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  • Leverage Your Retirement With Other Senior Volunteers

Explore a deep new purpose when you volunteer abroad in retirement. Join kindred spirits who contribute their knowledge, skills and compassion gained over a lifetime.  Half of our volunteers are 55 and older –  30 percent are over 65. Connect to something significantly larger than yourself.  Make new friends. Explore the world and make a difference. Help children, mothers, teachers and community leaders improve their futures.

You’ll be an important part of a team from all walks of life. Choose from a broad range of work projects and see measurable, meaningful outcomes.  You can teach conversational English, literacy and numeracy, care for at-risk infants and toddlers, repair community buildings, plant container gardens, provide pre-natal support, health and hygiene education, and so much more.

“My decision to join Global Volunteers was based upon a combination of research, desire to find a good personal match, and an organization that was ethical, supportive of its volunteers, and experienced. I spent a lot of time reading about volunteering abroad, especially for seniors and retirees. I also wanted the opportunity to work with a multi-generational group of team members, and the opportunity to become immersed with the local culture and people. I went through a process that I’m sure many others follow. I made a wish list of what I thought was important. I was drawn to Global Volunteers specifically due to their Philosophy of Service, mission, and reputation. They have been around for a long time, more than 35 years. They must know what they are doing, I thought! And they definitely do.”

– Carol McNertney, Montana and Cook Islands Volunteer

Your health and safety are our priorities. You’ll stay in comfortable tourist-class hotels or guest-houses. Enjoy three nutritious meals daily in restaurants or prepared by our staff cooks.  Bottled water is provided on all service programs. Our team leaders and local staff are trained in CPR and first aid, and our USA staff are available by phone 24/7.

We always work at the invitation of community partners, and under the direction of local leaders. This means  you’ll serve on full-day projects, five days a week on projects where you’re most needed. But, that’s not all!  You’ll have plenty of free time in the evenings for community activities, and on weekends to explore local attractions. Enlarge your perspective.  Engage the world for good!

It’s Proven: Volunteering is Good for Your Health!

Senior volunteers who serve abroad or in the USA enjoy greater vitality and psychological well-being. The Mayo Clinic cites decades-long research showing a link between quality of life and involvement with other people. Regular volunteering may even extend your life!  Consider their “healthy aging” recommendations:

  • Volunteer in the field you’re interested in to obtain hands-on experience and make connections.
  • Inventory your interests, talents and achievements, and engage your body, mind and soul on meaningful volunteer projects.
  • Join other like-minded retirees to learn, meet new people, try a range of activities, and have fun.

Working with motivated and compassionate people of all ages on volunteer abroad programs can be one of the most significant experiences of your life.

Preparations for senior volunteers overseas and in the USA

  • Professional in-country staff and partners

  • On-site orientation and team-building sessions

  • 24-hour emergency phone contact

  • Emergency medical evacuation insurance

  • Language and cultural introductions

  • Professional skills and work project interest questionnaire

  • Program summary materials and reading lists

  • Conversational English Teaching Guide

  • Global Volunteering Manual

  • Essential Services Prospectus

  • Tips on people-to-people activities

  • Hotel lodging in most partner communities

Depending on your appetite for challenge and adventure, you can select a program close to home, or in a far-flung destination. Choose a familiar project assignment, or try something you’ve never done before. You’ll have the security of working with other team members and sharing your talents and expertise under the direction of local leaders. Meanwhile, the comfort and predictability of our program logistics allow you to focus on making a difference.

According to the Mayo Clinic: “People who work to improve the world or help others tend to maintain a sense of vitality. They find that their contributions can make a positive difference. You gain the satisfaction that comes with doing something you believe in…and achieve a sense of belonging within a community.”

Theodore Roosevelt: “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others lives long after we are gone.”

“If, once you reach a certain age, you never do anything that makes you nervous, it means you’re not really challenging yourself.  There’s still so much out there to try.”

“As I grow older and my list of visited cultures expands, I remain humbled and deeply moved by the gracious nature of the majority of people.  The “catch” is, of course, that we cannot experience these valuable cultural exchanges without taking risks. We must be willing to step away from our familiar, safe surroundings and reach out to the other. However slowly, awkwardly, we inch forward, narrowing the chasm.”

“As a lifelong learner, I’ve been either a student, a teacher or both my entire life.  Since I retired from active employment several years ago, I have enjoyed the freedom to not only continue my roles as student and teacher but also to expand them in service to others.”

“Being a servant to others, giving my time and talents with no requirement for anything in return, was very rewarding.  Almost everyone I met in one way or another thanked me just for coming there.” 

“My ten trips with Global Volunteers have added whole new meaning and purpose to my life, in my retirement after 45 years as a graphic designer. Each one’s been totally worth every penny – plus all expenses are tax deductible! Previous experience is not necessary. I urge curious travelers to go.”

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What do Senior Volunteers say About Serving Worldwide?

Our worldwide volunteers themselves describe their experiences the best. Learn more from them here:

We need you! Find out where and how you can help:

Request more information describing all our intriguing volunteer travel destinations. We’ll send it out today!


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Global Volunteers is a U.S. based NGO in the central time zone (UTC -6). Because tax-deductibility, visa requirements, and language proficiencies vary, please choose the country you’re inquiring from to enable us to provide you the most appropriate information.



Thank you for your interest in a development partnership with Global Volunteers. We're unable to expand our programs at this time. As our website portrays, our current service programs center around providing the 12 Essential Services for our Reaching Children's Potential Program. But for future reference, please send any information to: partnershiprequest@globalvolunteers.org


As a private, non-profit organization independent from government and religious funding, Global Volunteers’ programs are financed almost entirely by volunteer contributions. This is important because our community partners cannot afford the “open market” costs of the services and materials we provide. Your tax-deductible service program contribution pays your expenses in the partner community. These include your food, lodging, work site transportation, program materials, team leadership, emergency evacuation insurance, and administrative costs. In addition, we provide supplemental financing to help meet our host’s many, on-going and special needs.


While English fluency does not disqualify you from participating on any of our programs, Global Volunteers is a U.S based NGO with your teammates, training materials and other communications being conduced primarily in English.

We’re unable to provide any assistance in obtaining your passport or visa. You'll need a passport to travel abroad and for some countries, you’ll need a visa.  Please keep this in mind when planning your travel schedule. If you live outside the U.S., you may have additional restrictions for participating on U.S. programs.

To provide you with information to match your specific interests, please tell us a little about you:




Many employers help cover part of the service program contribution. Providing this information can help us determine if this is available to you.



Our volunteer coordinators are available from 8:30AM to 4:30PM Central Time and will email you during that time on the next business day. If you prefer, you may chat now, or call 651-407-6100 if you’re inquiring during office hours.

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By providing my phone number to Global Volunteers, I agree and acknowledge that Global Volunteers may send text messages to my wireless phone number for any purpose. Message and data rates may apply. We will only send one SMS as a reply to you, and you will be able to opt-out by replying "STOP". For more information on how your data will be handled please visit https://support.8x8.com/business-phone/voice/work-sms/SMS_Campaign_Registration%3A_SMS_Usage_and_Content_Policies. No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
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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
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

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