"Global Volunteers has a plethora of programs for families, and a "Safety Trumps Everything" policy that I think is especially appropriate when young people are involved. The organization is one of the largest and most respected VSOs in the United States. Global Volunteers offers family programs all around the world including China, Vietnam, Poland, Mexico, Peru and Tanzania."
~ Transitions Abroad Volunteer Travel Editor Zahara Hechscher

Stretching outside your normal routine, and sharing your skills and compassion with others as a family can be life-changing. Because of the wide appeal of our program options, most every team is multi-generational in its makeup. See Service Program minimum age requirements. Family pairings and groups, such as grandparents and grandchildren, are increasingly common on Global Volunteers service programs. This is especially conducive for volunteering as a family of various ages. Read an account of volunteering families. The team work structure of Global Volunteers programs optimizes your service contribution while joining with like-minded team mates increases the potential for your personal satisfaction.

"It was all we had hoped for and more. From the very start, the Global Volunteer staff was attentive to our needs and made a conscious effort to assure that we understood the intricacies of volunteering as a family."
~ Lisa Kaija, Costa Rica volunteer

Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety, and our staff and team leaders are trained to care for you throughout the service program. We manage all the program details so you can focus on your service as a family. You'll have secure accommodations, safe food and water, and a partner community that cares about your welfare.

An Experience of a Lifetime: We know that in choosing a "volunteer vacation," you expect to make a genuine contribution while learning about the host community. Count on us to guide you. Our expertise is rooted in four decades of practical and academic experience, so as a Global Volunteer, you benefit from this deep intercultural understanding. You can anticipate new insights from each other as you volunteer and contribute to local people at the work site. A"tween's" story about volunteering in Peru.

"It was about 10 days into our service project, and Jack and I were tired from hauling five gallon buckets of water, gravel, sand, and cement around the job site. Jack said to me, "I'm exhausted. I think I am going to go take a nap and skip lunch" (you know a 14-year-old boy is tired when they want to skip a meal!).No sooner were these words out of his mouth than off to our left we heard the voices of little kids calling out to him, "Jackie! Jackie! Unacheza mpira???" All fatigue instantly vanished from Jack's mind as he took off full speed to go play ball with the kids! He LOVED playing with those kids. He had such an incredible time in Pommern -- from his friendship with our team leader, to our team, working alongside local leaders, or the friendships he made throughout the village. It nearly broke my heart watching him say goodbye to those kids on our last day. Thank you all for all that you do to foster such amazing relationships around the world.
~ Amy Kleisser, Tanzania volunteer