• Register Now
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Destinations:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Appalachia – West Virginia
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Rosebud Reservation – South Dakota
  • Projects
  • Dates and Contributions
  • Discounts
  • Blog
  • Search
  • Menu
Alumni Global Volunteers

Roger Rowley, 5-time Global Volunteer!

Roger Rowley 4

Roger teaching in Romania

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 international customer service, I had experienced close relationships working hand-in-hand with others in Germany, Brazil, Africa and throughout the USA. In an attempt to renew world travel, I found myself outside looking in without any personal connection.

Cilacop, Java enchanted me to rebuild school rooms from tropical decay for Father Charlie, a Catholic priest. It seemed as far away from Michigan as my imagination could get me. Global Volunteers provided the vehicle to sow the seeds in my desire to repay a world in need without a sectarian affiliation or label. Since Java, I have found fulfillment in Vietnam, Cook Islands, Tanzania and Romania.

In Vietnam I realized Vietnam is a country, not a war. There people looked to the future, not the past. In 1994, the English language meant a lot to come out of Russian domination. History has given war-torn nations, grieving widows and orphans an opportunity rebuild in a better way – we can help the process.

In Tanzania, I was one dwarf with seven Snow White Volunteers. It worked well hauling the mud bricks to build a new dorm but some of the ladies bettered me.

Roger Rowley and his studentsIn Romania, two lady Global Volunteers gave their hearts and love to disabled, sometimes abandoned, children who were hospitalized. I went to the school and taught conversational English to the 7th grade students. As the lone male/fatherly figure, it seemed extremely important to surrogate students who were missing fathers, many of whom were working elsewhere in Europe. I feel a vast majority of males in developing countries are providers. This typically puts them far away from family matters.

My inept English teaching skills seemed not to matter as bonds were formed. My volunteer role also conveyed that teaching is not “women’s work”. To witness a fledgling republic after the Eastern Block gives a better understanding of what was.

I look back in thanks for such opportunities to give but realize I received more than I gave. “

Mihaela, our Global Volunteers Romania Country Manager, wrote this about Roger:

“Roger Rowley taught English at the school proving to be not only very patient with all the students coming to his classes, but also very knowledgeable and ready to share his life experiences, his extensive traveling experiences with all the young ones. A very gentle man, Roger was a delight for the students, especially for the 7th graders who came constantly to his classes.”

Global Volunteers is very grateful to, and for Roger.

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
June 13, 2016/0 Comments/by Patty
Share this post with a friend:
  • Share on WhatsApp
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roger-Rowley-2-1.jpg 717 1855 Patty https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Patty2016-06-13 16:04:242016-06-13 16:04:24Roger Rowley, 5-time Global Volunteer!
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

You must log in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Partner Communities

  • China 65
  • Cook Islands 38
  • Cuba 111
  • Ecuador 79
  • Greece 55
  • Italy 52
  • Montana 39
  • Nepal 7
  • Peru 73
  • Poland 72
  • Portugal 41
  • South Dakota 8
  • St Lucia 51
  • Tanzania 55
  • Vietnam 38
  • West Virginia 22

Categories

  • Alumni Global Volunteers
  • Boomer Volunteers
  • Conversational English
  • Couples Volunteering
  • Culture and Traditions Worldwide
  • Development Impact
  • Family Volunteers
  • Free Time Options
  • Global Volunteers
  • Group Volunteering
  • Impact Stories
  • Individuals on Teams
  • Projects for Professionals
  • Reaching Children's Potential
  • Retiree Volunteers
  • Staff worldwide.
  • Student Volunteers
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteer Voices

Tags

alumni volunteers American Indian culture Appalachian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects lgbt program retiree service-learning Spring break summer volunteer program Support women teaching children teaching english team leader volunteer benefits Volunteer impact work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering
  • About Us
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Our Vision
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Your Impact
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Scholarship Opportunity
  • News/Media
  • Employment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Subscribe receive notifications of new posts and updates by email.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is an apolitical, non-sectarian, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
The Impact of a Simple Handshake in Cuba Learning About Cuba Makes Life Interesting
Scroll to top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.