Blog

Triumph, heartbreak and breakthroughs: Reflecting on 2019
Reflecting on a year of inspiration, celebration and challenges that made us stronger than ever.
Celebrating the unsung heroes fighting poverty: VSO Volunteer Impact Awards
Past and present volunteers joined VSO supporters and special guests for a special celebration at London’s Royal Geographical Society on 26 November 2019.

Rebuilding hope, trust and communities in Uganda
When Sue Howes returned to Uganda 40 years after first volunteering there, she found a country still nursing the wounds left by war, extremism, disease and despotism. Compelled to do something, Sue and her husband Greg founded a project that would help communities build themselves back up.

From volunteer nurse to Great British Bake Off winner: David Atherton
David Atherton volunteered with VSO in Malawi training nurses and midwives, before going on to support thousands of VSO volunteers and staff as part of our medical team.

Join the fight to stop orphanage tourism
Our network of over 35,000 youth volunteers is joining in efforts to end orphanage tourism and other harmful 'voluntourism' schemes.

Here’s a big thank you to our unsung classroom heroes
We say thank you to all the wonderful teachers we work with, across VSO.

We’re training the teachers of tomorrow, today
There are now more children in education than ever before, but millions are leaving school without basic reading or maths skills. The solution? We think it begins with better teacher training.

Creating smiles in a Rohingya refugee camp
One year ago, VSO supporters donated £130,000 to help Rohingya children living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. One year on, we look at the tremendous impact the project has made for thousands of people.

In photos: Grassroots recovery in Mozambique
The devastating effects of March’s cyclones linger on - but it is community volunteers who are leading the march towards recovery and ongoing resilience.

5 things I've learned volunteering in a refugee camp
Kenyan volunteer Ann Wambui shares what she's learnt as a volunteer in Cox's Bazar camp in Bangladesh.

Taking voices from communities to global decision makers
We hear from VSO Pakistan Country Director Hashim Bilal, on how communities in his country are making their voices heard when it comes to progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Meet the young activists fighting for Deaf rights
Youth volunteers Raabia, a young filmmaker from the UK, and her Kenyan counterpart, Enock, explain how badly marginalised Deaf people continue to be in both countries – and what they’re doing to help.