Our work Volunteering Get involved About Search Our work We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. Areas of work Inclusive education Making sure everyone gets the skills they need to live a fulfilled, dignified life. Over the past five years we have supported almost 3,500,000 children to access the quality education they deserve. Healthy communities Improving health services for all and empowering the most marginalised to exercise their right to quality care. Over the past five years we have helped over 3,600,000 people access better healthcare. ©VSO/Onye Ubanatu Resilient livelihoods Ensuring people have the skills and opportunities needed to support themselves and their families. 770,000 people have benefited from our work supporting livelihoods over the past five years. Examples of our work All Education Health Livelihoods Keyboard shortcuts Map data ©2021 Terms of Use How we work Volunteering for development At VSO, we know that people in developing countries have the power, courage and desire to help themselves. That’s why we use a volunteering for development approach that puts the most marginalised people first. Volunteering for development approach Our core approaches Across all our programmes we focus on building communities that are resilient, inclusive and accountable. Our three 'core approaches' - social inclusion and gender, resilience, and social inclusion and accountability - are fundamental to our volunteering for development approach, ensuring that the people we work with have the capacity to bring about change in their own lives. Our core approaches Working in partnership We believe progress is only possible when we work together. Partnerships lie at the root of all the positive change we create. Together, we work on programme development and delivery, research, fundraising and influencing decision-makers. We work with: 500+ local organisations in 23 countries; governments at all levels; funders, academic institutions and advocacy platforms; corporate partners. Partnering with VSO Research and evaluation VSO/Suraj Ratna Shakya Evaluating our work is essential. We carry out systematic assessments of all projects, programmes and policies. Research plays a critical role in helping us understand and improve our work reducing poverty. Research and evaluations Influencing and advocacy VSO/Peter Caton We influence policy at national, regional and international levels. We connect decision makers to the experiences of our volunteers, partners and marginalised people. Our work around the world, amplifying the voices of the poorest, is making change happen. Influencing and advocacy Latest insights © Georgie Scott/VSO Volunteering together: Do we really know how it works? by Matt Baillie Smith, Inge Boudewijn, Owen Boyle, Bianca Fadel, Philip Gibby, Katy Jenkins VSO’s collaboration with the research team from Northumbria University sets out to interrogate how a blend of different types of volunteering approaches might create an impact. VSO/Omar Havana Nothing about us, without us by Sosina Yirga Meheretu, Anne Kahuria How youth platforms lead to more inclusive pandemic responses. VSO/Prakash Mathema When school stops, learning must not by Purna Shrestha, Jay Lal Teaching the most marginalised. View all insights Blog Careers Media centre Contact us Keep in Touch +44 (0)20 8780 7500 enquiry@vsoint.org Stay Updated Sign up to our newsletter Voluntary Service Overseas is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales registered number 703509 Registered Office 100 London Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6QJ Charity Registration 313757 (England and Wales). Copyright © 2010 - 2021 VSO unless otherwise stated. Data protection and privacy Cookies Modern Slavery Statement We use cookies to improve our site By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. More info Accept