VSO provides teachers in critical shortage areas, particularly in maths and science, for rural disadvantaged secondary schools. VSO is also increasing placements in vocational and tertiary education, such as IT training, to enhance employment prospects for young people, women and girls. Volunteers include a communications and fundraising officer who is working with the national association of NGOs. In future, VSO plans to place volunteers with small groups of communal farmers in programmes which use natural resources for income generation, with a focus on crafts and community-based tourism. Zimbabwe s health service suffers from a lack of trained staff and of resources.
Volunteers train nurses and doctors in rural district hospitals and clinics and deliver health care.
VSO also supports institutional strengthening within the health sector, in areas like IT and financial administration. During 2001, VSO wants to get involved in a WHO malaria prevention programme, and placements to promote health education on issues such as safe water, sanitation and primary health care in urban high-density areas and in rural communities. VSO also plans to place volunteers in capacity-building roles with organisations working in this sector. Current placements include a marketing and PR adviser working with an AIDS prevention and support organisation, and a child therapy trainer working at a family counselling centre. The highs tend to outnumber the lows, and the beauty and thrills I experience from being in the African bush have compensated for all the trials, discomfort and frustrations.