Hello! Thanks for visiting my Just Giving page.

Here I hope to give you a glimpse into my journey overseas, helping people from some of the poorest communities across the globe. After finishing my undergraduate degree in Business, I felt the skills and experiences I had taken with me throughout my 4 years at university could be better spent adapting and forging new skills and relationships helping others. So after graduating in the summer of 16' I decided to apply to ICS; government-funded overseas placements which work with partnered charities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to help people from some of the poorest communities. The ICS project also aims to inspire young people in the UK and overseas to become active citizens who are passionate about long-term community development.

So it's with this I'm excited to tell you I have been selected to commence a 10+ week placement in April 2017 with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) in Kenya, more specifically in the Taita Taveta region, which lies southeast of Nairobi and is one of six counties in the coastal region of Kenya. I will be working on a project focusing on Livelihoods; supporting communities, especially disadvantaged groups to increase their economic opportunities e.g. working with young children to improve their literacy skills through after-school clubs. 

VSO was founded in 1958 with a vision for "a world without poverty" and a mission to "bring people together to fight poverty", something I think we all agree on; and which I find inspiring. VSO works with local partners to ensure the people with the right skills are deployed into the local community making the best use of local knowledge whilst at the same time providing the vital skills and training directly to the community. Therefore I'll be living and working side by side in the local community.

The initial part of my placement is to fundraise £800 towards the work of VSO. The money raised will ensure the continuation of VSO's vital work, enabling them to continue sending youth volunteers into the developing world to make a lasting difference in disadvantaged communities. I plan to do this through a variety of fundraising activities and hope you will be able to support me along the way. However small or large your contribution is, it will be greatly appreciated and go directly to VSO. Don't forget to add Gift-Aid if you qualify!

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to keeping you updated on my journey!

Rob