Africa Asia Latin America Programme
Information Workshop
Contents
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About VSI
VSI Programmes
Asia Africa Latin America Programme
Typical Projects
Using Your Experience
About VSI
 Irish branch of Service Civil International (SCI)
founded in 1965
 Worldwide movement working for peace and
international understanding through the medium of
voluntary service activities
 There are 34 SCI branches and groups worldwide
SCI emerged, in 1920, as a reponse to the violence,
tragedy and destruction of World War 1. A group of
activists, led by Pierre Ceresole, a Swiss pacifist,
concerned about the devastating effects of the war and
the enemy images fostered by the governments of the
day, came together to reconstruct a village near
Verdun, scene of some of the worst violence of the war.
They wanted to show society of the day and
governments, that people, regardless of differences of
class, religion or nationality, could live and work
together peacefully towards a common goal.
First SCI Project in Verdun,
France 1920
 Working with refugees in Spanish Civil War
VSI volunteers and Spike
Milligan plant trees at Glencree
Peace Centre in 1975
VSI Programmes
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Teenage Programme
International Volunteer Projects Programme
Dublin Local Group
Long Term Volunteering
Development Education - Africa/Asia/Latin
America Exchange Programme
Teenage Programme
The Teenage Programme
enables young people (16 19 years) from
disadvantaged
backgrounds to take part
in short-term voluntary
work projects with young
people from other
European countries.
International Volunteer Projects
 International Volunteer Projects bring
people together from different
countries, cultures and backgrounds to
live and work together on short term
projects of benefit to local
communities.
The projects are designed to support
and encourage local initiatives that
will be continued after the project is
completed.
International Volunteer Projects also
aim to break down barriers, foster
international understanding and reduce
prejudices and stereotyping.
We organise volunteer projects in
Ireland and send volunteers to projects
in over 40 countries in Europe (east
and west), North America,Japan,
Australia, North Africa, Turkey.
Dublin Local Group
Dublin Local
Group volunteers are involved
in a range of voluntary and
community work in the
Dublin area, including
painting and decorating the
homes of elderly and disabled
people living in bad housing
conditions. They usually meet
weekly on Saturdays.
Long Term Volunteering
 The VSI Long Term Volunteering Programme enables
people to volunteer from 3-12 months on a variety of
voluntary work projects of benefit to local communities
and voluntary organisations in Europe and North
America.
There are two different programmes for this: the SCI Long
Term Volunteering that is open to experienced volunteers
over 18, and the EU-funded EVS programme for people
between 18 and 25. There is a wide variety of projects
each year, such as
 Working in a centre for refugees in Switzerland
 Helping with activities at a centre for young deaf people
near Warsaw
 Working in a centre for learning disabled adults in
Vermont
Africa Asia Latin America
Programme
 Promotes awareness and understanding of world
development issues. This includes a two-month
programme of short-term International Volunteer
Projects in developing countries of practical
benefit to local communities
 The Programme is made up of 4 elements;
Preparation
Projects
Evaluation
Using your experience
Where Can I Do A Project?
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Botswana
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Lesotho
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Senegal
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
AFRICA:
ASIA:
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Bangladesh
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Vietnam
LATIN AMERICA:
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Brazil
Bolivia
Argentina
Colombia
El Salvador
Guatemala
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Typical Projects
The projects are organised by local voluntary work
organisations and involve teams of local and international
volunteers working together
Building Roads With The Help
Of Local Villagers-Sri Lanka
Making bricks for classroom project
Kenya
Classroom building project,
Zimbabwe
Collecting bricks for new
classroom!, Tanzania
School building project, Ghana
Clean Water Project Uganda
Removing rocks at a classroom
building project in Zambia
Teaching English
Living Conditions
Housing within the local communities, in a local
building
(e.g. a school/hall) with perhaps !
 No electricity
 No running water
 Pit latrine toilets
 Cooking for yourselves
 Mattress on floor
The Bedroom
The Volunteer House!
The Toilet
The Shower
Cooking on the open fire
Dinner Time
When Can I Participate
In A Project?
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Months
Who Can Take Part?
Participants Must Be:
 Over 20 years of age
 A member of VSI
 Involved with a voluntary, community or youth group or have
previous voluntary experience
 Participate in the full Preparation and Orientation programme
 Able to cover the financial costs
 Apply before the World Development Weekend (March)
 Participate in Evaluation Workshop (October) and complete a
written report
Typical Costs
Membership VSI
€ 27 (Non-wage Earner €14)
Programme Fee
€ 140
Development Weekend Expenses
€ 35/45
Fee to Host Organisation
€ 160
Flights
€ 800
Visa
€ 30
Travel Insurance
€ 60
Vaccinations/Malaria Tablets
€ 270
First Aid Kit /Insect Repellent
€ 45
Sunblock/Films/Batteries/Work Gloves
€ 60
Mosquito Net
€ 36
Sub Total
€1,658
Spending Money
€500
TOTAL
€2,158
Vaccination Charges
Yellow Fever
Polio/Tetanus/Diphtheria
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Meningicoccal A & C
Consultation
TOTAL
€ 35
€ 35
€ 35
€ 46
€ 21
€ 50
€222
Consultation costs €35 each if two go together to The Tropical
Medical Bureau.
Discount on vaccines if traveling for charitable purposes.
Preparation and Orientation
Programme
Volunteers intending to take part in the programme must
join in the Preparation and Orientation Programme from
March to May
Dates To Remember
 February: Information Workshops in Various Locations Nationwide
 March: World Development Workshop 9-10 March
 May: World Development Workshop 11-12 May
Country & Health Briefing Dublin Sat 26 May
October: Evaluation Workshop
After The Exchange :
Using Your Experience
Volunteers in the Exchange Programme will have taken part in
an unique experience. They have been guests in a completely
different culture in another continent. They will have met new
people, possibly learned new languages and songs, undertaken
several worthwhile voluntary work projects and learned about
the people and cultures in the countries they have visited. They
will have also come face to face with the many development
issues facing the people and countries on a day to day basis.
Create an awareness and understanding of justice, peace
and development issues on your return:
 Join one of VSI’s many committees/groups and:
help prepare future volunteers for the programme
help with solidarity and campaign projects
help with development education activities
help with incoming volunteers to Ireland
 Speak to others/give a presentation about your experience
 Become active in volunteering organisations & local activities
 Attend seminars, lectures etc on development education
 Stay involved with your host organisation
 Development-related study
 Employment in Development
Working for a Better World –
A Guide to Volunteering in
Global Development:
“Whatever you decide to do, remember that what you choose
to do when you get home may be even more valuable than
what you did while overseas…..
Volunteering overseas is part of a continuum that encompasses
the point when you first decide to go to a developing country,
to your activism when you get home”.
IF YOU’RE THINKING OF
VOLUNTEERING, DO IT NOW!
DON’T WAIT!
 8551011
 vsi@iol.ie
 www.vsi.ie
“Be The Change You Want To
See In The World”
Mahatma Gandhi