Testimonials
"I'm sure when I ponder my life experiences, during the twilight of my years, I will regard my six weeks in Thailand as six of the most sensational weeks of my life... I traveled to Thailand hoping for an enriching experience. What I found exceeded my wildest expectations."
Chris Cox, International Health Program, Thailand
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION & TRAINING FOR GSC PROGRAMS
Global Service Corps believes that not only is it important to prepare those volunteering abroad for their GSC Service Program, it is also essential to prepare them for life in their new homes and communities while in Tanzania or Thailand. This is truly one of the aspects to our international volunteer program that sets us apart from other volunteer abroad experiences. Depending on program type, GSC provides one- or two-week in-country orientation and volunteer training sessions at the start of each or our volunteer or internship program and the GSC SOS Fellowship Program includes a four-week orientation and training.

Thailand

Thailand GSC Program volunteers enjoy a 6-day orientation and training session to start their program. This includes pick-up at the Suvarmabumi Airport and two nights/three days accommodations in Bangkok with fellow volunteers and the in-country coordinator. Volunteers are taken on sightseeing trips to some of the famous sites in Bangkok that include the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the Jim Thompson House, and a river boat taxi ride to Wat Arun. Volunteers are also taken out for group meals to sample the deliciously spicy Thai cuisine!

On the third day, participants are taken to the GSC/Greenway Thailand orientation center in Singburi for cultural and program specific orientation and training. This includes Thai language training, discussions on Thai culture, an introduction to the specific project work, a day trip to Wat San Phra Kan (Monkey Temple) in Lopburi and Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu AIDS Hospice, and an overnight Buddhist immersion experience at a local Wat (Buddhist temple). GSC’s In-Country Coordinator, who is a certified Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) teacher, also provides basic training in TEFL for those who will be teaching English to either local students or novice monks during their program. For volunteer participants in the HIV/AIDS Education Program, training is conducted on the etiology of the disease, contextual issues facing Thai youth in terms of this disease, and how to effectively lead lessons that integrates HIV/AIDS education and awareness with English language training.

Tanzania

Orientation and training in Arusha is conducted for all Tanzania GSC Program participants. This includes pick-up at the Kilimanjaro Airport and three nights’ accommodations at a hostel in central Arusha with fellow volunteers, and four nights accommodations at your homestay where you will reside for the remainder of your program. During the first week, volunteers will be accompanied on a tour of Arusha to get a flavor of this portal to Tanzania’s world-famous northern tourist destinations. Volunteers are accompanied by GSC staff and counterparts for group meals to get accustomed to the international and local cuisine.

The first week orientation emphasizes specific training on culture, health, and safety issues and Swahili language lessons, as well as an introduction to various GSC projects. The HIV/AIDS Prevention Program includes training on HIV/AIDS in a Tanzania specific context and instruction on how to conduct community trainings. Instruction covers the etiology of the virus and disease, cultural factors that influence its spread and transmission in Tanzania, methods of prevention, testing and treatment. The Sustainable Agriculture Program provides training on HIV/AIDS issues as mentioned above plus technical training on nutrition and bio-intensive agriculture (BIA). Topics covered in BIA training include double digging, composting and companion planting. During the second weekend, a day safari to one of Tanzania's famous game parks provides participants a taste of the unsurpassed geographic beauty and wildlife of this region.