Program Reviews

This was a fulfilling way to dig a little deeper into the culture - beyond the tourist scene. We made friends with teachers, students, school office staff and ordinary folks in the sidewalk cafes. The service project - helping youth improve their English speaking skills at a local school - was very fun and fulfilling. The kids are smart, caring and enthusiastic. There always seemed to be a vibe of positive energy and friendliness in the people we met in Hanoi. They live fully. As a former '60s peacenik and Vietnam war protester, I was so happy to experience this ancient, beautiful country in such a new and life-affirming way.

Fortunately for our team, the bilingual teachers at the primary/high school we volunteered for, provided most of the lessons.
The challenges for us were to come up with impromptu activities based on the materials given to us after the lesson was explained. A lot of these activities could be learned by people who may have attended summer camps; paid attention in school and retained the fun activities from their classrooms; or, from professional educators who are trained to do this regularly. However, anyone who is quick, creative and clever can come up with activities, and when there's a team of at least a couple of other people, it's not too difficult.

My dad and I went on this as part of my bat mitzvah service project. Even though I was the youngest person on the trip (12 at the time), it was a very interesting project. It was also a lot of work. Perhaps the most thing I did was the two days I went around delivering lunches to people who could not leave their homes. We also met one women who showed us pictures about the Blackfeet religious ceremony held to ensure that her son in the US military stayed safe. It was a very interesting experience.

Spending two weeks in Beja, Portugal was an opportunity to enjoy the rhythm of this small city in the agricultural region of the Alentejo. This is a journal entry I wrote one day on my trip. I was assigned to teach at an elementary school in the nearby town of Cuba - the true birthplace of Christopher Columbus!

"Another day in beautiful Beja and team 10 will scatter to our varied assignments. Trains, buses, and sturdy feet propel the Global Volunteers on their mission to wage Peace and Social Justice by helping to teach conversational English.

Our school has primary through 9th grade classes and today started with a small group of 3rd grade students who reviewed their counting skills by making a tally of the tables (14) and chairs (27) in the classroom. They then learned to identify the pencil, its home the pencil case, the rubber and the pen. One boy observed that the pencil used to live at the Stationery Store.

The fifth graders have a better understanding but appear a bit shy about speaking. Questions are numerous showing great curiosity if not always in English.

We had another wonderful lunch with the Director and a few of the teachers. This is very convivial time with easy questions from us and them. We’ve been invited on a tour of Cuba Monday afternoon and a meal of wild rabbit at someone’s house. This should be a memorable event that strengthens the friendship growing between us.

The evening started with another Portuguese lesson from Joachim. This was a bit more challenging with some tricky pronunciations! At the end of the time Joachim looked at the coffee table and exclaimed, “What’s this book doing here!?” It was a copy of his collection of short stories based on life in Beja. I wish it were in English so I could read it.

Dinner was a great mix of pizzas and fun conversations. We close another day with a sense of well earned sleepiness and possibly dreams of great adventures to come."

I've been volunteering with Global Volunteers since 1998 and have been on 11 trips. This trip to Portugal was like all my other experiences as far as logistics. The hotel was very comfortable, the food excellent and plentiful, safety is never a concern. Global Volunteers works tirelessly to ensure the volunteers have the best opportunity to participate in the program and make the most of the experience.

The community in Beja was welcoming and gracious.

I've recommended this location to several friends and wouldn't hesitate to suggest this for a first-timer or returning volunteer.

Timothy Cunniff

I spent 1-week in Gazi, Crete teaching children English- what a wonderful experience!

HQ Review: I arrived in Gazi & was met by the Sam, the local country manager, who kindly brought me to the hotel where we stayed. Sam & the hotel owners were warm & very accommodating, making everyone feel very welcome.

Teaching: The children of Gazi were enthusiastic, warm & very eager students! Daily lesson planning takes effort, but over time & with experience using the materials available, preparations became easier. The daily interaction with the children was very enriching- learning about their lives in Crete made the experience wholly rewarding.

Location: Gazi is a charming and safe village with a beautiful coastline. All of the local people we met were so very kind and extremely hospitable- they added to the richness of our volunteer program. The village is very close to the city of Irakleion, nearby some very key archeological sites of interest e.g., Knossos. One can find many things to do in Gazi, including swimming, site seeing, local shopping, etc. and learning about the rich history of Crete. Other towns are easily accessed by car or bus.

Summary: Would return to Gazi again as a global volunteer- the people are so very grateful to the volunteers and all that they do on behalf of their children's futures!

My goal was to help the staff and children in whatever way they felt was needed. I am a retired early childhood special ed teacher so I took activities, songs, books etc but only used what the teachers wanted as part of their day. It was a very rewarding experience but not always easy for me as their structure is very different from an early childhood program in the US. However, the children were very loving and anxious for attention and the teachers appreciative for the help so it was a good way to learn a new culture.

The program director was wonderful, full of enthusiasm and so helpful. Any difficulties which came along were easily solved with her expert help and fluent spanish. She also knew Quito and how to see all the beautiful and interesting areas of the city. I always felt safe and did not worry about being out and about.

My only change would be to bring warmer clothes if I went in Jan. again, especially pajamas. We had some lovely days but evenings were damp and rainy. Without heat in the hotel it could be chilly. My hair dryer also served as a bed warmer!

I am a volunteer team leader for Global Volunteers. I have lead in Queretaro more than 8 times. I continue to return to Mexcio because I am committed to the philosphy of the organization which is to build relationships ...one person at a time. We teach conversatinal English with students at UTEQ....a technical university in Queretaro. The students hope to find employment in industry in the Queretaro area and they know that being able to speak English will be a bonus on their resumes and in their interviews. Many of the students have never spoken with a native speaker...until they meet the volunteers. The students gain confidence when they realize the volunteers understand them and that the volunteers are not their to evaluate them but rather...to encourage them. The students are very enthusiastic and often build long term friendships with the volunteers they work with. Queretaro is an "alive" city with many interesting and exciting things to do during the day/evening and of course the weekends. The restaurants are an adventure to tempt the taste buds of everyone. As a team leader I have built wonderful friendships with the team members....many who return year after year....to see "their students" and the staff at the university. Our host says she believes the success of her English department and the success of the students weighs heavily on their interaction with the volunteers. I am always excited when I receive an email from a former student who says "I DID IT" ....meaning....they got their first job after college....and they "did it" in English.

I volunteered with GV in 1996 in a location near Zakopane which is no longer available. Our group stayed in the small town, with transportation daily out to even smaller communities. The logistics of getting enough community volunteers with cars to help each day was our biggest struggle, because it was a small, rural town. The community embraced us wholeheartedly, turning out nightly for dances, music, and cultural exchanges, and everyone was so appreciative that we were providing opportunities for their children. My biggest praise comes for the Poland program structure and in-country staff/translators who made the experience seamless and allowed us to focus on teaching, learning, and cultural experiences. We had assistance where needed with transportation, money conversion, events, and introductions but were also allowed to experience on our own if desired. I built wonderful friendships which continue today, and gained valuable cultural insights. I considered myself a veteran traveler and had experienced many cultures prior to experiencing Poland, but the quiet fortitude, humility, and graciousness of the Polish people made a lasting impression on me.

My wife and I have visited Pommern, Tanzania three times since 2008 with Global Volunteers (GV). We did considerable research on organizations that offer short-term service opportunities in Africa and picked GV because of their written philosophy of service and stated policies of working side-by-side with the community. The community is in charge and decides on priorities, rather than a group of Western visitors telling the local community what to do.

The program fee covers all expenses once in country - initial lodging in Dar es Salaam, meals, all transportation, lodging enroute, lodging in the village, materials for work projects and other stuff as it comes up. It pays for the full time involvement of Edward,the Tanzania Country Team leader (a Pommern resident)and Mohamed, the assistant team leader/driver for the entire service trip, and Mama Tonny, a local woman cook while in the village.

During our service trips we assisted in teaching English and Geography classes in the Secondary School, Kindergarten classes, helped at a monthly well-baby clinic and at an HIV/AIDS clinic. We worked on work projects funded by GV and requested by the community or Secondary School, such as painting classrooms and mixing concrete by hand to build walls in a new school kitchen.

We were warmly welcomed to the community and Edward always seeks ways to involve volunteers more fully. We clearly felt our presence made a positive difference for the community. We felt over our three trips we made some life-long friends in the community. Edward and Mohamed work very hard to ensure everyone, consistent with their abilities, can contribute their skills and talents to the community and make a difference. Mama Tonny is a great cook and feeds everyone very well with big, tasty meals. Most meals are vegetarian with occassional meat. Everything is fresh and the fruit is awesome! Lodging is in a 1900s era Mission House built for German missionaries. We were impressed our first time Pommern, a rural subsistence farming community, to find such comfortable accommodations, with flush toilets and running (nonpotable) water. Ample bottled water is provided by GV. Electricity is usually available in the evenings from a small generator. Mama Tonny gladly heats water for sun showers. During our trips we were able to attend both a local wedding and a funeral.

We highly recommend GV for a service trip to Tanzania. It is an outstanding experience and way to meet and interact with the community as equals and not tourists. We will definitely travel again with GV to Tanzania!

I wish all Americans could spend 2 weeks with the university students in Queretero ..... the school is more comparable to our junior colleges with students studying computer programing, marketing, business, etc. All recognize the need to know English; it is seen as a condition of employment and advancement. Many of our stereotypes are dispelled as see the long hours the students work/study, the number of global companies located in the city, the safety of city that allows night time visits to the plaza for music and coffee, or a performance at their concert hall. The people are embracing and eager to know us Norte Americanos - and our language.