This week’s episode gives us a glimpse into the life of infants and toddlers as we explore how early interactions can shape their future.

In the first of what we hope will be many conversations, we tap into the wisdom of a professional organization working to shape the lives of young children, ZERO TO THREE.

In part one of a two-part series focused on early interactions, Rebecca Parlakian, one of ZERO TO THREE’s resident experts, takes us on a journey to explore how the critical first three years of a child’s life can shape their future and how those interactions play a huge role in the child’s long-term success.

Rebecca and our host discuss the importance of the small actions and the role of parents and others who care for infants and toddlers in a child’s development.

This episode is a glimpse into a “day in the life” of a Global Volunteer in Crete – from the perspective of a volunteer teacher and the Greek team leader who guides her team.

Greece Country Manager Sam Pinakoulaki first describes the team’s daily schedule at a typical Greek English language “camp.”  After a hearty breakfast together, we have a short team meeting and we walk through the vineyard to school, says Sam.  After three hours of teaching conversational English, the volunteers join an hour of independent sports together with the students. The team returns to the hotel for an afternoon lunch, and to prepare for the next day’s classes (and to keep the lessons fresh for challenging young students).

The volunteers are integrated into every part of daily life, says Peggy. That means sharing meals and conversation with their students day and night.  “Family and food, and sitting down and breaking bread is a really important part of their life.”  For the two weeks of camp, she says, the students and volunteers are a special family.

The relationships cultivated over two intense weeks keeps volunteers returning year after year.  Julia points to another volunteer who’s served seven consecutive years.  The care and precision in preparing her lessons illuminates the love and kindness she feels toward the students she’s come to know.  “It was incredible.  She took a taxi, came back with bags and bags of supplies to make bird feeders with her students.  I was amazed at her level of commitment.”

Episode storytellers: Samantha, Peggy & Julia

This week’s episode takes us into the new year filled with thoughts of hope. Each of our four featured storytellers looks at cultivating hope through action, from a slightly different angle.

Peggy and her family had a year loaded with personal challenges so large that she felt as though the fabric of her family was ripping away. Peggy, her husband, and their children found hope while working together, teaching conversational English in Greece. Peggy believes that serving as a family facilitated healing and restored a balance in a unique and lasting way.

Abby, a photographer took her camera to Tanzania this past fall and found hope in the eyes, heart, and spirit of a community.

The desire to pass her love for travel and service on to her children is so strong for Julia that her 13th birthday present to each of them was a trip that centered on service. Julia sees hope for the future through what she shares with her children.

Mary has been on service programs to China multiple times. With changes in the political climate in the US, Mary worried about how she, as an American, would be viewed. She found hope for the future in her positive interactions with teachers in China.

Episode storytellers: Peggy, Abby, Julia & Mary

What are the advantages of donating to organizations doing work outside the United States? How important are financial contributions in the long-run? Some people may question if and how their own donations ultimately have an impact. Global Volunteers co-founders Michele Gran and Bud Philbrook, who married in 1979 and conceived the idea for Global Volunteers on their honeymoon in Guatemala, share facts and opinions about how contributions to their organization advances projects for at-risk children and families worldwide.

Episode storytellers: Bud and Michele

This week’s podcast is highly personal and reflective – as our storytellers share how they’ve been changed since re-entering their daily lives after their volunteering experience.

Julia says she was transformed on the Blackfeet Reservation at a Sweat Lodge ceremony. “I almost see myself as who I was before the Sweat and who I am after.  I felt such a profound sense of connection to not only the locals, but to all of humanity.  It was powerful, really powerful.”

Kate was “ready to pack up and join the Peace Corps,”after serving in Mexico and Ecuador, saying she struggled with how to employ her insights from volunteering. “How was I going to continue this shift in my life, knowing that leaving for two-and-a-half years wasn’t an option?” So, she made a shift in her career to satisfy her craving for more meaning.

Volunteering with his sons in Tanzania was transformational, Tom said, because “seeing (them) grow and display their values, working in the orphanage in a philanthropic way” was one of his singular, proudest moments outside of daily life.

Gabe said months later now after his program, he has a profound sense of “needing to make the world better.” In his busy life, he misses opportunities to help people.  “I think, holy smokes, I’m so lucky. Through volunteering, you kinda get disrupted (in a good way).”

Marek offers a very long view – that of a host for volunteers who sees their impact on Polish students over more than 20 years. “These young people are the leaders; the future of our country.  They are the second or third generation of people who learned English from Global Volunteers.” Year after year, he says, volunteers transform his community in unmeasurable ways.

Everyone has a moment of transformation when serving others whole-heartedly.  It takes risk, and it might not be evident immediately, but this shift is surely to catch up with you during moments of deep reflection.  It’s healing, and it’s lasting.

Episode storytellers: Julia, Kate, Tom, Gabe, and Marek

In many developing communities worldwide, even the barest resources to protect health and welfare may be outside a family’s budget.  But, we know that a commodity as common as soap can and does prevent up to 80 percent of infectious diseases.  The practice of washing with soap and water is more than 300 times as effective as any single immunization!

Emily, today’s storyteller, explains the urgent, critical need for immediate action – to save children’s lives in our partner communities and worldwide.  In Tanzania, we’re demonstrating how volunteers are helping to change a simple habit, and change lives – forever.

Episode storyteller: Emily

Tristen’s service-learning experience in the Cook Islands gave him a new understanding about how service catalyzes understanding.  “Every kid I worked with really touched my heart in a different way,” he reflected. His story about a pick-up game of basketball underscores his point.

Hadley’s service program was her first international trip. She said she was immersed in the Ecuadorian culture deeper than she had expected.  She can’t imagine a better way for students to get to know a country.  “You get to see so much…I like that alot!”

Micah lists a number of lessons – about the local culture as well as service on a volunteer team.  His enthusiasm will encourage you!

Mindy speaks from a professor’s perspective: The reciprocity of a well-managed volunteer service program ensures that students receive as much as they give. It gives them a “taste” for the impact they can have throughout their adult lives.

Episode storytellers: Tristen, Hadley, Micah, and Mindy

One person’s volunteer service has the potential for touching hundreds of lives. Every day, we impact others in ways we may not even be aware of.  The storytellers in this episode describe the joy of expanding their reach into new dimensions of service. Each of these unique experiences are also shared experiences that reveal how humanity is connected through acts of care and respect.

As a college instructor, Mindy takes seriously the expansive perspective that shapes her students’ career and life choices.  For them, traveling outside of their region of the country – let alone internationally – is a completely new experience.  In refining their global concept, Mindy says, they learn that “the world isn’t just us and them.”

Joan says: “I’ve done volunteer work before, but this was special in…getting to know people’s lives, because it was much more focused on projects.”

Chemida, Global Volunteers Country Manager in St. Lucia, describes local people’s lives are enriched through meaningful contact with volunteers from other countries and different cultures. She believes the “human connection” is the most long-lasting mark that volunteers can leave on the world.

Lynn talks about how serving with Global Volunteers has led her to additional service opportunities in her hometown…and how that has enabled her to influence her own community.

Winnie is one of four Reaching Children’s Potential Program caregivers in Tanzania.  She offers the perspective of villagers in rural Africa whom she meets in her outreach work to mothers and children.  Transformation occurs, she says, through one-to-one contact, and by offering assistance in practical, respectful ways.

Episode storytellers: Mindy, Joan, Chemida, Lynn, and Winnie

This episode is a retrospective by our host, Ruth, and four storytellers on how Global Volunteers’ Philosophy of Service is a philosophy of waging peace, promoting justice and working hand-in-hand with local people.

Carol lends an academic perspective by reminding us that colonialism was the historical mindset by dominant cultures, and helping others in useful ways is a very recent orientation to the world. The roots of childhood stunting, which Global Volunteers addresses in Tanzania, can be traced to generations of failed government policies. We can “right the wrongs” she says, by applying ourselves to the real needs of the community.

Cynthia was struck by the realization that the value of relationships on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation transcends other measurable outcomes, and is at the center of Global Volunteers’ Philosophy of Service.

Maggie speaks to how cultural sharing is foundational to every volunteer’s successful contribution at the volunteer work site.

Emily’s assignment in Tanzania was building and demonstrating effective hand-washing stations.  In-country partnerships, she says, works only when sincere relationships are built first.  After that, true long-lasting service can be rendered to the community.

Episode storytellers: Carol, Cynthia, Maggie, and Emily

In honor of International Day of Peace, designated by the United Nations annually on September 21, this episode features peace wagers we’ve heard from in earlier episodes, and new ones from around the world. Global Volunteers’ volunteers and staff reflect on what true world peace means to them, and how they’ve experienced peace waging by working together with others.  What does peace mean to you?

Episode Storytellers: Gila, Mindy, Jeff, Chemida, Carol, Samantha, Dan, Robi, and Michele