Female waste picker

In solidarity. With hope. Will you keep changing lives?

Creating lasting change by unlocking the power of people

At VSO we harness the skills and expertise of volunteers to deliver long lasting change. We put people first and empower them to be in the driving seat of their own development. Our volunteers work in collaboration with marginalised communities in every aspect of project design, delivery and evaluation, enabling the world's poorest communities to take charge of their own change. 

Areas of work

Purnima at a catch up class
Suraj Shakya

Inclusive education

Making sure everyone gets the skills they need to live a fulfilled, dignified life.

We helped almost 3.6 million people to access the quality education they deserve using our current strategy.

Young female farmers in Kenya
VSO/Paul Wambugu

Resilient livelihoods

Ensuring people have the skills needed to support themselves and their families.

Over 400,000 people benefited from our work supporting livelihoods using our current strategy.

Girls at the She Club, a safe space for girls to learn about SRHR
Chosa Mweemba

Adolescent and youth health and wellbeing

Improving health services and empowering people to exercise their right to quality care.

We helped almost 200,000 people access better healthcare using our current strategy.

Health volunteers

Empowering communities through partnership

On the 18-19 March, healthcare leaders from across East Africa gathered together for the Regional Health Promotion Conference, hosted by VSO and the Ministry of Health Kenya, to reimagine Universal Health Coverage through the lens of intersectionality.

Learn more about the conference

Visit your local VSO website

Latest news

Hear stories from volunteers and communities and stay up-to-date with the latest VSO news.

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Women wearing PPE
VSO/Paul Wambugu

Keeping our commitments to communities, including women waste pickers

VSO’s funding has been reducing for a number of years, but now we are facing unprecedented pressures. In solidarity and with hope, your support means VSO can be there for more women waste pickers like Beth.

Two people using tablet

Using play to inspire learning in Rwanda

Learn how volunteers like Celestin are supporting children in Rwanda to learn through play. Children are taught problem solving, strategic thinking and inter-personal skills, all while enjoying the learning process.

Mung bean farmer

Three ways we’re supporting local, eco-friendly business practices in Cambodia

On the Tonle Sap Lake, climate change, overfishing, deforestation, and the depositing of untreated industrial and domestic sewage, are all threatening the natural balance of the region. VSO has supported local people to adapt to this environment by developing green business practices.

Our impact

Using our current strategy (2022-28), VSO has reached 24.8 million people, including over 20.6 million indirectly and nearly 4.2 million directly.

Find out more in our impact report

3.6m

Nearly 3.6 million were reached through our education projects.

400,000

Over 400,000 people were reached through our resilient livelihoods programme.

200,000

Almost 200,000 people were reached through our health projects.

Volunteering with VSO

Make an impact by sharing your skills and experience with some of the most marginalised people in the world. Become a VSO volunteer.

Browse all current opportunities

More ways you can support VSO

Got a call from us recently?

Find out more about our telephone fundraising