Another of the early volunteers in Africa By Sarah Bell BBC News
Another of the early volunteers in Africa By Sarah Bell BBC News
Fifty years ago a naive but enthusiastic school leaver arrived in Borneo to teach pupils older than him. Aged 18, David Brown was unwittingly the pioneer for Voluntary Service Overseas.
Fifty years ago a naive but enthusiastic school leaver arrived in Borneo to teach pupils older than him. Aged 18, David Brown was unwittingly the pioneer for Voluntary Service Overseas.
In 1958, all that was required to volunteer overseas was a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, a few jabs and a plane ticket. Today, prospective volunteers undergo a tough nine-month selection process before being sent abroad to share their skills.
In 1958, all that was required to volunteer overseas was a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, a few jabs and a plane ticket. Today, prospective volunteers undergo a tough nine-month selection process before being sent abroad to share their skills.
David Brown first showed an interest in helping the needy when the Bishop of Borneo visited his Wiltshire boarding school and gave a slideshow to help tempt young men to work abroad. VSO in 1958 Average age: 18Number abroad: 12Number of countries: fourActivities: teaching, healthcarePictured above is David Brown in Sarawak Times in 1959
David Brown first showed an interest in helping the needy when the Bishop of Borneo visited his Wiltshire boarding school and gave a slideshow to help tempt young men to work abroad. VSO in 1958 Average age: 18Number abroad: 12Number of countries: fourActivities: teaching, healthcarePictured above is David Brown in Sarawak Times in 1959
"Three weeks later a letter from the bishop arrived saying I was to get my plane ticket from the travel agent, and before you go, have these injections. That was it. It didn't ask if I wanted to go," Mr Brown recalls.
"Three weeks later a letter from the bishop arrived saying I was to get my plane ticket from the travel agent, and before you go, have these injections. That was it. It didn't ask if I wanted to go," Mr Brown recalls.
His ticket arrived with no further information, followed by a postcard from the bishop saying his brother would meet him at the airport to bid him farewell.
His ticket arrived with no further information, followed by a postcard from the bishop saying his brother would meet him at the airport to bid him farewell.
Mr Brown didn't know what to expect when he set off on 19 May 1958, as his preparation had mainly involved watching the Bridge on the River Kwai.
Mr Brown didn't know what to expect when he set off on 19 May 1958, as his preparation had mainly involved watching the Bridge on the River Kwai.
"It was the first time I had been abroad, and the first time I had been on a plane. I left boarding school and within five weeks I was standing in front of a class," he says.
"It was the first time I had been abroad, and the first time I had been on a plane. I left boarding school and within five weeks I was standing in front of a class," he says.
By the end of the year, 13 school leavers had been sent to work in Borneo and Africa by the bishop and the charity's founder, former education officer, Alec Dickson.
By the end of the year, 13 school leavers had been sent to work in Borneo and Africa by the bishop and the charity's founder, former education officer, Alec Dickson.
Supply teacher
Supply teacher
Mr Brown, who runs a publishing company in Oxford, believes he had not been particularly carefully chosen for his mission. The bishop had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216 - in 1958 you could buy a house for that David Brown
Mr Brown, who runs a publishing company in Oxford, believes he had not been particularly carefully chosen for his mission. The bishop had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216 - in 1958 you could buy a house for that David Brown
"The bishop had clearly jumped the gun by sending me out. The next set of people who came out in September had been through a rigorous selection process, but with me they sent the first man who came along.
"The bishop had clearly jumped the gun by sending me out. The next set of people who came out in September had been through a rigorous selection process, but with me they sent the first man who came along.
"He wanted to get the system going and I found out later he had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216. In 1958 you could buy a house for that."
"He wanted to get the system going and I found out later he had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216. In 1958 you could buy a house for that."
Mr Brown, 68, was placed in St Luke's missionary school in a town called Simanggang in Sarawak, now part of Malaysia, because their teacher was being sent to England for training.
Mr Brown, 68, was placed in St Luke's missionary school in a town called Simanggang in Sarawak, now part of Malaysia, because their teacher was being sent to England for training.
A priest who had run the missionary since 1926 presided over the school. "He didn't know what on earth I was for, a young man, turning up there when I wasn't trained," he says.
A priest who had run the missionary since 1926 presided over the school. "He didn't know what on earth I was for, a young man, turning up there when I wasn't trained," he says.
He taught English, maths, geography and history, at a level which he estimates was about a year below GCSE standards.
He taught English, maths, geography and history, at a level which he estimates was about a year below GCSE standards.
"I had never stood in front of a class before. Some of the pupils were my age, the average age was 20. But they were all very keen to learn."
"I had never stood in front of a class before. Some of the pupils were my age, the average age was 20. But they were all very keen to learn."
Mr Brown shared a house with another teacher and soon became used to a diet of rice, three times a day, eaten with his fingers.
Mr Brown shared a house with another teacher and soon became used to a diet of rice, three times a day, eaten with his fingers.
There were only six or seven other white people in the town, among them a doctor, engineer and policeman. "I think they viewed me with some amusement."
There were only six or seven other white people in the town, among them a doctor, engineer and policeman. "I think they viewed me with some amusement."
He was paid £5 a week and mainly played with the children in his free time. "They were curious about me and always wanted to play football."
He was paid £5 a week and mainly played with the children in his free time. "They were curious about me and always wanted to play football."
On reflection, he questions how valuable the first volunteers were in their placements.
On reflection, he questions how valuable the first volunteers were in their placements.
"We were all inexperienced and clearly of limited use to the places we went to. The people who go now, they really put me to shame."
"We were all inexperienced and clearly of limited use to the places we went to. The people who go now, they really put me to shame."
The average age of volunteers now is 41, and include small business advisors, teachers, social workers, health professionals, marine biologists, accountants and farmers.
The average age of volunteers now is 41, and include small business advisors, teachers, social workers, health professionals, marine biologists, accountants and farmers.
This reflects how the delivery of aid work in the developing world has vastly changed in the 50 years since school leavers were first put on planes.
This reflects how the delivery of aid work in the developing world has vastly changed in the 50 years since school leavers were first put on planes.
Colonial obligation
Colonial obligation
VSO chief executive Mark Goldring says that his organisation's founding vision was the British had something to give to the rest of the world. VSO 2008 Average age: 41Number abroad: 1,500Number of countries: 34Activities: from management consultants to marine biologists
VSO chief executive Mark Goldring says that his organisation's founding vision was the British had something to give to the rest of the world. VSO 2008 Average age: 41Number abroad: 1,500Number of countries: 34Activities: from management consultants to marine biologists
"This was very relevant to the post-colonial 1950s and 60s world where the shortage of educated people in the developing world was massive."
"This was very relevant to the post-colonial 1950s and 60s world where the shortage of educated people in the developing world was massive."
Its founders also believed the experience would help shape the young men it sent abroad into leaders of the future. This worked, with many going on to become cabinet ministers and captains of industry.
Its founders also believed the experience would help shape the young men it sent abroad into leaders of the future. This worked, with many going on to become cabinet ministers and captains of industry.
Over its 50 years, the organisation has evolved to meet the needs of a world which is very different.
Over its 50 years, the organisation has evolved to meet the needs of a world which is very different.
"Most developing countries have enough educated school-leavers and graduates, so now the organisation enlists people with skills which can support the development of their own professional organisations," Mr Goldring says.
"Most developing countries have enough educated school-leavers and graduates, so now the organisation enlists people with skills which can support the development of their own professional organisations," Mr Goldring says.
"The focus now is on sharing skills for future professionals rather than providing immediate services."
"The focus now is on sharing skills for future professionals rather than providing immediate services."
It also now recruits from Asia and Africa. "Someone who has worked with Aids in Uganda may have skills which are more useful in Cambodia than someone who has worked in the UK," he says.
It also now recruits from Asia and Africa. "Someone who has worked with Aids in Uganda may have skills which are more useful in Cambodia than someone who has worked in the UK," he says.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown remains modest about his status as the organisation's pioneer.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown remains modest about his status as the organisation's pioneer.
"At the time I didn't know I was the first person and it wasn't even called the VSO then. I was just going on the adventure of a lifetime."
"At the time I didn't know I was the first person and it wasn't even called the VSO then. I was just going on the adventure of a lifetime."
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