There are thousands of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) trying to feed the world's hungry children. There are as many working on nutrition. Yet, according to the United Nations, each year more children are hungry and malnourished than the year before. How can this be?

We think volunteers make all the difference. Three decades ago, we became convinced that the only way to truly help the world's children was through a worldwide volunteer effort - people like you on the ground, in-country, bending down and looking the problem in the eye. Because money isn't the answer. But, time is the answer - your time as a Global Volunteer.

Clearly, your presence is more than valuable, because hunger and health "ladder up" to intellectual capability, and IQ is ultimately what enables local people to achieve their potential. Decades of studies prove that hungry children, malnourished children, and children with parasitic infections struggle to learn. The unfortunate bottom line is that the brain of a perennially sick and hungry child just doesn't develop normally, and the human potential of that child is severely compromised. Forever.

Consequently, developing communities are slow to develop, or don't fully develop, because the intellectual capital isn't up and coming at a robust level to lead the development.

But we know we can change that through a sustained infusion of short-term volunteers concentrating their resources on comprehensive, integrated development. So here's the choice. You can take an ordinary vacation and see the world. Or you can take a volunteer vacation with us and leave your positive mark on it.