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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network/2013/apr/16/international-development-volunteerism
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| Volunteering in international development: how to do it well | Volunteering in international development: how to do it well |
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| In a blog about the benefits of volunteering abroad, author Elizabeth Kruemelmann starts by quoting cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that has." Then she lists the merits of giving up one's time for free, including learning from the source, travelling off the beaten path, applying your skills and then further down, working without previous experience. | In a blog about the benefits of volunteering abroad, author Elizabeth Kruemelmann starts by quoting cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that has." Then she lists the merits of giving up one's time for free, including learning from the source, travelling off the beaten path, applying your skills and then further down, working without previous experience. |
| Recognising the appeal of the above, as well as the opportunity to employ highly motivated individuals at low cost, or even foster closer political relationships between countries, a whole host of development organisations – from bilateral and multilateral donors to grassroots charities – have set up volunteering programmes. Indeed some of the largest and best known international NGOs have volunteerism at the centre of their strategy to fight poverty. | Recognising the appeal of the above, as well as the opportunity to employ highly motivated individuals at low cost, or even foster closer political relationships between countries, a whole host of development organisations – from bilateral and multilateral donors to grassroots charities – have set up volunteering programmes. Indeed some of the largest and best known international NGOs have volunteerism at the centre of their strategy to fight poverty. |
| But can organisations that have their roots in 19th century missionary work and a development ethos that can be traced back to early 20th century post-war reconstruction efforts, still be relevant and applicable today? | But can organisations that have their roots in 19th century missionary work and a development ethos that can be traced back to early 20th century post-war reconstruction efforts, still be relevant and applicable today? |
| For Brendan Joyce, assistant director of Palms Australia, the first point is that the activities which claim the title 'international volunteering' are diverse but are often tarred with the same brush. He says: "Some [activities] are funded by government, others by private donors, others at the volunteer's own expense. Some can be slotted into a few days of an existing holiday while others demand two full years. Some take all comers, others are more selective. Some focus on short-term manual labour, some on technical skill transfer, others on relationships of mutual empowerment. Because of this diversity, volunteering is often seen by many development workers as a bad thing, an activity which promotes notions of a 'white saviour' helping people incapable of helping themselves." | For Brendan Joyce, assistant director of Palms Australia, the first point is that the activities which claim the title 'international volunteering' are diverse but are often tarred with the same brush. He says: "Some [activities] are funded by government, others by private donors, others at the volunteer's own expense. Some can be slotted into a few days of an existing holiday while others demand two full years. Some take all comers, others are more selective. Some focus on short-term manual labour, some on technical skill transfer, others on relationships of mutual empowerment. Because of this diversity, volunteering is often seen by many development workers as a bad thing, an activity which promotes notions of a 'white saviour' helping people incapable of helping themselves." |
| So how can organisations that run volunteer programmes cultivate the right attitude among their volunteers? How can they communicate their value within a community that is often sceptical and as a development activity, what forms of volunteerism have the most impact and contribute to sustainable change? | So how can organisations that run volunteer programmes cultivate the right attitude among their volunteers? How can they communicate their value within a community that is often sceptical and as a development activity, what forms of volunteerism have the most impact and contribute to sustainable change? |
| Join our panel this Friday, 19 April from 1 to 3pm BST, to share best practice in volunteerism in international development. | Join our panel this Friday, 19 April from 1 to 3pm BST, to share best practice in volunteerism in international development. |
| The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you would like to submit your views ahead of the chat, please email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive | The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you would like to submit your views ahead of the chat, please email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive |
| Panel | Panel |
| Simona Costanzo Sow, project manager, post-2015, United Nations volunteers programme, Bonn, Germany. @SimonaCostanzoS | Simona Costanzo Sow, project manager, post-2015, United Nations volunteers programme, Bonn, Germany. @SimonaCostanzoS |
| Simona specialises in community development, volunteer management, capacity building, and non-formal education. Simona previously directed the Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service, based at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) headquarters. | |
| Hayford Siaw, executive director, Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa (VPWA), Accra, Ghana. @hayfordsiaw | |
| Hayford has extensive experience in practicing social innovation across West Africa. Along with VPWA, Hayford has also founded the NGOs News Africa and Street Library Ghana. | |
| Katie Turner, global research and advocacy advisor, volunteering for development, Voluntary Service Overseas, London, UK. @KTinTransit | Katie Turner, global research and advocacy advisor, volunteering for development, Voluntary Service Overseas, London, UK. @KTinTransit |
| Katie coordinates research surrounding the relationship between volunteering and development. Shespecialises in mapping the pathways of influence of community, national and international volunteering in Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal and the Philippines. | |
| Adam McGuigan, co-founder and artistic director, Barefeet, Lusaka, Zambia. @barefeetadam | Adam McGuigan, co-founder and artistic director, Barefeet, Lusaka, Zambia. @barefeetadam |
| Adam works to promote a creative arts movement that engages current and former street children and young people in cities across Zambia. Originally from Ireland, Adam is now based in Lusaka and helps direct a wide group of volunteers that carry out Barefeet's work. | Adam works to promote a creative arts movement that engages current and former street children and young people in cities across Zambia. Originally from Ireland, Adam is now based in Lusaka and helps direct a wide group of volunteers that carry out Barefeet's work. |
| Katherine Tubb, founder, 2Way Development, London, UK. @2waydevelopment | Katherine Tubb, founder, 2Way Development, London, UK. @2waydevelopment |
| Katherine works with individuals pursuing careers and voluntary positions in the international development sector. She is special advisor to Lonely Planet on their international volunteering publications, and speaks at numerous annual professional development conferences. | |
| Apeksha Sumaria, head of programmes, Accounting for International Development (AFID), London, UK. | Apeksha Sumaria, head of programmes, Accounting for International Development (AFID), London, UK. |
| Apeksha is responsible for the oversight and management of AFID's overseas volunteer programme, which builds the financial management capacity of grassroots and international NGOs through the placement of qualified accountants. | Apeksha is responsible for the oversight and management of AFID's overseas volunteer programme, which builds the financial management capacity of grassroots and international NGOs through the placement of qualified accountants. |
| Ben Wilson, project assistant, Challenges Worldwide, Edinburgh, UK. @challengesww | |
| Ben manages volunteer sending programmes, which include university students and a wide range of professionals. He is currently working on a best practice guide for volunteer sending organisations, which will underpin the work of Challenges Worldwide. | |
| Liz Wilson, director, Supporting Kids In Poverty (Skip), Trujillo, Peru. @SKIP_Peru | |
| Liz worked as a fully qualified UK social worker before leaving the UK to join Skp in 2008. | |
| Eleanor Perkins, press officer, Habitat for Humanity, Banbury, UK. @perkinseleanor | Eleanor Perkins, press officer, Habitat for Humanity, Banbury, UK. @perkinseleanor |
| Eleanor focuses on media activity and sourcing stories from the development field. She formerly worked for a community sustainability organisation, focusing on developing research projects for sustainable energy companies. |