Media room

Spokespeople

Our Volunteers

VSA has more than 70 volunteers working in the Melanesia, Polynesia, Asia and Africa at any one time. Their assignments vary widely, from agriculture, law, education, health, and public sanitation to management, business development, sports development and communications.

Deborah Snelson, CEO

Debbie Snelson joined VSA as CEO in May 2004.  Before moving to New Zealand in 2001 Debbie worked for more than 15 years in conservation and development based in East Africa.  She spent three years as a WWF regional representative, heading WWF's work in six countries. Before that, she spent 10 years as Deputy Director of the African Wildlife Foundation.

Debbie has held a number of non-executive roles, including her current role as Chair of the Board of the International FORUM on Development Service, which is the key global network of International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations.

Quick Facts

VSA is a home-grown Kiwi volunteering organisation and has placed over 3,500 volunteers in countries throughout the Pacific, Asia and Africa.

Our volunteers have been in demand for almost 50 years, adding their skills and energy to help strengthen communities striving for change.

We work with our partner organisations to make sure that all our assignments are locally identified, locally relevant, and locally delivered.

• VSA has about 100 volunteers in the field at any one time.

• Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, from accountants and lawyers to sports trainers and eco-tourism operators.

• Most VSA assignments last two years.

• We recruit ordinary New Zealanders to achieve exceptional work with our partner organisations.

• We are an independent charity and are non-governmental, non-religious and non- political.