Global Works Reviews

My pre-med trip to Costa Rica was a life-changing experience that helped me better understand what I want to do with my life. Getting exposure to different healthcare experiences and seeing the impact of medicine on people’s lives ensured that healthcare is for me. This trip gave me a clearer sense of purpose and reminded me why I want to become a doctor. This experience was the perfect balance of Pre-Med and fun. From helping people in free clinics to surfing at the beach, it was a very well rounded adventure. I highly recommend this trip for anyone considering Pre-Med in their future.

I had so much fun on the Pre Med trip. I have been on other global works trips before but this one was by far my favorite! I made so many friends that I am still in touch with and I learned so much about my self. One of my favorite memories of the program was playing Kent with everyone by the pool after working at the clinic. Surfing was amazing and I even saw a stingray! The wilderness first aid course is really fun and engaging and the instructors who taught it were so great. The instructors on our trip were so kind and made this program such a great experience. I am so grateful that I got the chance to go on this trip!!!

I went on a 3 Global Works Trip this summer to France and it was truly such a remarkable experience. I learned so much about french culture and about myself, met so many life changing people, and tried things I never would have expected. I started learning french last year in 9th Grade, and I can say that my french improved without a doubt. The amazing trip leaders (Gabi, Mohammed, and Lena) gave us many recommendations on how we can grow our french, and I wrote down 10 new french words a day in my journal.

Not only did I learn more french, I learned more about myself and become much more of an open minded person after this experience. I did not come with any friends, and I am grateful for that beginning struggle because I met people from all over the world (USA, France, Denmark, Spain) and learned about people with completely different life experiences.

My two favorite parts were the hike, which I hiked to the summit, because of the strong encouragement of my friends and the trip leaders. I also really enjoyed my home stay in Carcassonne with two french grandparents, where I got to celebrate La fête nationale. La grand mère would stay up with me late at night practicing my french pronunciations and spelling which I am so grateful for.

Overall, I could not recommend this experience more. If you decide to embark on a Global Works Trip, you will discover so much about yourself and the world around you, learn a language, and complete service work that is actually meaningful to the community.

This program was definitely the highlight of my summer. The people I met were so nice and have become some of my best friends. It was such a valuable experience that I look back on with so much joy. I loved pushing myself out of my comfort zone by trying new things like surfing and also having the support of others who encouraged me but did not pressure me. I loved getting to meet people in the community we stayed in. The highlight of this trip for me was definitely the people — I think I laughed more in these two weeks than I have ever before.

I have participated in Global Works summer trips for the past four summers, and there is reason I keep coming back. These trips have become the time I most look forward to in my year. Global Works has given me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, create long-lasting connections, build as a leader, and explore some of the most incredible places in the world. The service projects are always incredibly impactful and exciting to do. The home-stay part of the trip is something that sets Global Works apart from many other summer trips. They have given me the chance to experience life from a different perspective, forming connections with a community that is not my own. The group leaders are and have been incredibly fun, organized, and committed to providing the best experience for all of us. At times where I was not feeling well, the leaders were attentive and found a way to help under all circumstances. Something I love most about Global Works is its commitment to immersing kids into a country, culture, and community. It's easy to be a tourist, but with Global Works I have always felt such a strong connection to the places we visit, the people we meet, and the work we do. Ecuador was an incredible trip, it was a mix of service work and home stays in the mountains as well as an amazing Galapagos experience. Ecuador is not a place I thought I would ever visit, but I am happy I did with Global Works because they made it a truly unforgettable, immersive, and overall amazing trip. This goes for any chosen program, each one is uniquely different, but all of them are unforgettable experiences.

This trip to Costa Rica with Global Works was great! From right when we got picked up from the airport until we landed home, we were taken care of and had lots of fun. Although we had lots of rice and beans the food was great, and the housing was good. The three councilors for 19 kids was a good ratio and the councilors were nice and supportive. Although we did do lots of driving we also did lots of fun activities and volunteering. Overall Global Work has a great Costa Rica trip! I would definitely recommend!

Staying at globalworks big yellow house for a week was one of the most unexpected fun experiences I’ve ever had. Meeting and connecting with 16 other teens from all over the U.S. made the experience so meaningful and allowed for a trip with even more memories with people my age. Seeing how others lived in Puerto Rico after the hurricane was also an eye opening experience and showed me to not take things for granted. Working at the construction site with angel, iggy, Willie, and Bryan was very safe and organized and I would say that the construction and pouring concrete was the most fun I had on the trip, because it is something that you can’t just go out and do whenever you want at home. Having a goal of building a house for someone who needed it made the process more motivating, as everyone was determined to finish the work to help those in need. Overall, I heavily recommend going on the Puerto Rico service trip if you are looking to explore Puerto Rico, help others, meet new people, and work on speaking Spanish.

My Global Works trip to France was genuinely one of the best experiences of my summer. I’m French and have spent a lot of time in France, so I wondered going into the program whether I would still feel like I was discovering something new. I absolutely did. The trip showed me parts of the country, its communities, and its culture in a completely different way, and made me appreciate a place I already loved even more.
There was such an incredible variety of experiences. We hiked through the Alps and made it all the way to the summit of Mas de la Grave, did trail restoration and other community service, went rafting and kayaking, explored Grenoble and Provence, visited Avignon and Carcassonne, swam in the Mediterranean, and ended the trip back in Paris and Versailles. Some of my favorite memories, though, were the smaller ones: speaking French with locals, watching the World Cup together, sharing meals, laughing on long bus rides, and becoming genuinely close with people I had only just met.
The homestay was another highlight. Staying with a local family near Carcassonne made the experience feel much more personal than simply traveling through France as a tourist. I loved getting to know our hosts, celebrating and eating together, and experiencing everyday life with them.
Most importantly, the leaders were phenomenal. They created an environment where I felt supported enough to challenge myself while still having an incredible amount of fun. I went into the Alps nervous about the hiking and came away incredibly proud that I had pushed myself and made it to the summit. The leaders made the group feel like a real community and were kind, funny, encouraging, and genuinely invested in all of us.
I came home with new friendships, memories I’ll keep forever, and a new appreciation for France despite already considering it home. I would absolutely recommend Global Works to anyone who wants a summer that combines travel, culture, service, adventure, and meaningful connections. It really was the perfect summer.

Trustworthy. Reliable. Knowledgable. Sincere. Righteous.

I can't speak highly enough of the folks at Global Works.

Traveling with them at 19 high schoolers to Paris and the south of France was a truly awesome experience.

Their programming immerses kids in authentic language practice and genuinely connects them with real people and their intersecting cultures.

Their leaders/guides -- while keeping safety and security as the paramount concern -- were actively engaged, always, in making sure our young learners had a great, enriching time.

I recently helped chaperone a school trip to Spain, and I highly recommend Global Works! From pick up to drop off, students (and chaperones) were so well cared for! The trip organization was excellent, we ate wonderful meals, had a great itinerary with knowledgeable guides who worked well with the students, and all activities were very well-balanced between service, visiting cultural/historical sites, and free time. Most of all, the guides were spectacular -- they were so kind, flexible, and patient, and truly made sure everyone was happy, healthy, and safe. I would travel again with them in a heartbeat! Thank you, Global Works, for a fun and productive trip!