Thank you for visiting my VSO fundraising page! Recently I have been blessed with the opportunity to volunteer with the charity VSO in Nepal, as part of the International Citizen Service program, and will (hopefully) be setting off late February to join, live and work with a community for three months. 

However, the first part of my placement is a challenge to raise £800. This money goes towards the work of VSO and their ICS partners which I explain, later on, in this post. Here is some more in-depth information regarding the program, regarding the work I’ll be carrying out and what exactly this money will be going towards.

What will I be doing in Nepal?

VSO Nepal are currently finalizing the project I will be working on but as far as I’m aware I could be working in the capital of Kathmandu or in a rural community such as Baglung or Lamjung.
VSO run projects in Nepal that aim to improve sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for Nepalese women, addressing poor sexual and reproductive health problems faced by young people as well as supporting training delivery to farmers and coordinating health education workshops with schools and community groups.

Why Nepal? Why VSO? What is ICS?

Following the 2015 earthquake the charity VSO is helping Nepal rebuild its strained health and education systems, whilst adapting to climate change and food security challenges. More than cash, Nepal needs volunteers with the skills and energy to help its people rebuild and strengthen their nation.
In Nepal employment has suffered, with many people flocking to the capital, Kathmandu, from rural parts of the country in search of work to support their families. ICS volunteers help to tackle this problem by working with young entrepreneurs in rural communities to help them develop their businesses.
Health is another focus of ICS in Nepal. Volunteers are working hard to improve access to safe water and sanitation services or holding peer education, awareness raising and training sessions to help young people make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
ICS volunteers also work to ensure high standards of education across Nepal, working with primary and secondary students as well as different community groups, ICS helps sure children are receiving a quality education.

All of their projects are carefully planned to be sustainable and focused on long term impact and all placements are always part of a wider development program, where objectives are set in partnership with communities. 
All volunteers in Nepal live with host families, usually with one other volunteer. 

What does the money raised go towards?
My place on the program is already paid for - visas, flights, travel and medical insurance, medication, vaccines, food, the lot! This is because ICS believes in the positive impact of young people and wants to offer them an opportunity to change their lives and the lives of others and so these funds raised do not go directly into buying things for or funding my project. 
All the funds raised by the likes of myself and other volunteers will support all VSO funded projects, which benefit around 2 million people every year. The funds raised also contribute to the overall program to enable as many young people as possible from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in some of the poorest communities around the world. 

By donating to my page you are not paying for just one placement, you are supporting all of VSO’s vital work, enabling them to continue to change the world through the power of volunteering.

Any contribution from you will make a real difference to the lives of people in developing countries, so please dig deep!
Thanks for your support!

Want to know more about VSO and ICS?
ICS- https://www.volunteerics.org
VSO- https://www.vsointernational.org