Forum on Education Abroad

Building Bridges Coalition

Community Development in Nepal

Help Youth & Adults in Nepal Reach Their Full Potential

Teach English to eager youth in Picturesque, Sicily, Italy

<p>My spouse and I were looking for a way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary!</p>

Sheri Anne Blesener

Global Volunteers invites you to experience Nepal by making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and youths. Help them reach their full potential so that they grow up as better citizens of tomorrow and make a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their country.

If you’ve ever wanted to participate in a labor of love, this program is it! Global Volunteers has been invited to serve impoverished children and young adults by locally based organizations in Kathmandu. These organizations work to nurture and educate children and young adults in vulnerable economic situations.

As a volunteer in Nepal, you’ll help youth and adults overcome the destruction and widespread poverty resulting from the 2015 earthquake. In Kathmandu’s valley, at an altitude lower than Denver, contribute your skills toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Teach conversational English, help repair living and learning spaces, and support and train marginalized women.

Join Global Volunteers teaching Conversational English to Children and Youth on the picturesque island of Sicily, Italy.

Our partners in Sicily invite you to assist in teaching conversational English, the international language of commerce, technology, and opportunity. Local leaders believe learning English is necessary for their children’s and young adults’ future success in a globalized world and an increasingly integrated Europe. The demand is high for English-speaking volunteers in the region. You can be a valuable resource in Castelvetrano, where young people must learn and practice this critical skill to get ahead.

On a typical day, you create lesson plans from standard curriculum texts and our Conversational English Teaching Guide, engaging small groups of kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school students in games and diverse interactive activities.
In addition to experiencing the daily pleasures of ‘la dolce vita’ – the sweet life – you can enjoy one of the most memorable experiences of your lifetime.



Nepal is still healing from the devastating 2015 earthquake, and your help is needed now more than ever. As a volunteer in the Kathmandu Valley, you will work directly with local communities to rebuild and grow. Whether you enjoy teaching, hands-on repair work, or mentoring, there is a meaningful role for you. Help children practice everyday English in small group settings, or work alongside locals to fix up classrooms and shared spaces that families depend on every day.

Beyond the classroom, you can make a real difference in the lives of women who never had the chance to finish school. Share simple lessons in English, health, nutrition, and basic computer skills, opening new doors for their future. After school, spend time with children through music, crafts, tutoring, and honest conversation. Your presence alone can be a source of hope and steady encouragement. No matter your background or skill set, you will leave a lasting mark on a community working hard to move forward, while gaining a life-changing experience of your own.

Global Volunteers

Sales Wolves

Global Volunteers pioneered short-term volunteer programs in 1984 to engage volunteers in meaningful community development projects around the world. Global Volunteers aims to promote peace and justice all over the globe. The nonprofit organization, in partnership with UNICEF, is led by experts and local leaders who develop and evaluate programs that help prepare short-term volunteers to maximize their contributions to long-term development projects in communities, especially in addressing the safety and development of children.
 
To date, Global Volunteers has engaged over 32,000 volunteers in 34 different countries. Invest in the continuous improvement of our volunteer management and gain new volunteer learning opportunities. Become a Global Volunteer and join the movement!

Global Volunteers pioneered short-term volunteer programs in 1984 to engage volunteers in meaningful community development projects around the world. Global Volunteers aims to promote peace and justice all over the globe. The nonprofit organization, in partnership with UNICEF, is led by experts and local leaders who develop and evaluate programs that help prepare short-term volunteers to maximize ...

You're needed to teach conversational English for one to three weeks as a volunteer in Poland. Serve in rural school classrooms in the Siedlce region, east of Warsaw. No formal teaching experience is required! Everyone's invited as a classroom resource, using our teaching manual. This is an especially fulfilling student, family, and group assignment. Exceptional accommodations offer a premier service-learning experience.

Global Volunteers’ partner community also hosts hundreds of Ukraine mothers and children who have escaped war in their country and now must adjust to life as refugees. Volunteers have joined service programs to provide material and moral support – what the United Nations calls “psychosocial support”, which takes many forms. Groups of mothers and their children are invited to Reymontówka, the Polish manor house where volunteers stay during service programs, for evening meals, music, fun, games, interaction, and relaxation with volunteers. Summer camps with Ukrainian and Polish children provide respite while focusing on relaxation, fun, and conversational English. 

Teach Conversational English in Poland

Exploring the beauty of Reymontowka Manor

Global Volunteers trip to Poland was the trip of a lifetime!

Experience life in an American Indian community on the plains of South Dakota in this volunteer program. The Sicangu band, also known as Lakota or Rosebud Sioux, is part of the Great Sioux Nation, an alliance of seven bands who once ruled the northern plains. The Rosebud Reservation is located in one of America’s poorest areas, with over 85 percent of the residents unemployed. The people of Rosebud struggle to overcome their tragic past and create a better future for their children.

Our community partners in South Dakota have requested Global Volunteers' assistance for the local community on a variety of development projects, including:
• Helping with planning, organizing, and running a week-long summer camp for elementary youth
• Helping community members with home repair
• Supporting a local women’s shelter
• Building up the firewood supply for the brutal South Dakota winters

These are unique and meaningful community service opportunities for groups, families, and individuals.

Volunteer on the Rosebud Reservation

Volunteering with the Lakota at the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota

Living and engaging in rural Poland. I’m in my 60s, retired and still catering to my adventurous instincts.

United States

Ecuador

China

Romania

Cuba

St. Lucia

Portugal

Peru

Cook Islands

Vietnam

Poland

Volunteer Abroad

Saying YES to this volunteer trip to teach conversational English to Polish and Ukrainian children ... was truly a life changing decision. My trip to Siedlce was filled with teaching, learning, bonding, celebrating, nurturing, exploring, entertaining, and truly pushing myself out of my comfort zone. The result was an experience I will never forget. The staff from Global Volunteers were organized, thorough, kind, and excellent communicators. From beginning to end, I was kept in the loop and never felt out of touch with my mission, my itinerary, or the goals of my trip. I felt that the grounds, the food, and the accommodations were all top notch. I always felt safe, respected, and energized by what was ahead of me each day. The schedule was quite rigorous, which proved to be a really good thing. While we had some down time, we also had plenty of opportunity to give back, learn from our hosts, or investigate the area. Thank you to Global Volunteers for making this first trip for me, such a memorable one!

     Our Global Volunteers trip to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota in July 2022 exceeded my expectations. There were so many dimensions to our service program there.
We stayed at a dorm of the Rosebud Episcopal Mission and Rev. John Willard was our host. On our first day after orientation we visited a wildlife refuge and hiked to a waterfall and river. We were invited to sit in on two Tribal Council meetings, which gave us insight on the issues the Lakota Tribe dealt with. On the second meeting we were involved in a discussion with the elders. We were invited to work with the Tribal Land Office. We worked alongside Lakota men and women foraging for various plants used by the tribe and we worked with them picking up litter at the cemetery and a small lake. The Lakota provided lunch for us on some of these occasions. We all felt very welcomed by these kind and generous people.
     We were also invited to their Bison range and attended a workshop at the Tribal Ranch with lunch provided. We learned so much about Lakota culture by our involvement with the
local community. Some of us participated in daily sage smudging prayer services. We were all invited and six of us participated in a sweat lodge ceremony along with Lakota who had recently finished a Sun Dance. On our last day some of our team cleaned out the basement of an Episcopal church while others of us worked with the Land Office at a Children's Day Festival handing out helium balloons, candy, and water. Each Global Volunteers trip is unique, but I list our service program activities to give future volunteers an idea of we did. 
there. This journey was personally life changing for me and I learned so much. The Lakota concept of interconnectedness with all the elements of nature is a way of life that really moved me. I truly benefited from our interactions with these beautiful people who have suffered so much throughout time and they have enriched my life.

I originally served in Poland in Oct 2019 and returned Oct 2021. I cannot say enough good things about theses programs.
They are the “Experiences”  that I enjoy the most. If you are willing to leave your “comfort zone” in a helping and learning attitude, then you should investigate these programs.
      Siedlce Poland is approximately 1.5 hrs east of Warsaw and within an 1 hr of Belarus’s border. Our team worked with some of the smaller towns surrounding the city. All were within 20 kilometers of Siedlce. It is difficult for me to put into words the experience, but I’ll give it a try. The first thing that I noticed was sense of “welcomeness “ by the local communities. That basic human connection was a great way for us to begin. Reminder : With the exception of the English teachers, folks in the area spoke very little English. The main focus was to introduce students to Native English speakers and learn speech patterns and have them practice speaking in the language. Overwhelming majority of students were eager, enthusiastic and willing to try out their skills. Teachers were always their to assist the volunteers and provide feedback both positive and areas to improve on.
After my day at school ,I tutored a few times a week or volunteered at a local English school in Siedlce. I think one of the key factors in this program is that for the most part, the students “wanted” to be involved vs “we’re required” to be there. I could tell this immediately. There were instances where we had to work through “shyness” issues , but helping build their confidence helped tear down this barrier. I developed a relationship with one of the teachers and her family in 2019 and have maintained a long distance connection. I was invited to social activities ( cook outs, Sunday worship,mushroom hunting etc) . She also helped me learn a little Polish and understand parts of the culture. They also introduced me to their friends from around the town. I will forever be great for their hospitality to a stranger from the other side of the globe.
        To wrap this review up , I would say if you can get outside your comfort zone, have a little optimistic attitude and a desire to help in a learning type of manner, and enjoy meeting new cultures, this is worth a look.

Volunteer at the Blackfeet Nation in Montana

Volunteering at the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana was wonderful. I was able to serve at the Eagle Shield Center in preparing meals for seniors living in Browning.  The native people living there truly appreciated our presence. We learned so much about their way of life. We also had the good fortune to observe and participate in a prayer service at a Sun Dance on two of our days. We learned from their elders about their culture.  And we were able to visit the beautiful Glacier National Park on two different days. Volunteering at the Blackfeet Nation in Montana was truly a meaningful and memorable time.

Inspiring children in Peru

I loved my experience volunteering at La Comunidad de Niños Sagrada Familia in Peru. Sagrada Familia is a community that ministers to the homeless and abandoned street children in Lima, Cuzco and other places in Peru. It provides them with food, education, safety, homes, medical care and, above all, love. The children come from difficult backgrounds but I have never in my life experience such love and caring.

The community is based in a compound in the middle of a very poor neighborhood to the north of Lima. The poverty can be a bit shocking, but the compound itself is very safe and the local people were very warm and welcoming. Sagrada Familia is a relatively new partner for Global Volunteers and while we were there they were still discussing ways the volunteers who visit can help the community, but there is no question that we made a difference. As Miguel, the community founder noted, just the fact that we came to see them is inspiring to the children. I split my time between helping construct new classrooms and teaching English to a sixth grade class. The hand made thank you cards I received from the class when I left are something I continue to treasure.

We volunteers stayed in the nearby seaside resort town of Ancón in a comfortable family run hotel. It was the off season, so things in town were relatively quiet, but the food was excellent and we were well taken care of.

Global Volunteer begins all their trips with a day of training to help the group get to know each other and understand what kind of experience they can expect as volunteers in the community. I really appreciate the values of community partnership and service that they bring to their programs. This was my fifth trip with Global Volunteers and it was by far my favorite and the most rewarding. I will be going back.

Exceeds expectations

It is a fabulous opportunity to help and experience new cultures. The best part is meeting the local people! Our work in Quito, Ecuador was headed by Maggie Bjorklund and she was fantastic! The program was very well organized and we always felt safe. We spent two weeks doing labor work at a pre-school and loved playing with the children and assisting the teachers. We also had some free time to explore the city and to try typical Ecuadorian foods.  Our hotel was centrally located and was near restaurants and supermarkets. Our pick-up and return to the airport was on time and very comfortable.  We highly recommend Global Volunteers! It will exceed your expectations!

The most meaningful trip of our lives

I decided to take my 12 year-old son with me, and volunteer abroad for the first time in our lives. I felt he was old enough to experience the joys and struggles of a completely different culture. I researched, and then researched some more.  As a single mom, I wanted it to be something that he'd never forget, be a realistic experience, yet feel completely safe and cared for.  Global Volunteers was the top of the tier as THE best international volunteering agency.  Every review I'd read during the research phase confirmed that you get what you pay when choosing Global Volunteers - for us, it meant the most meaningful trip of our lives.  We said goodbye to our small town in Ontario Canada, and headed to the beautiful lushness of Quito, Ecuador. It meant so much to me that our role during this trip was to act as 'servant-learner'. Global Volunteers mission is to meet the needs of their partner community, and that community decides what projects are valuable to them. When a community identifies what is important to them, and you can help them achieve it, the reward is unforgettable. My son and I knew we were there to help the families of the daycare centers in a way that helped them most: the initiatives were driven by the center, by the people who lived and worked there, by the parents and kids themselves, and I truly felt our small group made a big impact. Our host Maggie was a force of nature. She has been a part of the lives of the community partner for (I think) 7 or 8 years, and they treasured her. Her leadership, and her years of working in this community, gave us an experience that would never happen anywhere else. I can't express how meaningful this trip was for me as a mom, as a nurse, and as a global citizen who wants to see young kids thrive, no matter where they live in the world.  My son wants to go back next year.  The breathtaking Andes, their resilient, loving people, and the dedication of the Global Volunteers leader and our team members means we will definitely be returning. It honestly changed our lives.

Orphanage adventure in service in Barlad, Romania

My husband Dave and I found a way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on an Orphanage Adventure in Service trip  with our  Global Volunteers team  in Barlad, Romania May 19-29, 2017! Nurses at the Municipal Hospital allowed us to hold, change, and feed infants & children. Dave helped paint hospital rooms but came into the childcare room once in awhile to say hello to our infants & children. We enjoyed going for walks and eating out at night with teammates! During the day, we worked from about 9:00-1:00 p.m. and then were given two hours for lunch during which time we ate with teammates, then napped while the children napped. About 4:30 p.m. each day, Dan Cirjontu, our Country Manager, usually brought back bananas which we fed as a snack to our children. Mihaela Cirjontu, Dan's wife, often taught and reviewed the Romanian language with  us before meals. Romanian nurses did not speak English. We learned enough Romanian to make it through each day, anyways! Umed scutec  meant wet diaper; scutec murdar meant dirty diaper. Barlad is located about six hours West of the Ukraine and about six hours East of Bucharest. Residents still tell stories of how life was growing up under Communism which ended about 29 years ago in 1989. When we took a train back to Bucharest for the last stretch of our trip, we found St. Joseph Cathedral Bucharest (Catedrala Sfantul Iosif) which was the only Western Roman Catholic Church, which was located in downtown Bucharest, just in time for a Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass which is  the same Mass worldwide throughout but just spoken in Romanian! Most anyone with a nurturing heart  may provide love & care to infants, children & families!

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