Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June 2009

Young adults aged 18-25 from across the UK have a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to travel to a developing country with a free volunteering project, Platform2.

The £10 million scheme is aimed at raising awareness of global development among young British adults from less advantaged backgrounds who would not normally be able to afford to volunteer overseas.

Already over 400 young people have worked in developing countries with Platform2. The latest groups to return – with volunteers from all over the UK including Manchester, Sussex and Coventry – have been building a sanitation system for a local community on the outskirts of Lima, teaching at a school in India and worked on environmental projects in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mike Foster, Minister for International Development said: “The global recession has hit young people hard, and it is vitally important that we offer them opportunities such as Platform2. The programme benefits the everyday lives of people in developing countries through practical solutions such as building toilets and schools. It also benefits the UK through the young people gaining skills, and unlocking the potential within them to contribute positively to their communities”.

The three-year scheme, funded by the Department for International Development, invites 2,500 participants to experience the reality of development work in countries including South Africa, Ghana, Peru and India.

During their 10-week placement, volunteers live and work in local communities on a range of projects including teaching children in schools, conservation programmes and construction work. Volunteers live with local families and are encouraged to interact with the community and learn about the issues faced by people in their host country.

On their return to the UK, the volunteers attend three-day residential workshops where they share their experiences and learn how to raise awareness of development issues within their own communities. Many Platform2 participants have become involved in local volunteer work once back in the UK.

For more information on Platform2, or to apply, visit www.myplatform2.com