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Deborah Torr

Keith Davies at Uhuru Peak, the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

Courageous Keith conquers Kilimanjaro

How 62-year-old Keith Davies achieved a long-held goal by trekking Africa’s highest mountain for VSO, overcoming huge challenges and personal tragedy on the way.

Teacher in Rwandan classroom for SSRR project May 2018

Getting children ready to start school in Rwanda

VSO is changing the future of education in Rwanda through helping prepare children for school, training teachers and classroom refurbishment.

Teachers and volunteers having a discussion about learning environments in Rwanda

From teacher to volunteer: What’s it like to volunteer abroad with VSO?

Two retired UK teachers decided to embark on a completely new challenge: Wendy is improving teaching standards in Rwanda, while Helen is making education more inclusive in Nepal.

Jane Stageman on the streets of Myanmar, campaigning during the Me Too movement

Misogyny and the media: Tackling gender inequality in Myanmar

Myanmar was shut off from the world for decades. Today, fledgling democracy is paving the way for campaigners – and VSO volunteers like Jane Stageman - to tackle inequality in this rapidly changing country.

Paul Myovelah, 23, is on a mission to clean up his home town of Iringa, Tanzania through various business ventures.

This entrepreneur is on a mission to clean up his town

Paul started his business by volunteering to clean his local hospital and streets for free. Since taking part in a VSO project, he now runs a successful garbage collection, cleaning and composting business.

Gwen Harris pictured here is a VSO volunteer who went to Myanmar. Here she is talking to the camera about the unexpected thing she learnt as a volunteer.

The unexpected thing I learnt as a VSO volunteer

Returned volunteers from the UK share some of the unexpected things they learned from their VSO experience, from the practical, to the bizarre, to the profound.

Sierra Leone slum, Kroo Bay, which is full of plastic waste and other rubbish.

The homes built on plastic: Life in a Sierra Leone slum

In Freetown, Sierra Leone, tens of thousands of people live with a sea of plastic waste on their doorstep. They're suffering disease, death and indignity. One volunteer is determined to make a stand on behalf of his community.

Mother and newborn practice kangaroo care in Ethiopia

The power of a mother’s touch

What if you could help your baby to grow and thrive, simply by holding it close to you? Read about the zero-cost technique saving lives around the world.

Alpha Kamara's house was destroyed during the 2017 mudslide.

The family that lost everything in Sierra Leone’s mudslide

Alpha Kamara shares his story of the mudslides and flooding that shook Sierra Leone to its core.

Never again: Sierra Leone’s devastating mudslide

One year on from the Sierra Leone mudslides and flooding, we examine how we help people recover.

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