While short-term volunteering has gotten a bad rap because of ill-conceived and DIY efforts, we know that a steady stream of short-term volunteers, simply put, can change lives and the world. Katie, an Ecuador Global Volunteer and University of Iowa student, reflects on her short-term service trip to Quito. I was given the amazing opportunity to volunteer in […]
The world is waiting for you. Don’t just travel, travel with meaning. Imagine spending a week during your spring break, J-term, or summer vacation as an international volunteer – experiencing the world and making new friends all while helping others. Hundreds of students choose to volunteer abroad with Global Volunteers every year. Why? Global Volunteers […]
Instead of sitting on a couch, binge-watching Netflix and ordering pizza for an entire week, imagine spending your spring break contributing to meaningful projects, developing unique friendships with people from around the world, and experiencing a new culture. (Sounds great, right?!) Grab friends, family, or classmates and prepare yourself for one of our life-changing alternative spring […]
Brandy was part of a University of Central Missouri summer student volunteer group in Cuba. After two weeks of teaching conversational English to Cuban children and people and supporting the community of Sancti Spíritus in other ways, she wanted to share a message with anyone considering serving in Cuba. Brandy hopes you will pick up where she […]
A unique butterfly garden highlights our work in Costa Rica! You’re needed to help plant native species that attract butterflies, build walkways, lay gravel, and landscape the garden. Costa Rica’s Astounding Biodiversity While Costa Rica covers a mere 0.03% of the Earth’s land surface, it contains nearly 5% of all of the species of flora […]
Ever wonder what a day of service-learning in Cuba looks like? We assure you that when you help others in Cuba, your life, in turn, changes in unimaginable ways. But you don’t have to trust only our word… Read the words of Sydney, a University of Central Missouri student, describing her day in the life of a Cuba Global […]
Most volunteers abroad discover that the first days in the partner community is a time to settle in learn the day-to-day routine of service work. Some insights by a recent Cuba volunteer: By Becca, University of Central Missouri student and Cuba Volunteer. This morning we loaded all of our luggage into vintage 1950s cars, which were […]
Journal entry by Ben, Cuba Global Volunteer and University of Iowa Student, written during his volunteer program in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. Over the course of my volunteer work in Cuba, I have tried to think of a way to explain to everyone back in America just what it was like to be in Cuba. I don’t think […]
Micah, an Ecuador Global Volunteer and University of Iowa student, reflects on his life-changing volunteer experience in Quito, Ecuador. I was blessed with the opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage in Ecuador for a couple weeks. The kids welcomed us with full hearts and grins across their faces on the first day. The food was exceptional. […]
In addition to individual volunteer work projects, Global Volunteers also provides groups genuine opportunities to contribute to long-term development projects. Over the years, we have mobilized hundreds of volunteers on organized group programs. We can customize for a range of group sizes starting at 6 and up – in 17 countries across 5 continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, […]