October Snapshot: Global Volunteers

This month, we are featuring Global Volunteers, an organization near and dear to our hearts. Not only are they based out of the Twin Cities, our home, but they are one of our very first partners.

Since 1999, Global Volunteers has been working in consultative status with the United Nations with the purpose to “wage peace and promote justice by maintaining genuine, sustained service partnerships with host communities and by providing volunteers a genuine opportunity to serve.”

Global Volunteers offers vacationers short-term volunteer opportunities in 19 countries with options that span from teaching English, to painting, to working with community elders.

What Makes Global Volunteers Stand Out?

1. They have a healthy and unique philosophy of service. 

Global Volunteers is not your average volunteer vacation website. They believe that in “to be truly successful in sustainable development assistance, outsiders must work at the invitation and under the direction of those they are attempting to assist.” Global Volunteers is staffed by individuals who work directly with local leaders to create short-term volunteer projects that will accomplish long-term development goals.

2. They have a long track-record of success.

Global Volunteers has been around for nearly three decades, and in the world of volunteer vacations, this is a rather long time. USA Today didn’t call them the “Granddaddy of the volunteer vacation movement” for no reason. They have the experience and wisdom that many organizations are working towards.

3. They have strategic partnerships.

First off, Global Volunteers has special consultative status with the United Nations. Essentially, this means they are committed to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals and are accountable to report on their service program outcomes every four years. They also in partnership with UNICEF, The United Nations Children’s Fund. With UNICEF, they strive to be “a voice for at-risk children and their families in the host communities” they serve.

What Can You Do?

You can plan your next vacation with Global Volunteers and serve in a capacity that is truly furthering long-term developmental goals. As one volunteer put it:

“One of the best things about a Global Volunteers program is that you can be dropped into a setting in another part of the world for just a few weeks. Things are already set in motion, and you pick up where the last team left off. Being part of one team in a series, part of a long-term commitment served by many teams, I realized that I was participating in something much bigger. It was perfect for me because I only get a few weeks’ vacation each year. And yet, it was one of the most thrilling and rewarding things I have ever done.” — Jim Hausler, NY

If you’re not one to leave the country, Global Volunteers does have U.S. service programs in MN, Montana, and West Virginia. You can also consider becoming a sponsor, donating, or simply visit their Global Volunteers’ website to learn more and spread the message!