Short-Term Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

We’re serious about service. Global Volunteers is a human and economic development non-profit organization that engages short-term volunteers to help families and local organizations meet their development objectives. We serve only where invited, always work under the direction of local leaders on community-based projects, do only that which we are asked to do, and collaborate hand-in-hand with local people. Other organizations may offer some form of volunteer abroad opportunities, or service-learning experience. Many are for-profit corporations. Some volunteer for only one day or even a few hours. Very few are week(s)-long full-day community development programs that focus on local needs as defined by the local people. We extend ethical, genuine service to the local community and help you learn to be a responsible volunteer. Compare our programs. Compare our philosophy of service. Compare our four decades of success.

Our Philosophy of Service

We respect local people’s responsibility for their own development. Our short-term volunteer abroad programs engage your skills and energy:

Where we are specifically invited
Under the direction of local leaders
On community-based projects
Providing only requested services
Working hand-in-hand with local people

Volunteer with American Indians on the Blackfeet Reservation

Volunteer on American Indian Reservation projects for children.

volunteer on an American Indian Reservation

Volunteer with at-risk children on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

Our Longstanding Partnerships

We’ve cultivated local partnerships over four decades in order to:

Support local communities’ development vision and goals
Invest in sustained community relationships
Work in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC
Adhere to international development best practices
Engage short-term volunteers on long-term community projects
Help children reach their full human potential
Mobilize over 40,000 volunteers since 1984

Our Leadership & Expertise

Global Volunteers professional experts in human and economic development guide all short-term volunteer abroad engagements:

Country managers are local nationals, highly educated, and fluent in English.
Program managers and executives earned advanced degrees in Business Administration, International Affairs, International Communications, International Development, International Management, Economic Theory and Policy, Education, Educational Leadership, English language, European Project Management, Health Professions Education, Law, Nonprofit Organizations, Public Affairs, Public Health, and School Administration.
Management team embodying 100+ years of international living, academic, and career expertise.
Global staff sharing a broad vision of comprehensive community service.
Co-founders with decades of executive expertise in business, non-profits, law, and federal and state governments.

Our Comprehensive Projects

We ensure children’s growth and development in all development projects abroad:

School and household gardens
Child nutrition programs
Micro-nutrient supplementation
Improved, fuel efficient stoves
Health, nutrition and hygiene education
Malaria and dengue fever prevention
De-worming programs
HIV/AIDs education
General education
Girl’s education
Potable water & sanitation facilities
Psycho-social support

Our Measurable Outcomes

We raise funds and allocate resources for community projects. Major projects include:

Health Center and village water system in Tanzania
Household and school container gardens in St. Lucia, Tanzania, and Peru
Dormitories for at-risk children in Peru
Reaching Children’s Potential Program in Tanzania and Peru
Elementary school constructed in rural China
Industrial washer and dryer in rural Romanian pediatric clinic
Landscaped patio, perimeter fence and garden on the Blackfeet Reservation
Playgrounds and furnishings in many rural communities worldwide

Our Worldwide Assistance

Since 1984, we’ve worked in over 200 communities in 37 countries on six continents. Major impacts include:

57% reduction in childhood stunting in five villages
6,000 children fed or provided nutritional care
1,000 mothers provided nutrition and well baby care training
10,000 hours of teacher training
300,000 students taught conversational English
7,000 hours of math & science instruction
25,000 children given direct health care
7,000 children immunized
4,000 women provided prenatal care
10,000 teens & adults given general medical care
9,000 individuals provided HIV/AIDS education

Our Exceptional Host Partners

We’re privileged to work with devoted hosts and community partners who guide short-term volunteer abroad opportunities:

Local, tribal, and national governments
Colleges and universities
Pre-schools and K-12 schools
Hospitals and health clinics
Crisis centers and shelters
Faith-based institutions and organizations
Local non-profits and NGOs
Orphanages and children’s homes
Childcare and day activity centers
More added every year

Our Excellence in Programming

We maximize our partners’ service benefits, and our volunteers’ program experience. Our model is based on:

A unique, reliable, written philosophy of service
Premier volunteer instructional materials
Full engagement by community leaders
Year-round program continuity
On-going training for in-country staff
Proprietary team-building and orientation sessions
Relevant education and cultural presentations
Detailed team and host evaluation process
Secure community lodging and nutritious meals
Optimally trained team leaders and consultants

Our Commitment to Safety

“Safety Trumps Everything” on short-term volunteer abroad opportunities. We help you protect your health and security by:

Monitoring US State Department bulletins
Providing emergency medical evacuation insurance abroad.
Suspending programs upon US travel warnings
Escorting volunteers to/from the gateway airport
Arranging comfortable lodging and nutritious meals
Furnishing bottled or purified water daily
Securing commercial transportation
Supervising every service project assignment
Recommending team security measures
Coordinating collaborative service daily

Our Volunteers’ Service Goals

You can expect to exceed your expectations on your volunteer abroad program:

Share skills in a culturally respectful way
Contribute to genuine community development
Engage in measurable outcomes
Wage peace and promote justice
Learn from and about local people
Become immersed in the local culture
Be properly guided and appreciated
Make friends and grow personally
Remain connected after returning home
Have fun and make a genuine difference

More about teamwork on site here.

Our Corporate Responsibility

We comply with the highest standards in NGO management and international human and economic development:

To respect all individuals in every way possible
To be inclusive of people of all creeds, backgrounds, religions, etc.
To strictly adhere to IRS requirements for service program contribution tax-deductibility
To honor local leaders’ goals, visions, and community objectives
To conduct business in a respectful, transparent manner
To enable volunteers to serve to the best of their abilities
To monitor and evaluate each area of our influence
To scrupulously manage our finances and donations
To fulfill our organizational goal for continuous improvement
To recognize that our volunteers and staff are our most valuable assets