Think about all the ways you can raise awareness of your fundraising and also volunteering overseas. The more publicity you get the easier your fundraising job will be. Local papers often respond positively when approached to do an article on you and your fundraising plans. Send them a press release or brief article about what […]
VESL Volunteer Blog
Fundraising: Holding An Event
All events are unique but the following points should be considered to ensure your event is safe, fun and a success! We had a whole host of events in 2013 including talent shows, community events, film nights (with films relevant to the country you’re visiting), gigs, club nights, large meals – the list is endless! […]
Fundraising: Getting Started…
As with all new things, making a start is always the hardest part, but remember… The sooner you get started the sooner you will reach your fundraising target. The more ground work and planning you do the more success you will have. The best place to begin is to simply start talking… You should talk […]
Volunteer Case Study: Thailand: A Day In The Life
Check out this case study by Keele student, Katie Hill, who volunteered in Thailand in the summer of 2012 for six weeks. This year Katie is going back to Thailand as a Student Leader! My day would typically start at about half 6 where I would get up showered and ready for school. At about […]
Volunteer Update: Bob in Sri Lanka II
You may have seen our last instalment from Bob, who is currently in Sri Lanka (for the third time with VESL!), if not make sure you check it out here! We received a lovely email from Priyanthi, the English Teacher, at the school Bob has been placed in just after Bob’s last update: He [Bob] […]
Volunteer Case Study: Rural Projects
VESL runs projects in rural parts of Chiang Rai in Thailand, these are unique projects in the mountainous regions of the province where the local villages are inhabited by various hill tribe populations. Andrew Durrant, now a Keele University graduate, volunteered in a rural hill tribe project in 2012. Here Andrew talks about what the […]
Volunteer Case Study: Kru Kim
“These past few weeks have definitely taught me a lot about myself and having taught a variety of ages from 4-15 years, I have verified that I can teach and more than this, that I enjoy teaching. I have spent a long period of time in a foreign country and I felt at home; I […]
Volunteer Update: Bob in Sri Lanka
We received a fantastic update from repeat volunteer Bob Cook last week and wanted to share the fantastic work he is doing in Sri Lanka on his 6 month placement out there! Bob is a retired secondary school science teacher and has volunteered with us in Sri Lanka for the past two years, this is […]
Q&A Review: Glasgow University
Last week we were invited to take part in a Q&A Session on ‘International Work Experience’ at Glasgow University and we were asked some great questions so thought it would be great to write them up so you can have a read! We were invited to take part in the panel because the Scottish Government […]
Fundraising Idea: Raffle
A raffle is a great way to raise money at an event, past volunteers have raised nearly £150 from holding a raffle at a designated event – a great source of funding! Please note that if you are planning on holding a raffle you need to read the section below entitled ‘Raffles and the law’ […]
Volunteer Case Study: A Second Family
Victoria Will recently graduated from Nottingham University and spent six weeks this summer volunteering in a school in Chiang Rai with her volunteer partner Tata. Victoria has written a great blog about her experiences of staying with a host family, from her initial nerves to a tearful goodbye at the airport! Please note that not […]
Volunteer Case Study: Memories
Tazreen Kassim-Lowe from Keele University has written a second blog (first blog can be found here) for us, reflecting on her experience and memories after spending four weeks in Northern Thailand teaching English. Tazreen and her project partner, Kate, were placed at a rural primary school between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, having returned to […]
Fundraising Idea: Sponsored Event
Participating in a sponsored event is a great way to raise money towards your target and get fit and have fun (yes it is possible -check out some alternative events below!) all at the same time! What can I do? There are loads of different events out there from a marathon to an assault course, […]
Volunteer Case Study: Excerpts from a Diary
Ola Smuklerz is a student at Manchester Metropolitan University and she spent four weeks this summer in Kerala, India volunteering in a school in a Muslim community just south of Trivandrum. Ola has put together a collection of excerpts from her diary that reflect on her experience, from meeting her host family full of nerves […]
