The ebola crisis has left a legacy that has affected more than just the health system. During the epidemic, schools were shut, leaving young people with little guidance. A spate of teenage pregnancies occurred and many schools wouldn’t allow girls to continue their education whilst pregnant. 

In 1971, Charles Crawfurd embarked on a real adventure: to support good management of the Tanzania YMCA and turn it into a sustainable source of income at a time when it was haemorrhaging money.

International Citizen Service (ICS) volunteer Ibraham Kamara has a real zest for development. Born and bred in Sierra Leone, the 28-year-old young father has seen his country through war and Ebola. Even though his own schooling has been stilted, he dedicated all his time to taking care of his own learning, studying and working until he was able to finish his diploma and complete an ICS placement.

When Ebola hit Sierra Leone in 2014, nearly 4,000 people died of the highly contagious, nightmarish disease.  Access to water was key in infection prevention and control at a level that could ward off the contagion.

John William's elective year as a young doctor in Zambia led to a lifelong ambition to work abroad once he had retired. At 60, the end of his career as a consultant obstetrician, he was offered a three-month stint in Cambodia with VSO.

The placement made use of his lifetime's experience of management, teaching and clinical work to improve the healthcare services in three hospitals in obstetrics and gynaecology. It was challenging but rewarding and John, now 71, accepted a second VSO position in the country the following year.