Global Volunteers' unique philosophy of service ensures your work projects help advance the host community's current development vision and goals. Always serving at the invitation and under the direction of host community partners, each Global Volunteers team member works alongside local people, and personally contributes to needed project financing through their service program fee. Our long-term commitment to work in partnership on sustained community development projects enables you, in just a short time, to serve as a critical link in a chain of lasting community enhancements.

You're needed to assist with three very important projects:

• Teaching conversational English to youth and adults.
  
  
• Providing care and companionship for children from dysfunctional families at an after-school shelter.
  
  
• Providing care and companionship for adults and youth with physical and/or mental disabilities.

Teaching: In the spring or fall, you'll work with elementary and middle school students in a conventional classroom setting or with young adults at an afternoon vocational school. The emphasis is on improving real-life speaking skills and not on formal rules of grammar. If you join a summer team, you'll teach conversational English in informal language camps designed for either elementary and middle school students, high school students or adult professionals. The camps are centered on small-group classes (two to five students) and optional organized activities and excursions. The environment is relaxed and decidedly less formal than that of the spring and fall programs.

After-school tutoring: Work with vulnerable and at-risk elementary school children from dysfunctional homes. Help them study and complete homework assignments and work with them on social skills.

Special needs assistance: At "Caritas" Institute, serving youth and adults (primarily between the ages of 16 and 21) with physical or mental disabilities, you may assist in art classes, play games, assist with physical activities with some therapeutic value, and also provide much-needed adult companionship.

"A student-teacher trust was developed early on and was spread rapidly among Polish and American friends. Days were spent in serious study and evenings were spent in sharing, laughter, games and activities. I see so much value in building relationships and trust. Happiness comes from the heart, and people, not money, feed the heart."
~ Katie Ohotto, Canadian volunteer to Poland