British volunteer Georgina-Kate Adams last night gave a live television interview on BBC News 24 to counter recent media reports that have questioned the merit of gap-years.
An article in Tuesday’s Times newspaper claims that in some cases students who take part in voluntary work overseas during their gap year can ‘cause more harm than good’. A spokeswoman from VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), states that ‘whilst we don’t want to curb anyone’s enthusiasm and the personal gain that comes from taking a gap year, volunteers have to be aware that whatever they do has an impact on the country they go to’.
Georgina-Kate, who spent one month working at a care home for orphaned and vulnerable children in Swaziland, followed by three months working in a Liberian refugee camp in Ghana, last night protested against these current claims. She said: ‘How can it be said that volunteer placements don't benefit the communities they work in? I, along with fellow volunteers helped to refurbish an orphanage, worked alongside local volunteers to educate orphaned children about the risks and prevention of HIV/AIDS as well as writing for a human rights newspaper, to help liberate the Liberian refugee’s by allowing them their basic human right to access the truth’.
In comeback to the VSO spokesperson’s view that ‘it is naïve of teenagers to think they can make a difference abroad’, Georgina went on to say 'My gap year has taught me so much. I can now competently debate African politics and capably defend misconceptions about refugees and third world civilians. On a personal note, I have grown up a lot and my world outlook is now so much wider. I intend to continue to travel around the world and this trip has begun to give me the tools, understanding and empathy to do that'.
www.projects-abroad.co.uk
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By: Mubiru C. | 27-02-2007
Dears Teachers and freinds am looking for volunteer teachers who are interested in spending some of their time volunteering at Kikaaya college school. Am looking for individuals who can teach any of the following subjects; English,Maths,Chemistry,Physics,Biology,Computers,Carpenty,Electronics,motor vehicle mechanics etc, if you know any person or organization it will be of great service. MUBIRU CHARLESHEAD-TEACHERKIKAAYA COLLEGE SCHOOL KAMPALA,UGANDA
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Some friend told me that there are poor research bodies that are looking for net volunteers to contribute some of the p.c time to calculate information. Where can I find more on this subject?
Volunteer Teaching in South Africa?, Canada
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Hello, My name is Allison McLaughlin and I am a teacher in Quebec, Canada. I am hoping to make a connection with someone who may be able to help myself and another colleague connect with an organization, school, shelter or support network in South Africa. We are planning on travelling there this summer and would love to be able to share some of our time and experiences with a local community group. Going through existing organizations is very costly and on a teacher's salary makes our dream impossible. We are relying on situations like this to faithfully steer us in the right direction.Thank you for you time, support and consideration.Allison McLaughlin
Volunteering for free
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I would really like to volunteer in a developing country. As I discovered, most volunteering organization demand a fee of few hundreds of Dollars. Does anyone know of organizations which doesn't require such a fee?
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