St. Paul, Minn. (August 11) – Global Volunteers, the nation’s long-standing “volunteer vacation” leader, will inaugurate a new international service opportunity in Portugal beginning February, 2008. The development partnership between Global Volunteers and the mayor’s office in Beja will offer conversational English language instruction to the city’s approximately 20,000 residents.
Working through local elementary and secondary schools and a unique “Senior University” for retired adults, American volunteers will assist students with English pronunciation and grammar skills in informal classes. This instruction model is one used by the organization in English language work projects worldwide.
During 2007, Global Volunteers has mobilized some 2,300 volunteers on over 185 teams to work on genuine development projects in 20 countries on six continents.
Teams of volunteers will experience Portugal through her people by teaching conversational English to youth and adults in the welcoming community of Beja. This modern town of over 20,000 is located about 2.5 hours east of Lisbon. Service programs dates are: Feb. 23 – Mar. 8, 2008, April 19 – May 5, 2008, June 7 - 21, 2008 and Sept. 27 –Oct. 11, 2008.
The two-week service program fee is $2,495 after an internet discount. Additional discounts are available for former volunteers, students and groups. The service program fee covers all meals, lodging, ground transportation, emergency medical evacuation insurance, team leader services and other project expenses. Airfare is extra although all project-related expenses, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
Now celebrating its 23rd year, Global Volunteers offers locally initiated and directed service programs in 19 countries on six continents. To learn more, call 800-487-1074, write to Global Volunteers, 375 E. Little Canada Road, St. Paul, MN 55117, or via the internet: email@globalvolunteers.org. The website: www.globalvolunteers.org.
