Voluntary Services Overseas

[Orangekitty]

I am considering joing the youth VSO. I am 25 and will have just finished a law degree in May so am at a bit of a crossroads. I want to do this because I think it will be rewarding. Does anybody else have any experience of this sort of thing? Did you find it enriched your life or does anybody feel that it is a bad idea, or have a bad experience on this sort of scheme. I would love to hear any stories to help me make up my mind on whether to apply.

[Octavius]

I worked in Karachi, Pakistan for a bit, but not through the VSO itself, it was an independant org.  I was looking after disabled and handicapped children in an orphanage and negotiating with local firms to donate provisions, of which Reckitt & Coleman was one who provided basic medicine and first aid.  We also managed to get a free washing machine from a local firm!

 

It was very hard work, and the conditions were harsh, but nevertheless rewarding.  However, a couple of years after returning to the UK, I went for a job interview for a group of small minded arrogant wotsits, who said that they thought I was very experienced in my field, but because I had done 'voluntary' or 'charitable' work, that I didn't have enough of a commercial edge.  One of the partners at the firm refused to interview me for that very reason.  Needless to say, I walked out of their office immediately and haven't looked back since.  Good luck. 

[Orangekitty]

That sounds brilliant. Well done you for walking out. I am unbothered by that sort of criticism since a commercial edge is low on my wish list. Do you know the names of any organisations other than the VSO facilitate this sort of work?  

[Octavius]

As this site says, it can be very demanding physically & mentally...

http://www.youthinformation.com/infopage.asp?snID=649

List of orgs on there.  Hope it helps.

 

[Solarjunkie]

There is an alternative you may not have heard of - Community Service Volunteers or CSV. Residential voluntary work in UK. A great thing to do, really teaches you a lot about yourself to name but one thing.

www.csv.org.uk

 

[Octavius]

Yes, they are looking for volunteers for a few days over Christmas.

 

Every year CRISIS sets up shelters for homeless people to stay in over the Christmas week. And every year CSV volunteers help to set them up as part of their GO London programme. This year it's going to be on Sunday 12th and Saturday 18th December, 11am - 4pm.

These events DO NOT involve running the shelters once guests arrive. This is just about getting the venues ready before the guests arrive, and involve pretty unglamorous work like unloading lorries, painting, wiring (if you are good at that sort of thing), setting up beds, shifting things and cleaning.

 

See here for further details...

 http://www.csv.org.uk/csv/Templates/CSVGenericTemplate.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fVolunteer%2fPart-time%2fGO%2fGO%2bLondon%2ehtm&NRNODEGUID=%7b3E558FD5-D79F-4BB4-86CB-E77AE7E5E321%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#Calendar