Woman smiling with organic crops
Lisa Marie David

Our work

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.

Our impact 2022/23

Our annual impact report provides an overview and some examples of what we have achieved during 2022/23. It highlights the amazing impact that we made in a wide range of contexts around the world thanks to supporters like you.

Impact report

Areas of work

Purnima at a catch up class
Suraj Shakya

Inclusive education

Making sure everyone gets the skills they need to live a fulfilled, dignified life.

We helped over 3.2 million people to access the quality education they deserve in 2022-23.

Young female farmers in Kenya
VSO/Paul Wambugu

Resilient livelihoods

Ensuring people have the skills and opportunities needed to support themselves and their families.

200,000 people benefited from our work supporting livelihoods in 2022-23.

Girls at the She Club, a safe space for girls to learn about SRHR
Chosa Mweemba

Adolescent and youth health and wellbeing

Improving health services and empowering people to exercise their right to quality care.

We helped almost 90,000 people access better healthcare in 2022-23.

Our projects

Read about current and former projects that VSO has worked on.

Discover our projects

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.

Volunteering for development approach

Two adolescent girls study on a bench

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.

Our core approaches

    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.

    Partnering with VSO

    The ACTIVE programme

    Our Active Citizenship Through Inclusive Volunteering and Empowerment (ACTIVE) programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will support the development of active citizenship across the Global South, so the world’s most marginalised people can lead their own development, claim their rights to better public services, and hold people in power to account.

    ACTIVE

    Research and evaluation

    A woman sits on a low outdoor wall whilst writing in a log book
    VSO/Suraj Ratna Shakya

    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.

    Research and evaluations

    Influencing and advocacy

    A group of Nepali women hold a banner and placards as they protest in front of their remote village, with hills in the background
    VSO/Peter Caton

    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.

    Influencing and advocacy

    Latest stories

    Melba Pyne and Claude Ndayizeye on a call

    Video blog: In conversation with two education volunteers in Rwanda

    Melba from Colombia and Claude from Rwanda are two very different education specialists with one thing in common, they both volunteered with VSO in Rwanda. We brought these two volunteers together to share their reflections on what it was like to volunteer with VSO. Watch the videos now.

    VSO volunteer Lawrence distributing PPE to waste picker Vanessa.
    VSO/Paul Wambugu

    The volunteer ensuring the unsung heroes of waste aren't left behind

    Driven by his passion to clean up the environment, Kenyan volunteer Lawrence is currently volunteering on a VSO recycling project in Nairobi, where he’s helping to empower waste pickers. Read about his work.

    Lucy delivers presentation to children

    Our volunteers give their top tips for aspiring volunteers

    From local volunteering to global development projects, everyone has the power to make a difference. Hear from VSO volunteers across the globe as they give their top tips on how to make your volunteering experience impactful and enjoyable.

    A farmer standing next to their harvested crops

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