Can short-term volunteer trips foster genuine connection, or are they prone to exploitation? In this episode of Expat On A Budget, host Kimberly Anne sits down with Kimberly Haley Coleman, founder of Globe Aware, to explore the realities of ethical volunteer travel after 25 years in the industry.
Nestled in the eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet, Bhutan is one of the world’s most distinctive and least‑visited countries. Long isolated from outside influence, the kingdom has preserved a way of life shaped by Buddhist tradition, dramatic landscapes, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Today, Bhutan draws travellers seeking more than scenery—offering a place where history, spirituality, and national values remain deeply connected.
Travel can broaden your perspective, but volunteer vacations in Tanzania offer something more meaningful: the chance to contribute to community-led projects while experiencing one of Africa’s most culturally rich and ecologically diverse countries.
Through programs like those offered by Globe Aware, travelers can combine exploration with hands-on service. Volunteers work alongside local communities on initiatives that support education, childcare, and infrastructure improvements. The result is a travel experience with purpose—one that benefits both visitors and the communities they serve.
By the light of a full moon, volunteers from around the world sit in silence beside remote watering holes for a full 24 hours, recording every animal that comes to drink. Lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and endangered species move through the darkness as participants carefully document what they see—data that feeds directly into one of Africa’s most important conservation efforts.
This is Globe Aware’s Zimbabwe Game Count – Special Program, a rare volunteer experience that turns participants into active contributors to wildlife science.
Have you ever wondered what happens after a volunteer group leaves a community? In a recent episode of the Globe Aware Adventures in Service podcast, we get an insider’s look at the true power of community-led development.
Host Alida sits down with Federico Herrera, Globe Aware’s longtime coordinator in Costa Rica, to discuss the ripple effects of short-term service and the profound cultural exchange that happens on the ground.
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.
Service abroad programs give students the chance to learn by doing—far beyond the classroom. By combining international travel, community service, and cultural immersion, these experiences help students develop leadership skills, global awareness, and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Through Globe Aware’s school volunteer group programs, students take part in carefully structured service abroad experiences that support community‑identified projects while encouraging personal growth and cross‑cultural understanding.
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.
Globally Aware: how a week of volunteering can change your life – with Kimberly Haley-Coleman
In the latest episode of Get The Boots, host Stephanie sits down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, to explore the power of ethical volunteer travel and global service.
I still remember my first morning in Romania.
The streets were quiet, the air crisp, and the smell of fresh bread drifted from a nearby bakery. Later that day, I was helping repaint a community space alongside local residents — sharing stories, laughter, and a sense of purpose that went far beyond travel.
That’s the difference with volunteer vacations in Romania. You don’t just see the country — you experience it from the inside out.
