Out of office until 2009... Gone to help Africa's poor
Doing voluntary work abroad used to be the preserve of school-leavers who wanted to spread their wings and search for worldly meaning while building a few mud huts. But now the average age of a volunteer is 41 and they are as likely to be a financial services expert as a student, says overseas volunteering charity VSO, which is marking its 50th anniversary. Five decades on, VSO has sent more than 32,000 volunteers to help out in 119 countries. Celebrations have already been held across Britain to mark the anniversary. But a final event is planned tomorrow at the Royal Festival Hall in London, hosted by president Jonathan Dimbleby.