We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions.
Areas of work
Inclusive education
Making sure everyone gets the skills they need to live a fulfilled, dignified life.
Over the past five years we have supported almost 3,500,000 children to access the quality education they deserve.
Resilient livelihoods
Ensuring people have the skills and opportunities needed to support themselves and their families.
770,000 people have benefited from our work supporting livelihoods over the past five years.
Adolescent and youth health and wellbeing
Improving health services and empowering people to exercise their right to quality care.
Over the past five years we have helped over 3,600,000 people access better healthcare.
How we work
Volunteering for development
At VSO, we know that people in developing countries have the power, courage and desire to help themselves. That’s why we use a volunteering for development approach that puts the most marginalised people first.
Our core approaches
Across all our programmes we focus on building communities that are resilient, inclusive and accountable.
Our three 'core approaches' - social inclusion and gender, resilience, and social inclusion and accountability - are fundamental to our volunteering for development approach, ensuring that the people we work with have the capacity to bring about change in their own lives.
Working in partnership
We believe progress is only possible when we work together.
Partnerships lie at the root of all the positive change we create. Together, we work on programme development and delivery, research, fundraising and influencing decision-makers.
We work with:
- 500+ local organisations in 23 countries;
- governments at all levels;
- funders, academic institutions and advocacy platforms;
- corporate partners.
Research and evaluation
Evaluating our work is essential. We carry out systematic assessments of all projects, programmes and policies.
Research plays a critical role in helping us understand and improve our work reducing poverty.
Influencing and advocacy
We influence policy at national, regional and international levels. We connect decision makers to the experiences of our volunteers, partners and marginalised people.
Our work around the world, amplifying the voices of the poorest, is making change happen.
Examples of our work
Bangladesh
Livelihoods
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Growing Together in Bangladesh
Education
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Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Bangladesh
Health
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Interactive theatre for justice
Malawi
Education
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Unlocking Talent Through Technology
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Building Educational Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT)
Livelihoods
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Improving Market Access for the Poor
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Solar Mama Rural Electrification project
Health
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Improving the health and wellbeing of prison populations in Southern Africa
Mozambique
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Responding to Cyclone Idai
Tanzania
Livelihoods
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Improving Market Access for the Poor
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Lake Zone Youth Empowerment project
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Tanzania Local Enterprise Development (T-LED)
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Collective Action for Rights Realisation in Extractives Industry (CLARITY)
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Futuremakers
Health
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Interactive theatre for justice
Latest stories
“Be ready to meet new people and build communities, gain knowledge and a sense of purpose.”
Hear from Lameck Dition Sandram from Malawi, who volunteered in Sierra Leone where he worked on VSO’s Unlocking Talent (UT) project, applying his 25 years of experience in education to train staff and collect real-time project implementation data.
2022: The year in review
As we move into 2023, let’s have a look back to 2022. Despite, the soaring cost of living, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and a series of climate disasters that defined 2022, VSO supporters and volunteers continued to support our work in the face of adversity.
'They Were There' - A song dedicated to volunteers
Dedicated to all our incredible volunteers past and present, Leteipa the King performed his song 'They Were There' at the 2022 VSO Volunteers Impact Awards. Watch the music video here!