VSO: International Citizen Service
Each VSO ICS programme is designed to bring about lasting change for poor communities and, as an ICS
volunteer with VSO, you will get the opportunity to contribute directly to this change. Our ICS placements have been designed to complement the development work of our VSO country programme. All the countries we send ICS volunteers to have specifically requested to be involved as they recognize the unique contribution young people can make to the development goals of the VSO partners in that country.
You will work, together with in country volunteers, on a range of issues including HIV&AIDS, education, youth leadership, access to health care and climate change. Your work will involve activities such as educating other young people, helping set up youth clubs to involve young people in the community, conducting research into health service access, and creating campaigns for change.
If we can, we try and match your placement to your interests, but to ensure you make an impact, our placements are designed around what the community needs, rather than our volunteers' preferences. Whatever you do you’ll come away with a new awareness of different cultures, develop valuable skills and have an opportunity to make a practical contribution where it’s needed most.
As well as your work placements your team will organize and take part in community action days. You’ll work together alongside the community to address specific issues from litter picking to sexual health, hand washing to computer skills. The community action days are designed to allow your team to have an impact on the community outside the direct daily work of your placement.
