| Volunteering In Caithness | Global Xchange | ||
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Global Xchange Volunteers In Caithness |
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8 November
08 25
October 08 Aged between 18 and 27 the team, who are from all over the UK and Bangladesh, are living with host families in the county whilst volunteering with the following organisations: Home Aid, Wellington Enterprises, Wick Youth Club, Pultney Town People’s Project, The Ormlie Centre, Haven, Horizons, Wick Family Centre, Stepping Stones, Keiss Primary School, Pultney Town Academy and the Highland Rangers Alongside out work placements we will participate in and help with, other community projects. A few weeks ago the team began regenerating the derelict ground outside the Boys Brigade Hall in Wick. Working alongside Boys’ Brigade Leader Marc Macdonald and after several tough weekends of digging, shovelling, building and planting; we transformed the site into a garden and picnic area for the Boys’ Brigade to enjoy. Over the coming weeks we will hold numerous Community Action Days whereby we will work on similar projects to the Boys’ Brigade Garden, which are aimed at benefiting the local community. This year’s Global Xchange team are eager to get involved in local activities and experience as much of Caithness as possible in the time we will spend here. Recent activities have included Salsa classes in Wick, traditional music nights in Thurso, a church concert and Harvest Festival in Watten and a very long walk around Dunnet Head with the Caithness Waybaggers. It is the Bangladeshis first time in the UK so it is a particularly exciting time for them. They are also hoping to share their culture with the residents of Caithness and so in November we will hold a Community Day and locals will be invited to sample aspects of Bangladeshi culture. We hope that before we depart for Bangladesh in December we will have had a positive and lasting impact on Caithness. Each week a member of the team will update you on our work and experiences in the community. We are also keen for members of the community to contact us with suggestions for Community Action Days. Please call us on 07880715955; we look forward to hearing from you! 5
October 08 What is expected of a
host home? 17
August 08 Aneirin is taking part in the Global Xchange programme which starts in Caithness in September and he is so enthusiastic about the benefits of the VSO and British Council run project that he aims to raise £600 on the epic cycle ride with his father and brother before the exchange. After working for three months on projects in Caithness, Aneirin and the team of 18 young volunteers will travelling to Chittagong, Bangladesh in December to continue donating their time to community projects. Project Supervisor Becca Thompson said: “Aneirin is typical of the calibre of volunteers who dedicate their time to improving the lives of others. That he is prepared to undertake this challenge of his own volition speaks volumes and reflects the dedication of him and his peers. I am sure it will be the first step towards another successful Global Xchange project in Caithness. At present, Aneirin has nowhere to stay when he returns to Caithness, as Host Homes for the volunteers are still being sought. If anyone has a room to spare contact Becca Thompson on 07966761311 or becca.thompson@vso.org.uk to ensure the hard working volunteers have somewhere welcoming to rest after a hard day’s work. Aneirin added “The opportunity is unique and exciting. I cannot wait to get going!” You can donate at www.justgiving.com/awenner Global Xchange is run by VSO and the British Council and supported by BAA Communities Trust. 2008 Global Xchange in Caithness will be bringing nine young people from Bangladesh together with nine British youngsters, to give 6000 hours of voluntary service to the local community. The young people are one of seven groups arriving in the UK this September for three months, before spending three months in their counterpart country. This is the second time Caithness has taken part in the exchange run by VSO and the British Council, which brings together young people from the UK and Bangladesh. The previous Global Xchange in Caithness, saw young people from Malawi and the UK living and working in the borough. Global Xchange is supported by BAA Communities Trust, a charity set up by airports operator BAA, which has donated more than £600,000 towards the programme since 2004, and by the youth volunteering charity ‘v’. Becca Thompson, Caithness Global Xchange programme supervisor, said: “We are interested in hearing from those who may have volunteer placements or friendly homes able to host international volunteers for three months. Hosts are offered a weekly allowance towards accommodation and food costs and will be supported by two project supervisors. It’s a chance to learn a little bit about Bangladesh, and take part in a successful and innovative community project.” Becca Thompson is not a new face to Caithness, having grown up in Wick, attending Pulteneytown Academy and Wick High School. She first left Wick with fellow class mate Jessica Collins to live and work on a Kibbutz in Israel and has gone on to a career in youth work and travel, recently graduating with a MA in Contemporary Craft from the University College for the Creative Arts. She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to work in her home community by Global Xchange and knows how welcoming Caithnesians are. For more information visit http://www.vso.org.uk/globalxchange/ She is also actively seeking young people who would like to apply to take part in the exchange in the future and is able to support them through the application process. Successful applicants are expected to fundraise six hundred pounds. Global Xchange cover the cost of Training, visas, travel, medical checks, injections, accommodation and food. Currently groups are working all over the world. The last Malawi/Caithness programme proved extremely popular among community hosts, providing the opportunity to have first hand experience of living with someone from a different culture, forming strong bonds and sharing experiences. Such were the relationships forged, that volunteers and host homes are still in contact. If you are able to support the programme, or would like more information about Global Xchange, contact Becca.thompson@vso.org.uk. Programme supervisor on 07966761311. |
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8
July 07
The Scots on the team already had one culture adjustment to make while they were in Caithness, as none had been to the north of Scotland before. Now they are going to the north of Malawi where they will experience n even greater cultural shock. They will not have public transport on surfaced roads, and only an intermittent electricity and running water supply. The staple diet will be very simple, and of course the climate will be much hotter. But they will experience a great welcome, among a very hospitable people who value their heritage from the Scottish Missionary founders of their country. Our Malawian friends will be able to go on to college courses, thanks to the generosity of so many in Caithness who have funded them for a first year at a college of their choice in Malawi. A fund for their college education has been set up by Watten Church of Scotland, and any further donations will enable the young people to extend their study courses over the subsequent years. Amazingly £75 can pay for education for a whole year for student in Malawi. So small amounts might be capable of changing lives dramatically for these young people who came to Caithness. Some of these young people may then come back to work in the UK and then send enough money home to enable ten times as many young people to study and receive a professional training. That's a great strategy for the growth and development of a whole country. |
6 April 07 Support For Wick Trees From Inverness To Malawi A scheme to breathe new life into a small stand of trees at Wick Riverside Park in the heart of Wick has drawn wide support from Inverness to Malawi.
The trees in question, a rather straggly although strangely architectural, collection of predominantly sycamores have featured in many photographs and pictures of the town taken from Wick Riverside for many years. Recently however, time has started to take its toll with several casualties of old age and disease having to be removed for safety reasons. This has left the postage-stamp woodland increasingly open and bare. Local Countryside Ranger, Lindsey Duncan and Inverness based Forestry Officer, Nick Richards, saw this scheme as a good opportunity to get the Global Xchange programme involved. The group of 9 Scots and 9 Malawian volunteers were very happy to leave behind a growing memento of their visit. Trisha Sangaya, from Malawi said: "Malawi has many forests and it is an honour to help the people of Wick by planting a tree that will hopefully flourish over the coming years." A variety of tree species were chosen to plant-up the area including Holly, Elm and Scot's Pine which will provide a variety of shapes and colours through the year whilst also providing an improved habitat for wildlife. The improvement for wildlife and the enjoyment of the public also proved to be attractive to Scottish Natural Heritage who financially supported the project, which will include further hedge planting along the Wick riverside path. Global Xchange is an exciting international exchange programme run in partnership by VSO, the British Council, CSV (Community Service Volunteers), and supported by the Scottish Executive. It aims to develop Scotland's already strong historical links with Malawi and bring young people together to make a valuable contribution to local communities both in Scotland and the developing world. After completing their community work in Caithness the team will then travel to Mzuzu, Malawi to assist local community groups and organisations for three months before returning home to support their own communities with their newly developed skills. If you are interested in getting involved
with Global Xchange please contact Rohanna Law, Programme Supervisor on
07968 506 324 or rohanna.law@vso.org.uk
28 March
07 |
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Six volunteers are
still looking for accommodation in Caithness. Could you offer a room from
2 weeks to 2 months (until the 1st of December) to a pair of volunteers?
They are working on community projects around the county.
