Published: 06 March 2008
VSO celebrates 50 years of Scots Volunteering Overseas
Recently, VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) marked 50 years of Scots volunteering in developing countries by celebrating Scotland’s volunteering footprint on the world.
VSO is the world's leading international development organisation working through skilled volunteers and, as part of its festivities, it hosted an anniversary event in Edinburgh on Saturday 1 March addressed by MSP Shona Robison, returned Scottish VSO volunteer Stewart Campbell, HSE Director Scotland and former development minister Lord Foulkes.
From Belize to Bosnia, Cambodia to Cameroon, Macedonia to Malaysia, 1,020 Scots have volunteered in 69 countries in the 50 years since VSO was set up.
During that time, the type of person volunteering has changed greatly to meet differing needs.
From the original ‘gap year’ students of the 1950s to highly experienced volunteers today with an average age of 41, VSO volunteers skills have progressed from a keenness to do something worthwhile to a much more strategic emphasis on tangible, transferable professional skills.
Indeed, Scottish volunteers have shared skills and experience right across the globe from occupations as diverse as foresters, architects, nursery nurse trainers, dentists, haematology lecturers, human rights monitors, prosthetists and metalwork instructors.
Scots, along with volunteers from an increasing number of countries, have done much to help VSO meet changing global needs across the last five decades:
· 1960s: VSO works with victims of leprosy and supports countries preparing for decolonisation
· 1970s: VSO focuses more on professional skills as it places its last school leaver overseas
· 1980s: The average age of a VSO volunteer rises to 28 and 1,125 volunteers are overseas
· 1990s: VSO is invited to help rebuild the destroyed education system in Rwanda, post genocide and at the end of the decade launches VSO Business Partnerships, enabling companies to release staff for placements of between three months and two years
· 2000s: VSO begins recruiting volunteers from Kenya, Uganda, India and the Philippines in recognition that people living in developing countries also have skills and experience to share and a right to participate in volunteering
Dr Andrew Cubie, former Chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland and Chair of VSO UK said:
“Throughout our history, Scots have found themselves in every corner of the world and our volunteering record with VSO is no exception.
It’s crucial that Scots with relevant experience and skills continue to volunteer so that VSO can continue its vital work providing effective solutions to sustainable international development.”
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said:
"VSO is an organisation which is known and trusted throughout the world. The work carried out by volunteers helps those in greatest need, improving their quality of life and helping them to make a difference to their lives.
That is why the Scottish Government was pleased to be able to support a pilot programme between VSO and NHSScotland. This encouraged health professionals to volunteer in Africa, while using their skills to help train and build capacity in the health service in one of the world's poorest countries.
Scotland as a prosperous nation has an obligation to support the countries of the developing world in meeting the challenges they face. The Scottish Government approach is not just about providing aid but about working in partnership.
I would like to wish VSO well and hope that the next 50 years will be as successful.
I also hope the 50th anniversary will encourage more Scots to come forward and play their part in seizing the opportunity to demonstrate that Scotland cares."
To find out more about volunteering with VSO go to: www.vso.org.uk or call 020 8780 7500
Further information
Scotland’s volunteering footprint on the world
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