Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is New Zealand's largest and most experienced volunteering agency working in international development. VSA volunteers share skills with people in the wider Pacific to help them build a better future for themselves and their children. VSA's work is diverse and driven by the development needs of in-country partners. These partner organisations range from regional and central government agencies to local or national NGOs, education and health bodies and individual schools, colleges and health clinics. VSA is a registered charity and is non-religious, non-political and non-governmental.
VSA has 85-100 volunteers in the field at any one time. During the 2011-2012 financial year, volunteers undertook 150 assignments. Over the past 50 years VSA has recruited more than 3500 ordinary New Zealanders from a wide range of backgrounds, from business mentors and lawyers to IT advisers and eco-tourism operators.
All VSA assignments fit within one or more of six focus areas: building local business, supporting strong communities, safeguarding the environment, fostering good governance, education and health. In addition to these, VSA considers issues related to gender equality, human rights and young people as central to all our work.
VSA is currently working in Papua New Guinea (including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville), the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Vanuatu in the Pacific and in Timor-Leste in Asia.
VSA needs ongoing financial support to continue to send Kiwi volunteers to share their skills with communities in the wider Pacific.
Read more about Volunteer Service Abroad: History, Method of Operation, Gill Greer, CEO
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