VSO Blogs

Celebrating Active Citizenship - 2022 Volunteer Impact Award Winners

An Ode to our Volunteers

COI Bishops Appeal and VSO in Mozambique

The Church of Ireland Bishop's Appeal have supported a VSO project in Mozambique to help reduce the numbers of marginalised women engaging in sex-work by providing training in alternative forms of employment.

"The single greatest experience of my life"

Ruairi O’Hehir from Dublin describes a typical day volunteering as an Education Management Adviser in Rwanda.

Massive rewards on placement in Sierra Leone

"In low-resource settings, it’s possible to make a big impact quickly."

Five minutes with... Jennifer Ryan, Human Resources Adviser, India

Limerick girl Jennifer Ryan, who is currently working as a VSO volunteer in India, chats about her placement as a human resources adviser in Orissa.

A new sense of what's important in life

A typical day in the life of IT specialist Mark Kelly from Dublin who is currently volunteering with VSO Ireland in Ethiopia.

Volunteering - an anti-aging exercise

Mary was a retired primary teacher and found new adventures volunteering overseas with VSO. Here Mary reflects on her time away.

A day in the life of Marie Banaghan, VSO Volunteer

"In Ireland, we tend to associate Africa with famine, disease and war, but there is another reality here. There is an overwhelming sense of kinship, community and loyalty, and people are quick to laugh and smile."

Giving something back in retirement

When early marriage and family put limits on her travels, Mary Duggan put volunteering on the back burner – until she decided to retire. Here she tells us her story.

Three months on...

Adrienne Harrington from Dublin speaks about her first three months as a VSO volunteer, and the challenges and rewards to date.

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