When you think about Egypt, often what comes up are large pyramids, vast deserts and deep, ancient history. But beyond these iconic staples lies a vibrant culture, full of stories waiting to be discovered.

This is what Helen thought of before volunteering in Egypt. But once she stepped back into London, her whole perspective was changed.

Salam. Necəsən?”

If someone greets you with that, then you can answer them with ‘Salam. Yaxşıyam!’; a simple greeting in Azerbaijani, like the English ‘how are you?’ and ‘fine, thank you, and you?’.

Addressing and embracing struggle is the first step to fostering growth. Six weeks, one new country and countless memories. Follow Winnie as she learns how deep of an impact she can make.

A whole new world. Unfamiliar language, culture and customs. Witnessing something new with every look. You wonder whether you’ll truly belong, whether the experience will be meaningful, or if you’ll feel like an outsider passing through. The fear of the unknown is a feeling humanity has held since the dawn of time. Overcoming this was something that changed Touko’s life.

Language is how people convey meaning, express feelings and communicate. English is the most spoken language in the world, but when it’s not your first, and neither is it the person’s opposite, the ability to converse becomes increasingly difficult.

Caron experienced exactly this. But she didn’t let this stop her from bridging the gap between her and a local community in Türkiye.

Nicole’s Global Volunteer journey is a story of turning the desire for international exposure into meaningful impact. She shows how volunteering abroad builds purpose, global friendships, and a deeper understanding of education and community.

In 2024, George made a choice many young people think about but few actually take. He packed his bags, left the familiarity of the UK, and travelled to Sri Lanka as a Global Volunteer. What started as a volunteering opportunity quickly became a journey of growth, connection, and purpose.

Haitam, former Local Committee President of AIESEC in Glasgow, embarked on a Global Volunteer journey to Romania, joining an education project that pushed him out of his comfort zone. Read how through teaching, cultural exchange, and teamwork, he discovered new confidence, deeper connections, and the true meaning of global leadership.

A Volunteering escapade from our alumni, Zi Yee, the former Local Committee President of AIESEC in Edinburgh. Besides being an AIESECer, she went to Bucharest, Romania, for the project Scale Up!, where she and her teammates worked on projects to help kids better understand their culture