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Media releases > New Year, same old you?
VSO’s World Youth Global Xchange could be the answer you’re looking for
(17 December 2004)
Would you like to shake up your life in 2005? Want to try living in a developing country, working with people from a different culture or contributing to community work? If so, VSO’s World Youth Global Xchange could be for you.
World Youth Global Xchange is an exchange programme for 18-25 year olds. Participants from the UK are paired-up with a counterpart from a developing country. Together they make a practical contribution to communities and share their skills and knowledge.
Teams of 18, nine from the UK and nine from a developing country, live together for three months in the UK. They then move to the developing country for three months. Participants work on community projects such as refugee mentoring programmes, environmental regeneration, at centres for people with multiple disabilities, with independent living schemes for people with learning disabilities, and at youth and children’s projects.
Marion Williams, the World Youth Global Xchange Programme Manager at VSO says:
Global Xchange is a great way for young people to learn more about how other people live—and about themselves. Participants will gain experience and skills that will enhance their employability, and do work which is of practical value to people in the UK and a developing country. Most of all they will develop skills, knowledge and attitudes which will enable them to play a positive role in their own society.
Shah Ali from Birmingham took part in a Global Xchange between Blackburn and Indonesia:
Though we were constantly busy, I did have time to myself to reflect and realise what I wanted in life. What’s really nice to know now is the impact Global Xchange has had, not just on myself but the communities I have been in. In August a Panorama TV programme featured students I had taught during interactive Global Education Lessons in Blackburn College. They spoke about problems and solutions between communities and how we all have to make small steps. A year on, I hear from friends I have made throughout the UK and Indonesia and how their lives have changed.
Global Xchange is funded by the British Council and run in partnership with CSV. The next five Global Xchanges are taking place between Glasgow and Nigeria, Bristol and Indonesia, Bradford and Uzbekistan, Blaenavon in South Wales and Kazakhstan, and Luton and the Philippines.
World Youth is recruiting now for Global Xchanges starting February and September 2005, and 2006. For more information and to apply visit www.vso.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 8780 7500.
Editors' notes
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