Volunteers
This week we followed 24-year-old Jason Vessey, who's off to the Philippines
with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Jason will be away for two years,
working as an assistant teacher for the deaf and earning a local wage.
VSO is an international charity that aims to enable people to share their
skills and experience with local communities in the developing world.
Interested? Well, this could be a good time, according to Simeon Hart,
a deaf volunteer who has worked to encourage more deaf people to take
part. 'VSO aims to increase the number of deaf volunteers coming forward,'
Simeon says, 'in order to provide more deaf role-models and give equal
opportunities to deaf people.'
But leaving home isn't always easy. Justin Smith has been in the Philippines
for two months. 'There's been a lot of tears, a lot of stress,' he told
VEE-TV. 'I've been sad; I've been homesick; I've missed my family. As
time went on, things got better and better and now I'm happy.'
Each prospective volunteer is assessed and, if selected, undergoes training.
'The training will prepare us for change,' Simeon says. 'It covers who
we are, what we can expect, cultural differences and being isolated.'
Help and info
VSO
317 Putney Bridge Road
London SW15 2PN
Tel: 020 8780 7200
Fax: 020 8780 7375
E-mail: info@vso.org.uk
Website: www.vso.org.uk
To apply for the two-year programme you have to be between 17 and 70.
If the idea of two years puts you off and you're an undergraduate student
under the age of 25, you could apply instead for the Overseas Training
Programme, which involves a trip over 10-12 months between the second
and third years of college.
Other resources for volunteers include:
Action Without Borders
www.idealist.org
Claims to be the most comprehensive directory of non-profit and volunteering
resources on the web.
One World
www.oneworld.org/action/volunteers
Provides a useful listing of current volunteer opportunities in the
UK and overseas with links to the relevant organisations.
TimeBank
www.timebank.org.uk
Website matching the skills, interests and availability of 'TimeGivers'
in the UK with a range of opportunities and a local 'TimePartner'.
Tools for Self Reliance
Netley Marsh
Southampton
Hampshire SO40 7GY
Tel: 02380 869697
E-mail: info@tfsr.org
Website: www.tfsr.org
If you don't want to – or can't – get involved in voluntary work overseas,
you can still help overseas communities. Tools for Self Reliance has groups
within the UK which work on the refurbishment of tools for local organisations
in Africa. Retired and young people and people with disabilities are especially
welcome.
Voluntary Work Information Service
www.workingabroad.com
UK-based, non-profit, English-language service covering the whole
range of voluntary work projects in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Provides a personalised service (complete the form on the website) supplying
information on particular countries to enable volunteers to work or travel
overseas.
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