Blog

Learn how in spite of the challenges of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased difficulty of working in communities, VSO volunteers have continued to support the most vulnerable throughout this crisis.

Jessica Sucgang, an experienced teacher from the Philippines, volunteered with VSO’s Building Learning Foundations programme in Rwanda. Read about her experience mentoring teams of national volunteers as part of a programme aiming to improve basic education in Rwanda.

Until now, although good practices and methodologies have existed across the volunteering sector, there has been no globally agreed set of standards. Together with the International Forum for Volunteering in Development, VSO has launched the Global Standard for Volunteering.

Volunteering is too often badly misunderstood. Too often, it is seen as a “worthy” activity undertaken by people with time on their hands. However, it really is a fundamental part of any country’s development journey and when done properly, it can be a powerful tool.

In 2017 Mike Barnes, an ex-primary school headteacher, joined VSO’s Unlocking Talent project in Malawi, providing students with tablet computers loaded with local language courses in numeracy and literacy. Read how he helped improve learning outcomes for thousands of children.
 

In 2020, we honoured the volunteers who went above and beyond to make a difference, through our Volunteer Impact Awards. A year on, find out what our winners have been up to since winning the awards.

Melba Pyne, 56, from Colombia, recounts her experience volunteering with VSO in Rwanda where she coached head teachers, both in country and remotely, after the pandemic cut her placement short.

VSO e-volunteer Chris Evans outlines how a tiny pilot permaculture scheme in Nepal successfully spread environmentally friendly farming practices and ideas in line with existing cultural traditions.

For Vivian, the Covid-19 pandemic was a frightening time. Affording three meals a day for herself and her children was hard with no income. Thanks to VSO supporters Vivian was provided a lifeline, with a new small business grant.

In 2021 a devastating fire broke out in Susan’s Bay slum in Freetown, Sierra Leone, leaving 7,000 people homeless. Read how volunteer Samuel jumped in to action.

Climate change, typhoons and poor fishing practices were threatening the way of life of a coastal community in the Philippines. Then volunteers came together to plant mangroves to turn the tide.

Hear from our students and mentors about how our Education for Life project is helping young brides in Kenya, return to school.