VSO has been working in Ethiopia since 1997. The work of VSO Ethiopia focuses on education,
working through volunteering and partnership to empower individuals and communities to
realise their potential for positive and lasting change. Currently we have five vacancies for a variety of volunteer architecture and design educational professionals to work in Ethiopia for 12 months. 
These roles are based in the major universities. Each role requires a specialist with at least 2 years of experience teaching in a higher educational institute as well as post-graduate qualifications in the subject taught. These are voluntary placements and we’ll ask you to commit to 12 months in order to make a sustainable change and impact to development.

In return VSO makes sure our volunteers are supported and our volunteer financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, medical and travel insurance cover, national insurance contributions, visas and work permits and guaranteed holidays.
Please see below short summaries of each of the individual roles:

Visiting professor in urban design, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development working to build the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in urban design as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have experience of working in urban design. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work.
(To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0533/0006/0001)

Visiting professor in structural design, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development working to build the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in structural engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have experience of working in an architectural design school/office. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work.
(To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0533/0005/0001)

Visiting Professor in history and theory of architecture and city development, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development working to building the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in the theory of architecture and city development or a related field, as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have experience of working in an architectural design school/office. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work.
(To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0533/0002/0001)

Visiting Professor in Landscape design, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development working to building the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in landscape design or environmental planning or a related field, as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have experience of working in related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work.
(To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0533/0003/0001)

Architecture and urban planning thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Technology in Mekelle University, working to building the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, including supervising and advising students on thesis and graduate research work. As the acting post-graduate research coordinator, you will conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in urban, regional or rural planning or a related field, as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have professional experience in a related field and management experience. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work.
(To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0001/0001)

Describe the application process?
I have found the VSO application process incredibly efficient. The recruitment process is very balanced; it identifies who you are as a person including your strengths and weaknesses, rather than your ability to fit into a narrow job description.

Step 1:
I went to fill out the application form online.  The form is a screening process that should demonstrate overall personal qualities rather than just purely technical skills. On the form, I was honest about skills I could or could not do. 

Step 2:
A few days after submitting the application form I was delighted to hear back from VSO. They asked me to complete an additional skills competency check list which I did, and the same day I had a telephone interview. I passed and was given a VSO Assessment Day date. I was advised to look at VSO volunteer blogs before attending, which was so helpful.

Step 3:
I have been to several assessment centres before, but I can honestly say this was the only one I ever enjoyed! My advice is do your research on VSO and most importantly be yourself. I was certain that this was an organisation I would like to work for. I was so pleased to hear I had been accepted.

Step 4:
There was a lot of paperwork (Garda Vetting, Medical) plus tailoring my CV for the international database. Pay attention to the form that outlines your placement preferences and if your Volunteer Placement Advisor (VPA) points out revisions/forms that need to be done, do it as soon as possible.

Step 5:
Once my CV had been placed on the international database, I was lucky to be offered a placement very quickly and I accepted it. The Dublin VPA’s were very helpful in assisting with any queries I had that needed to be answered by VSO’s in-country (Nepal) programme advisors. I will be working as a Health Programme Facilitator.

Step 6:
I am very impressed by the investment VSO places on training volunteers. So far I have done one online course and a residential ‘prepare to volunteer’ course in Birmingham, when some of my new colleagues were being offered placments. A future VSO course will prepare me with practical facilitation methods. Following this, I will be heading off to Nepal for my in-country training!

How do you feel knowing you could soon be on placement?
I am excited and I think I would be much more nervous about it all if I did not have the VSO ‘skills for working abroad’ training and the in-country training. I see the training as a big safety net that I did not have before. Applying VSO’s methods and showing tangible results is a big responsibility, but I am very glad I applied to VSO and really hope I do a good job.

Responsibilities:
Research and Advocacy:
To be a reference point within VSO Ireland on HIV&AIDS,  Livelihoods, Volunteering and Peace advocacy positions and strategies.
Support the research and development of position papers on VSO Ireland’s programme areas.
To contribute to the raising of VSO’s profile and reputation in key policy areas linked to corporate advocacy strategy.
Prepare policy information for lobbying and influencing activities in the Republic of Ireland e.g. with Irish Aid.
Represent VSO in ongoing inter-NGO coalition activities e.g. Act Now on 2015 campaign and the ‘Post-2015’ discussions.

Public Engagement on Development Issues:
Support the VSO Ireland public engagement strategy by rolling out the VSO campaigns in Ireland.
Support the delivery of VSOIE’s ‘Politicians for Development’ programme.
Support of study tours from VSO programme countries to Ireland.
Support VSOIE’s public relations strategy by providing relevant programme and advocacy information for online and offline media purposes.

Essential experience and knowledge:
Development of position papers through consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Knowledge of international development issues.
Strong understanding of national and international policy making processes.
Working in a systematic way to deliver campaigns.
Relationship management skills.
Excellent writing skills.
Ability to think analytically and to communicate complex concepts and ideas.
Working with external monitoring and evaluation systems.
Working as part of a team based in Ireland or Europe, plus developing countries.
Two years experience of research & advocacy.

The UNV-VSO partnership aims to increase the positive impact that volunteering can have on empowering marginalised communities. It will build partnerships at the country level to support research, promote volunteering and help undertake advocacy to create enabling legislation for volunteerism. By sharing knowledge, the two organisations aim to build good practice in volunteering, promote innovation and amplify the voice of volunteers and grassroots organisations in decision-making about development.

UNV and VSO are concerned that the very people that development aims to support are often far removed from decision-making about poverty reduction. By working together, the organisations hope to help put the voice of marginalised communities at the heart of development, from grassroots to international levels. VSO works in over 30 countries with local partners to support the work of over 250,000 local volunteers, in addition to international volunteers sharing their skills.

Andrew Mitchell, UK Secretary of State for Development, will give the keynote speech at an event today to celebrate the new partnership. An expert panel will then examine the vital role that volunteering can play in promoting active citizenship and people-centred development. This debate is critical at a time when the world is grappling with questions about how to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and is debating what the future international framework for effective development should look like.

Both UNV and VSO believe that the needs and aspirations of marginalised people themselves need to be the starting point for international efforts to reduce poverty, and that fostering citizen action on the issues through volunteering is a key engine for change.

Marg Mayne, VSO Chief Executive, said:

"This new partnership is very exciting. It will help promote and strengthen volunteering for development, increasing the participation and engagement of marginalised communities in decisions which affect their lives. With over 50 years of experience in this area, we know how active citizenship can help ensure that poor and marginalised people take ownership of development and make it work for them.

"The result is development that is truly people-driven, locally owned and sustainable. As we grapple with development approaches in the run-up to 2015 and beyond, it's important that the role of voluntary action is fully appreciated and harnessed.

"Volunteering is much more than a cost-effective and sustainable way to deliver services. It brings people together to drive meaningful changes in society and shape debates and decisions that have a profound impact on their lives."

Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator of UNV, states:

"This partnership agreement gives formal acknowledgement of our strong, long-term working relationship with VSO and provides a framework for collaborative work on global advocacy and research on volunteerism for development and peace. It also provides a practical on the ground collaboration in developing countries."

UNV will launch in the UK the first State of the World's Volunteerism Report (SWVR), which promotes a better understanding of civic engagement by demonstrating its universality, scope and reach and by discussing new trends in volunteerism in the twenty-first century. The report examines important contributions in diverse fields such as sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, social cohesion and disaster risk reduction. The SWVR also provides an alternative vision of a better society and considers how to take volunteerism forward.

The event, Framing the future of development: putting people first, takes place at the Royal Society's Kohn Centre, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, from 2-5pm on 18 April.

The line-up of speakers includes:

Keynote speech by the Secretary of State for Development, Andrew Mitchell; Marg Mayne – Chief Executive, VSO; Flavia Pansieri – Executive Coordinator, UNV; Roy Trivedy – Head of Civil Society Dept, DFID; Justin Davis Smith – Chief Executive, Volunteering England; Danny Burns – Team Leader Participation, Power and Social Change team, IDS.

These are voluntary placements and we’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months in order to make a sustainable change and impact to development. In return VSO makes sure our volunteers are supported and our volunteer financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, medical and travel insurance cover, national insurance contributions, visas and work permits and guaranteed holidays.

Please see below short summaries of each of the individual roles:

Mechanical engineer guest professor, Addis Ababa, 24 months
You’ll be based in the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology working with staff to develop new systems and provide the best graduate education possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice.You’ll have a PhD in mechanical engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field and working through change processes. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0537/0003/0001).

Industrial engineering thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You’ll have an MSc or PhD in industrial or manufacturing engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0003/0001).

Electrical engineering thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You’ll have an MSc or PhD in electrical or communication engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0002/0001).

Electrical and computer engineering guest professor, Addis Ababa, 24 months
You’ll be based in the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology working with staff to develop new systems and provide the best graduate education possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice.You’ll have an MSc or PhD in electrical or computer engineering (with a focus on microelectronics, control engineering or a related field) as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0537/0004/0001.)

Computer science and information systems thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice.You’ll have or be working towards a PhD in database and information systems, computer architecture and engineering or software engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0008/0001).

Civil engineering thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice.You’ll have or be working towards a PhD in water resources or hydraulic engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0006/0001).

Civil engineer lecturer, Jimma, Ethiopia, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Jimma Institute of Technology, working with staff and students to establish new systems and provide the best undergraduate and graduate teaching programmes possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching and staff capacity building as well as supervising and advising graduate thesis work and research projects. You’ll have an MSc in Civil engineering (with a focus on structural, geotechnical, highway engineering or another related field) as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0540/0001/0001).

Civil engineer guest professor, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology working with staff to develop new systems and provide the best graduate education possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You will have or be working towards a PhD in civil engineering (with a focus on railways, highways, transport logistics, water quality or another related field) as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0537/0002/0001).

Chemical engineering thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You’ll have an MSc in chemical or process engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0004/0001).

Chemical Engineer, guest professor, Addis Ababa, 24 months
You’ll be based in the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology working with staff to develop new systems and provide the best graduate education possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You will have or be working towards a PhD in chemical engineering (focus areas like environmental engineering, food processing or a related field) as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0537/0001/0001).

Biomedical engineering lecturer, Jimma, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Jimma Institute of Technology, working with staff and students to establish new systems and provide the best undergraduate and graduate teaching programmes possible. You will be working in all aspects of teaching and staff capacity building as well as supervising and advising graduate thesis work and research projects. You’ll have an MSc in biomedical engineering, bioinstrumentation, medical imaging or a related field as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0540/0002/0001).

Visiting professor in structural design, Addis Ababa, 12 months
You will be based at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development working to build the capacity of staff to deliver the best education possible. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc and BSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity. You’ll have a PhD or MSc in structural engineering as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and ideally will have experience of working in an architectural design school/office. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0533/0005/0001).

Mechanical engineering thesis advisor and lecturer, Mekelle, 12 months
You’ll be based in the Ethiopian Institute for Technology at Mekelle University working with staff to deliver the MSc programme and build the capacity of staff. You will be working in all aspects of teaching, including thesis and research supervision and advice. You’ll have an MSc or PhD in solid mechanics and design as well as experience of teaching in a higher education institute. You’ll have experience of working on research projects and will have experience of working in a related field. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0541/0007/0001).
 

Over three million tons of cocoa beans are consumed around the world annually. Ghana, India and South-East Asia are the largest producers of cocoa in the world. The market value of this crop is worth billions each year, yet the average income in Ghana is low; usually US$0.51 per day. The challenges in cocoa growing countries can be complex and long term, including unstable commodity prices, an ageing farming population and inappropriate labour practices, such as the use of children and hazardous tasks.

VSO in partnership with Cadbury is committed to helping secure the social and environmental sustainability of around one million cocoa farmers and their communities in Ghana, India and other cocoa producing countries. The Cocoa Partnership, established in 2008, invests in these communities, supporting the existing generation of farmers, and attracting the next. Cadbury has also worked with Cocoa Partnership communities, so they can benefit from Fairtrade certification.

So why is this partnership important, as we get ready to enjoy our Easter eggs?

• VSO has helped improve access to basic services such as water and sanitation, management training and school teachers.

• We have also worked on a child development strategy to protect the rights of children in these communities.

• Volunteers have been trained and placed in the communities to make sure women are well represented in these programmes.

• As cocoa production is seasonal work, the Challenge Fund gives small grants to communities to invest in additional livelihoods such as solar power.

VSO works with central and local government, businesses and farmers to create a lasting legacy.
So we can celebrate Easter, with our favourite chocolate and know that by 2018 this partnership will have changed the lives of cocoa farmers and their families.

2012

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2011

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April

The eight-time All-Ireland medal winner has just returned from Ethiopia, a country crying out for experienced education professionals. There, he saw at first-hand what is being achieved by Irish teachers volunteering for VSO. "Their impact has been massive", he said.

"Last year VSO volunteers trained 1,363 Ethiopian teacher trainers who, in turn, will train more than 11,000 student teachers. These teachers will go on to teach nearly 800,000 children. This ripple effect has a transforming effect on the lives of individuals and their country’s prospects".

Mr Spillane, who is from Templenoe in County Kerry, has stepped down early as principal of St Goban's College in Bantry, Co Cork. He said the majority of teachers who have opted to retire early under the government’s incentive scheme have done so for financial security. He said that these professionals still had an awful lot to offer. “Their skills need not be consigned to the scrapheap", he said. "They are highly valued by VSO and by the millions of people who stand to benefit from a better education system in developing countries like Ethiopia".

VSO, the world's  largest volunteer placement agency, has been working in Ethiopia since 1996. Appealing for further volunteers, VSO's Director in Ireland, Malcolm Quigley, said that Irish teachers and education managers volunteering in Ethiopia have been key to a steady increase in school enrolments.

"Senior Irish teachers and education managers are working at national government institutions supporting the development and implementation of national policies, such as improved teacher training programmes and monitoring and evaluation systems. Meanwhile, experienced teachers are working within regional education bureaus and teacher education institutions to help deliver training programmes and develop the skills of their local colleagues."

"While there remains much room for improvement in the quality of the teaching–learning process, Ethiopian students are highly motivated and their parents place a high value to education" he added.

A VSO volunteer will have their costs covered while on placement including flights, accommodation while also receiving a local wage.

At the time of joining NAPHAM, Malita was weak and malnourished, and not taking anti-retroviral drugs.  After participating in group therapies funded by VSO, the woman was encouraged by the support group to be strong.  Through peer support she finally accepted to live life positively, despite her HIV status.
 
Since joining the group Malita’s health and nutrition status have improved and she does not suffer from stress any more. No longer bed-ridden, Memory has been put on ARV treatment and  has gone back to her job. She is now able to provide support to her family as head of her household, and lives happily and positively.

Help VSO support more people like Malita.  Visit www.vso.ie/donate

The initiative is a follow up on the scope of cooperation within the Government of Mozambique and the Irish Aid Development Division, in addition to two previous VSO Ireland political volunteers hosted by VSO Mozambique (Dara Calleary TD, who volunteered in 2010 and Senator Averil Power in 2011), both Political Volunteers offered their time to help discussions on the National Volunteering bill and its implementation, through meetings with the GPPC HIV/SIDA, UNV, CNV, MJD and visits to community projects and volunteers.

The objectives of the study tour were to:

• Engage on disseminating the National Volunteering legislation and the development of participative legislation bills as a parliamentarian.

• Learn how to develop an effective volunteer program, through developing an understanding of the Volunteer Management System applied in Ireland

• Learn how the government can fund volunteering programs as well as opportunities for networking with Irish institutions.

• Learn how Volunteering programs engage in advocacy for gender sensitive issues, such as women delivering home based care in HIV and AIDS programs.

At the time of joining NAPHAM, Malita was weak and malnourished, and not taking anti-retroviral drugs.  After participating in group therapies funded by VSO, the woman was encouraged by the support group to be strong.  Through peer support she finally accepted to live life positively, despite her HIV status.
 
Since joining the group Malita’s health and nutrition status have improved and she does not suffer from stress any more. No longer bed-ridden, Malita has been put on ARV treatment and  has gone back to her job. She is now able to provide support to her family as head of her household, and lives happily and positively.

Help VSO support more people like Malita.  Visit www.vso.ie/donate

The study tour was organised by international development charity VSO who place experienced volunteers to work in some of the world’s poorest countries by sharing their skills to combat poverty. VSO has been leading on the promotion of volunteerism globally and has worked in Mozambique for many years. VSO’s presence in Mozambique influenced a National Volunteer Law passed in 2010 which recognised the value and contribution of volunteering towards the country’s development. Mozambique has a very high rate of youth unemployment with thousands of young graduates unable to find permanent employment.

The National Volunteering Law supports youth integration through entrepreneurship, education and community development schemes. The delegation was advised how volunteering is supported in Ireland and how these linkages could be transferred back into practice in Mozambique. Over the course of the week the delegation held discussions with a number of agencies including Irish Aid, Volunteer Ireland and the GAA which gave them an overview of the spirit of volunteerism in Ireland.

Speaking about the study tour Malcolm Quigley Director of VSO Ireland said, “I am delighted that VSO was able to facilitate this visit by the delegation from Mozambique. This study tour represents the work that VSO volunteers are engaged in around the world by sharing skills and transferring knowledge. The delegation has been extremely impressed with the level of assistance and expertise they have gained from every Irish agency they have met this week.” Volunteering is worth over one hundred million euro to the EU economy and represents 3% of its overall GDP.

Despite policies having been put in place to address youth issues, the current situation remains dire for young people in the country. Seventy per cent of the country’s youth population is unemployed or underemployed and 50 per cent illiterate or unskilled, according to UN figures (1). Tensions erupted in September last year in Bo, Sierra Leone’s second largest city in the south of the country, where a political rally turned into a riot and young people reportedly ransacked some parts of the town.

The UN has recognised that ‘large numbers of unemployed youths are a potential source of insecurity given their vulnerability to recruitment into criminal and violent activities’ (2).

VSO is working with local partners in Sierra Leone to help provide young people with the skills they need to secure a decent livelihood for themselves. But without a development focus on creating decent jobs and ensuring people have the skills to do them, there are concerns that the conditions for instability could be being created all over again.

William Dauda, Livelihoods Programme manager for VSO in Sierra Leone, said:

“Huge numbers of young people in Sierra Leone lack job opportunities, skills for employment or capital to start a business.

“Young people are a potential resource for growth and social development if productively employed. But they could also be a source of devastating social tension, conflict and instability if they are left jobless and without hope.

“In the north where we work, hundreds of job-seeking young people have moved to the area from other parts of the country, most lacking the skills and education to secure gainful employment. Many have stayed for months with no work. They are frustrated and with elections scheduled for November 2012, there are some concerns that this frustration could spill over into unrest.”

A UNDP District Based Youth study in May 2011 highlighted youth employment challenges in five districts in Sierra Leone. The study revealed that most young people in Sierra Leone do not have a basic livelihood or employable skills and further lack the knowledge, training and capital to start up or sustainably manage a business.

The situation is not unique to Sierra Leone. Over 75 million young people were unemployed worldwide at the end of 2010, according to figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Many more in developing countries are underemployed “working poor”, forced to take whatever poorly-paid work they can get and subsisting below the poverty line of $2 per day. VSO is calling on world leaders to take urgent action on jobs in developing countries, placing decent work at the heart of efforts to spur global economic recovery and eradicate poverty.

Lisa Horner, Policy Manager at VSO, added:
“We need to get the world working. Poor people want to work their way out of poverty and the global economy needs the boost that their labour could provide.

"But leaders in developing and advanced economies need to work together to ensure that trade, investment and development policies focus on generating productive employment for the world's poorest people.  This simply isn't happening at the moment."

VSO is working in Sierra Leone with local NGO partners like Binkolo Growth Centre, MADAM and Future In Our Hands, who operate in Sierra Leone’s least developed northern regions. The area has a heavy concentration of unemployed and under employed young people who are desperately seeking jobs with two mining companies, UK-based London Mining and Africa Minerals, which have been operating in the area in the last 2 years.

Abdulai, 28, now works in cassava production after receiving training at Binkolo Growth Centre. But until then he had almost lost hope. He said:

“I spent four years in Freetown where I lived on the streets. The only way I found money to survive was to do odd jobs carrying things, doing work for anyone who would pay… We would sometimes steal bags, money, or things that were worth money that we could sell, just to survive. I didn’t feel good about it, but I had nobody else there. We did not feel good about ourselves; a man without a job does not feel good. We were trying so hard to find work. 
 
“ I went back to Binkolo because my mother sent for me; I returned to find out my father had died during the war… Since 2007, I have not really been doing anything. It is very rough for young people here – so many are unemployed. Every day they come here to Binkolo searching for work… but most of my friends don’t have a job.  Many get in trouble with the police for stealing.”

Later this year VSO will launch a new public campaign focusing on jobs in the developing world, with specific attention paid to the situation for young people and women.

VSO has been leading on the promotion of volunteerism globally and in Mozambique for many years.  A National Volunteer Law was passed in 2010 in Mozambique, and now there is a real desire to push forward the design and implementation of this legislation, hence VSO’s organising of this study tour. 

The National Volunteering Law provides a definition of the concept of volunteering in Mozambique.  It defines the rights and obligations of volunteers and volunteering organisations, including the need to recognise their valuable contribution towards the country’s development.  The law supports youth integration through entrepreneurship, education and community development schemes.  The delegation wish to learn more about how volunteering is supported in Ireland, so they can make linkages to their own context.

As part of this study tour, VSO is organising an Open Discussion in the Irish Aid Volunteer and Information Centre on Thursday 9 February  2012 from 10.30am – 12.30pm.  This meeting will allow members with responsibility for the design and implementation of volunteer services in Mozambique to present their learnings to date, and discuss challenges that the sector faces in their country. 

As the organisation marked International Volunteers Day it unveiled Mari Simonen, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, as the new Chair, together with six new board members who bring to the international development charity their experience in campaigning for women's rights, helping people access better health services and improving education opportunities in developing countries.

In a further sign of this growing internationalisation, VSO will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding today at the United Nations headquarters in New York with US volunteering organisation Peace Corps, as part of events organised by UN Volunteers to mark the tenth anniversary of International Year of Volunteers. The agreement will promote greater joint working and skill sharing between the two organisations in selected projects around the world.

VSO Chief Executive Marg Mayne said:

"VSO is changing – from a UK-based volunteering organisation to a global development charity which engages people from all over the world in the fight against poverty. I'm excited to be working with the new trustees, all of whom are from outside the UK and nearly half from the global south. Their appointment shows how we’re implementing this more global approach at the highest level.

"In the long term we want to grow the VSO federation internationally. I'd like to see more VSOs, in more countries, providing a local presence that keeps us truly relevant in the countries where we work.

"The same global approach applies to our volunteers themselves: a VSO volunteer is now just as likely to be someone from Kenya, India or the Philippines as they are someone from the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.

"We’ll never lose that focus on people sharing their skills with people in other countries, with all the benefits that it brings to volunteer and partner alike. We now want to build a network of volunteers which stretches all over the world."

The new trustees are:

• Anjali Sen, South Asia Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation, a network of 151 associations providing sexual and reproductive health rights 

• Nthobi Angel, Chair of KasigoTiso Holdings, one of South Africa’s largest black-owned investment companies. She has extensive knowledge of the African continent and is a director of the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) 

• Rasheda Choudhury, Executive Director, Campaign for Popular Education Bangladesh, and former government advisor 

• Pamela Culpepper, Senior Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion at PepsiCo 

• Wayan Vota, Senior Director of Inveneo, a social enterprise focused on getting the tools of ITC into rural communities in the developing world

• Tom Carver, Vice President, Communications and Strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an award-winning journalist

They will join the existing trustees:

• Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, Professor at the University of the Philippines and a lifelong volunteer 

• Mark Astarita, Director of Fundraising, British Red Cross and Chair of the Institute of Fundraising 

• Sir Andrew Cubie, Vice Chair, consultant to law firm Fyfe Ireland WS, Chairman of the Court of Napier University and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework 

• John Bason, a former VSO volunteer who is now Finance Director of Associated British Foods

• Kibaya Laibuta, Chartered Arbitrator and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Commissioner with the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution

The new Chair of VSO's International Board, Mari Simonen, said: "VSO's mission and vision are international, so it is only right that the Board reflects this. We have brave ambitions and big challenges ahead, so VSO needs to continue to grow to meet these – we will do that best if we are truly international.

"It feels very complementary that I bring to this position all the experience and skills gained during my 31 years at the UN. Working for the UN gives you a very global perspective and this echoes the direction VSO is taking.

"Change starts with one person, one person at a time. If you join up individual actions you create a movement, with everyone having an important role to play. It is easy to get lost in so much poverty, with problems seeming too big and too far away: we must realise that what we do every day has impact."

New trustee Anjali Sen said:
"The planet is a better place whenever somebody, somewhere, resolves to make her or his ideas and effort count -voluntarily – and make a difference. Passion and energy flows. This is the spirit of volunteerism.

"I want to be a part of an organisation that brings more and more people’s ideas, passions, energies and efforts to the fore, to make this planet a better place to inhabit for now and for the future to come. I will do my bit."

VSO has more than 50 years experience of empowering people to tackle poverty. The organisation is increasingly focused on strengthening systems, developing policies and building capacity in the 34 developing countries where it works, while continuing to deliver services directly where that is what is most needed.

The new board of trustees will take responsibility for continuing this approach of fighting poverty through people, a strategy which in the last year has seen volunteers support 26 million people in the world’s poorest countries.

"This innovative partnership will enhance the effectiveness and impact of both Peace Corps and VSO," said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. "We will share best practices in programming and training, strengthening our united efforts to combat global poverty. We are proud to mark the tenth anniversary of International Year of Volunteers by recognising the contributions our volunteers are making around the world with local communities."

"VSO and Peace Corps both share a belief that volunteering can have a real and lasting impact on poverty," said VSO Chief Executive Marg Mayne. "We're quite different organisations in terms of our history, governance and the volunteers we work with, and this means each agency can complement the work of the other rather than overlap. This agreement builds on existing work to share skills, training and materials so we can be more effective in the benefit that we bring."

The partnership was first announced during President Barack Obama's state visit to the United Kingdom in May 2011. The agreement will draw on the shared resources of both organisations, helping to ensure VSO and Peace Corps volunteers can continue fighting poverty and creating sustainable solutions to many of the challenges faced by local communities around the world.

Peace Corps and VSO have worked together informally for more than a decade. In Tanzania, for example, VSO and Peace Corps collaborate closely to improve the English capability of Tanzanian teachers, and share materials, skills and accommodation to improve in-country training for volunteers. Building on this foundation, Peace Corps and VSO will explore how they can collaborate further on volunteer programmes, such as education, health and HIV and AIDS projects across the developing world, and on supporting local citizens to shape their future and the future of their countries. The partnership will also see knowledge sharing on training and other support functions.

Style at La Stampa will feature the latest creations from Irish design collective Project 51 www.project51.ie followed by a delicious three course lunch. The theme of the lunch will focus on the work of VSO on its HIV and AIDS programmes which reach millions of vulnerable people globally. As well as enjoying the fashion and fine food, guests will hear from staff and volunteers who recently visited VSO supported communities in Mozambique last August.

VSO’s big commitment remains to work with more partners on our HIV and AIDS initiative in Southern Africa, especially those reaching marginalised communities. Last year, the work of VSO improved the lives of over a million people across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia – some of the poorest countries in the world.

RTE star Brendan Courtney will be on hand at Style at La Stampa to MC the event and there will also be some fantastic prizes to be won on the day.

If you would like to support VSO and fancy a great day out please contact us on 01 6401060 to purchase a ticket for only €70 or click here to purchase online www.mycharity.ie/event/styleatlastampa/

 In the lead up to World Aids Day, VSO is drawing a light on people supported by our HIV&AIDS programming worldwide.

 HIV&AIDS is causing grannies across Southern Africa to care for their sick adult children and take in abandoned or even orphaned children.

VSO-RAISA sees carers as the unsung heroes.  Working tirelessly to bathe, medicate and support the sick, they themselves need recognition.

Maggie the Unsung Hero

Take Maggie Kwendo( pictured), a grandmother living in a disadvantaged suburban area of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. Maggie is a widow.  Two of her daughters and one of her sons have died already from AIDS so in the past ten years, she has seen much sorrow.  In her colourful house Maggie is looking after 7 of her grandchildren. 

An organisation called New Dawn of Hope (NDH) supports families and people like Maggie who have been hugely affected by HIV&AIDS.  NDH have been visiting her regularly in the past 2 years and providing her a with a social transfer, meaning a small cash donation, monthly, coupled with a 10kg parcel of corn and soya. 

Maggie uses the cash to purchase what she needs to care for herself and her grandchildren.  One of her daughters lives in her house too, but has recently suffered from TB.  Thanks to NDH, her daughter was referred to a local clinic and treated. 

To boost Maggie’s vegetable garden, Maggie received horticulture training from NDH.  On this 5-day course Maggie learnt how to make the most out of her patch and  can now feed the many mouths in her household. 

NDH ran a special retreat for elderly carers which Maggie attended.  She joined other women from the community on this specialised course where she learned about nutrition for herself and the children; how to build better relationships between patients and parents; how to support children with problems; and coping mechanisms for bereavement.

NDH is an organisation that is supported by VSO-RAISA to provide services for people affected by HIV.  VSO-RAISA is a Southern African programme that improves the lives of people living with HIV&AIDS.

VSO Ireland run the RAISA programmes.

VSO  Documentary  to  Screen at  the  Abära   International   Disability  Film  Festival in October

VSO is proud to participate in Ireland's first international disability film festival,  Abära,  taking place from 20-23 October across various venues in Dublin.  This unique event illustrates how people with disabilities lead both ordinary and extraordinary lives. 

‘The Voice of 650 Million Times One’, directed by award-winning Dutchndirector Marijn Poels, is a VSO documentary to be screened on Sunday 23 October from 3.30-5.30pm in the Ballymun Axis Theatre, Dublin.

The Abära International Disability Film Festival has come about through the wonderful work of the Dóchas Disability and International Development (DDID) working group, in partnership with Arts and Disability Ireland. The aim of the festival is to celebrate progress made by people with disabilities while increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges still faced by people with disabilities globally.

In recent years, filmmakers have highlighted disability issues through documentaries, comedies, dramatic genres, music videos and animation. The films come from places as diverse as Senegal and Belgium, Tibet and Bangladesh, Australia and Brazil. In addition to addressing subjects rarely tackled in mainstream culture or media, these films have one further thing in common – they are all superb, quality films.

The VSO documentary featuring at the festival, The Voice of 650 Million Times One, was released in 2010.  This unique film features people with disabilities from around talking candidly about their exclusion from society in matters such as healthcare, sexuality, and in particular, their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS.

A testament to the courage and commitment of many people who daily battle against prejudice while carrying out their lives as parents and members of the communities in which they live, this film also reveals the many misconceptions around sexuality, HIV and people with a disability.

The Voice of 650 Million Times One is an extremely touching documentary about impressive and committed people who stand up for their rights despite all difficulties they need to conquer. They proclaim the voice of the 650 million disabled worldwide who are all facing the same stigmas.

While the world doesn’t include people with a disability in the race against the HIV pandemic we will not reach the HIV reduction targets.  

 
“The Voice of 650Million Times one” is a documentary by Marijn Poels in conjunction with VSO Netherlands and its production has been funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

For more information on the Abara Film festival  and to find out about ticket booking visit http://www.facebook.com/abarafilm

To watch a trailer of The Voice of 650 Million Times One’ visit the website http://www.thevoiceof650million.com

An example of VSO’s work in India are two programmes Clare visited in the bustling city of Delhi focused on disability and secure livelihoods.

Disability is a goal area of VSO in India and across the world. Most of India's 70 million disabled people suffer unequal access to education, employment and justice. VSO volunteers are working with groups run by and for disabled people to raise awareness of their rights and the issues affecting them. One such group that Clare visited in Delhi was the ASTHA charity. ASTHA, a VSO a partner organisation, run integrated education centres where children with and without disabilities are taught together to combat the stigma of living with a disability.

Clare also visited the SWECHA charity in Delhi, an enterprising initiative that is a great example of how VSO supports people to earn their own income. This programme helps people to live healthily but also to enhance their ability to earn an income.

The SWECHA charity assists some of Delhi’s poorest residents – “the rag pickers”. Every day “rag pickers” pour into the city’s dumps to sort through piles of food, material, rubber, plastic and everything else. The rag pickers salvage what they can before selling it onto markets for next to nothing. The SWECHA charity employs tailors who pay the rag pickers a fair-trade wage before turning the waste into recyclable products. Clare visited the dumps, the markets and the tailors’ workshops to see how the rubbish is transformed from car tyres and waste fabrics into beautifully crafted handbags and purses. The products are then sold at many of Delhi’s upmarket shopping centres with a generous percentage of each sale coming back to the VSO supported programme.

Directed by Rossa Ó Sioradáin and produced by Gaeljin Productions, the documentary was funded by the BAI (as part of the Sound and Vision programme fund) and RTÉ. The title of the documentary, ‘A Rose to India’ highlights the contrasting views of life in India and showcases the work that VSO volunteers are engaged in on the ground.  The documentary follows the development of Ravi and Clare’s personal relationship and their relationship with India.

Speaking of her experience Clare said: “I have been to India many times but was really amazed at the level of work VSO is engaged in across India. I visited many programmes at grass roots level but still was able to see the amazing results achieved on the ground and the knock on effect this has in fighting poverty across India. It was really great to come back here with my Mam and Dad and see the other side to Indian life and the positive results organisations like VSO are achieving.”

Malcolm Quigley Director of VSO Ireland also accompanied Clare on the trip and features in the documentary said: “I am delighted we decided to visit VSO in India, not just because of Clare’s Indian heritage but also the VSO projects we have visited are some of the most vibrant and innovative initiatives we have in place across all our programmes. Real results are being achieved here on the ground thanks to the vital work of our volunteers.”

Since 2008, VSO partner organisations in developing countries have asked for experts in lobbying, campaigning and advocacy techniques.  In response, Irish politicians have offered to volunteer their skills over a 2-3 week period.  In previous years, VSO political volunteers included Minister Lucinda Creighton and Minister Leo Varadkar, amongst others.

Senator Averil Power will continue essential work carried out by Dara Calleary TD last year in Mozambique with VSO, advising an alliance of volunteering organisations.  Thanks to Deputy Calleary’s inputs last Summer, a new law supporting volunteering was adopted by the Mozambican parliament last December.  Now Senator Power will work with civil society groups and politicians to help secure the full implementation of this law.

Speaking of her upcoming placement in Mozambique, new volunteer Averil said: 

"Local volunteers are providing vital services to families and communities in Mozambique. It is important to have the right legal and other supports in place to assist them. The new Mozambican law that my colleague Dara Calleary T.D. helped to develop last year was a major step forward. I will be doing my best to help secure the full implementation of this so that carers and other volunteers in Mozambique have the support they need.

I am also looking forward to learning about the work that VSO is doing on the ground in Mozambique and the positive difference that Irish volunteers have made there.”

Deputy Dominic Hannigan is volunteering with VSO for the third time, having worked as a Business Management Adviser in Mongolia in 2008 and an Advocacy Adviser with a Nepalese civil rights organisation named Blue Diamond Society in 2010.  This year, Deputy Hannigan will apply learning from the Irish peace process with a Filipino organisation, helping them promote peace-building solutions.

Speaking of this year's VSO placement, Dominic said: 

 “I was delighted to have recently been appointed as Chairman of the Good Friday Agreement Committee.  So now, to take Irish learning to The Philippines, will be a great opportunity.  Working with Filipino peace builders will be insightful.  There are mny things we can learn from other communities internationally, something VSO promotes.”

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, is eager to promote volunteering amongst professionals. 

“We work with grassroots organisations in Africa and Asia who ask for help with campaigning and lobbying.  I believe our Irish politicians can add value in this area, but equally as important will be the learning they will bring back to Ireland. We now live in an inter-dependant world so sharing learning between countries is essential."

VSO’s high-impact, skilled volunteering approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives.

In a statement announcing six key joint initiatives the leaders said that: “The US Peace Corps and VSO will jointly promote volunteering and active citizenship through people to people exchanges. They will work together alongside local communities and organisations on development priorities and they will enhance their effectiveness by sharing best practice in training, systems and innovation.”

For more than fifty years, Peace Corps and VSO have been leading organisations fighting global poverty through volunteering.  Collectively, they have 10,000 international volunteers working in 95 countries and a network of more than 250,000 returned volunteers. Each organisation works in complementary ways, so providing opportunities to work together that enhances our effectiveness in transforming lives across the world.

Peace Corps and VSO have worked together informally, on a small scale, for more than a decade. Building on this foundation, they will explore how they can collaborate further, on volunteer programmes, such as education, health and HIV/AIDS projects across the developing world, and on supporting local citizens to shape their future and the future of their countries.  The partnership will also see organisational learning on training and other support functions.

VSO Chief Executive Officer, Marg Mayne said:

“This is a landmark step forward for VSO and our transatlantic friends, Peace Corps. We both have a shared insight and commitment to engaging people in the fight against poverty. Peace Corps and VSO will support each other’s efforts to develop volunteer programmes that are more effective in engaging poor communities in shaping their own future.

“The announcement today will allow us to increase the reach of our education, health, HIV/AIDS, youth development, gender and climate change programmes. Our valued volunteers will continue to work alongside poor communities and local partners on key development priorities, as well as support them in building a lasting legacy of local volunteer networks.”

Peace Corps Director, Aaron S. Williams said:

“This innovative partnership will enhance the effectiveness and impact of both Peace Corps and VSO.  We will share best practices in programming and training, strengthening our united efforts to combat global poverty.  We are proud that President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron recognise the contributions our volunteers are making within local communities around the world.”

Ends

VSO Media contact: Krista Eleftheriou on krista.eleftheriou@vso.org.uk, +44 (0)20 8780 7265, +44 (0)7738982122.

Peace Corps Press Office: pressoffice@peacecorps.gov, +1-202-692-2230

The trip was especially poignant for Clare as she was accompanied to India by her father, Ravi, who was born and raised in the Indian town of Hyderabad. Ravi, who met Clare’s mother Breda at the Merlin Park Hospital in Galway 25 years ago, now works as the Naas County Coroner and live in Athy Co Kildare.

An example of VSO’s work in India are two programmes Clare visited in Delhi focusing on disability and secure livelihoods. Disability is a goal area of VSO in India and across the world. Most of India's 70 million disabled people suffer unequal access to education, employment and justice. VSO volunteers are working with groups run by and for disabled people to raise awareness of their rights and the issues affecting them. One such group that Clare visited in Delhi was the ASTHA charity. ASTHA a VSO a partner organisation run integrated education centres where children with and without disabilities are taught together to combat the stigma of living with a disability. Another service supported by VSO is the establishment of India’s only help line for people living with disabilities throughout India.

Clare also visited the SWECHA charity in Delhi which is an enterprising initiative that is a great example of how VSO supports people to earn their own income. This programme helps people to live healthily but also to enhance their ability to earn an income. The SWECHA charity assists some of Delhi’s poorest residents – “the rag pickers”. Every day “rag pickers” pour into the cities dumps to sort through piles of food, material, rubber, plastic and everything else. The rag pickers salvage what they can before selling it onto markets for next to nothing. The SWECHA charity employs tailors who pay the rag pickers a fair-trade wage before turning the waste into recyclable products. Clare visited the dumps, the markets and the tailor’s workshops to see how the rubbish is transformed from car tyres and waste fabrics into beautifully crafted handbags and purses. The products are then sold at many of Delhi’s upmarket shopping centres with a generous percentage of each sale coming back to the VSO supported programme.

Speaking of her experience Clare said: “I have been to India many times but was really amazed at the level of work VSO are engaged in across India. I visited many programmes at grass roots level but still was able to see the amazing results achieved on the ground and the knock on effect this has in fighting poverty across India. It was really great to come back here with my Mam and Dad and see the other side to Indian life and the positive results organisations like VSO are achieving."

Clare who is a trained psychologist was accompanied to India by VSO Ireland Director Malcolm Quigley. Speaking about VSO in India he said: “I am delighted we decided to visit VSO in India not just because of Clare’s Indian heritage but also the VSO projects we have visited are some of the most vibrant and innovative initiatives we have in place across all our programmes. Real results are being achieved here on the ground thanks to the vital work of our volunteers.”

This is an exciting opportunity for voluntary organisations like VSO, from across the EU, to join together in a celebration of volunteering.

Objectives of the Year

The EU will use the Year to work towards four main objectives:

1. To create an enabling and facilitating environment for volunteering in the EU
2. To empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering
3. To reward and recognise volunteering activities
4. To raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.

Who will benefit and how?

• The European Year of Volunteering 2011 will enable volunteers all over Europe to meet and learn about best practices in each European country
• Public authorities, volunteer organisations and businesses will learn more about volunteering and how to make it easier for people to contribute
• People who have never heard about volunteering will learn to appreciate what volunteers do and might become volunteers themselves one day.

Conference side events

Health Workers Speak – research and advocacy

Working Together – strengthening civil society capacity for advocacy

Both of these events are well supported by VSO partners and volunteers closely involved in the projects.

Awards for Excellence

Five of our human interest case stories have been short-listed by WHO for Awards for Excellence.  The VSO case stories range from supervision of health surveillance assistants in Malawi, to LINKS tours from the Philippines, and the Malawi human resources information system.

Special Recognition Awards

We are very pleased that two of VSO's health workers have been nominated for outstanding and dedicated work in health.

VSO partners

Four VSO partners are fully-funded by WHO through the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA). The partners come from civil society organisations in our four advocacy countries – Cambodia, Malawi, Uganda and Sierra Leone. The funding is a good sign of support for our partners' work.

VSO Ireland currently have a number of Irish volunteers working in Health placements overseas. One of them is Midwife Diane Lockhart. Read an update from Diane here 

This week the dramatic change in the Pope’s stance on condoms demonstrates the enormous influence of political leadership in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The Pope now says that condoms can be used to prevent the transmission of HIV, albeit in ‘exceptional’ circumstances. This is a considerable shift from last year when the Pope said that AIDS “cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems”; Influential African leaders, such as Jacob Zuma of South Africa, have also begun to use their considerable influence positively in the HIV response. In 2006 he infamously showed his lack of knowledge about HIV when he told a judge that he had showered after sex with a HIV-positive woman rather than use a condom. Yet, now just last year, he made a landmark speech that changed the attitude of his administration with dramatic positive changes in the way South Africa now addresses the pandemic.

Governance and HIV and AIDS was this year’s theme of the VSO-RAISA annual HIV and AIDS conference, funded by Irish Aid, held in Pretoria two weeks ago. MPs from six Southern African nations were addressed by influential leaders in the fight, such as Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, Mrs. Tobeka Zuma, first lady of South Africa, Dr. Esau Chiviya, SADC Parliamentary Forum, and our own Fr. Michael Kelly, professor at the University of Zambia and honoured international guru on the virus.

On the first of December, World Aids Day, UNAIDS estimate that 33.3m people worldwide will live with HIV. 1.8m people die each year from AIDS and since the pandemic started in the 1980s, more than 60m people have been infected and nearly 30m have died. In 2009, around 370.000 children were born with HIV, bringing the total number of children under-15 with the virus to 2.5m.
 
HIV is not a democratic disease; anyone can become infected but it is your circumstances and your behaviours that make you more or less likely to become infected. The main mode of transmission of HIV is through sex and so HIV has had a particularly strong impact on those in the prime of their lives who are needed to drive the economy of their country. This is one important reason why we need strong leadership and good governance to fight HIV and AIDS. Fr. Michael Kelly, a personal hero of mine, has long since challenged the church’s thinking on condoms and other contraceptives and their role in preventing the spread of HIV. In his speech he challenged the assembled dignitaries to take leadership on key areas driving the epidemic across Southern Africa, the epicentre of the HIV and AIDS crisis. He challenged them to recognise the rights of men who have sex with men and to decriminalise homosexuality across the region. Homosexuals face enormous and violent discrimination in Southern Africa and, as a result, are forced underground. This means that they are less likely to be able to access HIV information and services and as clear evidence shows, leads to greater spread of HIV infection.

Fr. Kelly also gave many practical reasons why the trend in West Africa of criminalising the transmission of HIV is absurd - it discourages people from voluntary testing; stigmatises people with HIV as criminals; and undermines the relationship of trust with health care workers. He also spoke about women’s rights and the law; he pointed out that assembled politicians are allowing the law to discriminate against women, notably in the areas of personal law and property law. Women lose out on the right to divorce, inheritance of property and access to assets; which, upon the death of their male partner, means often they are left destitute and must find other ways to earn money to feed themselves and their children. This increased vulnerability only leads to a greater likelihood of HIV infection.

Great change is happening however and recent studies show that we are beginning to see a turn in the fight against HIV. The 2010 UNAIDS Global Report on HIV and AIDS has revealed that the total number of HIV-infected people was slightly down on 2008, and at least 56 countries have stabilised or achieved significant declines in rates of new infections. The report also found that new infections have reduced by nearly 20% in the past 10 years, and among young people in 15 of the most severely affected countries, rates have fallen by more than 25%, as the young adopt safer sexual practices.

Governance still remains a challenge, although here too we have seen progress.  VSO has worked closely with six Southern African governments to address the status and needs of carers. Only 5% of HIV and AIDS budgets in the region are allocated to support HIV and AIDS carers, yet 80% of those infected are cared for by carers in their homes, and 92% of carers are women and girls. In the past year, VSO has worked with governments in Malawi and Namibia to pass through parliament a policy on providing support such as training, remuneration, materials and psycho-social counselling, to carers; similar polices are in different stages of completion in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique. This is groundbreaking and a real step forward in recognising these unsung heroes, of which there are many. It is refreshing that we are now seeing increasing numbers of elected representatives and influential leaders stepping up to play their part in the HIV response and perhaps become new heroes.

Travelling from Tanzania will be Asya Iddi Issa, Principal of Ben Bella Secondary School in Zanzibar, an urban based mixed school with over 900 pupils and 44 teachers. Also coming is the President of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA), Yohannes Benti, whose Union represents over 90% of the teaching workforce of Ethiopia, some 290,000 teachers.

As well as meeting politicians and trade unionists, on Thursday 18th November the visitors will be meeting teachers working in disadvantaged schools in Dublin to see how challenges like teacher motivation, poor attendance and early school leaving are being addressed.

They will visit St Mark’s Community School in Tallaght at 10 am. St Mark's is a mixed gender, multi cultural secondary school of more than 800 pupils. More than a quarter of their students are from non-English speaking backgrounds and about 40 different languages are spoken in St Mark's.

The visitors will also be meeting the Ballymun and Whitehall Area Partnership and the Ballymun Principals' Network at 4 pm to learn more about the role the wider community plays in educational initiatives. The Partnership's aim is to combat social exclusion in the Ballymun area. The Principals' Network has recently standardised responses to poor school attendance across all schools in its area.

On Wednesday evening 17th November at 6.30 pm, Mrs Issa and Mr Benti will give a talk in the Irish Aid Volunteer and Information Centre on O’Connell street, Dublin 1, about the challenges facing the teaching profession in their countries.

VSO Ireland Director Malcolm Quigley said that much progress has been made in increasing enrolment in Ethiopia and Tanzania but that problems remained.

“Education is the key to empowering people to rise out of poverty and key to a good education is a good teacher”, he said. “But in many developing countries the teaching force is often demoralised and fractured. Teachers are frequently paid little and late, their educational and training needs are often neglected. As a result, the teaching profession is characterised by high attrition rates, lack of confidence and varying levels of motivation.

“VSO volunteers are working at a number of different levels in Ethiopia and Tanzania to support improvements in education management and teacher training, which will ultimately have an impact on the quality and relevance of education children receive.”

Media queries to Caroline Erskine at 01-6401060 or 086-3803995 www.vso.ie

WHAT:         AFRICAN AND IRISH TEACHERS SHARE EXPERIENCE
WHEN:         16^th-19^th NOVEMBER 2010
WHERE:       SCHOOLS AND OTHER VENUES IN DUBLIN AND CORK

NOTES TO EDITORS

VSO is the world’s leading independent, international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in 44 developing countries.
VSO recruits experienced professionals to work as volunteers overseas. Right now we are recruiting people from the areas of: management, education, health, fundraising and IT.  See www.vso.ie/volunteer
VSO education volunteers train teachers in developing countries, improving the quality and access of education.  In Ethiopia for example, one VSO volunteer will train 30 teachers, which in turn will go on to teach 30,000 children.
The ‘Talking Teachers’ initiative is part of VSO’s Valuing Teachers advocacy initiative, which supports the achievement of the Education for All goals.  Valuing Teachers is based on the idea that if developing countries want to improve the quality in education, then governments, donors and international institutions must take account of the pivotal roles that teachers play. See http://www.vsointernational.org/what-we-do/advocacy/campaigns/valuing-teachers.asp#0 for more.
 

§  VSO is a member of the Global Campaign for Education.  This week, the Northern branch of this large international campaign is meeting in Dublin.  For more information on the Irish coalition’s work see www.campaignforeducation.ie or see our campaign video on www.youtube.com/GCEIreland.

VSO are delighted to announce details of "Couture at the Club" which takes place at the exclusive Stephen's Green Hibernian Club (www.sghc.ie) on Friday the 10th of December at 12.30pm.

On arrivial guests will be treated to a champagne reception, followed by a delicous three course lunch. The highlight of the afternoon will be an exclusive fashion exhibition from Nadya Gaughran of the Couture Boutique (www.coutureonline.ie) with her range of rare and eye catching collection from select French designers. The fashion event will be produced by the 1st Option modeling agency who have kindly offered their services for free to support VSO.

Brendan Courtney from RTE's Off The Rails will be guest MC at the event along with some other special guests and dignatries including the Ambassador of Pakistan Her Excellency Mrs Naghmana A. Hashmi.

All proceeds from "Couture at the Club" will go towards VSO's work in flood stricken Pakistan. The main focus of VSO's work in the affected areas is to train flood camp managers who are currently under equipped and overwhelmed at the emergency camps due to the scale of the disaster. Over 10 million people are currently displaced in make shift camps around the country.

"Couture at the Club" promises to be an enjoyable event as well as an important fundraiser for VSO. Tickets are available by calling 01 6401076 or email john.white@vso.ie

Cambodian government ministers recognise that a generation without education would be a national disaster, so they’re working to make sure every child goes to school.

Aware of what a difference VSO’s skilled volunteers can make, they asked us to help them achieve this ambition. Now there are 37 VSO education volunteers in Cambodia, operating at every level in the school system.

Among them is Mary Knox, who works directly with schools, training local teachers. Mary soon realised that in order to bring children into the classroom, she also needed to convince parents that education is a worthwhile investment. For the many families who live hand to mouth, the choice can be stark: send a child to school and they may earn more in the future, but send them to work now and the family can keep hunger at bay for another day.

Mary began by focusing her efforts on Sala Krauv Primary School, which she describes as “the poorest school in the poorest community in Cambodia”. To encourage school attendance, she hit on the idea of developing a relationship with the local community by bringing everyone together to work on a common project – building a toilet for the school.

“We held a community work day,” says Mary. “All the parents turned up. The mothers prepared a meal while the fathers worked on the project. Even the monks came to join in and bless the work. By evening, the shed had a new roof, water tanks were built and plastered, the toilet was installed and water was piped up from the local pond.”

The community now has a real investment in the school, and the project gave everyone the chance to talk about education and how it could improve their lives. It will help Mary achieve her goal much more quickly – hopefully in time to prevent another generation of children missing out on school all together.

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Deputy Calleary travelled to Mozambique where he worked with people living with HIV and Aids carers and met with Mozambican parliamentarians. Senator Hannigan volunteered in Kathmandu where he worked with the only organisation in Nepal for sexual minorities.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton worked in Uganda with an alliance of volunteering organisations and liaised with parliamentarians on ways to promote volunteering in their country. Senator O’Malley headed for the Republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia where she worked with the State Committee for Youth, Tourism and Sport.

Senator O’Malley said;

“My time spent in Tajikistan was both beneficial and enjoyable. I discovered that there were lots of similarities between the evolution of the Tajik and Irish economies. Tajikistan could learn from Ireland’s experience - several decades ago tourism played a marginal role in our economy. Today it is one of the main sources of national income.

I hope that during my time there I was able to communicate some ways in which the tourism sector in Tajikistan can grow and develop.”

Dara Calleary TD said:

“I would urge anyone who has previously considered doing some overseas volunteer work to just do it. During my time in Mozambique I saw at first hand some of the extremely tough conditions some people are forced to survive in.

However, I also witnessed the resolute nature, determination and good humour with which people live and how they manage to overcome their difficulties to lead productive lives. I learnt a great deal during my stay and urge others to get involved and become a VSO volunteer.”

As part of the initiative, Oireachtas staff member Adrienne Harrington will set off in October to spend six months in Namibia. Adrienne who works in the Oireachtas IT section will advise on the monitoring and coordination of HIV and Aids services there.

VSO Board member Senator David Norris, was there to thank the new volunteer and to wish her well with her placment.

For more information on becoming a VSO volunteer see www.vso.ie

ADVENTURES OF A SENATOR IN THE ‘STAN WITH ALTITUDE

Tajikistan is a magical destination for the pioneering tourist, as Irish Senator Fiona O’Malley, discovered on assignment with international development charity, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). 

A steadily increasing trickle of curious travellers are adventuring into the dramatic unspoilt mountain-scape and Silk Road heritage of Tajikistan.  Senator O’Malley’s volunteer placement with The State Committee for Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism is helping raise awareness of tourism as a key source of economic opportunity for vulnerable communities, and increasing Tajikistan’s profile amongst potential overseas visitors.  During her visit The Senator has supported state employees charged with tourism development to work closely with other government departments and the private sector, and nurture the growth of tourism in Zerafshan Valley.  

So far, 2010 has been a good year for tourism development in Tajikistan.  President Rahmon’s high profile statements have prioritised tourism development.  In July the 4th Millennium BCE site of Sarazm (literally, ‘where the world begins’), became the first of Tajikistan’s ancient sites to make it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.  World Tourism Day in September will see the launch of Tajikistan’s national tourism website and brand, at its first ever national tourism conference.

Senator O’Malley is one of nine Parliamentarians participating in the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) scheme, through which politicians share their policy development and lobbying skills, at the request of partner organisations in countries where VSO operates.   The Senator served in the lower Parliament and as a local councillor before being appointed by The Prime Minister of The Republic of Ireland to the country’s Senate in 2007. 

Captivated by Central Asia since the collapse of the former Soviet Union, The Senator sees great potential for co-operation between The Republic of Ireland and Tajikistan.  ‘There are lots of similarities between the evolution of the Tajik and Irish economies.  Tajikistan could learn from Ireland’s experience – several decades ago tourism played a marginal role in our economy.  Today it is one of the main sources of national income.  Both countries also share a reputation for hospitality and have great natural beauty.’

Speaking about Tajikistan’s tourism potential, Senator O’Malley said, ‘Tourism is a great tool for economic independence. Here in Tajikistan you have the raw materials in abundance: the most incredible mountain scenery I have ever seen and lots of authentic opportunities to experience local life and culture.  Tourists can visit rural and isolated communities directly,  reducing the challenge of getting products to markets, faced by other economic spheres.’ ‘Tajikistan is surprisingly accessible from Europe and The State Committee on Tourism already made the visa process simpler for tourists.  Crime levels are also very low.’

The Senator is VSO’s third specialist advising on tourism development.  The charity will support economic development through tourism by placing at least three more tourism specialists in Zerafshan Valley and The Pamirs over the coming year. 

-ends-

Contact Deirdre Finlay, VSO Ireland  Deirdre.Finlay@vso.ie +353-1-6401060 or Catherine Hine, Country Director, VSO Tajikistan catherine.hine@vsoint.org +992 918 38 51 72 (English/ Russian)
Pictures of the Senator in action and Zerafshan Valley can be obtained from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vsoireland/ 

All VSO volunteers receive training and support throughout their placements. To find out more about volunteering overseas with VSO visit: www.vso.ie/events/ to find out about up coming information events.

VSO currently has 52 Irish volunteers on two-year placements overseas. 

For more information contact:

Caroline Erskine VSO Communications at 086-3803995 

VSO Indonesia currently has international volunteer professionals working with partners in local government institutions and NGOs in Nusa Tenggara Timur and South Sulawesi, on livelihoods and disability projects.

In 2009, VSO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dirjen Binapenta. According to the MOU, VSO will manage a pilot project sending Indonesian volunteers overseas. The project will be evaluated at the end of the Indonesian volunteer’s two-year term.

We believe that Indonesian professionals are able to take up this important role of making changes for a better world, through sharing their knowledge, talents, experience and skills with local organisations and communities in other developing countries.

The recruitment criteria, terms and conditions and mechanism will be the same as those used in other VSO recrutiment bases. The volunteer benefits package is designed so that the volunteer will not lose money or make a profit from volunteering. VSO Indonesia and VSO Bahaginan in the Philippines, (the closest VSO recruitment centre in Asia) will manage this pilot project.

The project started in August 2010 and the recruitment process will consist of application and selection between September and October 2010. The deadline for submitting application forms is 3 September 2010.

The five Indonesian volunteers are expected to start their overseas postings between November 2010 and March 2011, depending on them being matched with available placements in VSO partner organisations in other developing countries.

Next to the valuable contributions volunteers make during their placements, they return to their own country equipped with invaluable professional experience, a wealth of memories, and a whole new perspective on life. It will be a great contribution to the development of Indonesia and its skilled workforce, if Indonesians volunteered their time and skills as VSO volunteers.

VSO is distributing information about this pilot project through mailing lists, Internet job sites, as well as a video advertisement at the Kota train station in Jakarta. This video advertisement has been made possible through our collaboration with QSi Holding Limited and their representative in Indonesia, PT Delphi Utama.

Minister of State Dara Calleary of Fianna Fáil; Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton; Labour Party Senator Dominic Hannigan and Independent Senator Fiona O’Malley are participating in VSO’s ‘Politicians for Development Programme’ in which Irish parliamentarians volunteer during the Dail and Seanad summer recess.

Deputy Calleary, who is a Minister of State, will travel to Mozambique where he will meet people living with HIV and Aids and their carers, and liase with Mozambican parliamentarians.

Senator Dominic Hannigan is heading for Kathmandu to work with the Blue Diamond Society, the only organisation in Nepal for sexual minorities.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton will be flying to Uganda where she will work with an alliance of volunteering organisations and liase with parliamentarians on ways to promote volunteering in their country.

Senator Fiona O’Malley is bound for the Republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia where she’ll be working with the State Committee fo r Y outh, Tourism and Sport in Penjikent.

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power TD commented that his fellow parliamentarians were building on Ireland’s proud volunteering tradition.

“They will have the opportunity to see both the scale of global development challenges and opportunities for real change”, said the Minister.

The parliamentarians hope to highlight the importance of volunteering upon their return to Ireland.

Contact Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie for further information.

VSO immediately contacted all its partner organisations to check their status. Only one organisation, the Participatory Welfare Organization (PWO) in the District Layyah Punjab Province, was badly affected. Their areas of work are near the bank of River Indus. The sudden water surge in the river destroyed hundreds of villages. PWO is a very active relief organisation and started the rescue efforts by arranging rescue boats.

VSO also works closely with the National Volunteer Movement (NVM), a government body. Its national volunteers moved immediately to provide support to rescue work in Peshawar city and in northern areas.

NVM mobilised their volunteers to man the various collection points for relief goods and distribution to needy people. They have been providing cooked food to people in Peshawar, and have made a plan to arrange a crash course for local people of affected areas in coordinating the relief activities and managing the relief operations. In the next phase VSO will help identify people through our resource bank to provide training in damage assessment at various locations.

Now the flash flood have receded, there is fear of the looming threat of epidemics, such as malaria or cholera caused by standing slush in the affected low-lying areas.

Congratulations to everyone in the group that made the summit – 11 out of 11 well done!

See photos of the Kilimanjaro trek.

You can help us to build a fairer world too. Find out how you can raise funds and awareness for VSO in our Act now section.

The garden was split into two zones. In the first section, an area of low nutrient and infertile land is found. Through this a dirt track leads to the second part of the garden. In the second area you find a water supply, an outdoor classroom and a vegetable growing area. The two zones are split by a simple fence, which can be traversed via a stile with the help of a wooden hand that is symbolic of the ‘hand-up rather than hand-out’ ethos adopted by VSO with regard to its work in Sub-Saharan Africa. Visitors to the garden were encouraged to take their shoes and socks off before entering, so as to get a feel for the sandy soil.

Once visitors have climbed over the fence, they saw logs in the training area, which offered an opportunity to sit and reflect on the experience of being in this engaging garden space. At the top of the path was an VSO Information Point. Within this marquee you could absorb more information on the work of VSO through a photo exhibition reflecting work in agriculture and demonstration gardening; watch videos about VSO’s work benefiting people living with HIV in Kenya and Mozambique; and speak to returned VSO volunteers.

For up to date information on Tim Austen’s garden design work, visit www.austenassocations.ie. For more info on volunteering or donating to VSO see www.vso.ie.

View photos

Old address:
VSO
Office 335,
The Capel Building,
Mary's Abbey,
Dublin 7

New address from 22nd April 2010.
VSO
Second Floor
13-17 Dawson Street
Dublin 2

20 April 2010

The Irish Coalition of the Global Campaign for Education (ICGCE), an international campaign movement, today launched ‘Global Action Week 2010’ at an event in Leinster House, Dublin, attended by Mr Peter Power TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for Overseas Development.  The group called for governments worldwide to achieve ‘Education for All’ by 2015.

The GCE’s Global Action Week happens every April around the world.  It’s a time when teachers, children, parents and people internationally unite in their demands for education.  Last year the campaign centred on ‘The Big Read’, in which 1000s of Irish people, and 14 million people globally, took part.

This year the campaign theme is ‘1GOAL:  Education for All’.  In tandem with publicity surrounding the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, and with support from FIFA, the GCE are asking people to sign an online petition (www.join1goal.org) calling on governments globally to improve the financing of quality public education.

Speaking at the launch today Moira Leydon, Chairperson of the ICGCE and Assistant Secretary General of the ASTI, said,

“Today 72 million children around the world are out of school.  This needs to be addressed through increased education financing.

But progress has been made since 2000.  Thanks to governments and people taking action, 40 million more children are in school.

The coalition commends education programming that has been supported by Irish Aid to date.  We welcome a continued prioritisation of education in poverty reduction and hunger alleviation activity.

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, who today launched Global Action Week for Education, said:

 “Education is a fundamental human right and a core priority of the Government’s  development aid programme.  It is central to reducing poverty, hunger and child mortality,  and to creating opportunities for economic growth.

 “In 2008, Irish Aid, the Government’s aid programme, provided  over €83 million for measures to improve education in the developing world. We work closely with our partners in Governments in developing countries to strengthen education systems by supporting school-building programmes, teacher-training, the provision of books and reform of school curricula.

Ireland’s investment in Education is well above the international average and reflects our commitment to achieving universal primary education by 2015.

“Put simply, it means that thousands of girls and boys are at school as a result of Ireland’s aid programme. In eight African countries where Irish Aid is strongly focused on education, primary enrolment has grown by 34 million children over the past 35 years - a fivefold increase. These are achievements of which we can be very proud.

However, much more remains to be done if we are to meet the goals by 2015.  Some 72 million children of school-going age are still out of school today.  It is important to remember that education is intricately linked to the other Millennium Development Goals.  By tackling hunger among school-going children, we improve their ability to learn.  And by providing education we improve livelihoods and reduce the risk of hunger.

We recognise that sustainable improvements in education systems will require a long-term commitment of resources by national governments and by the international community. Irish Aid will continue to prioritise education in 2010.“

The ICGCE is the Irish branch of an international coalition of charities, NGOs, civil society organisations and education unions.  The group mobilises the public to put pressure on governments to deliver on promises made in 2000 to provide free education for all children.

Today the group launch their official education advocacy document, outlining their strategy for achieving Education for All by 2015.

-Ends-

More Information:  Contact Deirdre Finlay, VSO Ireland, on behalf of the coalition, on Tel: +353 1 6401060, 086-3707050 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie 

When speaking of the eventful day, VSO Tanzania Country Director, Kieran Breen, commented:
“It was a real pleasure for myself and other Tanzanian NGO staff members to meet with Senator Norris. We were delighted to meet him and truly encouraged by his interest in development issues in Tanzania.”

Senator Norris visited Dar Es Salaam to coincide with Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations hosted by the Irish Embassy. While visiting the capital he took time to meet with members of the Irish diaspora community, Tanzanian development workers and representatives from VSO, Children in Crossfire, Concern Worldwide and Irish Aid.

Senator Norris has been a member of the VSO Ireland board for over two years and is a long serving member of the Irish government’s Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs. 

More information on David Norris' activities as a member of Seanad Eireann can be viewed on his website www.senatordavidnorris.ie

VSO will be organising 14 of the upcoming county selections for the 2010 Rose of Tralee. The VSO nominated counties are Galway, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Donegal, Down, Antrim, Derry, Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Waterford, Tipperary, Cavan and Louth. The county selection events will take place throughout April.

All proceeds raised at the VSO Rose of Tralee county selections will ensure that our volunteers have the training and support to achieve meaningful change. Funds raised will allow VSO to play a significant role in the fight against poverty and disadvantage in developing countries.

Commenting on our partnership with the Rose of Tralee festival VSO director Malcolm Quigley said, “Like VSO, the festival is grounded in the volunteering spirit. The Roses of Tralee for 2009 and 2008, Charmaine Kenny and Aoife Kelly, have visited VSO programmes in the developing world and have helped to draw attention to the productive work VSO volunteers do in over 44 countries.”

For the upcoming events VSO would also welcome sponsorship from local businesses that wish to be involved in the county selections.

If you would like to find out how to become a Rose or nominate a family member or friend please visit www.roseoftralee.ie

If you wish to support VSO and fancy a great night out at one of our county selections please email john.white@vso.ie

VSO Ireland Director, Malcolm Quigley, said that there had been a significant reduction in the number of primary school teachers enquiring about volunteering, in marked contrast to other sectors where applications have risen sharply in response to the recession. Until this year, about two-thirds of all applications came from teachers. This year it is down to a quarter, with the balance coming from skilled people in the health and business sectors.

Jobs and benfits remain secure back home

“We know that teachers by choosing teaching as a profession have high levels of altruism”, he said. “However, we also know that, in these challenging times economically, many have fears about job security when deciding whether to volunteer abroad. They should have no such worries as their jobs and benefits remain in place and the experience they gain is seen as a good career move”, he added.

Mr Quigley said that VSO is seeking teachers with at least three years experience to serve in Africa and Asia for a period of two years. He also said that retiring or retired teachers are in particularly high demand because of their expertise. “Irish volunteer teachers train local teachers who then go on to train other teachers in techniques which have made class rooms in developing countries less didactic and more interactive,” he said. “That in turn has led to a decrease in pupil drop-out rates, and a big increase in teacher motivation in countries like Ethiopia, for example.”

Mr Quigley stressed that becoming a VSO volunteer is not about taking time-out. “Research by the Institute of Education shows that teachers who have volunteered with VSO come back refreshed, more motivated, more resourceful, more flexible and more confident. All refer to the richness of their experience overseas and how it has helped them to be more understanding of different cultures and how to be resourceful with few resources”.

“Education is VSO’s biggest programme area because we believe that it is the most powerful weapon we can use to change our world”, said Mr Quigley. “It for this reason that we have launched this call for education professionals to help us roll out education development programmes across Africa and Asia.”

Volunteers are paid a local salary and VSO covers flights, insurance, vaccinations, training, medical insurance and accommodation.

It costs €22,000 to send a volunteer overseas for one year. That’s why VSO needs donations all the time, to supplement volunteer placements. 

Charmaine was impressed with the way VSO work, “Having visited developing countries in the past I was aware of some of the dreadful conditions that people live in. Malawi was no different and it is quite clear that every day is a struggle for the people I visited. However the work VSO volunteers are engaged in Malawi is very impressive.”

Below is a detailed account of the projects Charmaine visited and the results VSO volunteers are achieving.

Day 1

Visit to Thyolo Community Group

This local community have benefited from support and guidance from VSO volunteers in the development of a water irrigation scheme that has allowed the local community to increase their crop production. The scheme has being running for 3 years.

• VSO volunteers have empowered the local community
• They are planting corn and maize
• Scheme has allowed them to plant new vegetables e.g. tomatoes
• Last year the group harvested over 30,000 kgs of crops

Visit to Mapanga Community Group

Through guidance from VSO volunteers this local women’s group using local resources have produced and are selling a clay stove that is being used throughout the region.

• There are over 800 women involved in the project
• 80% of the profits made go to the women
• 20% of profits go back into the scheme
• In 2008 over 4,000 clay stoves were produced that are sold all over the region

Day 2

Visit to Shmpa Milk Bulking Group

With ongoing training from VSO volunteers this community scheme encourages local dairy farmers to fully maximise their milk production. The scheme teaches the local community to look after livestock advising on what to feed them and how to provide proper shelter for animals in the rainy season and warm months. VSO provide the local farmers with a small grant to purchase a cow which they then payback through the sale of milk or with the sale of new livestock to their herd. One local farmer Anna recently paid back the loan and used further profits to purchase a calf.

• The Shmpa group produce 2400 litres of milk a day
• The Shmpa group is part of 22 bulking groups throughout Northern Malawi
• Over 3,000 farmers are involved in the scheme
• Farmers get paid every 2 weeks
• The bulking group produce over 1 million litres of milk a year
• VSO volunteers provide agricultural training and business advice

Visit to Philadelphia Mushroom House

This local group produce grows and produces mushrooms that they sell. The group has received guidance from a VSO volunteer on how best to market and sell the mushrooms they grow. Mushroom houses are common all over Malawi. Primarily women’s group the Philadelphia mushroom house is beginning to sell its local produce to hotels in Blantyre (Malawi’s 2nd city).

• Group began with 7 members now has 38
• Project began in 2008 with a harvest of 171 kg
• In 2009 the harvest was 394 kg

Visit to Zuzuga Tea Growers Association

Tea is Malawi’s second biggest export. However, most tea estates are privately owned. Through support and guidance from VSO volunteers the local community in Zuzuga established a small out growers scheme where they planted tea on their own land. VSO volunteers advised on the development of a water irrigation system, which gave the community more land to plant tea. They also advised on the development and implementation of a business marketing plan with the Zuzuga Tea Growers Association to sell their produce and use revenue generated to widen the project.

• VSO volunteer used an incentive with the development of the water irrigation scheme. If it were finished in 2 days each worker would receive 2 chickens. (Scheme was finished on time!)
• Scheme began with 11 members now has over 400
• Each grower is paid for over 20kg collected in each basket
• Growers collect 10-15 tons of tea a day
• Last year the association produced over 1.5 million tons of tea

Day 3

The MACOHA Craft factory was set-up by the Malawi Council for the Handicapped. The factory, which employs disabled people, produces textiles, crafts, and screen print products for sale throughout Malawi. VSO volunteers have assisted in developing a sales and marketing plan for the MACOHA craft factory.

• Factory employs people suffering with disabilities and HIV & Aids
• Produces products for the tourist industry and local hotels such as crafts, uniforms, & towels
• Currently employs 298 staff of whom 80% have disabilities
• Profits raised go towards supporting people with disabilities who live in rural areas and don’t have access to proper care

This decision comes three years after a high level panel first recommended the creation of a unified women’s agency and follows committed lobbying from hundreds of NGOs and their supporters around the world.  Thousands of VSO supporters across the UK campaigned for this agency through the charity’s Help Women Help the World campaign and overseas staff and volunteers got involved by lobbying their UN Permanent Representatives.

However, while VSO welcomes this decision, it is also urging the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to act swiftly to ensure the agency is operational during 2010 and has the budget and mandate to enable it to genuinely change the lives of disadvantaged women.

Commenting on the decision VSO Chief Executive Marg Mayne said: 

“This is an historic moment for women around the world and the efforts of the numerous campaigners and organisations calling for this resolution have been justly rewarded.  But let’s be realistic, this agency has its work cut out.  Persistent inequalities and discrimination have led to women being amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world and it will take money, clarity and commitment to really have an impact. A UN women’s agency has the potential to change lives but VSO will be watching closely to make sure its creation does not become embroiled in bureaucracy and political game playing.”

VSO believes a functioning and effective agency must be funded to at least $1bn a year, with expert staff and adequate resources to run programmes on the ground that will improve women's lives. It must have strong leadership along with a willingness to listen to the women’s organisations and charities operating on the ground.

Currently over half a million women die in childbirth or pregnancy every year because they can't access the healthcare they need. Every day hundreds of women are the victims of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones like the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Three-quarters of people infected by HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa are female and the majority of children out of school are girls.

Paul, 30, will fly out to Thailand in July on a six-month placement as a volunteer with VSO, the charity that recruits professionals to work in some of the world's poorest countries.

Paul who works at the Irish Council for International Students as a cultural awareness trainer and lectures in cultural studies at UCD decided to volunteer with VSO to use his expertise to assist the less fortunate and appeal to other like minded professionals who are considering volunteering overseas:

"I have being considering the option of volunteering for some time now. VSO placements are real live projects that really do make a difference to developing communities. I think now is the time to think about your personal legacy – what will you remember as the best part of your career? Becoming a VSO volunteer allows you to continue to develop professionally and more importantly help others. People don't realise the difference they can make by doing their job," he said.

Paul will work with the Peace Way Foundation that monitors and records human rights violations in Burma and also provides a support network for Burmese refugees in Thailand under a programme which is funded by VSO.

VSO volunteers receive a comprehensive package of benefits including flights, accommodation, insurance, training and a local living allowance.

VSO are continually looking for professionals in health, education, business management, and community development.

Catherine Hine, Director of VSO Tajikistan, said:

“It is exciting to hear from everyone we speak to here, about the key role that VSO can play in Tajikistan. And there is no doubt that VSO volunteers can make a difference. This beautiful country has been hit particularly hard by the global economic crisis, climate change and the decline in post-Soviet essential services.”

In 2009, with support from United Nations Volunteers, VSO Tajikistan conducted the first ever study of volunteering in Tajikistan contributing to VSO’s programme areas. Its key focus areas will be helping communities living in poverty to effectively manage natural resources to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters.

VSO volunteer, Shane Stevenson, is currently working as Natural Resource Management Adviser with the Central Asian Mountain Partnership in Dushanbe:

“The Tajiks I have met are hospitable, keen to learn and very cooperative. The challenge lies in the multiple issues that require an integrated approach such as disaster management, pasture management, soil erosion and health care issues. A visit to the rural, mountainous areas brings home the extent of these challenges. “

VSO Tajikistan will also be focussing on improving access to healthcare services at community level for vulnerable groups. VSO currently has a volunteer, Jo Baker, an Organisational Development and Advocacy Specialist, working with the Association of Parents of Disabled Children (APDC).

As Sabohat Hakim Zoda, Director of APDC, explained:

“We wanted to know how things are done in other places and to share experiences. We wanted to learn how to advocate for disabled children.

“Jo’s help will mean that we can build our capacity and expand our work. We want to be able to stand up for the rights of disabled children effectively,” she added.

In the future, VSO Tajikistan will work in partnership with local organisation to help people living in poverty earn a decent and consistent livelihood through improved understanding of markets and business planning.

“I feel privileged to be able to work alongside our Tajik colleagues and support them in meeting the very real challenges that Tajikistan is facing right now. Despite our short existence in Tajikistan, VSO’s specialist volunteers can already feel that they make a difference and change lives here,” said Catherine Hine.
 

VSO urgently requires finance managers, accountants, economic advisers and general managers to offer their time and skills in 44 developing countries where it works. VSO wants to remind those being made redundant that volunteering won’t affect their wallet or career prospects as much as they may think: VSO covers all costs and placements are challenging advisory positions. 

VSO urgently needs 50 business people to apply and depart for a new professional challenge in September 2009 and January 2010. So far this year enquiries from prospective volunteers to VSO Ireland in 2009 are up 500 per cent, showing an increased interest in volunteering amongst the recently unemployed.

In the UK there has also been a dramatic rise in the proportion of prospective VSO volunteers applying from the business sector following job losses in the City before Christmas. In November 2007, 24 per cent of applications to VSO UK were from people working in business and management; by November 2008 this had risen to 43 per cent. 

Professional VSO volunteers, who’s average age is 42, provide crucial support in developing countries.  Some are placed in local government bodies or even Ministries where they take up management and financial advisory roles.  Others work in small community not-for-profits located in rural parts of Africa, organising workshops for village leaders, women’s groups or HIV educators, many of whom have had no formal education. Business people get the opportunity to cut their teeth on training and workshop facilitation, thus adding to their skillset and improving their CVs.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, says:
“The loss of ACC bank jobs is a real concern as it adds yet more people to the live register. However, VSO offers professionals  the chance to use their skills positively in the poorest communities. Some people in Africa are not just suffering the effects of the global downturn, they have already been living in poverty for a time, and have low access to basic services. VSO is a respected NGO that covers all volunteering costs. It makes sense to volunteer once made redundant.”

Denis Mahoney worked with AIB for almost ten years before deciding to volunteer with VSO.  He was placed in Ethiopia for two years and is now back in Ireland. Denis has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“Working in Africa was a huge learning curve for me. My communication and training skills greatly improved.  Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your professional abilities and getting experience in international development. My costs were covered while I was overseas so it wasn’t too risky. If you’re motivated by your work having meaning, then moving from the private sector into volunteering is the right choice.”

VSO provides volunteers with flights, accommodation, training, insurance, medical support and an allowance to cover basic costs. Irish public sector professionals volunteering can apply for a career break to avail of time off to cover the 1-2 year period.

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers and accountants are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.

For more information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie or Malcolm.Quigley@vso.ie.  Call Deirdre on 086-3707050 or Malcolm on 087-2375925.

Lucinda Ledgerwood, from Edinburgh, who was a semi-finalist in last year’s competition, has quit the boardroom to help poverty-stricken youngsters in New Delhi.  The 33-year-old said she was no longer interested in earning a large salary and wanted to give something back while experiencing different cultures. The freelance risk analyst and management consultant will spend two years as a volunteer with VSO.

Speaking of her decision to volunteer with VSO, Lucinda says:
“One of the reasons why I went on The Apprentice was because I like a challenge, I like diversity, I like my mind to be kept busy. I am hoping to experience a new culture, new opportunities. I have travelled widely, but I have never really worked in a place, and I think that’s the only way to understand the culture.”

VSO urgently requires finance managers, accountants, economic advisers and business consultants like Lucinda to offer their time and skills in 44 developing countries where it works. VSO covers all costs and placements are challenging advisory positions. VSO urgently needs 50 business people to apply and depart for a new professional challenge in September 2009 and January 2010.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, says:
“VSO recruits volunteers in a variety of different places including Scotland, Kenya, India and Ireland of course.  VSO is urgently asking talented business people like Lucinda to volunteer overseas with VSO. We think that now is the time to think about your personal legacy – what will you remember as best part of your career? Think of the difference you can make to people’s lives by sharing their business skills overseas.”

Emma Donavon, a brand manager from Co. Cork, worked in business for years before finally deciding to volunteer with VSO.  She has been placed in Kenya for two years working as a Marketing and Fundraising Adviser in the Kenya Society for the Blind.  Emma has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“Working in Africa is a huge learning curve for me. My communication and training skills are improving daily. My costs are covered so I am not too worried about the financial risk. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your skills and getting experience in international development." 

In many developing countries staff shortages amongst business managers and accountants are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can place educators, health workers, business people and community/social workers as volunteers abroad.

More information:  Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie or john.white@vso.ie.   Call Deirdre on 086-3707050 or John on 087-6678985.

The Ambassador's Garden Party is a unique event VSO are staging with the Kenyan Embassy to highlight the work VSO does in Kenya and also to assist the Kenyan government in attracting investment to Kenya for the ICT sector. VSO Ireland director Malcolm Quigley will address the invited guests at the event along with a returned VSO volunteer.

VSO urgently requires Irish primary teachers to offer their time and skills in 44 developing countries where it works, places where education standards are poor, and people are living in abject poverty. VSO wants to remind teachers that volunteering won’t affect their wallet or career prospects as much as they may think: VSO covers all costs and placements are challenging teacher-training positions.

VSO urgently needs 50 Irish education volunteers to apply and depart for a new professional challenge in September 2009. Professional VSO education volunteers have an average age of 42 and provide crucial support in developing countries.

Most are placed in teacher training institutes or Ministries of Education in advisory roles. Others visit small schools and education centres in rural parts of Africa, organising workshops for teachers, many of who have had no formal training. Teachers get the opportunity to cut their teeth on teacher training and workshop facilitation, thus adding to their skillset.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, says:

“The loss of teaching posts as a consequence of class size is a real concern for Ireland. However, VSO offers Irish teachers the chance to look for something new and a way in which they can positively use their skills elsewhere. People living in poor communities of Africa and Asia are not just suffering the effects of the global downturn, they have already been living in poverty for a time, and have low access to basic education services. VSO is a respected NGO that designs excellent education programmes and covers all volunteering costs.”

Aoife MacManus, a primary teacher from North County Dublin, volunteered with VSO in a teacher-training institute in Ghana for two years. She has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“Working in West Africa was a huge learning curve for me. My communication and training skills greatly improved. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your professional abilities and getting experience in international
development. My costs were covered while I was overseas so it wasn’t too risky. I would encourage any primary teacher to take the plunge and go for it.”

VSO provides volunteers with flights, accommodation, training, insurance, medical support and an allowance to cover basic costs. Irish public sector professionals volunteering can apply for a Career Break to avail of time off to cover the 1–2 year period.

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.

VSO is adamant that this dramatic drop in funding will have a devastating affect on women, children and small organisations supported by the charity in Africa and Asia. 130–150 million people have been pushed below the €1.25 a day poverty line due to the current global economic crisis (World Bank). Today’s cuts make Ireland the first progressive EU country to renege on its commitment to the achievement of an aid budget of 0.7% of GNI.

VSO has seen a dramatic 530% increase in enquiries from Irish people looking to volunteer abroad in March this year when compared to the same period last year. As unemployment and redundancy levels rise, more and more senior professionals are looking to share their skills in developing countries, and phoning VSO for a volunteering job. But ODA budget cuts mean less Irish people can be placed overseas by VSO. It also indicates a roll back in planned VSO programmes in Sub-Saharan countries, were unprotected poor people will be most affected.

VSO funding provides crucial support overseas to education and health systems and community organisations working in areas such as human rights and income generation. The charity sees the move as damaging to Ireland’s reputation as a generous and giving nation. Now those who have been living in severe poverty for years are looking into an even bleaker economic situation due to a global economic crisis they did not create.

Speaking on the €100M cut, Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, said:

“It doesn’t make sense to make the poorest of the poor to pay for this crisis. We can cut 20% of the ODA budget yet we can raise 10 times the ODA budget to shore up the banks that caused this crisis. Where’s the fairness in that?

“VSO is just one of many Irish development charities that are suffering due to today’s government actions. It is clear that the governments promises to the poorest of the poor are being callously disregarded. I believe that people in developing countries will die as a result of this action.

“Despite cross-Party support for development, a further cut has to be absorbed by the world’s poorest people. All the Parties realise the consequences of such a move yet this budget has had been drastically cut."

VSO Ireland is an Irish Aid block grant recipient for HIV and AIDS programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070, email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie or call Malcolm on 087 2375 925.

Poverty in Kenya is a national concern 14.6 per cent of the population is unemployed and 45 per cent of this number is under 25. The high level of unemployment has a direct impact on poverty and social problems. It is estimated that 1.3 million children under the age of 15 have disabilities in Kenya. On the basis of these statistics Aoife visited a number of programmes that VSO run to support unemployment and tackle disability.

Project visits

Aoife began the week by visiting HSCH a local NGO who encourage capacity building of self-help groups and individual farmers with new technologies in sustainable agriculture. Part of the visit involved a visit to a local biodiesel project. The biodiesel project was set up with VSO support to provide alternative income to farmers in the Naru Moru district and to also provide low-cost fuel for farming and other activities.

Next stop was the Laikipia Educational Assessment and Resource centre, which of course was of special interest as Aoife is a trained occupational therapist. VSO works in disability because four out of the ten poorest people in society in Kenya are disabled. It is estimated that there are 3.4 million disabled people in Kenya.

Combating stigma

Traditionally, disabled people have been hidden from their communities and are not seen as equal and valued members. There families suffer stigma; while the disabled person is often the victim of neglect and abuse, both physical and sexual.

On visiting the centre Aoife said, “It was heartbreaking to learn that many of the 3.4 million disabled people in Kenya are seen as second class citizens who should be locked away and only two per cent are in education. Although our own health service has its flaws in Ireland it really makes you think when you visit somewhere like this centre that is trying to combat this stigma.”

Rural Kenya

The VSO funded programme Aoife visited was the Laikipia Educational Assessment and Resource centre (EARC), which was established in 1994. EARC is one of the district assessment centres throughout the country that offer Kenya’s children with disabilities up to the age of 16, assessment, treatment, education and aids. Parents receive advice and guidance to enable them to look after their children and help them with the necessary training.

The final leg of the trip was a visit to the Il’Ngwesi Maasi Community Group. The Il’Ngwesi are a rural community who live in an isolated part of Kenya. The Ranch has set aside around 60 per cent of land for wildlife conservation, and this land is also used by the community to graze cattle but only in drought periods. The remainder of the ranch is used by members of the communities to live, cultivate, and graze cattle.

A deeply moving experience

Mostly men manage the Ranch while the women normally undertake income-generating activities making bead products for sale at the Il Ngwesi Lodge, as well as undertake household chores, fetching water and firewood.
Aoife was deeply moved by her visit to Kenya and commenting on the weeklong experience she said, “Some locals have said that VSO have given them knowledge and power because without knowledge they would have no power – that touched my heart”.

The Il Ngwesi project is an example of how VSO works to support disadvantaged communities and in particular women in rural areas.

While at the beginning of 2009 VSO saw a 40% drop in applications, now, in direct correlation to the increase in unemployment in Ireland, VSO’s Dublin office has had a surge in interest from people looking to work abroad. Every year VSO sends business people, teachers, nurses and doctors overseas to work on challenging work placements.

As levels of interest pick up, VSO hopes that those facing redundancy or unemployment will take this opportunity to share their skills with poor communities in developing countries. VSO volunteers have all their costs covered plus they receive standard accommodation and a local salary while working overseas. Most people dedicate two years to their volunteer placement, but some shorter-term jobs are available.

Professional VSO volunteers provide crucial support to education and health systems and community organisations working in areas such as human rights and income generation. VSO is encouraging people to escape the gloom and doom of the Irish economy, take up a two-year placement in an exciting new environment, and return to Ireland when the storm has settled.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, says:

“People living in developing countries are not just facing recession, they have been living in severe poverty for years, even while we experienced a boom. Now, as the global economy takes a downturn, they are the victims of a situation they did not create. We urge talented people with time on their hands to share their skills with VSO – it’s a career enhancing and life changing experience.”

Mark Henderson from Cork lost his job as a general manager in a leading pharmaceutical company last Summer and applied to VSO for a two year placement. Now he is working in Indonesia, experiencing a new culture, work environment and challenge. Of leaving Ireland he says:

“I worked for 15 years in the same company so being made redundant was initially a blow. But then I realised it was the perfect opportunity for me to do something completely different with my life, so I applied to VSO. Now I live in Indonesia and am delighted to be using my business skills positively and getting experience in international development. My costs are covered which puts me at ease. VSO is a professional organisation.”

VSO is tackling poverty in poor communities where people require strategic advice from talented professionals. Through empowerment, partnership and an exchange of learning, VSO strives to make a difference through long-term volunteering.

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand.

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.

VSO receives funding from Irish Aid so as to tackle the root causes of poverty through sustainable and meaningful development programmes.

Now our budget has been cut €305,000. What can you do to help us.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland says:

"Thanks to all of our returned volunteers and supporters who helped us put pressure on the government in advance of the mini-budget. Unfortunately we will have to abandon people in Southern Africa who depend on us due to the Irish government’s action.  But there’s more to be done!  Look out for upcoming campaign activity in the Summer in advance Budget 2010.  We can put VSO volunteering and sustainable development back into the minds of our government if we keep the pressure up."

To contact Malcolm or a member of the campaigns team email campaigns@vso.ie. To find out more about other NGO campaigns on the Irish ODA budget visit www.dochas.ie.

Since VSO first opened its Dublin office it has received 946 applications from people looking to make a difference and volunteer overseas. Out of these 946 applications, 57 per cent have been from women. This year VSO will send 34 volunteers abroad on 1-2 year placements, many of which are marketing managers, fundraisers, nurses and teachers – notably female dominated professions.

VSO volunteers work in local community grassroots organizations in Africa and Asia, many of which work directly with women, addressing their empowerment and opportunity in that society.

This year VSO has invited the Rose of Tralee, Aoife Kelly, to visit disability programmes in Kenya. A professional Occupational Therapist, Aoife knows what it is to give back to those in need. On her upcoming trip to Kenya, Aoife says:

“I’m passionate about traveling, seeing new places and ultimately, giving something back to those who really need it. I volunteered in South Africa and now have this fantastic opportunity to visit VSO disability programmes in Kenya, a country I’ve always wanted to see. I think that I’m naturally inclined to be interested in charity work, especially because of my chosen profession, occupational therapy. I would urge anyone looking for a challenge to volunteer with VSO.”

Speaking on VSO’s Irish women volunteers, Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, said:

“Many international studies have shown that women are more likely to volunteer in their local communities than men are. But volunteering overseas in a developing country requires good professional skills and self-assurance, so the women from Ireland that volunteer are generally impressive people! We also get plenty of men knocking on our door too, looking for an adventurous challenge. What matters most to us is delivering top quality volunteers to our partners overseas – we need more people to take the plunge, no matter what gender they are!”

VSO will have a stand at the International Women’s Day Conference at Croke Park on Thursday 5th of March, plus the UN Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in New York this week.

Colm is a 29-year-old marketing professional originally from Tramore, Co. Waterford, now living in Dublin. Having done a variety of marketing roles in both UK and Irish companies, Colm decided that a more modest life helping others was for him Set to depart in early March 2009, Colm will take up a challenging placement working as a Business Development Adviser in a HIV&AIDS organisation in Kenya.

Colm has been recruited and will be supported by VSO, Voluntary Service Overseas. The charity today announced that it has seen a 40% reduction in applications from Irish professionals looking to volunteer since the beginning of 2009. VSO wants to remind professionals that volunteering won’t affect their income or career prospects, as all costs are covered.

VSO urgently needs 50 Irish volunteers to work on development projects overseas but so far just 10 professionals have been placed since September. If levels of interest do not pick up jobs could be left unfilled and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world will suffer.

Enquiries from prospective volunteers in 2008 were down 25% on the previous 12 months, and last year 16 candidates withdrew their applications, sparking concern that the recession in Ireland is undermining people’s confidence to volunteer.

Marketing specialist Colm Halley has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“I am excited about living and working abroad with VSO, and confident that I will learn a lot from the experience. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your skills and getting experience in international development. My costs are covered which puts me at ease. It’s a professional organisation.”

Today Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, said:

“The current economic climate is a real concern for everyone and it’s natural that Irish people are worried about their job security. But people living in developing countries are not facing recession; they are already living in poverty that threatens their day-to-day livelihoods. VSO is a respected NGO that covers all volunteering costs, so the risk isn’t as big as people think.”

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.

VSO is encouraging people to escape the gloom and doom of the Irish economy, take up a two-year placement in an exciting new environment, and return to Ireland when the storm has settled

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.

Emma is a 36-year-old marketing professional originally from Rochestown in Cork Originally trained as a physiotherapist, Emma moved into marketing and brand management, working for a variety of companies throughout her career. But Emma has more recently decided that a modest life helping others was for her. Set to depart in early March 2009, Emma will take up a challenging placement working as a Marketing and Fundraising Adviser in the Kenya Society for the Blind.

Emma has been recruited and will be supported by VSO, Voluntary Service Overseas. The charity today announced that it has seen a 40% reduction in applications from Irish professionals looking to volunteer since the beginning of 2009. VSO wants to remind professionals that volunteering won’t affect their income or career prospects, as all costs are covered.

VSO urgently needs 50 Irish volunteers to work on development projects overseas but so far just 10 professionals have been placed since September. If levels of interest do not pick up jobs could be left unfilled and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world will suffer.

Enquiries from prospective volunteers in 2008 were down 25% on the previous 12 months, and last year 16 candidates withdrew their applications, sparking concern that the recession in Ireland is undermining people’s confidence to volunteer.

Emma has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“I am excited about living and working abroad with VSO, and confident that I will learn a lot from the experience. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your skills and getting experience in international development. My costs are covered which puts me at ease. It’s a professional organisation.”

Today Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, said:

“The current economic climate is a real concern for everyone and it’s natural that Irish people are worried about their job security. But people living in developing countries are not facing recession; they are already living in poverty that threatens their
day-to-day livelihoods. VSO is a respected NGO that covers all volunteering costs, so the risk isn’t as big as people think.”

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.
VSO is encouraging people to escape the gloom and doom of the Irish economy, take up a two-year placement in an exciting new environment, and return to Ireland when the storm has settled

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.

VSO urgently needs 50 Irish volunteers to work on development projects overseas but so far just 10 professionals have been placed since September. If levels of interest do not pick up jobs could be left unfilled and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world will suffer.

Enquiries from prospective volunteers in 2008 were down 25% on the previous 12 months, and last year 16 candidates withdrew their applications, sparking concern that the recession in Ireland is undermining people’s confidence to volunteer.

Professional VSO volunteers provide crucial support to education and health systems and community organisations working in areas such as human rights and income generation. VSO is encouraging people to escape the gloom and doom of the Irish economy, take up a two-year placement in an exciting new environment, and return to Ireland when the storm has settled.

Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, says:

“The current economic climate is a real concern for everyone and it’s natural that Irish professionals are worried about giving up their job security. But people living in developing countries are not facing recession; they are already living in poverty that threatens their livelihood. VSO is a respected NGO that designs excellent programmes and covers all volunteering costs, so the risk isn’t as big as people think.”

Dublin based marketing specialist Colm Halley, who is leaves for Kenya in March, has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:

“I am excited about living and working abroad with VSO, and confident that I will learn a lot from the experience. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your skills and getting experience in international development. My costs are covered which puts me at ease. It’s a professional organisation.”

VSO provides volunteers with flights, accommodation, training, insurance, medical support and an allowance to cover basic costs. Irish public sector professionals volunteering can apply for a Career Break to avail of time off to cover the 1-2 year period.

In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.

More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.

VSO promotes peace building initiatives and reconciliation in Sri Lanka where grassroots organisations are working tirelessly with local people trying to mitigate the impacts of war and conflict. Through volunteer placements and the current study tour to Northern Ireland VSO is hoping to promote positive interaction and learning.

Speaking about the Sri Lankan delegation visit Malcolm Quigley Director of VSO Ireland said, “There are unique parallels between the Northern Irish and Sri Lankan conflicts and significant opportunities to learn from the peace process in Northern Ireland and apply those lessons to Sri Lanka. VSO Ireland hopes that the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit to Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation and the various cross-community organizations in Northern Ireland fosters this learning”.