Voluntary Services Overseas

WFT has invested £374,000, over three years, to develop a VSO Global Xchange programme between young Scots and Tanzanians, giving both sets of young people the opportunity to volunteer in communities in Tanzania and the North East of Scotland which will provide the opportunity for them to learn key aspects of global citizenship.

Global Xchange (GX) is run in partnership between VSO, the British Council and local partner organisations around the world. GX brings together committed 18-25 year olds from diverse backgrounds, with equal numbers from the UK and from an exchange country in Africa or Asia. As a team, these volunteers live and work in cross-cultural pairs and alongside each other for six months, spending three months in the UK and three months in the exchange country. Volunteers live with local host families and work in partnership on a diverse range of local community projects.

VSO's approach to volunteering has changed dramatically over the years. Their volunteers are not just school leavers - today the average age of a volunteer is 41 and the majority come from skilled, professional backgrounds. Placements can range from one month to two years in duration. Volunteers are aged between 18 and 75 and their aim is to pass on their expertise to local people so that when they return home their skills can be utilised.