Blog
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.