20-time alumni Steve Fox is a retired teacher from Washington State who participated on his first Global Volunteers program in Minnesota in 2003. 15 years later, as a retiree and octogenarian, Steve has contributed 1360 hours of service on 20 service programs worldwide. Here he shares his reflections on volunteering in retirement. (pictured here with […]
Monday, September 3: We Spread Out on Community Projects by Sarah A titch, a scoatch, a smidge, a squizzle. We all pitch in. Working hand-in-hand as volunteers on the Blackfeet Reservation. We started our week on the Memorial Day holiday – so many of the “standard” Global Volunteers project sites are closed for the day. […]
Rosebud Reservation volunteers share their team journal reflections on opportunities to learn about Lakota culture on a South Dakota service program. Day 2 Today we arose with 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 belonging to Danielle, a […]
Since 1999, Global Volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life have worked on meaningful construction volunteer projects in West Virginia’s Fayette County – helping rehabilitate dilapidated and energy inefficient homes, classrooms and other buildings. West Virginia volunteer Joanna shares her journal entry about the meaningful relationships and memories she built while working on […]
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 […]
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 […]