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a Royal visit to the project we support in Morocco . . . and an MBE for one of our local partners!

a Royal visit to the project we support in Morocco . . . and an MBE for one of our local partners!

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On February 24th the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited two of the Education For All boarding houses in Morocco.  This was a day of great excitement for the girls, the house mothers and everyone else associated with Education For All.  Dressed in traditional Berber clothes some of the girls sang to welcome Harry and Meghan, they were offered delicious Moroccan cakes and pastries, and one girl was chosen to paint a henna tattoo on Meghan’s hand, a traditional practice…

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Please don’t let negative press put you off volunteering

Please don’t let negative press put you off volunteering

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people and places was founded to make volunteering a better experience for volunteers and the communities they work with – we decided the best way to campaign for better was through example. We believe in the power of well matched and well prepared volunteers – we believe the overwhelming majority of people want to do good….but we also see the damage being done in communities where poorly thought out, managed and monitored programmes are being run. We believe volunteers and the communities…

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good news – we can now place a wider range of volunteers in Morocco

good news – we can now place a wider range of volunteers in Morocco

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A few weeks ago I went to Morocco to visit the project we support there, the Education For All boarding houses for girls, the project recently visited by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as described in an earlier article in this newsletter.  I had not been there since 2011 and wow! – what amazing progress has been made in the intervening 8 years!  I thought I had kept up to date with developments there through reading their newsletter, but…

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a date for your diary – volunteer meeting Saturday 18th May

a date for your diary – volunteer meeting Saturday 18th May

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Our spring social meeting will be in the West Midlands, Birmingham area. We’ll confirm full details of time and location early next year, but meanwhile, please save the date ! Claire’s video interview (below) emphasises how valuable our social meetings can be for potential volunteers – meeting and talking with each other as well as previous volunteers and the ‘people and places’ team – all in a relaxed and friendly environment. Let us know if you hope to / plan…

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local partners talk about our volunteers

local partners talk about our volunteers

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We love hearing from local partners about our volunteers and their work … below are some recent updates from Treak in Cambodia and Hazyview in South Africa. First of all, here’s a brief synopsis of the varied skills and experience they brought to their projects and placements: Chris, Paul & Lynne worked in Treak and Katherine in Hazyview. Chris has worked for years in engineering and other practical projects, in the UK and overseas, as well as having coaching &…

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stories from the field – by volunteers

stories from the field – by volunteers

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Elsewhere in this newsletter, you’ll be able to read Dianne’s full report from her own recent volunteer placement in Port Elizabeth.   At people and places, we firmly believe that sharing volunteers’ reports, before and after placements, is vital in helping everyone to appreciate their own role in a project’s development and sustainability. Here are some extracts from 2 more volunteers who also worked in South Africa this year, though on a different project from Dianne – in Kruger. Husband &…

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Dianne’s travels in southern Africa continued . . . on to Port Elizabeth

Dianne’s travels in southern Africa continued . . . on to Port Elizabeth

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My recent trip to South Africa culminated in two thoroughly enjoyable weeks spent in Port Elizabeth, working with Calabash, our wonderful local partners.  As always, they could not have been more friendly and welcoming – I immediately felt part of the team and we had a really great time working together.  Port Elizabeth is a fantastic place to volunteer – really worthwhile projects where you will spend your working day, a very supportive team to take an interest in what…

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