My Nonprofit Reviews

We (Marcia 70 & Greg 74) have been on 11 service projects with Global Volunteers. We find that GV service programs offer intimate travel experiences by requiring that we work hand in hand with the people we serve. We learn so much from the people and frankly we feel we receive much more than we provide.
Our initial experience was in Calderon, Ecuador in 2007 with our 27 year old daughter. We were blown away by the organization and care that are integral parts of the GV experience - things that are hallmarks of every program in which we have served. We felt valued and greatly appreciated the amazing interactions with the local residents. At this site we worked in a day care center tending to children whose mothers were working. We played, tutored and fed a contingent of children all under the age of 5. We came away from this initial experience knowing we wanted more and sensing that GV could become our go-to NGO for our worldwide service.
We followed with a trip to Romania in 2008 working in a failure-to-thrive clinic in Tutova. Wrestling with six toddlers was exhausting and yet so exhilarating. Again we were surrounded by local "saints" who were completely dedicated to theses very needy children.
Since we have (twice) taught school, tutored at a children's home and worked construction in Chennai, India; taught English in Peru, Crete and Cooke Islands; taught English and worked construction in Ciego de Avila, Cuba; and, taught "Methods of Teaching English" to 30 teachers in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
In 2010 we served in Pommern, Tanzania where we taught school and helped remodel a home for the school headmaster. In 2018 we returned to Tanzania, but this time we worked in Ipalamwa with the "Reaching Children's Potential" program. Marcia participated in workshops featuring nutritional needs and general health practices - she also accompanied local workers on home visits to answer questions and provide support. Greg worked with a group of local men and team members in the construction of a green house. The clinic that was being built at the time is now functioning providing residents an option to traveling three hours for medical attention. We believe that this program is having a profound impact and we plan to return as soon as the pandemic will allow. (We were planning on March 2021, but that looks out of the question.)
In closing, if you are looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities with great organization and follow through look no further, Global Volunteers is the best.

We leave on our second trip to Ethiopia with HMCHA next Friday. We will finish the bridge we started in 2012 and will also spend time with children and families served by the organization. The people of Yerer are some of the poorest that we have ever met and the positive impact of HMCHA is nothing short of amazing. We too sponsor a child and encourage you to consider doing the same.

My wife and I have done five volunteer trips with Global Volunteers - Ecuador (June, 2007), Romania (October, 2008), Tanzania (January, 2010), Peru (January, 2011) and India (January, 2012). GV is extremely organized and makes every effort to assure that volunteers are well prepared for each service project. GV provides a wealth of written materials, responds promptly to inquiries and questions and has a comprehensive web-site. Programs are sponsored by local entities which provides positive interaction with the community we serve. The country managers are well versed about their countries and assist each volunteer in having a meaningful cultural experience. We have great respect for GV and believe they are one of the best NGOs, if not the best around. We recommend the program highly and would be glad to answer individual questions.

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