Blog

This week's guest post is from Kimberly Haley-Coleman, the Chair of the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA), an accrediting body to promote ethical volunteer vacations.   Behind the smile there is a horrific reality. Those adorable children at the...

This is a guest post from Dr Hayley Stainton, that has been republished with permission from her blog Life As A Butterfly.   Volunteering and travelling opportunities were once an only option for skilled medical professionals who would work their trade and support...

This blog post is part of a two-part series sharing some perspectives and experiences of Dork Silong, a Cambodian who has grown up surrounded by NGO-culture.   There are lots of NGOs that build houses for families for free in Siem Reap, usually using voluntary labour...

This blog post is part of a two-part series sharing some perspectives and experiences of Dork Silong, a Cambodian who has grown up surrounded by NGO culture.   My name is Dork Silong, I am a Cambodian educator and tour guide with a passion for helping people. I was...

It is almost inevitable that during any time spent volunteering overseas that you will have to manage your own feelings of frustration. Communication problems, cultural stereotypes, and differing norms can all result in you feeling irritated, and the most important...

This is a guest post by Georgia Rodgers, who changed her own perspectives so much after volunteering that she wondered if other volunteers had been similarly impacted. The post is being simultaneously shared on her own blog, Use Your Privilege for Good.   “Action...

This is a guest post by Lindsay Clark, about her experience of volunteering in Fiji and what she learned in the aftermath.   Yes, but I’m not a bible-thumper out to save the children… Yes, but I was invited back to Fiji and welcomed by the elders… Yes, but we asked...

Today's guest post comes from Kenzie Yoshimura, reflecting on how travel companies need to pay attention to the way they market volunteer or work opportunities abroad.   It can be challenging and often confusing to sift through the many options, organizations, and...

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Ma went on a trip to Cambodia this spring break, armed with the Learning Service book and guided by our own author Claire! Here are a few of the things that he learned:   As a child, volunteering was always a prominent part of my life, and yet...