Hi everyone! I'm the founder of the Global Medical Initiative (GMI), a student-led nonprofit dedicated to improving healthcare education and access through community outreach, advocacy, and innovative educational resources.

We're currently recruiting passionate high school and college students interested in medicine, nursing, public health, biomedical research, healthcare policy, education, or community service.

Some of our current initiatives include:

- Collaborating with a local legislator's office to advocate for healthcare policy related to patient transparency

- Creating a children's picture book featuring skin conditions that are often underrepresented in children's media, with the goal of promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging empathy

- Designing an educational board game that teaches basic hygiene and health skills in a fun, interactive way

- Developing mobile health education kits to bring hands-on health lessons to underserved communities

- Publishing accessible medical journalism to help educate the public about healthcare topics

- Expanding community outreach and global health initiatives

- Hosting health education workshops and volunteer events

We're looking for students who want to make a meaningful impact while collaborating with a team that's passionate about improving health education.

Whether your interests are in medicine, public health, research, advocacy, writing, education, design, marketing, or nonprofit leadership, we'd love to have you involved.

If you're interested, please comment your email address below or feel free DM me with any questions!

If you're a volunteer coordinator, and one of your key volunteers quits, gives only positive feedback when asked ("I had a lovely time volunteering here, so thank you!"), and then starts volunteering for an organization that does the same types of programs as your organization does, are you right to feel a bit hurt or confused?

What should you do: just assume that the volunteer for whatever reason wanted to volunteer elsewhere, and be cordial whenever you see that volunteer, or is it OK to ask the volunteer why they quit your organization and volunteer with a similar other one?

Thanks.

I’m looking to join an NGO in Nagpur as a volunteer and would appreciate your recommendations.

I’m open to working in areas like education, healthcare, environmental conservation, animal welfare, or community development. If you’ve volunteered with an NGO in Nagpur or know of one that does meaningful work and welcomes new volunteers, I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Please also share your experience if you’ve worked with any NGO.

I’ve always wanted to travel overseas to volunteer. I recently had a big health scare and I feel motivated to do this even more.
Does anyone have any programs that are near to them they recommend or any that have volunteered. Please drop them down and send me your experiences.

Thank you

Hi everyone, I’m 31 M, currently based in the UK(not a citizen) and my work visa is running out after living here for 5 years. I have been volunteering actively with local organisations. After my visa expires - looking to move abroad and volunteer full time, for a few months or longer somewhere that is impactful and focused on humanitarian work. While I don’t have experience, I’d be interested in journalism too. My background is working with financial marketing so could also contribute to fundraising. My main motivations are to make a meaningful impact and also to learn how charities work as I am interested in starting one in the future.

I’m looking for countries/organisations where it’s relatively easy to obtain a visa and travel with my Indian passport. North Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia are familiar places to me so something there might be easy but I would also like to consider South America as I would like to travel there as well. That being said, I open to pretty much any place given there is good volunteer network. Good Wi-Fi access is important as I'd like the option to work part time in the future. I’d prefer not to pay large fees to volunteer a minimal cost is fine, I’d like to focus my resources on contributing time and effort.Thanks for any suggestions or leads!

I've been developing a free community resource platform called Gather, and I'd love to get honest feedback before continuing to expand it.
Gather is designed to make it easier for people to find help when they need it most. Using your current location, it displays nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, emergency housing, healthcare and urgent care, addiction recovery services, crisis support, clothing assistance, and other nonprofit or public assistance organizations in one place.

But Gather is intended to be much more than a resource directory. One of its core features is helping reduce food waste while getting more food to people who need it. Grocery stores can subscribe to the platform and quickly post surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Nearby food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and other aid organizations receive alerts so they can claim and coordinate pickup of available donations before they go to waste. All Subscription proceeds are intended to benefit Partnership to End Addiction.

Gather also includes a community support system that allows aid organizations to create public wish lists of the supplies they need most—everything from hygiene products and diapers to blankets, cleaning supplies, and other essentials. Individuals experiencing hardship can submit requests for needed items through participating organizations. When a donor purchases those items, they are shipped directly to a participating aid organization for local pickup, providing a simple and organized way to connect donors with people in need.
For people who simply want to help their community, Gather also provides an easy way to purchase essential supplies for individuals experiencing homelessness or financial hardship through participating organizations, allowing donors to contribute tangible items where they're needed most.

My goal is to build a platform that not only helps people locate assistance, but also strengthens connections between donors, nonprofits, grocery stores, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
The project is still actively being developed, and I'd really appreciate constructive feedback.

If you work with a nonprofit, grocery store, healthcare organization, or community program, would something like this be useful?

Whether you're a developer, someone who works in the nonprofit sector, or simply someone who wants to help others, I'd genuinely appreciate your perspective.

You can check it out here:
https://live-gather.org

Thanks for taking the time to look it over. Every piece of feedback helps move the project closer to becoming a genuinely useful tool for communities.

I have read many negative things about the fifa volunteering experience in many cities and that leaves me wondering what’s even positive about volunteering for FIFA .. ?
—Houston, what’s like at POST and the NRG stadium?

Posted and maintained by the r/volunteer mod team. Please read before posting a new GVI thread — we're consolidating discussion here so people affected can find help in one place.

If you had a booking, placement or job with GVI, you're probably feeling blindsided right now. This thread is here to give you the facts we can verify, practical steps for protecting your money, and a single place to ask questions and share information. Take a breath — there are established routes for situations exactly like this, and you have more options than it might feel like tonight.

What we actually know

• GVI has published a statement confirming it is closing and entering a formal liquidation process. This is on GVI's own websites.
• Per GVI's statement: all current and future programs have been cancelled. Staff on the ground are said to be supporting participants who are currently at bases as they arrange to depart.
• GVI says affected participants will receive formal correspondence explaining the liquidation process and how to lodge a claim, and that liquidator contact details will be provided (they indicated within roughly 48 hours of the statement).

Please treat anything beyond the above — rumours about why it happened, who's to blame, what a liquidator will or won't pay — as unconfirmed for now. We'll update this thread as verified information (especially the official liquidator details) becomes available.

If you are currently on a GVI program abroad

1. Prioritise your safety and your exit. Talk to on-the-ground GVI staff about your accommodation and departure. Don't leave a safe base until you have somewhere to go.
2. Contact whoever booked your flights (you, an agent, or your parents) about bringing your return date forward if needed.
3. Tell someone at home where you are and your plan. If you're a student, loop in your university/gap-year coordinator.
4. Keep every receipt for any costs you now have to cover yourself (accommodation, transport, changed flights) — these may be recoverable later.
5. If you ever feel genuinely unsafe or stranded, contact your country's embassy/consulate and your travel insurer's emergency line.

If you were due to travel soon / had an upcoming booking

• Do not travel on a cancelled program. However confusing the silence is, GVI has stated all programs are cancelled — turning up won't work.
• Don't book flights or spend more money on the assumption the trip is still happening.
• Start gathering your paperwork now (see "Protect your paperwork" below) so you're ready to claim.

Getting your money back

This is general information, not legal or financial advice — your options depend on how you paid, where you live, and your specific booking. Check with your own bank/insurer. A few routes can run in parallel, but you can't recover the same loss twice.

1. Register as a creditor in the liquidation. When GVI publishes the liquidator's details, follow their instructions to lodge a claim. This puts you on the official list of people owed money. Be realistic: in a liquidation, customers are usually unsecured creditors, so payouts can be partial and slow. Register anyway — but don't rely on this as your only route.

2. If you paid by credit card (UK) — Section 75. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, for a purchase with a cash price between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with the trader. This still applies even if the company has gone bust, and even if you only paid a deposit on the credit card. Write to your card provider, state clearly "I am making a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act," and include your booking details and proof of payment.

3. If you paid by debit card, or under £100 on credit — chargeback. Chargeback is a card-scheme process (Visa/Mastercard/Amex), not a legal right, but it can recover money for a service you paid for and won't receive. There's usually a ~120-day time limit from the transaction date or the date the service was due — so don't sit on this. Contact your bank and explain the company has ceased trading.

4. Travel insurance. Some policies include cover for supplier/operator failure or insolvency — many don't unless you specifically have it. Read your policy wording and call your insurer.

5. ATOL / ABTA — check, but don't assume. ATOL mainly covers flight-inclusive packages; ABTA covers bonded travel. A lot of volunteer placements are sold "land only" (you book your own flights), so they may not be ATOL-protected. If you were issued an ATOL Certificate when you booked, you can claim via the CAA (atol.org.uk). If you weren't, this route probably doesn't apply — lean on the card routes above.

6. Not in the UK? GVI operated across several countries. Section 75/ATOL/ABTA are UK-specific. US, Irish, Australian and other participants should check their card issuer's dispute/chargeback process and their local consumer-protection body for the equivalent routes.

Protect your paperwork (do this today)

Save copies of everything, in one folder:

• Booking confirmation and invoice
• Proof of payment (card statements showing the charge, deposit + balance)
• Your contract / terms & conditions
• All email and message correspondence with GVI
• Any ATOL Certificate you were issued
• Screenshots of GVI's closure statement and your (now cancelled) booking

You'll need these for card claims, insurance, and the liquidator.

⚠️ A word of caution

Situations like this attract people looking to take advantage. Please:

• Only act on the official liquidator correspondence. Be sceptical of anyone contacting you claiming to be a "GVI recovery service," a liquidator asking for fees up front, or offering to fast-track your refund.
• Don't rush into a new booking under pressure. You're trying to recover money right now — think carefully before handing more of it over.
• If you do look at an alternative program, vet it properly: real local leadership, clear safeguarding, transparent fees, and a written refund/cancellation policy.

For operators offering alternative placements — please read

We know a number of volunteer operators are reaching out to affected participants, and some of that comes from a genuine wish to help. To keep this thread useful and safe, and to comply with the sub rules:

• Post in the comments of this thread, not as separate standalone promo posts. Individual "GVI alternative" recruitment posts will be removed and directed here for now.
• Any offer must meet Rule 3 (good faith + detailed). Say clearly who you are, what you run, which destinations and dates, your full fees and exactly what's included.
• Do not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or continuity from GVI. You are not GVI and cannot advise on its liquidation, refunds or claims.
• No pressure tactics — no "limited spaces, act now," no using GVI's name in titles to farm traffic, no undercutting people's refund rights.

Genuine, transparent offers that follow the above are welcome. Anything that reads as opportunistic will be removed.

You're not alone in this

A lot of you are students or first-time travellers who saved hard for this, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed, stressed or upset. That's a normal reaction to having the rug pulled out. The practical steps above genuinely do help, and this community has people in it who've navigated operator collapses before — so please ask questions below and share anything you learn.

Mods will keep this thread updated as verified information comes in — including the official liquidator contact details once GVI releases them.

This megathread is a community resource, not official or legal advice. Always confirm your own position with your bank, insurer, or the appointed liquidator.

Hello everyone, I just completed my o levels and I want to spend my vacations meaningfully.

As far as I am concerned only usa requires volunteering;however, all volunteering programs are sort of a ripoff here where I live. I am also making a project app which I will contribute to open source is that enough as a volunteering contribution?

Pls help me I dont wanna waste time as im also preparing for my sat

Hi, I am in between jobs and was thinking of utilising this time perhaps doing something unconventional - volunteering. I was looking for volunteering opportunities in udaipur, preferably paid, that would be great or even if it is unpaid but provides good accomodation and food, that works for me. But here's the thing - the accommodation has to be pet friendly. I have a golden retriever and I want to bring him with me wherever I plan to volunteer. If you folks know any such opportunity that would be open to hosting me and my puppy in return for my volunteering work, please share the details with me. XOXO

Hi all, I'm on the international programs team at Maximo Nivel. Not trying to advertise here, just want this to reach anyone who might need it. Mods, feel free to remove if this isn't allowed in this volunteer sub.

We were as surprised as everyone to learn that GVI (Global Vision International) is closing. They've been around for almost three decades and it's an organization we've always admired and respected.

If anyone is currently in Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Peru on a GVI program, please reach out to us. We have teams on the ground and our campuses are open to anyone who needs help. We want to make sure you have support while you figure out next steps. Here you have a safe homebase at zero cost.

IMPORTANT: This offer is limited to participants currently in country; it is in no way related to GVI’s liquidation; and it is not made in collaboration with GVI. Our mission is to provide a safe home base, transportation, airport logistics, and potential program continuation for anyone affected.

Email international@maximonivel.com and we'll get back to you directly. If you know someone this applies to, feel free to send them this thread.

This sounds overly simple, but I think a lot of volunteer programs break down because the communication method doesn’t match the urgency of the ask.

People sign up with good intentions. Then the reminder goes out by email, it gets buried, someone forgets what time the event starts, and suddenly the organizer is scrambling. It gets treated like a volunteer reliability issue when part of it is just bad communication design.

I’ve been looking at how campaigns handle this because they tend to be more disciplined about reminders and follow-up. RumbleUp came up when I was reading around, and it made me wonder whether campaign-style texting systems are actually better for volunteer coordination in general than the tools a lot of orgs default to.

Hola a todos! I'm looking for work actually at the same time while i don't have work i would like to go volunteer to any organization (if there is any) in Sevilla.
My husband and me recently move here and i don't know anyone plus my spanish is muy mal since i only finished A1. I don't feel confident at all. And i used to work before moving here so i just can't stay at home doing nothing. It felt unproductive. I used to volunteer in the previous country i went (UAE) For cleaning the sea side and promoting green and clean environment for the sea animals, assisting and helping in an animal shelter or kids from the shelter. I also used to help in our church since they also participate in programs. Im thinking it's also one of the way to communicate locals to improve my spanish porque me gusta mucho hablar en español. Plus i tried applying in some restaurant or any job but they won't message/email me back probably bcos of the language idk. So yeah, i hope anyone have idea about these things.

Muchas Gracias!

I worked as a Front-end and Full-stack Developer from 2024 until February 2026. I got laid off from that job, and now I'm working as a Data Scientist.

Right now, I'm looking for a volunteer opportunity. So if you need someone with experience in Software Development, Data Science, or AI Engineering, I'd be happy to help.

The only thing I'm looking for in return is the chance to work with someone who's fluent in English. My goal is to work in the international market in the future, so I'd love to improve my speaking and communication skills by talking with real people.

So if I can help you with Data Science, AI Engineering, or Web Development, and you can help me practice my English, I think it'd be a win-win. :)

hey, not going to pretend this isn't a little self-promotional but i'll make it worth your time to read

i'm a rising senior at a the #1 STEM magnet school in the US. i founded a nonprofit called Empower InvisAbilities in 2024, focused on invisible disabilities (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, sensory differences, anxiety, stuff schools constantly miss or dismiss).

here's what we've actually done so far:

• ran workshops across the united states reaching 200+ students directly
• wrote a children's book on invisible disabilities, sold 100+ copies, donated $1100+ to underserved communities
• shipped books, teacher toolkits, and sensory tools to 15+ military schools in india — 250+ students got disability education for the first time
• worked with district-level research staff to design student/teacher surveys measuring gaps in accommodation awareness (this one got complicated but that's a different post)
• raised $5k+, grants pending
• 500+ people reached across 4 continents

we have chapters starting in the UK, australia, and parts of africa and i'm actively looking for leads in places we don't have yet (and more in places we do!) — southeast asia, latin america, eastern europe, middle east, anywhere really

what running a chapter looks like:
a few awareness events per semester, sharing our materials (we give you everything, you don't build from scratch), getting volunteer, and reporting back on reach. realistically 1-2 hours a month outside of events. designed to count for CAS.

why this is actually useful for college apps beyond CAS hours:
you'd be a named Chapter Lead of a registered US 501(c)(3) with documented international reach. that's a real title with real numbers behind it, not just "volunteered at a local shelter." if you're applying to US schools especially, running an international chapter of a youth nonprofit reads differently than most service activities

if you're in a country we don't have yet drop a comment or DM me, i'll send the application link.

does anyone know any hospitals/clinics in georgia that let 17 year olds shadow or volunteer?
everything i’ve found so far says 18+ 😭 i’m a rising senior and really trying to get some medical experience before college apps
if you know anything pls lmk, i’d really appreciate it 🙏

I’m looking for a volunteering activity that my teenage son and I can do and enjoy on a monthly basis. Something where you can also develop both social and leadership skills. Have some conversations and organize events etc. I’m in around San Francisco area.