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 […]
by Kathy LeNoir My favorite memories while volunteering in Ciego de Avila all include interacting with the local Cuban people. The gardeners at the community garden were just lovely. We arrived there every morning in horse-drawn carriages to friendly greetings by all of them. Andreas instructed us with our daily tasks then both serenaded us with […]
Dear brothers and sisters, You might wonder what kind of work you come to Cuba to do. Indeed, you do not come to build schools, because we have schools and education, available for everyone. You do not come to do medical work, because we have excellent free medical service, and we don’t need evangelism because […]
Christmas in Peru, by Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar: There is no Thanksgiving in Peru, and no other holiday comes close to Christmas in terms of the excitement and commotion it causes. Yes, there is no snow. In fact, it’s summer in Peru. But that does not prevent people from wearing Santa hats. In fact, […]
by Erica Chan “Que es eso?” What is this? “Un oso, ” I said. A bear. “Oso, ” said four-year-old David, as he flipped to the next page of the book. David sat languidly between my legs in the midst of a circle of small couches. Next to me clung his eight-year-old sister Marisa and […]
A Different Holiday Story, by Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar: Holidays in Peru and the U.S. are similar in many ways. In both countries most people think of getting together with the family around a nice turkey dinner. But it is also different in many ways. For instance, in Peru most people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. But […]
Our host partner in Costa Rica is Colegio Técnico Profesional de Santa Elena or Technical Professional Secondary School of Santa Elena, located in a small town in the cloud forest region of Monteverde. It is called Colegio for short, which means secondary school, and houses grades 7 through 12. This technical high school has over 400 […]
It has been a most satisfying progression. First, we were asked by the community of Alto Progreso to help build a wall next to the community Pre-K and soup kitchen (which serves 120 children). This wall was needed to protect the children from a 12-foot drop, which recently led to two children to fall and injure themselves. The following […]
Report from Cuba – By Pam Cromer, Team Leader Global Volunteers’ historic first volunteer team is doing important work – not only meeting the community’s labor requests, but building long-lasting relationships. This is the foundation of every successful program – important, directed work, and compassionate, open-minded volunteers. When combined, long-term change can occur. Each volunteer teaches English in the […]