Skillshare International

We place international volunteers with our partner organisations in Africa and Asia.  They provide support to our partners and their local communities in a wide range of roles, focusing on sustainable livelihoods, HIV and AIDS, gender justice, sport for development and conflict transformation.

It's not a case of one size fits all...  Our placements vary to meet our partners' needs, and our international volunteers include long-term development workers, short-term consultants, medical students, online volunteers and football coaches.

We are also delighted to be a part of the UK government's youth volunteering programme, International Citizen Service (ICS). We are now recruiting volunteers aged 18-25 for our Coaching for Hope projects in South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana! Find out more here.

Quick stats about our international volunteering programme

• In 2009-10, 113 Skillshare development workers supported our partners in Africa and Asia.
• In 2009-10, 71% of our development worker placements were in Southern Africa, 13% in East Africa, 14% in Asia and 2% elsewhere.
• In 2009-10, 43% of our development workers were from the majority world - Africa, Asia and South America. 57% were from Europe, North America or Australia. 
• The average age of our development workers is 39.
• In 2009-10, 94% of Skillshare placements were the traditional two-year model. 3% were short-term placements and 3% were online placements. Placements vary depending on the needs of our partner organisations and the type of placement.

More figures...

• We received 510 applications in 2009-10.
• In 2009-10, 51% of our development workers were female.
• In 2009-10, eight children accompanied their development worker parents.
• In March 2010, we had six couples on placements - where both are development workers, or a development worker is accompanied by their partner/spouse.

Some of the placements we recruited development workers for in 2010: 

• Programme Co-ordinator for an anti-trafficking network in Nepal
• Communication and Publications Officer for a gender-based violence organisation in Nepal
• Advocacy Advisor for a child protection organisation in Mozambique
• Music Coach for a youth performing arts project in Tanzania
• Advocacy & Research Officer for a peace building organisation in Kenya
• Occupational Therapist for the Ministry of Health in Lesotho
• Clinical Psychologist for a mental health hospital in Tanzania
• Resource Mobilisation Advisor for a women's and children's charity in Uganda
• Programme Management Advisor for an environmental charity in Tanzania
• Technical & Marketing Advisor to a non-timber forest produce programme in India

New placements will be advertised on our vacancies page as and when they arise, so keep an eye out if you're interested in becoming one of our development workers!