasaw Nation

“The more I see of Cuba, the more fascinated I am by it’s people, and their culture and way of life. This program has been more than I could have hoped for! I could not be more grateful to Global Volunteers.”

Sydney PastoreCuba Student Volunteer

“I absolutely fell in love with Tanzania. I felt so at home in the community. Never had I ever experienced such love and warmth from a community. It was during my service that I truly felt I found my path in life, my passion, my purpose, the place I know I will return to again.”

Morgan CormierEndicott College Volunteer

“Life is a learning experience, only if you learn. This service trip in Ecuador, working in the orphanage with the little children, has taught me more than I imagined it would – pure love, compassion and humility – it was a life-changing volunteer experience.”

Micah AugusmaUniversity of Iowa Volunteer

Refelctions on Group Volunteer Abroad Programs