Parliamentarians volunteer their professional skills to tackle global poverty with VSO
24/07/2009 11:11:00
This summer six parliamentarians will be using part of their summer recess to help tackle global poverty by participating in VSO’s Parliamentarian Volunteering Scheme. VSO is an international development charity that works through professional volunteers. VSO is supporting the MPs to use their advocacy, lobbying, and policy-making skills to help tackle poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Parliamentarians will each spend two to three weeks overseas helping to advise community organisations on matters relating to advocacy and campaigning. The scheme, which is now in its second year, not only supports VSO’s partner organisations by providing them with skilled volunteers, but increases the MPs’ awareness and knowledge of global poverty issues such as HIV and AIDS, disability discrimination and poor health systems.
Tony Baldry, Conservative MP for Banbury, is volunteering for the second time with the Dalit Welfare Organisation in Nepal. The Dalits are the lowest in Nepal’s traditional caste system but in the recent elections many achieved positions of responsibility for the first time. Mr Baldry will be working with Dalit MPs to participate in drafting Nepal’s new constitution. He says:
“For almost all of these Dalit MPs, this is the first time that they have actively been involved in Parliament and actively involved in drafting a constitution, and it is a great privilege to be able to help them in that work. I am grateful that VSO is enabling me to put such experience as I have acquired over the years in Parliament and in the past as a UK Government Minister, to help fellow Parliamentarians in Nepal and my work in Nepal also helps me better understand the challenges that some of the poorest people in the world have to face and deal with daily.”
The full list of participants is as follows:
- Tony Baldry – Conservative, Banbury – departs 2nd August
- Following a productive and stimulating placement in Nepal with VSO last year, Tony will be returning to continue the work he started with the Dalit Welfare Organisation. Dalits have historically suffered much discrimination due to the caste system in Nepal. This summer, Tony will input on a strategic plan and joint advocacy initiative for the Dalit Consortium.
- Roger Gale – Conservative, North Thanet – departs 23rd September
- Those with disabilities are among the poorest and most vulnerable in Ghana. Roger will provide a range of support for Ghana Federation for the Disabled (GFD) as they continue lobbying for strong disability laws. Among other tasks, he will design an advocacy training skills workshop for grassroots organisations.
- Sharon Hodgson – Labour, Gateshead East and Washington West – departs 5th September
- Disability Action Council (DAC) in Cambodia campaigns for the rights of people with disabilities. Sharon will support DAC’s advocacy work on disability policy and help to increase dialogue with ministries about the implementation of disability law. She will share techniques for good practice regarding the role of MPs in promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities, particularly around the provision of education.
- Baroness Jay of Paddington – Labour – departs 28th September
- As the number of people affected by HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa continues to grow VSO RAISA is pushing for change by developing strong links with the Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentarian Forum. Baroness Jay will run a workshop for Parliamentarians from six countries during which they will develop advocacy strategies for reducing the burden of HIV & AIDS care on women and girls.
- Andy Love – Labour/Co-op, Edmonton – departs 1st August
- Babessi is one of the most disadvantaged communities in Cameroon, and participation in local decision-making processes is poor. The Council of Babessi recently took on greater responsibilities following a decentralisation of power. Andy will help the Council to excel in how it listens and responds to the concerns of disadvantaged groups with respect to basic service provision.
- John Mann – Labour, Bassetlaw – 28th July
- Mongolia’s health system has struggled to cope since the country moved away from Communism nearly 20 years ago. John’s role as a Management Adviser will help the Ulaanbaatar City Health Authority identify areas for improvement and assist them in developing an advocacy strategy for their priority issues.
VSO covers the costs of flights, accommodation, and health insurance for all volunteers. Parliamentarians will receive the standard VSO volunteer allowance, which is a modest amount to cover daily needs. This differs by country but is generally around £25-50 per week.
Editor's notes
For further information or to request an interview with a participating parliamentarian or a VSO spokesperson please contact Catherine Raynor, VSO Head of Media and Information on 020 8780 7343/ 07734 863987 or via catherine.raynor@vso.org.uk
- VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Since 1958 over 44,000 volunteers have worked in over 120 countries. Today there are over 1600 international volunteers working in 42 countries around the world.
- MPs who participated last year include Hilary Armstrong – Labour, north west Durham; Tony Baldry – Conservative, north Oxfordshire; Jim Fitzpatrick – Labour, Poplar and Canning Town; Julia Goldsworthy – Lib Dem, Falmouth and Camborne; Keith Hill – Labour, Streatham; Sadiq Khan – Labour, Tooting; Susan Kramer – Lib Dem, Richmond Park; Angus MacNeil – SNP, Western Isles; Laura Moffat – Labour, Crawley; Sarah Teather – Lib Dem, Brent East; and Jenny Willott – Lib Dem, Cardiff Central
- VSO needs to raise £10million each year in the UK in order to continue its vital work: working through volunteers to fight poverty in some of the world's poorest communities.
- VSO recruits volunteers from a wide range of professional backgrounds. The strongest need is for experienced managers, professionals with experience of working in primary education, and doctors and midwives. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.
- Meet VSO events give people the opportunity to chat with VSO staff and returned volunteers about the volunteer experience. To find out more visit www.vso.org.uk/events
