VSO International General Fact Box
- VSO is an international development charity that works through skilled professional volunteers in 34 countries mostly in Africa and Asia.
- Since 1958 VSO has sent over 32,000 people to share their skills with some of the poorest communities in the world.
- VSO recruits volunteers from Canada and USA, the EU and European Economic Area, India, Kenya, Philippines and Uganda.
- 31 percent of VSO volunteers are over 50, and the average age of VSO volunteers is 41.
- At any one time there are around 1,500 VSO volunteers on placement.
- VSO recruits volunteers with skills and experience in education, health, business and management, engineering and natural resources.
- Placements last from two weeks to two years.
- All VSO volunteers receive a living allowance, training, flights, accommodation, medical and health insurance, work permits and visas, national insurance contributions and pension contributions.
- During 2006/7 VSO recruited:
- 836 long-term volunteers (over 6 months)
- 348 short-term volunteers (under 6 months)
- 180 youth exchange volunteers
- 93 people participated in study tours and 6 completed learning internships in the UK
- VSO supported the placement of 67 short term volunteers though our diaspora partnerships
- VSO is promoting national volunteering in countries such as Ghana and Kenya, so people can volunteer in their own country. Over 20 of VSO country programmes include now national volunteering.
- VSO's diaspora volunteering initiative links VSO's expertise in volunteer development and management to support disapora communities' organisations to develop their own strategic international volunteering programmes. Through this we continue to support the growth in diversity and impact of international volunteers.
- VSO runs a number of programmes for 18-25 year olds. From team-based volunteering to individual placements, these programmes offer young people the opportunity to experience another culture at the same time as making a sustainable contribution to development.
- VSO runs LINKS (Learning through International Networking and Knowledge Sharing) which gives people the chance to go to another country to learn and share good practice by visiting or working with organisations there. VSO partners as well as staff and volunteers take part in LINKS activities.
- VSO campaigns globally on issues releated to its goal areas: edcuation, Health, HIV & AIDS, disablity, partipiation & governance and secure livelihoods.
- Visit www.vsointernational.org