VSO - Promoting volunteering to fight global poverty and disadvantage

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers

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DfID
We greatly value our strategic relationship with the UK Department for International Development.

VSO is the world’s leading independent, international development charity that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, says "VSO is a model part of what we have come to know as civil society."

 Spotlight on...

Independent Christmas Appeal 2008The Independent Christmas Appeal

We’re really excited to announce that The Independent newspaper has chosen us as one of their Christmas Appeal charities for 2008. So if you’re a fan of the Guardian or loyal to The Times, consider switching your allegiance for the next month! You’ll be rewarded with inspiring stories that show volunteering as its most effective - stories that demonstrate the difference VSO is making in the world’s poorest countries.

Every time The Independent publishes a new VSO story, we’ll publish a new link that will relate to that story. So keep coming back to this page over the festive season!

Donate to VSO
The latest stories from The Independent
Find out more about Paul Williams in Uganda


 Postcard from...

Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Laikim yu nating tru! That's something you might hear daily if you take the time to learn a little Pidgin before arriving in Papua New Guinea. Get the low down on the language, flick through our fantastic PNG gallery (images courtesy of VSO volunteers) and find out how Youth for Development volunteer Laura Carse challenged attitudes towards disability with the help of a bamboo band and a local pop star...

Fabulous images from volunteers
Talk the tok
Laura Carse’s story
More about our work in Papua New Guinea

Population: 6.3 million | Capital city: Port Moresby | GDP per capita: $2,563 | HDI ranking: 145 | Life expectancy: 58


 What's new...

VSO Change-a-Life Draw 2009
Every ticket bought or sold will help VSO make a difference to some of the poorest communities in the world!

Raffle page

 

The UK Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, has written to VSO supporters.
Dear VSO supporters

I’d like to send this short notice of sincere thanks for the hard work you have done over the past year. I have huge admiration for people who have turned compassion for the billions of children, women and men who live abject poverty in developing countries, into practical support for changing those lives...

Read the full letter here.

 

VSO Christmas concert - rasied £30,000
A big thank you to all our supporters who joined us for our Christmas concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 11 December. The concert has raised £30,000 for our education work around the world. Special thanks to George Alagiah and Sue Rogers, who read pieces by Maya Angelou and TS Eliot, and to our sponsor, NASUWT.

 

Stars of Africa - raised just short of £600,000!
Thank you to everyone who came and supported VSO's grand finale for our 50th anniversary - 'Stars of Africa' at the Royal Albert Hall. This was a fantastic event that raised just short of £600,000 for VSO's education work in Africa - a really significant amount in difficult fundraising times. Much of this income was due to the support from our generous sponsors: The StratREAL Foundation, Tullow Oil, DHL Express, NASUWT, De Beers and Old Mutual, from a hard-working committee who helped to organise the dinner following the concert, and due to having a sold out show.

Read more about the fundraising success
Read a review of the concert
View our photo gallery of this fantastic event

 

International Volunteers Day - A Big VSO Thank You
December the 5th was International Volunteers Day, VSO would like to say a massive thanks to all of our volunteers, past, present and future.

Hear about VSO volunteers' achievements on Radio 4's 'In Living Memory'

 

Help Women Help The World
Women are the world’s greatest untapped resource for development. Healthy, educated, empowered women generate money for their communities and bring up children who survive and thrive. But discrimination still holds back millions of women from fulfilling their potential.

Join our campaign to help women

 

Christmas around the globe
Bored of bargain bin Brussel sprouts? Tired of twenty percent off turkey? Fed up with festive freebies? Escape the gloom and doom of the credit crunch Christmas and find out how VSO volunteers in Africa and Asia celebrate their 25th Decembers!

A cracking Cambodian Christmas
Seasonal stories from around the world

 

BUPA London 10,000 - 25 May 2009
This new event will boast an array of elite, club and charity runners. Beginning in St. James's Park, the exciting route takes runners through some of London's most famous and beautiful sights including Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and The London Eye. Buckingham Palace acts as the backdrop to the start and finish.

Join the VSO team and sign-up now - places limited


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