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Become A Volunteer

You've taken the first step by opening up this site and beginning a journey that may lead you to an experience of a lifetime. Have a look at the Current Volunteer Vacancies but don't be put off if there is nothing that is particularly relevant to your skills. By simply filling out the Register Your Interest Form, we can place your information on our files for future assignments.

If you are aged between 18 and 28 and don't have the experience we require in our mainstream assignments, then check out VSA/SPW opportunities in Southern Africa, below.

Meanwhile, read about the experiences of volunteers, look at the frequently asked questions.

Read VSA's Volunteering Overseas booklet and find out...

If volunteering is right for you
What makes a 'good' volunteering experience
The questions you need to ask
The checklists you need to make.

VSA opportunities for young Kiwis

VSA has formed an alliance with Students Partnerships Worldwide (SPW) and is recruiting now for 18-28 year olds looking for a 9-11 month experience in Africa. You will go through a training programme, where you'll learn new and fun ways of teaching messages about health and the environment. Then you will be posted to a community with local volunteers, where you will be supported by SPW to work on one of three key themes: health (and in particular HIV/AIDS education); the environment, or community development.

To participate in the SPW programme, you will contribute $11,500 (the good news is that you can fundraise for this!). You will be provided with fundraising advice and support once you have been accepted onto the programme.

VSA is recruiting now for SPW volunteers to begin their assignments in January 2009.

"SPW recognises that its not about people going in and telling others how to live their lives. It's about volunteers sharing their skills and building the capacity of young people, helping develop the skills and opportunities to enable them to lead their own lives." Felicity Gibson, VSA volunteer with SPW, 2007 (pictured with SPW colleagues).

Read our SPW booklet.

To find out more, complete the contact us form, or phone 0800 872 8646.