Peru offers rich culture, stunning landscapes, and impactful volunteer opportunities—perfect for making a difference while exploring.
Work Projects:
A returning group of corporate volunteers focused on transforming both educational and agricultural spaces to foster long-term growth and sustainability.
One of the projects took place at a local school, where the volunteers transformed an unpaved, unsafe area by laying a new foundation for gatherings, playtime, and multi-purpose activities. The results will provide a safer, more functional space for children, parents, teachers, and the community. In addition to creating a safer environment, the new space will set the stage for future projects, such as outdoor learning initiatives, sports programs, and cultural activities that can benefit the entire village.
They also revitalized an old building, adding a new awning, clearing the area, and jumpstarting its reconstruction into a community greenhouse. In rural areas where farming conditions can be challenging due to harsh weather, high altitudes, or poor soil quality, community greenhouses provide a controlled environment to grow crops year-round. This helps local families access fresh, nutritious food even during off-seasons or in times of drought.
During their leisure time, our corporate volunteers spent time with the children at the local school, enjoying games and watching performances. They experienced authentic Peruvian cuisine and hiked Machu Picchu, a spiritual, world-famous wonder on everyone’s bucket list. We even had four volunteers get Peru-inspired tattoos at a local parlor! That's the pull Peru can have on our volunteers!
"This past week several members of our team went on Fusion Power's annual Charity Trip to Peru. Amongst seeing beautiful scenery and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, they served to help build a foundation for gatherings, playtime, and multi-use activities for children, parents, & teachers. We are thankful we get to serve other areas of the globe alongside Globe Aware." - Fusion Power Solar Company
"I love that we completed the projects that were needed and the community was very grateful. Coordinators Kim and Rocio were fantastic! It was amazing to spend time with the kids and work hard to make a difference. The free time was the perfect amount, and it was nice to experience the authenticity of the food, I ate more than enough!" - Pamela Morris
"This year we went to Cusco, Peru! What an amazing trip giving back, helping families, and creating some unforgettable memories." - Volunteer Ani Alteparmakian
We're so grateful this group continues to return and make a real difference with us!
Learn more about Globe Aware's Peru program
Last month returning volunteer Don arrived for his third visit to our Chiang Dao, Thailand project location. He spent the week volunteering, surrounded by 200+ incredible children, many of whom are war orphans from Myanmar, found wandering the hills of Chiang Dao, Thailand, or rescued from brothels. Some don’t even know their last names or birthdays. Our project location provides them with food, shelter, and schooling, but the time spent with the kids makes volunteering especially rewarding.
Project Work:
Volunteer Don's week in Thailand was quite eventful. With the monsoon season in full swing, some roads remained closed due to flooding. However, rain, mudslides, and floods couldn’t stop him from working. He moved necessary food supplies, such as 50kg grain bags (110 lbs!), weeded pumpkin farms, cleared brush, mixed fertilizer, and spread it in the pouring rain until his hands were smurf blue!
On one particular day, while Don was surveying a flooded area, a surprise visitor appeared to his left...a wild elephant! These are the kinds of experiences you can only have in Thailand!
"Globe Aware made this volunteer vacation possible. I still cannot believe being this sore and dirty can be so much fun!"- Don Germaise
He was delighted to reconnect with Portipah, a 10-year-old girl he’d known for six years. She taught him some fun English phrases and shared her favorite snacks, spicy shrimp Funyuns and sushi-flavored chips!
Somchart, about five or six, was overjoyed when Don gave him a donated soccer jersey and goalie gloves ( the whole team received these items)! Kimicha, a six-year-old girl, clung to Don on the school bus for an hour. Both children were unfortunately abandoned by their parents.
In addition, volunteer Don’s favorite time at our project site was 6:30 AM, after breakfast, when the kids waited for the school bus. Any volunteer can attest that as soon as you sit down, you’re suddenly surrounded by sweet little ones who want nothing more than a hug, a kiss on the head, or to hold your hand. Don also shared some American candy with the kids one afternoon, and their faces just lit up. It’s the purest kind of love—showing them they’re special in every small way brought them so much joy!
At the end of his week, the Hill Tribes' children eagerly scrambled to give Volunteer Don one last hug.
"We did not accomplish as much as I had hoped because of flooding. But we did enough to make it a remarkable trip. Laying 400 yards of PVC pipe, to improve the kids' showers, was a highlight. These children stole my heart... I made lifelong friends and learned a lot about Thai culture. Thank you Globe Aware for the volunteer vacation!" - Don Germaise, Hill Tribes Thailand
Thank you Don for joining us once again in Thailand! We look forward to your next visit!
Learn more about Globe Aware's Thailand Hill Tribes program
Here are some recent photos of bouncy baby James, shared by our Philippines coordinator, Gege. For those unfamiliar with his story, Baby James lives in a small community in the Philippines and was once battling sepsis and bronchopneumonia. His family couldn’t afford the necessary medication to save his life.
Thanks to the generosity and kindness of our volunteers who met him in 2023, Baby James is now a healthy and happy little boy.
We are so grateful for the support that makes a difference all year round.
Have you ever tried coffee brewed with a chorreador, Costa Rica’s beloved traditional coffee maker? This simple yet brilliant device, crafted from wood and cloth, has been an essential part of Costa Rican coffee culture for centuries, allowing the rich flavors of locally grown beans to shine.
The chorreador features a wooden stand and a cloth filter known as a bolsita. To create a cup of coffee, ground beans are placed in the bolsita, hot water is gently poured over, and the brewed coffee slowly drips into a cup or pot below. This process, similar to a manual pour-over, results in a smooth, full-bodied brew that showcases the exquisite quality of Costa Rican beans.
Steeped in history, the chorreador has roots that trace back to Costa Rica’s coffee-growing legacy, which began in the 18th century. By the mid-19th century, coffee had become a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, and the chorreador was the brewing method of choice in homes across the country. Its simplicity, affordability, and ability to create a perfect cup made it a household staple.
Though modern coffee machines have made their mark in Costa Rican kitchens, many Ticos (Costa Ricans) still prefer the traditional chorreador. It’s more than just a brewing tool—it’s a cherished ritual that evokes nostalgia and fosters a deep connection to Costa Rica’s coffee heritage.
Whether you’re in a bustling city or a serene mountain village, you’ll see the chorreador in action, proudly representing Costa Rica’s enduring passion for coffee and its dedication to preserving tradition.
Ready to experience the magic on your Costa Rica volunteer vacation?
Learn more about Globe Aware's Costa Rica Orosi Valley program
