Global Xchange seeks young volunteers to work overseas
(14th January 2008)
Global Xchange is looking for people aged 18-25 to embark on a unique challenge. This is an opportunity to spend six months living and working with people of a similar age but from a very different culture. It’s a chance to meet and make lasting friendships as well as to learn about yourself. Just as importantly, it’s a chance to make a difference both overseas and in the UK.
On Global Xchange, volunteers join a team of nine from the UK who are paired with another team from a partner country. Each group of 18 volunteers then starts a six month programme of work on community projects in the UK and the partner country. Volunteers are all given a counterpart to work with from the other group and also live with local families. This year, xchanges include: Glasgow – Syria; Stansted – Indonesia; Newham – Philippines; Northern Ireland – Kenya; Luton – Egypt; Manchester – Malawi; and South Wales – South Africa.
This makes Global Xchange an exciting opportunity to live in another culture overseas and in the UK, and contribute to a worthwhile cause. What’s more, volunteers have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while enjoying a very different kind of gap year. It won’t cost anything although Global Xchange helps each volunteer to fundraise £600.
A new Global Xchange starts twice each year in March and September. Marion O’Donnell, Global Xchange manager, said: “Applications can now be made for the September 2008 programme and must be submitted by 19th March. To apply, you need to be aged 18-25 and although you do not need to have any specific skills or qualifications you will need to be enthusiastic and committed to the programme.”
Global Xchange is a partnership between international development charity VSO and the British Council which is jointly funded by the BAA Communities Trust and the charity v, which aims to recruit more young volunteers to good causes. For further information on Global Xchange, and to apply, please visit the website at www.globalxchange.org.uk or phone 020 8780 7500.
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For more press information please contact Abigail Fulbrook in the VSO Press Office by email abigail.fulbrook@vso.org.uk or phone 020 8780 7410.
Notes
Global Xchange aims to deliver international volunteer exchanges that develop and inspire active global citizens. For further information on Global Xchange please visit www.globalxchange.org.uk
Global Xchange is a partnership between international development charity VSO and the British Council. Four of the exchanges are jointly funded by the BAA Communities Trust and youth volunteering charity v, with the shared aim of inspiring more young people to volunteer.
VSO has been involved in similar exchange programmes since 1999 and in this time has sent over 1,000 young people from across 14 countries on over 70 exchanges. www.vso.org.uk
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements. We operate in 110 countries and territories across the world. www.britishcouncil.org.uk
BAA Communities Trust was established 10 years ago by BAA. Since then it has made grants of nearly £4 million for projects in the communities local to the company’s seven UK airports, including Gatwick, to support charitable initiatives by staff and to global projects linked to youth development.
v is the youth volunteering charity launched in May 2006 whose mission is to inspire a new generation of young volunteers in England aged 16-25. v is supported by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office. For more information visit www.wearev.com. v works with and builds upon the current voluntary sector infrastructure, funds the creation of volunteering opportunities through grants rounds and implements programmes to create awareness and positive understanding of volunteering for young people.