We challenge young people from the developing world and young people from the developed world to live and work together in rural communities in Africa and Asia. Sharing knowledge, experience and ideas, they achieve much more than either group could alone. SPW believes in partnership at all levels. Whether village groups, NGOs, government Ministries, the private sector or the multi-lateral agencies, SPW forges links that ensure that all our work is appropriate and sustainable. More importantly, through collaboration SPW volunteers are able to act as that important bond between the often-isolated work carried out by these different sectors.
Volunteers work with community members to identify the issues and problems.
In this way those identified are relevant to the community, not the volunteer. SPW teaches various techniques for interpreting the needs of communities techniques that draw information from members of the community with minimal input or influence from the outsider. Language training is also important. And of course half of the volunteers are from the countries where SPW works. They are better able to understand the subtleties and needs of the local community.