Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP David Lepper has called on young adults to sign up to a pioneering government-backed global volunteering scheme.
The scheme will enable 2,500 young adults – particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds – between 18-25 years old, to do voluntary work in a developing country and raise awareness of development issues in the UK.
The scheme is funded by the Department for International Development, which leads the government’s fight against global poverty.
Welcoming the initiative, David Lepper said:
“This is a great opportunity for young adults to make a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.
“By living and working with people of different cultures, facing different challenges, it will also help broaden their understanding of the world.
“I particularly welcome the scheme’s emphasis on those from less advantaged backgrounds, as this will help those who would not normally have the chance to live, work and make a contribution abroad now can.”
• The scheme – ‘Platform2’ – will start in Summer 2008, with placements to Ghana and South Africa.
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• The volunteers will be:
o -spending ten weeks in a developing country working on community development projects such as environmental conservation or HIV/AIDS awareness;
o -designing personal activity plans with other volunteers during a residential weekend on their return to the UK; and
o -building understanding about the world back home through road shows and activities in their local communities and encouraging their peers to join the fight against global poverty.
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• Platform2 is open to young adults from less advantaged backgrounds aged 18-25 on the date of travel who meet a combination of criteria relating to previous education, employment, benefits and travel. Positive emphasis will be placed on a track record of community involvement. All volunteers must hold (or be eligible for) a British passport
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• Overseas placements will be in groups of 12 to Ghana, South Africa, India, Malawi or Peru and will start in the summer
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• Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC have been appointed as a partnership to deliver the scheme
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• To find out more, please go to:
• www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/volunteering-programme.asp
