VSO Snapshot
In the last 60 years, we have worked in over 90 countries with more than 80,000 volunteers and supported over 50 million people. We’ve gone from being a UK charity to a truly global development organisation. Our proven approach works with volunteers of different skillsets, from overseas consultants to youth. These volunteers work alongside community organisations, local and national governments, and global partners. Right now, VSO is bringing justice to rape survivors in Pakistan, building resilient disaster prevention and relief in Mozambique, ending stigma against children with disabilities in Ethiopia and tackling the youth skills gap in Uganda and Bangladesh.
Today over 40% of our people are recruited from within the country in which they work, and we continue to grow the share of community and national volunteers involved in our programmes. We also send increasing numbers of volunteers from one developing country to another. However, our vision has remained the same: create a fair world for everyone.
Today over 40% of our people are recruited from within the country in which they work, and we continue to grow the share of community and national volunteers involved in our programmes. We also send increasing numbers of volunteers from one developing country to another. However, our vision has remained the same: create a fair world for everyone.
VSO is a charity that promotes volunteering as a powerful and practical way to tackle poverty and inequality. Our purpose is to create lasting change through volunteering. At VSO, we believe in bringing about change not by sending aid but by working with volunteers and partners to empower people living in some of the world’s poorest and fragile regions. We know that people in developing countries have the power, courage, and desire to help themselves. That is why we use the Volunteering for Development (VfD) approach that puts the most marginalised people first.
The Volunteering for Development unique approach guides how we work with poor and marginalised communities. The organising mechanism brings people together globally to find creative solutions for transformational change. It is anchored in evidence from years of practice learning; it generates active citizens who will continue contributing to their community development and deliver sustainable development goals beyond a fixed-term donor grant or a single project.
We have developed significant strength in empowering youth to take on the challenges of today. In over 20 countries, youth champions and leaders are mobilising communities to tackle Social Inclusion, Gender Equality, Social Accountability and Climate Resilience. Ensuring sustainable, systemic change and a core approach to dealing with and breaking down the barriers to development for the most marginalised.
The Volunteering for Development unique approach guides how we work with poor and marginalised communities. The organising mechanism brings people together globally to find creative solutions for transformational change. It is anchored in evidence from years of practice learning; it generates active citizens who will continue contributing to their community development and deliver sustainable development goals beyond a fixed-term donor grant or a single project.
We have developed significant strength in empowering youth to take on the challenges of today. In over 20 countries, youth champions and leaders are mobilising communities to tackle Social Inclusion, Gender Equality, Social Accountability and Climate Resilience. Ensuring sustainable, systemic change and a core approach to dealing with and breaking down the barriers to development for the most marginalised.
