VESL Volunteer Blog
malayalam

Travel Tip: Learning basic Malayalam

Heading to Kerala and a bit worried about not being able to speak the language? Ever heard of Malayalam? Don’t worry we are here to help!  Knowing some Hindi is not going to get you very far in remote fishing villages in Kerala, so knowing a bit of Malayalam can be very helpful! Malayalam is one […]

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Students at School in Kerala

Volunteer Diary: Saying Goodbye & English Day

Olivia Higginson has written her final blog for us as she has just finished her placement in Kerala, India. VESL would  like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all Olivia’s hard work and for writing blogs for us! My placement has finished and I have tearfully waved goodbye to all my new […]

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Get wrapping...

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Present Wrapping

This is our last Christmas related post, so make the most of this festive season with our last Christmas fundraising idea… And get present wrapping! Ask your friends and family if they need some assistance in wrapping up their presents at this busy time of year and ask for a donation in return. Send out […]

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TEFL ORG UK

Worried about teaching English overseas? Don’t have much experience of teaching? We have teamed up with TEFL ORG UK to offer all VESL volunteers a 23% discount of their on-line and practical courses. To find out more about their courses, download their brochure. Interested? Just send us an e-mail ([email protected]) and we will pass your […]

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Rockin around the christmas tree

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Karaoke

Who doesn’t love singing Christmas carols/songs…? Arrange a night for your friends or work mates, whether that is at your home or you organise it at a local pub or on your works Christmas night out… Ask people to donate money who attend, just make sure you get a good crowd and/or be prepared to […]

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Get Making Your Christmas Pudding!

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Cake Stall

Lots of our volunteers run cake stalls throughout the year at their university’s or places of work, get in the festive spirit this season and run a Christmas Cake stall. You can make plenty of Christmas themed cakes/biscuits, the BBC Good Food website is a great place to start, check out some of the following recipes: Christmas […]

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International Volunteer Day 2012

International Volunteer Day 2012

December 5th is the UN’s International Volunteer Day… For volunteers this represents an opportunity to take stock of the valued work they are involved in and a chance to remind themselves of the challenges they’ve faced and the successes they’ve achieved this year. For others it is simply a chance to explore ways in which […]

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What's my name?

Fundraising Idea: Name the Reindeer

This is a great quick idea that you can do at any event (cake sale, film night etc) or approach local retailers and ask if you can run the competition there. What is Name the Reindeer? This is a really quick activity, you will need to buy a cuddly toy reindeer (or ask a shop […]

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Staying Safe Overseas

Staying safe whilst you’re overseas is really important whether you are a first time traveller or seasoned traveller, there are some important things that you need to remember, before and after your trip. Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation is a charity that is working to raise awareness of the importance of staying safe while travelling, especially to […]

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Time to find your creative side

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Crackers

This idea is perfect if you are the creative type! If you have some spare time at the weekend or in the evenings or while catching up on your favourite TV shows, get in the festive spirit by making your own crackers! Grab the glitter, glue and ask your friends to help you out. Check […]

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Intricate flower designs to celebrate Onam

Festivals in Kerala

When you think of India a lot of people thing of the bright, vibrant, loud festivals that occur across the country throughout the year. Each state has different festivals so here we have bought you some of the famous Keralan festivals so you can see what is on when you’re out there! (more…)

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Where did Santa lose his presents?

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Grid

A great way to raise money is by creating a grid on a piece of A4 paper and ask people to donate a pound and sign up to a square on the grid. You can theme the grid to anything, but a great way to theme the grid at Christmas could be: Help Santa find […]

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Students at school

Volunteer Diary: A Day in the Life, Sri Lanka.

Melissa has written another excellent blog for us (you may have read her last one, if not catch up on it here), this time about her day to day life in Sri Lanka.Warning: If you read this you are more than likely going to want to jump on to the next plane to Sri Lanka […]

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Time for some Christmas dinner

Fundraising Idea: Christmas Meal for Friends

You may not be thinking about your Christmas dinner quite yet, but it might be a good time to start… invite your friends round for a Christmas meal at the beginning of December and ask them to donate £10 each. It is a great deal for them, for £10-£15 they get a (hopefully) tasty Christmas […]

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