Global Crossroad is a volunteer abroad program that operates in 20 different countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Their main focus is on grassroots support for projects, cultural immersion, and learning through traveling-all of these elements combine to make up a truly one of a kind experience for volunteers. Global Crossroad credits their success to their undying dedication to their focus, vision, and philosophy of working with orphans and women who pose special challenges in developing countries and poor, rural areas. Through cultural immersion volunteers are put through a language program, cultural tours, and village visits with many different partner countries.

Since 2003 Global Crossroad has been growing into one of the most expansive international volunteer organizations. Their Volunteer Abroad, Internship Abroad, Mini-Adventure, group Summer Escapes, and paid teaching opportunities employ hundreds of volunteers each year. In an effort to meet the needs of their volunteers, the life blood of their organization, Global Crossroad offers individualized placements, cross cultural learning experiences, in country travel arrangements, and free time exploration. In addition, Global Crossroad provides their volunteers with opportunities to work with orphaned children, disadvantaged locals, and rural women's groups that are in the greatest need of relief. Volunteers create their own meaningful experiences through their work, their host family, and the in country coordinator and staff that offer never ending support.

If you're interested in embarking on a life-changing journey Global Crossroad will provide you with one to two weeks or language and cultural orientation where volunteers have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the contexts and communities they will soon be a part of. During this time they also have the opportunity to hike, join activities, and experience what daily life is like before beginning their volunteer duties. Global Crossroad works with Non-Governmental Organizations, schools, and grassroots groups employing highly experienced national co-coordinators to work with volunteers and development projects. All of their programs are screened using one on one visits with community members and host families. Global Crossroad only uses safe villages and neighborhoods to house project participants.

Check out Global Crossroad's two-week Mini Adventure programs that combine volunteering with cultural and language immersion that includes travel at way below average costs. You might also look into their Summer Escapes Program that offers volunteers a four week cultural / educational adventure to places like Costa Rica, Ghana, Nepal, Tibet, India, and Thailand. Global Crossroad also has a Summer Escapes program where volunteers get to experience exotic trips that are far off from traditional tourist destinations. So if you're planning this summer's vacation and feel that you're ready for something out of the norm, Global Crossroad is waiting to provide you with the tools and resources you need for an out of this world, life changing adventure.