DFID Announces New Global Volunteering Scheme

from Black Mental Health

By Staff writer
A Government-backed global volunteering scheme for 18 to 25 year-olds will offer young adults from the inner cities, the opportunity to live, work and learn about life in developing countries while making a real difference to people's lives, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander announced.
An estimated 2,500 young adults over a three year period, will be sponsored to do voluntary work in sub Saharan Africa, Asia and south America and raise awareness of development issues in the UK.

The £10 million scheme is backed by the Department for International Development (DFID) and will be run in partnership by Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC.

"This scheme aims to give young British adults who wouldn't normally have an opportunity the chance to make a valuable contribution to the lives of people overseas who are blighted by poverty.

By living and working with people from very different backgrounds, facing very different challenges, they will learn new skills and help unlock the potential within them to become better global citizens. And on return they'll be applying what they've learned to activities in their own local communities.' Alexander said during the launch of the scheme at South Birmingham College in February.


Starting in summer 2008 with placements to Ghana and South Africa, the volunteers will be spending 10 weeks in a developing country working on local community development projects such as environmental conservation or HIV / Aids awareness.

"Volunteering in a developing country shouldn't be the preserve only of those who can, literally, afford to give up their time to do it. Many people are unaware of the existing opportunities or do not have the means to take advantage of them.

The DFID initiative will show that young adults from all walks of life and from all backgrounds can contribute to and learn from the volunteering experience." Callum Kennedy, Director of BUNAC said.

"These young adults will have an experience that will transform the rest of their lives.
After being fully involved in a 10 week programme of grass roots development work, we hope they will take their enthusiasm and commitment back to their own communities." Mark Vyner, Global Volunteering Programme Manager, from Christian Aid, said


Designing personal activity plans with other volunteers during a residential weekend on their return to the UK the young people will share what they have learnt, during their time away, through road shows and activities in their local communities and encouraging their peers to join the fight against global poverty.


"Christian Aid's mission is to expose the scandal of poverty, through this scheme, we will be able to directly engage young adults with the issues surrounding poverty, and give them an opportunity to make a real difference." Christian Aid's Director Daleep Mukarji said:

Organisers believe it is important that young people understand the issues that shape the world they live in. They are hoping that this should prove to be a very rewarding life experience for the young adults involved.