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VSO 50th Anniversary

50 YEARS OF VSO WORLDWIDE

After 49 years and nearly 33,000 volunteers, VSO is still at the forefront of innovative work in developing countries. Throughout most of this time, VSO has been in the Philippines, collaborating with communities and tapping into the rich potential and spirit of solidarity of Filipinos.

In 1958, eight 18-year old men from the UK went overseas with VSO. For VSO founders, Alec and Mora Dickson, this was the realization of a vision. For the young men, it was the beginning of a journey of discovery.

After 49 years and nearly 33,000 volunteers, VSO is still at the forefront of innovative work in developing countries.

Throughout most of this time, VSO has been in the Philippines, collaborating with communities and tapping into the rich potential and spirit of solidarity of Filipinos.

VSO’s journey in the Philippines began in 1968 when British VSO volunteers worked together with local academic institutions, and later on, with communities and organizations.

Since then, there have been more than 500 VSO volunteers sent to the Philippines to enhance the capabilities of communities to make a living and to create venues for the disabled and disadvantaged to participate in decisions that affect their lives as equal members of their communities.

In 1999, VSO recognized that individual Filipinos could make a difference too in other developing countries.

The South-South volunteering was piloted in the Philippines. VSO invigorates the Filipino spirit of volunteerism by providing skilled professionals international volunteering opportunities that inspire sharing and growth.

Eight years into the program, over 500 Filipino volunteers to date have committed to share skills and change lives.

VSO also harness the power of local volunteer organizations to fuel national development through national volunteering.

We share this 50th year milestone with hundreds of VSO Filipino and foreign volunteers and the many organizations all over the country that have collaborated with VSO 40 years ago until today.

We thank our partners, donors and supporters who have and continued to journey with us in the fight to end poverty in the Philippines and everywhere.

It is the Filipinos’ passion, expertise and endless optimism that will make many more years of collaboration – and celebration – possible for us at VSO.