GORDON BANKS URGES LOCAL YOUNG ADULTS TO TAKE CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER ABROAD
17 March 2008
Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has urged young adults in Ochil & South Perthshire to take advantage of a pioneering new 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 government initiative, Mr Banks 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 ensure those who would not normally have the chance to live, work and make a contribution abroad now can.”
Notes to Editors
The scheme – ‘Platform2’ – will start in Summer
2008, with placements to Ghana and South Africa, the volunteers will
be:
spending ten weeks in a developing country working on local community
development projects such as environmental conservation or HIV/AIDS
awareness;
designing personal activity plans with other volunteers during a residential
weekend on their return to the UK; and
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.
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
Overseas placements will be in groups of 12 to Ghana, South Africa,
India, Malawi or Peru and will start in summer 2008
Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC have been appointed as a partnership
to deliver the scheme
To find out more, please go to: www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/volunteering-programme.as