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Does your school regularly engage in service abroad or is interested in starting a service learning abroad program? Perhaps your child cannot go when his or her school usually offers its programs or you are interested in going to a location your school has not yet explored. Globe Aware has tailored many service programs specifically for such student groups, both public and private and can further incorporate other elements in which your group has interest. Our programs typically last one week or more and offer a unique way to make a global impact and learn about another culture. We are generally able to put chaperones, parents and/or teachers in separate rooms, if required, and to separate students by gender. All of our projects are chosen so that no specific language or skill is required, as the on site coordinator provides instruction.
Globe Aware organizes groups of up to 200 per location but generally needs at least three months advance notice to adequately plan. Our organization provides a coordinator per every 15 volunteers so each participant has ready access to a translator and guide on project work. Groups of 10 people or more receive a 10 percent discount.
In most locations, we can provide access to a place for any additional school discussion required. Student volunteers have the opportunity to learn about how to make a difference in other cultures by giving back in a meaningful way. Please contact us for help in planning a once-in-a-lifetime volunteer vacation for your group.
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Globe Aware is excited to announce a partnership wth Emmy Award winning Journeys for Good to film and document corporate groups.
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This is a great opportunity for corporate groups who may want their efforts filmed by a professional, video-documentary experts who have previous experience on volunteer vacation trips and destinations. The resulting, high-quality production can then be a great tool for staff used recruiting and retention.
About Journeys for Good
Created by multiple Emmy award-winning husband and wife production team Steve and Joanie Wynn, Journeys for Good™ is a travel series like no other, combining the adventure of global travel with the rewards of giving back.
As volunteers travel to participate in service projects around the world, they find that cultural differences disappear as they work with locals to create positive change. Though the change may sometimes seem small, the process awakens new perspectives and brings benefits far beyond the trip itself.
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We are asked all the time: how old do my children have to be for them to come with me on a Globe Aware volunteer vacation?
While we have yet to see a volunteer bring along their newborn, we have had two year olds on our programs, and every aged child above that too!
But travel abroad with young children?
Are you NUTS?
All the crying, nagging, and the money!! They won’t even remember it. Why on EARTH would I do that to myself? What will they eat over there? Fried monkey eyeballs? No thanks!
I get these responses all the time. We have volunteers who have been traveling with my children since they were infants all over the world - all over Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, Russia, China, Africa.
Volunteer Travel with Children
Here are our thoughts:
First: young children are often more portable than older children. They still think you know something and they actually want to be with you.
Second, until age two, they can ride in your lap for usually 10% of the cost of a normal ticket.
Third: with all the ipads/iphones electronic gadgets, keeping them happy with videos, games and more is much easier today on a plane than it was even 10 years ago.
Fourth: You’re right, they may not remember all of it, but YOU will. Are *your* memories worth anything? Life is short, you never know what could happen. Take the chance while you can. Additionally you’d be surprised what they *do* absorb. Young globetrotters don’t take for granted what language, music, dress or food is the norm. They pick up on languages much faster than you do. Their palate is developing at this stage and their capacity for learning, of course, is fertile.
Fifth: Interestingly they have fresh fruit, veggies, rice, and chicken, freshly prepared and usually not processed all over the world.
Sixth: Traveling with a child is the greatest ice breaker there ever was. With the exception of a few Western Countries, most countries view children as a loveable, nonpolitical human with whom to interact, rather than as an irritant. Many more people will stop to talk with you simply because you have a child with you. Not too different in some ways than walking a puppy in the park. Safety: some are worried that to travel with a young human is to dangle bait in front of human traffickers. But it’s all about common sense and where you go. This topic deserves a whole chapter, but the sum of it is, staying safe abroad is usually not much more complicated than staying at home, it just takes knowing the danger zones. Globe Aware does not operate in war torn countries or countries where there is a major disease break out. IN fact most of our locations have much lower incidences of violent crime than most major cities in North America.
Seventh: because you will love it. Seeing your kids react to roaring lions on safari, or learning the joys of giving while building an adobe stove in Peru, or seeing food delivered by mini trains at Japanese restaurants in Tokyo is quadruple the fun. Your young children will be *much* less worried about the language barrier than you will, and our bilingual coordinator is with you throughout.
On each location we have something your kids can do. Of course how much they can do will vary depending on the child. We have had toddlers helping paint walls, pat adobe into place, and play games with local school kids their own age. Think of it less as wowrk, and more about meaningful engagement. It really comes down to whether or not our programs are a good fit. For example, if your child has asthma, its important to know that our Cusco program location is at such a high altitude that this could make breathing more difficult than normal.
Bon Voyage!
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You may have dreamed of joining the Peace Corps years ago, but aren’t quite willing to devote 2.5 years to it. Or you may have put off unique adventure travel until the time was right. Or you may have had your fill of the standard beach or sightseeing vacations. Or perhaps you know you’ve want to go but don’t have a travel companion.
Whatever the case, we make giving back, having fun, and experiencing a new culture an easy, within reach, meaningful and unique experience.
Volunteer Vacations for Retirees: A feasible and affordable way to travel
Retirement is the perfect opportunity to finally take that trip you have dreamt of and there is no better organization to travel with than Globe Aware! Recognized by the NBC Today Show, CNN, Wallstreet Journal, PBS and many others as one of the top nonprofit organizations with whom to volunteer abroad short term, Globe Aware does all the planning for you. The entire program cost (including airfare) is tax deductible! If you are party to a family foundation that gives to charitable causes, this can be a wonderful use of such contributions.
Do not worry about being able to speak a foreign language or knowing exactly how to serve…we have volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and physical capabilities. We can find a project that suits anyone. Volunteers are able to take part in working with children and teens, teaching English, building and repairing homes and schools, and assisting with community or environmental projects. Two considerations, however, of special note. Our Cusco, Peru location is at a very high altitude, so those with any breathing impaired conditions, such as asthma, should consult their health professional prior to travel. Likewise, our Southeast Asia locations tend to be hot and humid year round.
Lastly, if you do not already have the ideal travel companion, no worries! Globe Aware groups are made up of 10 people that come from all walks of life. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people as you work side by side on projects that are important to the local community. Volunteer vacations with Globe Aware are extremely rewarding and a great way to learn about different cultures. Use your experience and skills to help others as well as facilitate positive change.
Voluntourism: A Growing Alternative Travel Option Among Retirees
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Many high schools and institutions of higher learning understand the importance of instilling the love of service and volunteerism in the rising generation. Many schools require students to complete a specific number of service hours to graduate, and college and university admissions offices look favorably on applicants who display a pattern of service. The hours worked during Globe Aware programs (about 40 hours per week) qualify for the distinguished President’s Volunteer Service Award, created to recognize Americans who make service a central part of their life.
Trips that will lift your earning potential
Globe Aware offers students the opportunity to provide meaningful service to a diverse array of communities around the world, service that local community leaders have identified as important to the residents of that area. Our programs do not require special skills and are adaptive to the preferences and circumstances of our volunteers. Upon request and completion of our program, students will receive a Community Service Certificate that certifies they have completed 40 hours of community service. We are also happy to certify paperwork requested by any schools on behalf of their students.
Children under 17 years old receive a 10% discount on the program fee. Additionally, the cost of the program and the affiliated airfare are tax deductible expenditures against income for American and Canadian citizens.
Service requires action and an open heart. Whether students help preserve the native elephant habitat in Thailand or participate in painting a mural at a Costa Rican school, perspectives and hearts are changed. Though volunteering can be done anywhere, we know of few opportunities in life that offer the ability to experience another culture while also serving in a deeply meaningful way.
To learn more about our volunteer service programs in various parts of the world, please click the following link: click here
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Globe Aware has long been a go-to for families wanting to travel and serve internationally and we are noticing a shift towards multigenerational travel. It is no longer just the mom, dad and kids vacationing together. Retirees and working Baby Boomers who are living longer, more mobile lives are eager to shorten the distance away from loved ones by bringing the family group together.
Families of all ages and sizes can find a program that best suits their individual interests and circumstances. Our programs offer a rare opportunity to experience another culture while also serving in a meaningful way. Volunteers need no special skills to be eligible and all but one of our programs has an age limit (our Thailand program requires volunteers to be at least 16 years old). Also, volunteer groups of 10 people or more receive a 10% discount.
Best of all, our programs are flexible and customizable. There is something for everyone. It’s fun, it’s adventurous, and it offers a rare window into the lives, challenges and true beauties of life outside one’s comfort zone. During downtimes, a grandfather could explore the ancient Angkor Wat temple with is grandson while a grandmother and granddaughter learn how local woman weave beautiful baskets at the local market. Such experiences are unforgettable and multigenerational travel allows family members of all ages an opportunity to interact outside of the occasional family get-together.
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Whether you want to spend quality time with your sister, a gang of gal pals, throw an adventurous bachelorette party for your best friend, enjoy a unique Spring Break, sorority reunion or book club excursion, or need a refreshing respite from your busy home life, a tax-deductible week-long girls getaway with Globe Aware is the way to make unique memories for a lifetime while having some of the most fun you’ll ever have in service to others.
Volunteer Abroad at 40
Instead of going to a local spa with your girlfriends why not experience a fish pedicure in Cambodia where your group can also make an impact by assembling wheelchairs for landmine victims? Or teach a life skill to children in Cusco, Peru while later checking off a bucket list item by visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu? Volunteering abroad is fun, rewarding and will create a lasting bond between all involved that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Our programs do not require volunteers to have special skills and we customize each service project to best accommodate the volunteers involved. For groups of 10 people or more, Globe Aware offers a 10% discount. A volunteer coordinator who speaks English and the local language will accompany your group for the entire duration of the program. Explore the world and make an impact on a community that is in need of genuine help and goodwill. It’s hard to think of doing something that is more rewarding surrounded by those you love.
For more information please call our office number at 877-588-4562 or check out our Destinations tab on our homepage and select the best program for your girl getaway.
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If either you or your spouse is a physician looking for a unique bonding experience with your family, let Globe Aware help arrange a Medical Family Service Trip. We have been able to find communities in the programs where we work that desperately need the help of dentists, ophthalmologists and general practitioners. Note: We do NOT facilitate any sort of surgery. Your children can help in a variety of ways, from passing out tooth brushes, helping check vision charts, etc.
Globe Aware one-week community service projects abroad offer an exciting way to serve a needy community and expand your children’s world perspective all at once. All of our programs, except our Thailand program (which has a minimum age requirement of 16) are appropriate for any age. Not only will your son or daughter have a great time while serving others, they will learn about the real beauties and challenges of another culture. Freed from electronics and the day-to-day hustle and bustle, your family will learn the joy of working with locals as equals on projects which are important to them, learn how they cook, how they spend their free time and create memories for a lifetime. Children under the age of 17 get a 10% discount and the entire cost of the program and the airfare are tax deductible against your income. Surrounded by privilege, few get the opportunity to really appreciate what they have. Globe Aware Medical Family Service trips offer a unique and meaningful way to achieve this.
For your child’s next spring break, Thanksgiving break or Christmas holiday, consider giving the experience of a lifetime, one that will change the lives of others, theirs and your own.
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Bar/bat Mitzvah in a new, meaningful way, expand their world
Bar Mitzvah (Hebrew : בר מצוה) (plural: B'nai Mitzvah ) and Bat Mitzvah (Hebrew: בת מצוה) (plural: B'not Mitzvah ) are Jewishcoming of age rituals. Bar (בר) is a Jewish Babylonian Aramaic word literally meaning son (ben (בן) in Hebrew), bat (בת) is Hebrew for daughter, and mitzvah (מצוה) is a commandment and a law. While this literally translates to "son of commandment" or "daughter of commandment", the rabbinical phrase "bar" means "under the category of" or "subject to". "Barmitzvah" therefore translates to "an [agent] who is subject to the law".
8 Reasons to Take Your Teens On a Volunteer Vacation
According to Jewish law , when Jewish boys become 13 years old, they become accountable for their actions and become a barmitzvah. A girl becomes a bat mizvah at the age of 12. Most non-Orthodox Jews celebrate a girl's bat mitzvah in the same way as a boy's barmitzvah. Prior to reaching bar or bat mitzvah, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, the boys and girls bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life.
Reaching the age of bar or bat Mitzvah signifies becoming a full-fledged member of the Jewish community with the responsibilities that come with it. These include moral responsibility for own actions, eligibility to be called to read from the Torah and lead or participate in a minyan, may possess personal property, may be legally married according to Jewish law, must follow the 613 laws of the Torah and keep the halakha, may testify as a witness in a Beth Din (Rabbinical court) case. Many congregations require pre-barmitzvah children to attend a minimum number of Shabbat prayer services at the synagogue, study at a Hebrew school, take on a charity or community service project, and maintain membership in good standing with the synagogue.
To this end, Globe Aware one week community service projects abroad offer an exciting way to serve a needy community and expand your teen’s world perspective all at once. All of our programs, except our Thailand program (which has a minimum age requirement of 16) are appropriate for 13 year olds. Not only will your son or daughter have a great time while serving others, they will learn about the real beauties and challenges of another culture. Freed from electronics and the day-to-day hustle and bustle, your family will learn the joy of working with locals as equals on projects which are important to them, learn how they cook, how they spend their free time, celebrate a new bonding experience for your family and create memories for a lifetime. Children under the age of 17 get a 10% discount and the entire cost of the program and the airfare are tax deductible against your income. Surrounded by privilege, few get the opportunity to really appreciate what they have. The Globe Aware Bar/Bat Mitzvah offers a unique and meaningful way to achieve this.
