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 2023/24
Our annual report provides an overview and some examples of what we have achieved during 2023/24. It highlights the amazing impact that we made in a wide range of contexts around the world thanks to supporters like you.
Areas of work
Inclusive education
Making sure everyone gets the skills they need to live a fulfilled, dignified life.
We helped almost 3.6 million people to access the quality education they deserve using our current strategy.
Resilient livelihoods
Ensuring people have the skills needed to support themselves and their families.
Over 400,000 people benefited from our work supporting livelihoods using our current strategy.
Adolescent and youth health and wellbeing
Improving health services and empowering people to exercise their right to quality care.
We helped almost 200,000 people access better healthcare using our current strategy.
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.
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.
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.
Latest stories
Keeping our commitments to communities, including women waste pickers
VSO’s funding has been reducing for a number of years, but now we are facing unprecedented pressures. In solidarity and with hope, your support means VSO can be there for more women waste pickers like Beth.
Using play to inspire learning in Rwanda
Learn how volunteers like Celestin are supporting children in Rwanda to learn through play. Children are taught problem solving, strategic thinking and inter-personal skills, all while enjoying the learning process.
Three ways we’re supporting local, eco-friendly business practices in Cambodia
On the Tonle Sap Lake, climate change, overfishing, deforestation, and the depositing of untreated industrial and domestic sewage, are all threatening the natural balance of the region. VSO has supported local people to adapt to this environment by developing green business practices.
