The role of VSO

The international volunteering programme supports partners to develop placements which deliver their work and meet their objectives, and identifies volunteers from other countries to fill these placements.

While living in Africa or Asia, volunteers are employed by a local organisation. The role of VSO is to broker their employment with the partner organisation.

VSO offers support in this employment by:

• helping the volunteers understand what the employers need from them throughout their placement

• providing cultural and language training on arrival in-country, so that volunteers can work effectively in their placements

• supporting both the volunteers and the employers in-country to maximise the mutual benefit of their partnerships

• making certain financial and other types of support available to the volunteers to enable them to take up their employment.

VSO isn't only about working overseas

Back at home thousands more people give their time to support the organisation. In Ireland two local groups meet regularly to discuss their VSO volunteering experience, socialise, fundraise and generally support each other.

It costs VSO about €25,000 a year to recruit, train and equip a single volunteer. To continue to meet the growing demand for volunteers, VSO requires financial support. Find out more about ways to contribute as an individual, or contribute as a company or organisation.