Plant Seeds of Change - With You! - Globe Aware

Plant Seeds of Change - With You!

Transforming Lives in Thailand

From the pews of a local church to the walls of a school for children with special needs, volunteering in Northern Thailand is a blend of sweaty labor, unexpected humor, and profound emotional rewards. Working alongside Globe Aware for the fifth time at the Hill Tribes, volunteer Don’s recent week in Chiang Dao highlights the grit and grace required to serve a community recovering from trauma.

Sunday

Arriving early at our project location in Chiang Mai, Don expected manual labor on his first full day. But instead, he found himself cheering on a team of young boys at a football tournament. When they scored, he was the only one cheering. The other team had dozens of parents on the sidelines; our boys had Don. Sometimes, service looks like cheering the loudest!

"𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘬, 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵! 𝘚𝘰, 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨."

The volunteer vacation week also began with a church visit.

“So, every Sunday church is mandatory! Even for me! And every time I visit the church, I get called up on stage to play a game that teaches the kids my name (although most of the kids apparently remember me from past visits). The best part of the church was reconnecting with some of the kids I grew close to in past visits!”

Monday

"Picking weeds was not on my bingo card of exotic activities," Don admitted. Yet, the purpose behind the "grunt work" was clear. This program's location is a sanctuary for children carrying stories no child should have to carry.

The home provides a safe harbor for:

War Orphans: Many fleeing conflict in neighboring Myanmar.
Survivors: Children rescued from sex trafficking and the drug trade.
The Displaced: Some rescued so young they arrived without a name or a known birthday.

By maintaining the grounds, volunteers like Don help ensure these children have a dignified, safe, and beautiful place to heal. The reward for the manual labor? A "swarm" of a dozen kids offering hugs and high fives before the school bell rings. For a child who started life with nothing, a simple connection is a monumental act of reclamation.

Transforming Lives in Thailand Cont.

Tuesday & Wednesday

Mid-week, the focus shifted to a nearby school for children with developmental disabilities, located two miles away. Operating out of a dilapidated building with a shoestring budget, the school serves 15 autistic students and three children with Down syndrome. Under the coordination of Globe Aware coordinator Thak, Don undertook a rapid renovation.

With just $100 in paint and donated labor, a cheerful environment was created. Don even invited the students to help with the painting, allowing them to experience the joy of creation for the first time. Within 48 hours, the school transformed from an abandoned-looking structure to a vibrant hub.

"Globe Aware makes vacations like this a life-altering lesson. Everyone deserves the opportunity to help make the world a better place."

Thursday, Friday & Saturday

“A lot of hugs, a few tears, and a promise to come back next year!”

One morning was spent harvesting cassava, a root vegetable similar to a sweet potato that both feeds the children and covers operational expenses. Don was rewarded with the "freshest ever" coconut water straight from the tree.

The last day was "shoe day" at the project location, during which 50 pairs of shoes were donated to children in desperate need of footwear. The haul was made possible by Don’s friends, who proactively dropped off donations before the trip to Thailand, proving that small gestures truly mean the world to children half a world away.

Although Don managed to pack as much as his luggage would allow, the sight of the children’s needs left him determined: "Next year, I will look for a bigger suitcase!"

We look forward to Don’s adventures next year, as well!

Learn More About Globe Aware's Thailand Hill Tribes Program

These Were His Words - Guatemala

“At the end of February, I had the incredible opportunity to spend 10+ days in Guatemala learning from and serving the Guatemalan people near El Remate. It was my first time in Guatemala, but I know that it won’t be my last. A few of my takeaways from my time there:

1) Human connection is universal.
In the span of a single day, I met and worked with people from France, the United Kingdom, Honduras, Greece, Canada, and Guatemala. And by the end of the day, I felt connected to them and extremely grateful that our paths had crossed.

2) Happiness can be found in all challenges and situations.
I watched kids giggle uncontrollably while taking turns playing with a broken foam dart gun. I watched women’s groups enjoy each other’s company while weeding community gardens and making fresh tortillas. These were people without many worldly possessions but with so much happiness.

3) Small steps (and packages) add up to big results. Anne is THE force behind so much of the life-altering work happening in this part of the world. Standing at no more than 4’ 10” and weighing in at maybe 90 lbs soaking wet, her impact is easily 1000X her physical size. How has she done so much? In her words, she’s done it by just taking one step at a time. She and her project team have built a medical clinic, a dental clinic, and a children’s center! They are currently working on plans for a birthing center and a center for music and dance.

4) Mother Earth is incredible and can heal.
There is something so nourishing and healing about digging in the soil, working with beautiful plants, feeling the power in ancient trees, and letting the water of a lake suspend you while you watch the clouds overhead pass by. If you are feeling disconnected, may I suggest getting outside and getting a little dirty or wet.

5) A little help can go a LONG way.
$25 covers electricity for one of the centers. For less than $50, you can make it feel like Christmas for an entire family. $250 covers a children's center employee’s monthly salary. ZERO pressure, but if anyone seeing this feels called to donate, I’d be honored to match that donation. You can donate using the link below. Please label it 'Marquitos.'And one final shout-out to Kimberly Haley-Coleman and Globe Aware for helping to guide me to Guatemala and coordinating such an incredible trip!"

-Volunteer Mark Maughan, COO of Domo, Inc.

Make a Donation

Learn More About Globe Aware's Guatemala Program

Spring Break Update & GoAbroad News

Huge news!

Globe Aware is officially a finalist for the 2026 GoAbroad Innovation Awards in the Philanthropy category! We are so honored to be recognized for our international service initiatives. A massive thank you to our incredible volunteers and community partners who make this impact possible every day.

Over the next several weeks, the GoAbroad Innovation Awards Academy will be reviewing all finalists to select the winners. Results will be revealed at the GoAbroad Reception during the NAFSA Conference in Orlando on the evening of May 28. We are truly honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of organizations dedicated to global impact!

Spring Break Service in Costa Rica

Looking for a meaningful way to spend Spring Break? This past March, our volunteers hit the ground running with projects that make a tangible difference for residents.

This enthusiastic group focused on sprucing up the local community center and soccer field with wall repairs and new seating. They also assisted Mamá Luz and Paco, exploring their farms and learning the ropes of sustainable gardening. What a wonderful week!

Planning your own trip? We’ve uploaded new clips to our YouTube channel to show you exactly what to expect, from the lodging and authentic food to the bathroom setups.

Check out our YouTube Channel

Learn More About Globe Aware's Costa Rica Program

Essential Listening

Globe Aware Podcast: Rick Peck, “The Philanthropy Guy,” How To Maximize Your Philanthropic Giving, Tips & Tricks to Greater Impact

In our conversation with philanthropy strategist Rick Peck, he shares practical insights on how to give smarter, align your values with action, and ensure your generosity creates lasting change.

Local Voices, Lasting Impact: Interview with a Coordinator in the Field

Hear from Federico Herrera, Globe Aware’s longtime coordinator in Costa Rica, as he shares what it’s like to welcome volunteers year after year. From his perspective on the ground, Federico reveals how community-led projects shape real change, what volunteers often learn about Costa Rican culture (and themselves), and the surprising ways these short-term experiences create lasting connections that ripple far beyond a single week abroad.

Culture Encounters Podcast: Transformative Volunteer Travel (Part One)

In this special episode of the Culture Encounters Podcast, host Chad sits down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Executive Director of Globe Aware, to explore how short-term international volunteer travel can foster global understanding and meaningful cultural exchange.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation that dives into Kimberly’s personal journey, the founding of Globe Aware, and how immersive service experiences are helping bridge cultures around the world.

Volunteer Vacations That Transform Lives: Kimberly Haley-Coleman on the Ready Living Podcast

In a recent episode of the Ready Living Podcast, Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, shares how short-term international volunteer vacations are creating meaningful global impact-both for communities abroad and for the volunteers who serve.

Operating in more than 25 countries, Globe Aware leads structured, one-week volunteer programs rooted in ethical volunteering, local leadership, and community-driven service projects. Kimberly explains how these immersive service experiences go beyond traditional tourism, allowing participants to work alongside local communities as equals, building trust, dignity, and lasting relationships.

Rick Peck Episode

Local Voices, Lasting Impact

Culture Encounters

Ready Living

Honoring the Earth, Home and Away

This April, as we celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day, we are reminded that our planet’s health is a shared responsibility. It’s a season to move beyond appreciation and into action, whether that’s in your own backyard or across the globe.

Giving "local" is the most immediate way to make an impact. This week, consider planting a native tree, joining a neighborhood cleanup, or supporting a local land trust. By investing in your immediate environment, you’re strengthening the ecosystem your neighbors, wildlife, and future generations depend on.

If you’re planning a getaway, why not leave a "green" footprint? Globe Aware makes it easy to integrate service into your travels. Through short-term volunteer vacations, you can assist with reforestation in Costa Rica and Guatemala, help build fuel-efficient stoves in Peru, or support eco-conservation in the Galápagos or Zimbabwe.

You don't just see a new culture; you help sustain it.

Whether you’re getting your hands dirty in local soil or helping a community abroad protect their natural resources, your contribution matters. This month, let’s celebrate the Earth by giving back to the land that gives us everything.

Learn More About Globe Aware's Zimbabwe Game-Count Program, open only once a year

Learn More About Globe Aware's Galapagos Program

Learn More About Globe Aware's Costa Rica Program

Learn More About Globe Aware's Guatemala Program

Learn More About Globe Aware's Peru Program