Voluntary Service International (VSI) is the Irish branch of Service Civil International, a worldwide peace movement that began in 1920. We work to promote peace, social justice, sustainable development and intercultural understanding through volunteering abroad and in Ireland.

Volunteer 2008 in 3 easy steps

VSI Youth Project in Greystones at Easter

 

Tidy Towns work at Greystones

20 young people (participants and leaders) gathered at Greystones at Easter for a special Peer Education Programme (in cooperation with Eco Unesco). They spent 5 days in workshops on a wide variety of topics including peace, environment, conflict etc. It wasn't all talk -the group also helped with cleaning a local nature trail with the local Greystones Tidy Towns committee. See the Teenage Programme pages for more info.

VSI Book of Volunteering Projects 2009 Launched

VSI launches its 2009 Volunteering Book


VSI has just launched its 2009 Book of International Volunteer Projects.

We are searching for adventurous volunteers to help with 

  • Running creative activities at a summer playscheme for young asylum seekers in Co. Meath
  • Assisting community projects in Sri Lanka
  • Helping to run a Viking Festival in Iceland
  • Environmental projects at a national park in Serbia
  • Building a classroom onto to a rural school in Tanzania
  • Renovating a day centre for street children in Rosario, Argentina

 These are just some of the 700 volunteer opportunities available through VSI in 2009.

 

Food and Accommodation

Volunteers receive free food and accommodation while on the projects. The accommodation can range from rooms in a youth hostel to camping sites. Basic conditions can be expected in developing countries. Volunteers will take turns at cooking for the volunteer group.

 

Leisure and Free Time

An important part of every project is how the volunteer group organises its social activities. After the day's work there will be plenty of time to see and join in local cultural activities. Most weekends are free and trips are organised to local places of historical or scenic interest.

 

Costs

Volunteers have to cover their travel costs to/from the project. Volunteers pay a programme fee to VSI ranging from €50 for an Irish project to €90 for an European project to €140 for a project in a developing country.

 

Benefits of volunteering

Volunteers taking part in VSI projects gain an insight into new cultures, languages and people.

Volunteers meet with fellow volunteers from many different countries.

Volunteers can learn new skills e.g. how to build a dry stone wall.

Volunteers are exposed to new ideas and approaches to voluntary and community work. Volunteers also have the satisfaction of seeing their contribution to the success of a project.