Youth for Development
Youth for Development (YfD) is a one-year overseas programme that provides an opportunity for you to work with VSO’s partners in any one of over 40 countries. If you’re aged between 18-25 years old and you have at least one year's paid or voluntary work experience in the skills that we need, you can apply for a place on the programme. We offer a range of Youth for Development roles across many professional skill areas including education, business & IT, communications & fundraising, community & social development, and HIV/AIDS.
YfD is a valuable experience for those interested in overseas development work, the promotion of international understanding and supporting VSO's development goals.
If you don't have a year's experience, then you can still volunteer with us on our Global Xchange youth programme that doesn't require any previous experience.
Reasons for doing YfD
In joining the fight against global poverty you'll get the opportunity to:
spend 12 months living and working with VSO partners in any one of the 44 countries where we work
take ownership of the process by telling us where your strengths lie and letting us know how you would like the programme to contribute to your professional and personal development
complete a Global Action project that will increase understanding of global issues, challenge stereotypes, and promote international understanding. The project begins in the UK, continues whilst overseas, and is completed upon return to the UK.
fundraise £900 with the support of our Fundraising team – giving you a really good reason to tell your friends about what you're doing
have the experience of a lifetime if you are up for the challenge!
In return we will:
pay for your training, visas, travel, medical checks, injections, accommodation
give you training and support to make sure you are fully prepared for your placement
provide you with a modest living allowance while you are on your placement
match you to a placement based on your skills and experience
help you to identify and achieve your personal development goals as far as possible
provide support when you return to the UK to help you to acclimatise, to provide career guidance and to explain the many opportunities there are for you to continue to work with VSO to fight poverty and disadvantage.
You could be volunteering in one of the many countries we work in. Find out more about where we work.
Example placements
Regional Information Technology Trainers (3 posts)
The Gambia
The Department of State for Basic & Secondary Education in The Gambia has been developing an IT-based Education Management Information System (EMIS). With the move to decentralise education management, the department has decided to rollout the EMIS programme to all regional offices
What does the role involve?
Working at a regional level, you’ll be supporting the implementation of the prototype national EMIS to regional offices. You’ll also be:
· Supporting education statistics data entry at Regional level
· Assisting in the preparation of Regional Education Statistical reports
· Conducting trouble-shooting and maintenance of client and server computers
· Supporting regular data backups and anti-virus updates
· Training senior staff on web browsing and email management
· Designing and delivering training to all staff on the use of MS-word, EXCEL, and Power Point Presentation.
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll have experience of database design, management and data analysis, training staff and trouble-shooting client and server computers. You’ll ideally have knowledge of IT training methods with 2-3 years' experience in a professional work environment. Experience working in an organisation using a large database for management purposes and also some experience in website and intranet design and development is desirable.
You’ll need strong communications skills and have an approachable manner, and you'll need to be able to form effective working relationships with a variety of people from different backgrounds.
And the rest...
We’ll ask you to commit to 12 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
IT Specialists and Primary School Teachers
Global
We urgently need IT specialists and primary school teachers.
What does the role involve?
We have a range of global roles.
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You will need to have at least one year's experience working in IT or as a primary teacher. Apply now.
Who can apply
Applicants must be living in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
Youth for Development aims to reflect the UK’s geographical, social and ethnic diversity. We also welcome applications from young disabled people.
For further information, please call our customer care team on 020 8780 7500 or email yfd@vso.org.uk.
