Sarah Palmer - Contributing Writer for Go Overseas

I started Volunteer Global as a hobby during a college internship with the Peace Corps, and for the next few years, researched as much as I could about volunteer travel. I graduated from the George Washington University in 2008, and was hired as a Program Assistant with the Peace Corps' Coverdell Fellows team.

Last winter, I quit my job and began working with Volunteer Global full-time. I'm so proud of how far we've come, and I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings for us!

Articles by Sarah Palmer

Volunteering for College Credit
July 23, 2012
By Sarah Palmer
Volunteering Abroad for College Credit
Volunteering for College Credit What you need to know: Many popular programs offer college credit while volunteering abroad Volunteering abroad is a great way to enhance your academic studies It's important to ensure your credits will transfer before embarking on a program A growing number of students are opting to volunteer for college credit in addition to or in the place of study abroad...
Volunteer Abroad
What is service learning? Study and volunteer!
July 23, 2012
By Sarah Palmer
Service Learning Abroad: Learning While Volunteering
What is service learning? What you need to know: Service learning programs combine the benefits of studying and volunteering abroad Service learning programs are a great way to enhance your academic studies These programs will be of interest to students looking to enter aid and development programs Over the few years, I've had the pleasure of working with educators and proponents of service-...
Volunteer Abroad
Alternatives to Volunteering abroad
July 18, 2012
By Sarah Palmer
7 Alternatives to Volunteering Abroad
Volunteering abroad isn't right for everyone but that doesn't mean you can't travel and make an impact. Maybe you need more travel experience before you feel ready to volunteer or maybe you just have a different goal in mind. There are many other types of trips that help you become immersed in a new culture while traveling and learning at the same time. What you need to know: Volunteering abroad...
Volunteer Abroad
Marketing Your Volunteer Experience
April 12, 2012
By Sarah Palmer
Marketing Your Volunteer Experience
Marketing Your Volunteer Experience What you need to know: Volunteering abroad is a great way to improve your marketable skills Consider this process before, during, and after your trip Utilize the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result One of my favorite topics in international volunteering is an often overlooked one--that marketing your service trip can directly impact your future....
Volunteer Abroad
Volunteering with orphanages abroad
August 4, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
Volunteering with Orphanages Abroad
Volunteering with orphanages abroad While looking for a volunteer abroad project, just about every organization you'll run across offers opportunities to work with children. Whether you're placed in a school, a youth development center, or an orphanage, there's no shortage of work available to help this underserved population. This article will not highlight orphanages you can work with abroad....
Volunteer Abroad
Launch a new career by volunteering abroad
July 28, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
Turn Volunteering Abroad into a Career
Turn Volunteering Abroad into a Career If you're considering a career in international development or another field, you might want to volunteer abroad to test the waters, so to speak. This helps you see, on a smaller, short-term scale, what it's like to live overseas and work with aid and development projects before fully pursuing them. Let's look at some benefits and how-to's of volunteering...
Volunteer Abroad
High school volunteers making a difference abroad
July 19, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
Volunteer Abroad Opportunities for Teens
High school volunteers making a difference abroad As a follow-up to last week's post on boomer volunteering, let's talk about teen volunteer programs, another growing segment in international service. These programs offer the opportunity for cross-cultural exchange, an engaging learning environment, and a chance at boosting teens' community service involvement--all of which come in handy for the...
Volunteer Abroad
The Rise of Boomer Volunteering
July 14, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
The Rise of Boomer Volunteering
The Rise of Boomer Volunteering What you need to know: Boomers have more time, money, and options when looking for a volunteer project. They want to get down and dirty--and still be comfortable at the end of the day. There's been a lot of "Baby boomer voluntourism is a new trend" talk lately, so to keep from rehashing old news, let's skip the what-can-they-do chat (by the way, the answer is "...
Volunteer Abroad
A Visions Service Adventure volunteer
July 7, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
Which type of volunteer traveler are you?
You know those Facebook quizzes like, "Which high school stereotype were you?" and "What's your 80s persona?" One of these days I'll create a "What type of volunteer traveler are you?" so we can all can take it and get angry at the results. In the meantime, here's the less interactive version! Go Overseas Volunteer Traveler Quiz 1. Why are you volunteering abroad? A) All of your friends are...
Volunteer Abroad
International Relief Volunteers
July 5, 2011
By Sarah Palmer
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Volunteering Abroad
Volunteering with children in Kenya What you need to know: Short-term volunteer opportunities typically last one to six weeks, and are popular with families, small groups, solo travelers. Long-term volunteer opportunities can last up to a year (or more!), and are popular with gap year takers, career breakers, and individuals looking to expand their work experience. When considering a volunteer...
Volunteer Abroad
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