Blog

Felix and his fellow volunteers
VSO/ Liza Oliver

"When you volunteer, you're not just a participant. You're a decision-maker"

Volunteer Felix Muendo, tells his story of volunteering as a sexual and reproductive health advisor for the ACTIVE project in Kenya.

Nirmala leading the children to class

A brighter future: the volunteers helping girls stay in school

Watch how volunteer "Big Sisters," like Nirmala, are helping to ensure children in Nepal have the best start in life by highlighting the importance of education to their parents.

Youth volunteers
VSO/Fabrice Macumbi

From volunteer service overseas to active citizenship: VSO's journey

In 1958, Moira and Alec Dickenson recruited 16 youth volunteers to go to Borneo. This was the start of our journey. The one constant throughout our story is our focus on volunteering, though now our work is informed by the idea of active citizenship. 

Florence
VSO/Paul Wambugu

How girls are learning and earning their way out of poverty

Girls across Africa are being forced to drop out of school early as families are forced to make tough decisions as money and resources are limited. With your support, VSO have helped girls to return to education and secure employment opportunities.

Dev Upadhyaya talking in class
Kam Jaga

Volunteering can shape communities and your own growth - Dev's story

Meet Dev Upadhyaya, a volunteer Learning Advisor working on a four-year education project targeting 60 schools in Nepal. The SIKAI project aims to address barriers faced by marginalised children in accessing primary education and help them successfully transition from childhood to adolescence.

Salma Rehmat.

"Girls deserve an education just as much as boys"

Meet 26 year-old community volunteer Salma Rehmat from Afghanistan. Salma advocates for Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan to access a quality education. Find out more.

Praveen Kumar

Life at VSO: Praveen Kumar, Global Lead Advisor for Social Inclusion

Praveen Kumar Gurunath has been working with VSO for the past 18 years in various roles, and for the past five years as the Global Lead Advisor for Social Inclusion. Find out more about his experience at VSO.

Lord Jack McConnell talks at the ACTIVE launch
VSO

Former First Minister of Scotland welcomes launch of VSO peacebuilding project in the Philippines

In January 2024, Lord Jack McConnell, former First Minister of Scotland and former VSO volunteer, visited Camp Badre in Maguindanao del Norte, the Philippines. Hear his reflections from the trip.

Shirisha, community psychosocial support worker.
VSO/Ashok Bhandari, Mogul Media Pvt. Ltd.

Stories of empowerment: three Nepali women reclaiming their space

In Nepal, more than one in four women experience gender-based violence. To mark International Women's Day, we’re sharing the stories of three women from a VSO project in Nepal, who are helping to end violence against women and girls.

Smiling school girl
VSO/Suraj Shakya.

Five female achievements you might not know about

Join us in celebrating five female achievements from VSO and beyond, that you might not have heard about...

Woman selling rice
VSO/Lisa Marie David

How can we empower women working in informal sectors?

Women are disproportionately represented in the informal workforce, with jobs ranging from domestic workers to street vendors to seasonal farmers. Investing in women in the informal workforce is not just about economic justice but also a strategic imperative for sustainable development.

Volunteer talks to disabled girl and family
VSO/Suraj Shakya

5 steps to tackle ‘Othering’ for global inclusivity

One concept that holds back the journey towards inclusivity is Othering. While it is not a term often thrown around in everyday conversation, its impact on our societies can be profound and far-reaching.