The Rosebud reservation in South Dakota is one of poorest communities in the U.S. Our community partners in the reservation share their perspectives on the reality and needs of the community as well as ways to overcome these challenges. This is the story of their work to support the people of the Rosebud reservation and […]
Judy Marx, a three-time Global Volunteer alumna, said an ancient Judaism tradition, Tikkun Olam (Hebrew for “world repair”), propelled her search for international volunteer opportunities. The world is imperfect, the lesson teaches, but is in our own hands to make it better every day. Judy and her husband John said they’ve since discovered that volunteerism […]
Every Global Volunteer team keeps a daily journal of work projects, insights, and lessons to document their own experience in the partner community. In these team journal excerpts, volunteers describe the hand-in-hand effort to make a difference alongside local people on the Blackfeet Reservation of Montana. Monday, September 3: We Spread Out on Community […]
Rosebud Reservation volunteers share their team journal about Lakota culture on a South Dakota service program. Day Two in Rosebud – Yard Work After yesterday’s orientation, we arose today in anticipation of the work assignment. We headed out and gathered any tools we could find for the day ahead. We worked outside of a home […]
As a Montana volunteer, you serve and experience life on an American Indian reservation – the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Jimmy describes the projects he worked on as well as reflects on the journey he took while making the decision on whether or not to serve. With meaningful friendships and breathtaking views, it’s easy to see […]
Global Volunteers team members often have the opportunity to participate in a traditional Sweat Lodge ceremony. It’s a unique experience for most non-Indians, who may have only heard about this practice in cultural lore. Many volunteers try a few “rounds” inside the lodge around hot rocks that are doused with water while prayers and chants are […]
Journal by Irene, Montana Blackfeet Reservation Volunteer. Today on the Blackfeet Reservation some volunteers started the morning with exercise, while others stayed back to shower and make lunches. Shortly thereafter, we headed out to the elementary school for the Carol White summer recreation program. Most of our volunteer team stayed there for the day, and a few others […]
by Barbara Gironda Marcel Proust said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.” I thought of these words often as I looked at the beautiful Montana Mountains. It has been 27 years since I ventured to Glacier National Park as a recent college graduate, eager to start […]
by Mindy Lull, Professor at Wegmans School of Pharmacy Three years ago, I had a wild idea to find a service trip in the United States where I could take a group of my students to experience a new culture, help a community in need, and grow together as teammates. I’ve traveled on service trips […]
by Todd Cannon I nearly bolted from the sweat lodge before the first round was over. I must have looked as if someone had doused me with a bucket of water – a steady stream of sweat running down my head, torso, limbs. The heat and total darkness inside the sweat lodge was nearly unbearable […]