Blog

golden retriever

‘Because you have a pet’ and other reasons to write your will today

An estimated 60% of eligible adults in the UK do not have a will. A growing number of people are ticking this ‘life admin task’ off their ‘to do lists’ by using a simple and easy to use Free Wills Service.

Kenyan youth group
Paul Wambugu/Obscuramedia

Our youth champions give their climate month round-up

Our youth champions took over our @VSOPeople account on Twitter, to share the ways they're tackling climate change in their communities. Watch the video to find out more.

Juliet
Columbus Mavhunga

The mental health lifeline for survivors of abuse in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, survivors of violence and abuse have little access to mental health services to manage the trauma they’ve experienced. For those who’ve been through so much, what support is out there?

Alego Young turks members after feeding fish in their cages. Lake Zone. Tanzania
Nicholaus Jackson

Decolonising aid - from rhetoric to action

There has been a lot of talk across the international development sector about the need to “decolonise” aid. Here our Director of Global Programmes explains how VSO has responded in both our internal practice as well as in our development programming.

Children playing. Nyamasheke, Rwanda.
VSO/Mussa

5 top tips for creating more ‘me time’

In celebration of Free Wills Month, we give you five time-saving hacks to try. Pick and choose what works for you and get some more ‘me time’ into your every day.

Ann

VSO Volunteers Honoured by HM Queen Elizabeth II

Over the years, many of our volunteers have been recognised in the Queen’s Honours lists. These titles of honour are awarded to deserving people from all walks of life, in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery. In this blog post, we revisit some previous honourees.

Community emergency response team pull a boat from the water

Pakistan Floods - from planning to action

Flooding in Pakistan is a stark reminder that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, disproportionately affects the poorest societies. Community Emergency Response Teams are in the field providing emergency action.

Youths chat under a tree
Paul Wambugu/ Obscuramedia

5 ways our youth champions are fighting climate change

In this blog we share five ways that our youth champions have realised tremendous achievements in creating climate awareness, climate resilience and triggering climate justice in their communities.

Paro smiling at the camera
Suraj Shakya

The right climate to learn

Across the countries where VSO works, we see children and young people increasingly experience the effects of climate change. With climate change set to worsen, we know they are likely to experience more devastating consequences in their lifetimes.

BBC Africa film. Family planning for deaf women in Kenya.
BBC Africa

Family planning for the deaf

BBC Africa recently visited the UK Aid funded “Delivering Equitable Sustainable Increases in Family Planning” (DESIP) project in Kenya where they captured our work helping young women with hearing impairment with information on family planning. Watch the short film here.

Woman miner crushing stones
Nicholaus Jackson

Helping women benefit in Tanzania’s male dominated mining industry

Women stand to gain much from Tanzania's male dominated mining industry. Find out how a VSO project is supporting women - and youth and people with disabilities - to access equitable opportunities in the sector in Geita and Mara.

Michael explains Unlocking Talent to the Deputy Minister of Education Madam Elivina Grogera.
Michael Conteh

How technology is improving early grade children’s learning in Sierra Leone

Michael Conteh, a Sierra Leonean national aged 31 years, is volunteering on the Unlocking Talent through Technology project in his home country. Read about his experience helping to improve and accelerate learning outcomes for early school years children.