Charity Factsheet:
VSO
VSO today
VSO was voted top international development charity in the International Aid and Development category at the Charity Awards 2004 for its work in promoting innovative approaches to globalising volunteering
Our approach to volunteering has changed dramatically over the years. We no longer send school-leavers - today the average age of a volunteer is 38 and most placements are for two years. We are a leading development charity with almost 2,000 skilled professionals currently working in over 40 countries. We respond to requests from governments and community organisations throughout Asia and Africa
The volunteers aim to pass on their expertise to local people so that when they return home their skills remain. Volunteers can be aged between 20 and 75 years old and must have a formal qualification and some work experience. Regular postings are for two years and volunteers are provided with accommodation and a local level allowance as well as air fares and insurance
We are actively recruiting volunteers all the time. The range of jobs is vast, and includes small business advisors, teachers, social workers, health professionals, management consultants, marine biologists, accountants and farmers
Some history
Voluntary Service Overseas was founded by the late Alec and Mora Dickson with backing from Inter Church Aid (now Christian Aid) and the late Bishop of Portsmouth, who sent a letter to the Sunday Times to support his vision
On May 15 1958 the first VSO volunteers (eight 18-year-old men) left the UK to give a year's voluntary service in developing countries - Ghana, Nigeria, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Sarawak. Some of the first volunteers are still in touch with VSO, which still has thriving programmes in Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia. Since then over 30,000 volunteers have served in over 70 countries
Some well-known former VSO volunteers
Many former VSO volunteers have risen to prominence in their chosen field. A significant number of former volunteers have been, or still are journalists. VSO volunteers have also gone on to become politicians, well-known writers, churchmen, business people, police chiefs and educationalists
Examples include Mike Wooldridge, Brian Hanrahan, Jon Snow, Michael Brunson, Peter Salmon, Labour Minister Hilary Armstrong MP and Nicholas Evans, author of The Horse Whisperer.
Over recent years, VSO Challenges have raised nearly a million pounds for our work in the international community. Our recent Kilimanjaro trek raised over £140,000 - nearly £50,000 over its target and a number of the trekkers have shown a real and lasting commitment to the future work of VSO as major donors, campaigners and even volunteers. The income from the challenges is vital to VSO as it is unrestricted and we can therefore spend it where the need is greatest. One of the countries in which demand is great for VSO volunteers is Rwanda. Rwanda underwent a terrible and awful genocide in 1994. The education infrastructure was destroyed completely and the majority of teachers were either massacred or left the country for exile. The schools were destroyed and all the equipment was looted.
At the end of 1994, the government started to rebuild the education infrastructure and it was in that process that VSO came in: invited to support in re-shaping the system and working on the aspects of quality teaching and improving access. In 1999 VSO's agenda was focused on hosting teachers in secondary schools to teach subjects like Science and English, and more recently, volunteer teacher trainers are working in Teacher Training Colleges in order to pass on their skills and leave a lasting legacy.
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