Volunteer Impact Awards 2024

It’s that magical time of year when we get to honour the inspirational work of VSO volunteers from around the globe.

From improving educational outcomes for adolescent girls in Mozambique, to setting up early learning centres for Afghan refugee children in Pakistan, to equipping young job seekers with marketable skills essential to enter the blue economy, or sustainable livelihoods sector - the awards celebrate the work of VSO volunteers in improving the lives of the most marginalised people in society. The awards will take place virtually on Zoom. 'Register your interest now.

Awais Nadar is a final-year Sociology student at GCU, Lahore, and a passionate advocate for children's rights and education. Actively volunteering with VSO under the ACTIVE programme, he launched a social action project focusing on safeguarding their rights and tackling child labour.

As a Digital Ambassador for VSO Pakistan, Awais uses digital platforms such as LinkedIn to raise awareness about these critical issues, engaging youth in conversations and actions that drive change. His work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to education and the opportunity to build a better future.

Gift Mwanza

Host

Gift holds a BA in Development Studies and Sociology and a MSc in Project Management. She joined VSO in 2022 as a Research Volunteer and from September 2022 to May 2024, she became a Social Accountability and Inclusion Advisor, supporting the Make Way project, helping the most marginalised groups realise their sexual and reproduce health and rights (SRHR). 

Gift is passionate about promoting the agency and voice of young people, to enable them to advocate on matters that affect them, especially when it comes to assessing SRHR services. 

Gift joined VSO as a project officer in 2024 supporting the ACTIVE  programme, Make Way, and South Africa Network of Prisons (SANOP) project in Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini. 

Melba Pyne

Speaker

Melba is an education specialist with experience in the field of leadership and management and extensive understanding of the further, higher and vocational education sectors in the UK. Her career has taken her to South America, Asia and Africa, representing national and international organisations widely recognised for leading on reform, systemic improvement and the recognition of globally transferable skills.

She has been part of innovative projects with a focus on social, environmental, and economic impact. As a coach and mentor, her role has been to support and encourage individuals pursuing personal and collective professional goals.

Volunteering is Melba's passion and a lifelong interest. She's volunteered twice with VSO, in China and Rwanda, and currently, volunteers for the Cheltenham Festivals, and remotely for United World Colleges.

Learn more about Melba

Lawrence Ochieng

Performer

Lawrence Ochieng, also known in the music industry as Larry Dwayne, is a hip-hop artist, climate and human rights activist, and community volunteer with VSO on the From Waste to Work project.

Lawrence was born and raised in Kenya. He uses his music to create awareness about the degraded state of the environment and the importance of conservation for a better, sustainable future.

Zainab Iqbal

Speaker - Education Adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, British High Commission

Zainab Iqbal is an education policy practitioner with 9 years of experience in the development space in Pakistan. Zainab joined Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) early last year, and is primarily looking at the GOAL programme, working towards more inclusive provincial education systems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

Her experience includes education advocacy and campaigning with Alif Ailaan (a national campaigner for education), Fellows and Alumni development at Teach For Pakistan, and communications/policy engagement working with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), Malala Fund, and Pak Alliance for Maths and Science (PAMS).

Zainab completed her education in policy and development from McGill University and University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), including projects in Barbados and Sierra Leone.

Lamia Tasnim

Speaker

Lamia Tasnim is a graduate student from Rajshahi College, Bangladesh, and a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, education, and social justice. Actively volunteering with VSO Bangladesh, she has contributed to impactful environmental initiatives such as community clean-ups and tree-planting campaigns.

Leveraging digital platforms, Lamia raises awareness about sustainable living and the importance of reducing carbon footprints. Her work also addresses critical issues like education, child marriage, and gender-based violence, demonstrating her commitment to creating a safer, more equitable world. Dedicated to storytelling and advocacy, Lamia aims to inspire meaningful and lasting change.