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Youth volunteering > Examples of YfD placements

Education

Yayasan Santa Sesilia, Larantuka, Indonesia
Yayasan Santa Sesilia foundation delivers training workshops for primary school English teachers from the surrounding area of Larantuka. The project aims to develop teachers’ techniques and build a more participative, communicative, and effective approach to teaching. Our YfD volunteer assisted the staff in the planning and implementation of a number of successful workshops, and helped to develop active learning materials. Our volunteer supported newly trained teachers through follow-up visits and other outreach activities.

Ministry of Education, Madang, Papua New Guinea
In the provinces around Madang, VSO’s partners have identified the need for better learning opportunities at primary and secondary school levels. YfD volunteers conducted important research to identify how VSO can support this progression. The volunteers evaluated past VSO placements and worked with colleagues to highlight future interventions in the area of education. Our volunteers also assessed the preparation and support local communities were able to provide for their children, to prepare them for life after school.

HIV & AIDS

Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS Care Centre, Durban, South Africa
This organization operates a clinic for people living with HIV and AIDS and also runs a training centre for local communities. Our YfD volunteer supported local staff in assessing the needs of the patients attending the clinic. The assessment contributed to the development of an educational training programme, introducing the use of sport to motivate young people. Additionally, our volunteer worked on a collaborative project to design a children’s book. Using words and pictures from HIV positive children, the book detailed how the HIV virus works in the body.

SNNP HIV & AIDS Secretariat, Awassa Town, Ethiopia
Our YfD volunteer supported colleagues in the design of a school wide programme in peer prevention education. Initially, our volunteer participated in and conducted an in-depth investigation of the sexual reproductive health knowledge, social attitudes and practices of students in the area. Our volunteer delivered journalism training for various youth clubs, enabling the clubs to produce and distribute newsletters discussing issues affecting young people.

Health & Social Well Being

CAMBOKIDS, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
This non-government organisation works to support initiatives in mental health care for children affected by war. Focusing on life-skills training involving games and play activities, our volunteer concentrated on designing schemes to motivate children into taking an active part in their own personal development. Our YfD volunteer was also involved in writing proposals to secure long term funds and help local volunteers to improve their English language and computer skills.

Disability

National Commission on Disability, Georgetown, Guyana
The Commission was supported by a YfD volunteer who assisted colleagues in the design and development of advocacy programs that promoted and protected the rights of people with disabilities. Our YfD was involved in the piloting of a survey project that will generate crucial information about the nature of disability, participation and needs of people with a disability in Guyana.

Philippine Federation of the Deaf, Quezon City, Philippines
The Federation works to promote access to education, employment and social services for Deaf communities. Our volunteer was responsible for developing brochures and other promotional resources related to sexual health issues. The work also involved networking with HIV & AIDS agencies, facilitating workshops for deaf young people in the region and helping to establish a day care centre for Deaf children.

Secure Livelihoods

World Food Programme, Lilongwe, Malawi
The UN’s World Food Programme in Malawi focuses on school feeding and assistance to malnourished groups. In partnership with this program, our volunteer supported the monitoring of food and helped to support the evaluation of the impacts relating to the distribution of food supplies. Our YfD volunteer also provided support to local partners on the collation of data and monitoring techniques in relation to nutrition.

Mongolian Women’s Farmers Association, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
This association aims to alleviate poverty by improving small scale farming practices and production. Our YfD volunteer contributed to this work by assisting the staff develop basic business management skills and implement strategic planning. The volunteer also established links with other organisations to increase networks and to explore opportunities for sourcing long term funding to ensure the project can become a sustainable entity.

Participation & Governance

Gambian Association of the Deaf and Hard of hearing, Latrikunda Sabiji, Gambia
Our YfD volunteer encouraged more people to become members of the association that focuses on the development of Gambian sign language, as well as generating awareness of the issues surrounding the Deaf. Our volunteer participated in sensitization activities for Deaf and hearing communities, creating a Deaf club for young people. Additionally, our volunteer was involved in writing proposals for activities such as a youth centre magazine.

Green Hill, Rangamati, Bangladesh
Working with indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh our volunteer delivered assistance in the areas of water, sanitation, human rights and governance. Our YfD volunteer spent time in the field with colleagues to understand how rural communities collected water and what improvements were needed in sanitation. The volunteer was also involved in a project that developed information materials for communities and publicity materials for prospective donors.

Further information

If you would like any further information on our YfD programme please continue reading or e-mail mailto:enquiry@vso.org.uk?subject=Enquiry from Website or telephone us on +44 (0)20 8780 7500. Youth for Development
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