Blog

Volunteer trained by Uzoamaka Onyinye Didigwu teaching in the classroom.
Uzoamaka Onyinye Didigwu

My volunteer journey: Uzoamaka Onyinye Didigwu

From the classroom to national television, Nigerian volunteer Uzoamaka is making sure people with disabilities are not forgotten.

Three people sitting on floor.
Vidheha Ranjan

Voices for Justice: three changemakers stand up against gender-based violence

Three stories of people confronting gender-based violence in Nepal. With illustration by eight-year-old artist and photographer Vidheha Ranjan from Kathmandu, Nepal.

Princess Anne at the VSO legacies event
Adam Gault

In photos: Our legacy event hosted by our Royal Patron, HRH Princess Anne

In December, VSO hosted a legacy event at Apothecaries Hall with our Royal Patron, HRH Princess Anne. Check out some of our photos from the event.

Children using tablet computers in a Malawi classroom | VSO
©VSO/Amos Gumulira

“Be ready to meet new people and build communities, gain knowledge and a sense of purpose.”

Hear from Lameck Dition Sandram from Malawi, who volunteered in Sierra Leone where he worked on VSO’s Unlocking Talent (UT) project, applying his 25 years of experience in education to train staff and collect real-time project implementation data. 

Primary actors working on the farm

2022: The year in review

As we move into 2023, let’s have a look back to 2022. Despite, the soaring cost of living, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and a series of climate disasters that defined 2022, VSO supporters and volunteers continued to support our work in the face of adversity.

Leteipa the King

'They Were There' - A song dedicated to volunteers

Dedicated to all our incredible volunteers past and present, Leteipa the King performed his song 'They Were There' at the 2022 VSO Volunteers Impact Awards. Watch the music video here!

Kenya farming youth group
Paul Wambugu/Obscuramedia

Celebrating Active Citizenship - 2022 Volunteer Impact Award Winners

On Thursday 8 December 2022, VSO hosted its annual Volunteer Impact Awards, celebrating the exceptional contribution of volunteers from around the world. If you missed the ceremony yourself, we’ll be rounding up our 2022 winners in this blog!

Close up of christmas decoration
Gary Spears

Christmas around the world

With Christmas on our doorsteps, millions of people around the world are gearing up to celebrate the festive season. Here we discover how no two countries do Christmas the same with a mini round-up of some of the coolest and quirkiest traditions in places where VSO works.

Nkonge selling fruit at his stall

Sewing the seams of inclusion and other stories of hope

Three inspiring stories of hope that demonstrate how VSO’s resilient livelihoods programming is changing the lives of people with disabilities for the better.

Farmers working in Kenya

In photos: The power of volunteering

As the year draws to a close, we want to highlight all the amazing work and achievements of VSO volunteers this year.

Community garden
Paul Wambugu/Obscuramedia

Notes from the field: The female farmers cultivating for empowerment

Thematic Partnership Lead-Resilient Livelihoods, Vladymir Rivera, recounts his experience of visiting our agroecology project in Siaya, Kenya sharing his notes from the field.

A national volunteer, gives training about legal rights of women in Zimbabwe.
Columbus Mavhunga

“For me, social work is not just a career, it’s a calling”

Hear from Tugwell, a Social Accountability Advisor under the Speak It Loud project in Zimbabwe. He's using his 16 years’ experience as a social worker to help end violence against women.