A brighter future: the volunteers helping girls stay in school

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Despite Nepal making significant strides in education, there are many children who are still being left behind, unable to get the schooling they deserve.

However, VSO volunteers, also referred to as "Big Sisters," like Nirmala, are helping to ensure children have the best start in life by highlighting the importance of education to parents.

Nirmala's story

Hear from our inspiring volunteer Nirmala, who is working with the Dalit community. The Dalit community in particular, experiences systematic and widespread caste-based discrimination in Nepal. However, thanks to your support, Nirmala is ensuring that Dalit children are not forgotten about.

Watch an inspiring video about Srijana's work

Creating inclusive education spaces in Nepal

The SIKAI project ('sikai' meaning 'learning' in Nepali) aims to help 7,200 students to transition to secondary education through increasing parental support for education and improving learning outcomes in schools.

The SIKAI project

Gati supports her mentee Evalyne through any challenges she is facing and with her studies.

Support us with a donation

Paul Wambugu

£10 a month could help a VSO volunteer to coach a teacher in how to make lessons inclusive so that vulnerable children have the opportunity to learn.

17-year-old Student Celine, inside an education catch-up centre in southwest Kenya.

VSO/Paul Wambugu

£15 a month could enable volunteers to challenge gender inequality and raise awareness of the dangers of child marriage within their community.

Rohingya children in refugee camp classroom

£25 a month could help provide safe spaces for refugee children to learn, play and reclaim a sense of childhood.

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£25

£25 could supply an education kit containing a school bag, books, pencils, pens and erasers, so children are equipped to learn. 

Dhanmati, volunteer big sister with her little sister

£50 could help match a VSO volunteer with a girl who has been forced out of school to help her gain life-changing skills.

Suraj Shakya

£100 could help provide a wheelchair or prosthesis to a disabled girl so that she can access the classroom and be able to get an education.

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£50

£100

The year 2024 in photos and the stories behind them

Here we share some of VSO’s iconic imagery over the past year that capture the resilience and determination of the communities and volunteers we support. It’s also an opportunity to pay tribute to some of the people behind the lens who have helped bring their stories to light.

'Here's to every volunteer' - an inspiring song from volunteer and artist Larry Dwayne

Known in the music industry as Larry Dwayne, Lawrence Ochieng is a Kenyan volunteer, hip-hop artist, and activist who uses his platform to raise awareness about climate change. Listen to his original song, 'Volunteer'.

Dev accepting his Active Citizenship Award

Meet the 2024 Volunteer Impact Award winners

Our annual Volunteer Impact Awards celebrates the incredible impact made by VSO volunteers across the world. Learn more about our four 2024 winners.