Our Experience Spans Two Decades

In 1984, Global Volunteers helped lay the foundation for what became known a decade later as "volunteer vacations." Our short-term volunteer service opportunities focused on providing "helping hands" to community development programs in host communities abroad. Today, as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the United Nations and UNICEF, Global Volunteers mobilizes some 200 service-learning teams year-around to work in more than 100 host communities worldwide, and has gained national and international recognition as a leader in this field. Global Volunteers is fully committed to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals and reports on service program outcomes every four years

"I just wanted to thank you for starting such an organization which has enabled me -- and so many others -- to become part of a
group of people who change lives." ~Jane Prochazka, MT

From the beginning, Global Volunteers challenged traditional development models by honoring local problem solving, and engaging "average" people in local service delivery. As an apolitical, nonsectarian organization, Global Volunteers demonstrated how true "people-to-people" initiatives in "micro- economic and human development" can succeed. Read former Peace Corps volunteer Jon Kohl's feature on Global Volunteers.

We chose our host partners thoughtfully, and prepared our volunteers carefully. We requested projects that could be directed by local leaders, evaluated frequently, and sustained over the long term. We slowly built a reliable process for nurturing partnerships and delivering assistance consistently year after year. Our early lessons helped propel an emerging American short-term volunteerism industry that distinguishes us today.

Why pay to volunteer? Charity Guide features Global Volunteers