Volunteer blogs

Having been an active Member and a Fellow of both the New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology (NZIFST) and Singapore Institute of Food Science & Technology (SIFST), when I arrived in Tanzania on my voluntary assignment, I was looking for an equivalent Tanzanian organisation to join. Read More

I am now in my fourth week of my UniVol assignment in Nuku’alofa Tonga. One thing I have found very different to New Zealand is how the youth spend their free time and weekends. Read More

It came as a shock to the people of Tonga that King George Tupou V had passed away in Hong Kong on Sunday 18th March. Read More

While on assignment as a Food and Nutrition Adviser with SIDO (Small Industries Development Organisation) I was invited by fellow VSA volunteer Mike Allard to train some of the trainers at his partner organisation, Global Service Corps (GSC), also based in Arusha. Read More

During my time in Choiseul I was fortunate enough to sample Malcolm’s famous bread. Malcolm is a VSA Legal Adviser working for the Choiseul Provincial Government and he is famous in Taro and among Ministry and VSA staff members for his bread. Read More

Fridays at Wan Smolbag are, in essence, like Fridays anywhere that I've worked. Although the environment and the details are different - unique to this time and place - it's 5pm, the weekend is upon us and everyone is ready to party.  Read More

Zero Balans, Wan Smolbag Theatre's latest play, has received rave reviews and every performance so far has sold out. Read More

My photo entry shows Raymond having happily played a cut shot to gully (the muddy area under the orange tree) and Noa with a great sprint from the non-strikers end, whilst Clarence (sitting), Robert, and Mude wait at the stumps for the younger fielders to return the ball (a young... Read More

I started my VSA assignment as Dairy Products Adviser at Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) in August 2010. However, soon I realised that dairy was just a minor product in the range of foods that I was advising on. My assignment title has now changed to Food and Nutrition Adviser. Read More

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary decided I needed to take a break from the Induction Training to work on some land negotiations (more on this later).  What can I tell you about Choiseul?  I managed to scrape together some information from Malcolm and Scott, both VSA volunteers situated in Choiseul Province. Read More