About VSO & Charity Challenge

This is a video I created about the charity organization called Voluntary Service Overseas and the charity challenge I will be participating in.

Testimonial from a girl benefited by VSO projects in Zambia

VSO's Education work in Rwanda - Must see !

If you still wonder why you should donate to VSO, this video is something that will help you understand why. VSO works with governments, other organizations and the community to ensure their projects have a lasting and sustainable effects.

Channel 4: Jon Snow's Endorsement for VSO

Bishop Tutu's Endorsement for VSO

VSO's Work in Nepal

The Boy who inspired me

When I was in college I read this amazing story in Readers Digest about a 6 year old boy who decided that he wanted to make a difference. His story touched me and got me interested in fund raising.

Here is his story......

In 1998, when Ryan was in grade one, he learned from his teacher, Mrs Prest that people were dying because they didn't have clean water to drink. He decided that raising money for people who didn't have clean water would be a good thing. He worked for four months in order to earn his first $70. Ryan’s first well was built in 1999 when Ryan was seven years-old at a school in a Ugandan village.

Ryan’s determination grew from the $70 collected by doing simple household chores to a Foundation that today has contributed a total of 502 water and sanitation projects in 16 countries bringing clean water and sanitation services to over 621,712 people. The Foundation has raised millions of dollars.

Ryan remains dedicated to the Foundation and its work. He continues to speak passionately about the need for clean water around the world, and has visited over two dozen countries in spreading his message. He has made presentations to hundreds of schools, churches and civic clubs, and more than two dozen international conferences and global events including Rotary International and the World Water Forums. He is recognized by UNICEF as a Global Youth Leader.

When Ryan set out to raise the $70 he thought would build a well, he had no idea that his simple quest to make a difference would have the effect is has today. Ryan's story has become an example of how one single person can make a difference. It is also an inspirational real-life story that continues to impact others around the world, regardless of age, to make a difference too!

I think its time now for me to move forward from being inspired to doing. When I found out about the fundraising opportunity I thought that this would be a great learning experience and the confidence I will gain here will hopefully keep me on this path. I hope you can support me through this journey.

Cake Round 2 Results

Well I sold 1.5 cakes yesterday. Was hoping to have sold all of the 3 cakes......As a friend said, "I guess people are on a diet" :) I am very grateful to those who did buy my cakes, it really means alot to me.

Will figure out some more ways to raise the funds. But I wont give up!

Cakes - Round 2!

I am beat! just finished baking 3 cakes for tomorrow. This time its a Date and Walnut cake. Its something I used to have for christmas at home.....whole place is smelling of the cakes.....smells like christmas week :)

Why is Fundraising Important to VSO?

VSO believes in sending skilled people instead of food and money to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. VSO needs to raise £10 million each year in the UK in order to continue their vital work - working through volunteers to fight poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Here is what your money can do for VSO:

£36.40 can keep a VSO obstetrician working in West Timor, Indonesia for a week, safely delivering 12 babies.

£158 can keep a VSO child health specialist teaching 33 future doctors and nurses at Mbarara University Hospital in Uganda, for one month.

£500 can train and provide initial funds to 10 HIV+ women in Mozambique to start their own business, giving them and their children income and hope.

£948 can keep a VSO doctor providing crucial treatment to reduce mother-tochild HIV transmission in Uganda for six months.

£15,142 could help VSO keep a team of irrigation officers in Malawi, aiding 3,000 smallholder farmers to produce a lifesaving crop so that 18,000 people can eat during the dry season.

Your donation does matter! Please consider supporting VSO and help me in my effort to raise funds.

VSO - On Eductaion

VSO's vision is that all children have access to good quality primary education. VSO's work in this goal area is in line with delivering on the Millennium Development Goals (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) , especially on goal two on universal primary education and goal three on gender equality in education by 2015.

VSO is an active member of the Global Campaign for Education, an international coalition of charities, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and education unions. The coalition mobilises the public to put pressure on governments to deliver on the promises they made in 2000 to provide free education for all children.

VSO has education programmes in 21countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean. The programmes are developed through a consultative process that analyses the education context and identifies the people who are disadvantaged within and outside of the education system in each country. This leads to a tailormade response in marginalised geographic areas.

For more info: http://www.vso.org.uk/Images/VSO_and_Education_2007-2012_tcm79-20999.pdf

VSO Volunteer - Julie Wilson's experience in Nepal

VSO volunteer Julie Wilson worked as an education adviser in Mahendranagar, an isolated town in the far west of Nepal, and her objective was to find ways to improve learning in schools. Julie developed a model classroom to showcase the best in teaching styles,including use of resources and learning materials and more interaction between the teacher and pupils.

Here is Julies experience in Nepal

VSO - Education Program Outcomes

VSO works to ensure all disadvantaged children have access to good quality education.

• In Ethiopia, two volunteers trained 254 primary school teachers. As a result, 20,269 pupils benefited from better quality teaching and drop-out rates were more than halved, falling from 1,676 to 789.

• Out of 301 partners, 291 are contributing to this objective and 17 countries reported improvements in the quality of teaching delivered this year.

• In Pakistan, volunteers helped reorganise and train 1,250 school management committees.
  Resulting improvements in school management delivered a 20 per cent reduction in teacher absenteeism and a 10 per cent increase in pass rates.

• In Ghana, a local chief stopped girls being taken out of school to work as porters. This was the result of activity by women trained and supported by a VSO volunteer to advocate for girls’ education.

First Cake - SOLD!

I had baked a Coconut Cake last night to sell in my office and am glad to say that all pieces are sold !!! Hope so people will be interested in some more, lets see.....

Accenture-VSO Partnership

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company and a founding member of VSO’s Business Partnerships (VBP) scheme. VBP was established in 1999 to meet the growing demand for business and management professionals in developing countries.

In 2006, Accenture became VSO's "Secure Livelihoods" Goal Champion and through their financial and strategic support, VSO has developed a new approach to enterprise development that will deliver a brighter future for some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.VSO's relationship with Accenture is built on a mutual desire to combine the distinct capabilities of each organisation to enhance the performance of both.

As part of the partnership, VSO has placed over 115 Accenture employees from around the world with partner organisations in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. These volunteers have worked in a variety of roles, sharing their business skills and building capacity in a number of developing communities. In turn, Accenture supports VSO by offering staff that are eligible, the opportunity to volunteer with VSO and provide financial support for their international programme work.

Apart from employee volunteering, VSO also provides Accenture employees opportunities to contribute through fundraising. Employee fundraising is a fun and simple way to raise vital funds for VSO’s project work worldwide. VSO offers a number of challenging, teambuilding events including running marathons and trekking in the UK and abroad.

If you would like to know more about how your company can support VSO email corporate.partnerships@vso.org.uk or call 020 8780 7361.
If you work at Accenture and are looking for more details on how to volunteer with VSO visit the Accenture intranet at vso.accenture.com or contact Bethan Peach, volunteer support adviser, on 020 8780 7356 or email her at bethan.peach@vso.org.uk