Yvonne has served 10 times with Global Volunteers and is currently serving in Peru. As a retired nurse, one might think that she is the one in charge of looking after people in every community she serves at. But that is not the case. She works on labor projects; she always works on labor projects. As […]
Ethical volunteer vacations combine purposeful service with cultural travel – to the ultimate benefit of local children and families. Global Volunteers structures programs to respect and assist the people who invite volunteers into their communities. The term “volunteer vacations” was coined by travel guide author Bill McMillan in 1993, in “Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will […]
Ecuador Country Manager Maggie Bjorklund describes opportunities to help children in Ecuador with Global Volunteers. In the gorgeous Andes Mountains of Ecuador, South America, Global Volunteers partners with the Foundation of Ladies of Calderón, a non-profit organization that runs two daycare centers on the margin of the city of Quito for disadvantaged families in the […]
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 […]
West Virginia Global Volunteer, Janet, reflects on her work with children and youth in Appalachia. I can speak for all of us here at Global Volunteers on this week’s projects: We adore the kids we’ve gotten to know and admire the adults in this Appalachian community who work with SALS. Sunshine, morning dew and fog along […]
Journal entry by Alexandra, West Virginia Global Volunteer. Our Appalachian Adventure in Service has resolved into a predictable rhythm. The day started early with breakfast and coffee then the group split up: David, Hillary and Pam stayed in Beards Fork and Sandy, Stephanie, Lynne, Kim, Janet and Alexandra traveled to Oak Hill in the van […]
Global Volunteers Bill and Barb Chase have served together in Ecuador, Tanzania, Montana, West Virginia, St. Lucia and Costa Rica since 2006. This couple volunteering worldwide exemplifies the opportunities to discover the world – and each other – together through service. Bill, a retired physician/surgeon, and Barb, a retired teacher, are loved and respected by their team […]
Global Volunteers Team #164 in Quito produced engaging photos of service in Ecuador as well as some of the numerous cultural activities. The seven volunteers, including four scholarship recipients from the University of Iowa, served at FUNDAC daycare centers for economically disadvantaged children, helping to care for babies and toddlers, and assisting with light labor projects. We offer this pictorial example […]
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. […]
Since early 2016, Global Volunteers Crete teams have been called upon by local authorities to help meet the needs of Syrian refugees in Greece. To date, volunteers work packaging and sorting donated clothing at the port of Heraklion, and preparing filled boxes for shipping to Athens. One team’s story: More than a million refugees and migrants have traveled across […]