Testimonials		ABOUT US   What is the Volunteer Support Network? The Volunteer Support Network (VSN) has been established in Uganda to support local NGOs, and community cooperatives by linking international volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to help local community organisations in achieving their development goals. What does the Volunteer Support Network do? VSN recruits people from a wide range of backgrounds who wish to volunteer their time and skills to assist local community projects in Uganda. VSN provides personal and professional support and advice to volunteers before, throughout and after their placement, as well as offering development and volunteer management support to the local organisations we work with, so that the experience is meaningful, valuable and rewarding for both parties. Why is the Volunteer Support Network Needed? Many NGOs and volunteers have had bad experiences, usually due to poor coordination and management, unrealistic expectations, and lack of cultural understanding. This can put them off volunteering or taking prospective volunteers. NGOs often complain that volunteers start with enthusiasm, but can become despondent and even a liability after some time. Without the proper coordination or support some volunteers can end up doing more harm than good, despite the best intentions, as they are left to ‘start up’ their own project with little input from the local community, meaning the project often fails once they leave. Volunteers often complain that when they arrive at a placement, they are “dumped” by the coordinating organisation and left to fend for themselves. When they reach the placement on the first day of work, the programme is not organised, no job description is offered and they are sometimes told to just help out wherever they feel they can. Some placements seem to be set up in order to cater for growing numbers of volunteers, rather than to address needs requested by the local community. The volunteer coordinator is usually only available by phone or email, and concerns are sometimes ignored. Volunteers who take the adventurous route of just ‘turning up’ often find it extremely difficult to find a legitimate organisation which will allow them to volunteer, and even more so to be able to share their skills and ideas to the fullest. VSN addresses these issues by carefully selecting a small number of legitimate organisations which genuinely need and have requested volunteers. VSN also selects volunteers with the necessary skills requested by the host organisation, and provides advice and support to the volunteer before, during and after their placement. We assist the local community organisation in managing volunteers effectively so that everyone gets the most out of their experience. We hold regular meetings and debriefing sessions with volunteers (as well as NGOs) in-country, provide safe and secure accommodation, and are always on hand when you need help or advice. VSN can also help voluntourists create the right balance of work and play, by offering advice about trips and activities throughout Uganda. The volunteering sector is already massive and our goal is to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the sector. We are in the ideal position to do this, given our extensive experience in volunteer management and development management, and a combined ten years experience living, working and volunteering in East Africa. Who is the Volunteer Support Network? The Volunteer Support Network is directed by Sarah Hartley and Gareth Sandell from their home in Kampala, Uganda. The British Directors have a combined ten years experience of living, working and volunteering in East Africa, and more than twenty years experience in the fields of education and development work. Both have travelled and worked extensively throughout the world. Sarah and Gareth met in Kampala while teaching at the same school. Sarah first arrived in Uganda as a volunteer in 2004, having previously taught, trained and volunteered for many years in the UK, China, and the Middle East. She volunteered with a number of different organisations before going to work for Invisible Children in northern Uganda. Sarah held the post of Programme Manager of Invisible Children's Schools for Schools programme for two years and currently works part time as an Education Development Consultant, as well as volunteering with some of our partner organisations. Gareth has established the fair-trade social enterprise, music production company, music academy and record label CHiLLUM WOODS SOUND, which is working to raise standards and quality in the Ugandan music industry, as well as supporting local upcoming artists to develop a career in music.  Both directors call on their experience and talents in the fields of education, international development, project management, and the volunteer and NGO sectors, to make the Volunteer Support Network helpful, meaningful and rewarding to volunteers and local communities alike. What are the plans for the future? We plan to develop the quality and effectiveness of our systems further over time, while keeping the size of the operations manageable and personal for both volunteers and organisations. Our aim is to develop a model that is replicable in other countries in Africa and beyond. The volunteering sector is already massive and our goal is to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the sector in addressing a wide range of needs throughout the world. In addition, the directors of the Volunteer Support Network have specific personal interests to continue to develop projects in the education and music sectors, and support our partner organisations with any profits we make.
Name: Michelle Age: 28 Hometown: Florida, USA Volunteer job: Counselor and Social Work Assistant Michelle says: “VSN is a first-rate organization with friendly, supportive, and well-informed staff that go above and beyond to ensure your placement ...Read More.