We use the skills and experience of our volunteers to help tackle poverty in the developing world. Founded in 1958, VSO is now the largest organisation of its kind worldwide and has 2000 volunteers working overseas. We are constantly adapting our programmes to meet new challenges and opportunities. VSO sends qualified and experienced volunteers to work alongside communities in 74 of the world's poorest countries. We focus on sustainable development rather than short-term disaster relief.
Volunteers work overseas for two years on a local salary.
They share skills and knowledge with local people to ensure their work continues in the community after they have left. Volunteers are aged between 21 and 68 and come from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities. A Two-way Process VSO is open to professional people from many different occupations. Of course, every volunteer shares the VSO aim to improve lives in the developing world, but everyone in their own particular way wants to gain something, whether personally or professionally, from the experience. And they do.