How VSO ICS Works: Who Else Will Be There?
"My Indonesian counterpart turned out to be the most amazing, puzzling and wacky friend I have ever had It took me six months to appreciate this, though. Along the way I thought she was unreasonable, difficult and at times very bizarre. Now I can't think of her without smiling."
You will be working with a group of other young volunteers, made up of people from the UK and from the overseas country that you’re based in. You’ll also work with all kinds of people and organisations in the local community and have support of the the VSO programme office staff and sometimes the long term VSO volunteers.
Groups sizes will vary in size but you'll never be the only UK volunteer in the area. In most countries you'll work in groups of 5 to 10 UK volunteers and the same number from the host country. Some countries have UK volunteers working in slightly smaller groups with support from VSO programme offices and long term VSO volunteers as well as local young people.
You may be teamed up with one local volunteer in what we call a "counterpart pair", like Rachel was from the quote, or you may find there is a more of a network of national volunteers working alongside you. The national volunteers are crucial to the programme, as they will share invaluable knowledge about how best to get things done, help to ensure the work you do together in the community is sustainable as well as helping you get used to the country, customs and language.
Through living and working with people in a different culture, you will learn a lot about the community that you are based in.
