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Author: Dianne Ashman

e-volunteering is not “virtual”- it’s volunteering for real!

e-volunteering is not “virtual”- it’s volunteering for real!

It’s January, the time of year when many people’s minds turn to travel plans – maybe a holiday – or maybe a volunteer placement!  At the moment many people are ‘travelling the world’ via their computer screens – and you can volunteer in this way too without leaving the comfort and safety of your own front room. Visiting a tourist destination by viewing it online could accurately be described as ‘virtual travel’ – there’s no physical travelling involved.  Similarly an…

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I’m thrilled to bits – I’ve seen how much the children enjoyed and learned from my video

I’m thrilled to bits – I’ve seen how much the children enjoyed and learned from my video

A couple of weeks ago I decided to fill an idle couple of hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon filming a video which we could send to the education projects supported by people and places volunteers.  Quite a lot of volunteers have contributed to this initiative – we have videos of stories, demonstrations of simple Science experiments, even a walk round a farm to show children the animals.  But so far we didn’t have a video of a volunteer actually…

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e-volunteers at work

e-volunteers at work

In the six months since the pandemic struck a number of volunteers have been working with us to try out various ways of volunteering from home. Some had previously volunteered and were keen to continue supporting ‘their’ project in what were clearly going to be difficult times. Some had placements already arranged and were keen to start volunteer work even though they couldn’t yet travel. Some thought their volunteering days were behind them and were delighted to see a way…

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News from the projects

News from the projects

The pandemic is causing challenges for all of us – here’s an update from many of the programmes we work with about how they are trying to meet these challenges – from marathon cycle rides to emergency water supplies (imagine trying to wash your hands when there is no water!) Eswatini (Swaziland) The Neighbourhood Care Points in Eswatini are currently being used as feeding stations – the children go there every day for food which they take home to share…

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We have a volunteer in South Africa!

We have a volunteer in South Africa!

We are delighted to report that we have a volunteer currently on placement at Hazyview in South Africa.  Having feared that we would be unable to place anyone at all during the pandemic and with no idea when long-haul international travel will start up again, we were delighted when Richard approached us to say that he was actually in South Africa and could we create a placement for him.  As the Digital Learning Centres run by our partners Good Work…

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News from our local partners – supporting their communities during the pandemic

News from our local partners – supporting their communities during the pandemic

Article written by Dianne During the last few months we have been working closely with all our local partners as they have found ways to support their communities in these unprecedented times. Here is my update on the work they have been doing. The Gambia Our local partner in The Gambia, Adama Bah, has co-written an article to highlight the serious impact the coronavirus pandemic on tourism in Africa and what some countries are doing to combat it.  You can…

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Volunteering remotely during lockdown – a new way to volunteer

Volunteering remotely during lockdown – a new way to volunteer

As the coronavirus pandemic took hold everything changed – all around the world businesses, schools and individuals turned to online communication.  Could we do the same for international volunteering? As international travel ground to a halt and all the projects we support around the world were forced to close their doors, we began to think long and hard about whether and how we could continue to offer support to our local partners during the pandemic.  people and places volunteer support…

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so disappointed to have to postpone

so disappointed to have to postpone

Flights booked, introduction to the local team completed, placement outlines finalised, not long to go……..this was the situation for a number of volunteers when restrictions started to be put in place as the coronavirus pandemic rapidly escalated.  In countries around the world school and businesses started to close down as did hotels and guesthouses, borders started to close and airlines started to cancel flights.  For the safety of all concerned, volunteers and local people, it started to look increasingly unlikely,…

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how to volunteer with your granddaughter!

how to volunteer with your granddaughter!

This was a first for us!  Yvonne, our longest standing volunteer, announced that she would be doing her final placement this year …. and she wondered if her granddaughter Ellie could volunteer alongside her!  It seemed particularly appropriate that Yvonne’s granddaughter should accompany her on her final placement – Yvonne is ‘Grandma’ not only to Ellie but also to so many people at the projects where she has volunteered over the years (see this article about Yvonne written in 2018). …

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