Take up the challenge and help to fight world poverty (From Worcester News)

Take up the challenge and help to fight world poverty

9:00pm Saturday 15th March 2008 in News By Lucy Tatchell

A CHARITY which sends volunteers overseas is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by challenging people in Worcester to help tackle global poverty.

Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) is an international development charity working through skilled volunteers in 34 countries mostly in Africa and Asia. Since it started in 1958 it has sent over 32,000 people to share their skills in some of the poorest communities in the world.

Fifty-six-year-old Beryl Wilson, of Sabrina Terrace, Barbourne, Worcester, spent 10 months in Ethiopia with VSO training teachers.

"It was a wonderful experience because you meet fascinating people," she said. "You learn a lot about different cultures and realise their life is so different."

Mrs Wilson, who taught at the King's School's junior department for 16 years, lived on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, and trained university graduates how to teach school children. She said she considered many different charities before settling with VSO.

"VSO embraces all ages and that is the wonderful thing," she said.

The average age of VSO volunteers is now 41, and the recruitment age limit is 75-years-old.

The charity recruits people with skills and experience in education, health, business and management, engineering and natural resources.

"You do not feel out of it, I met a lot of other people who were a mixture of ages," Mrs Wilson added. "I had friends who were in their early 20s and others in their 60s."

Before leaving for her 10-month stint in September 2005, Mrs Wilson was given training by the charity and when she arrived in the African capital she spent three weeks learning about the cultures and values of Ethiopia and Ethiopians.

"You are not just going out there cold," she said. "You are well prepared, and the health care VSO provided was excellent."

To embark on her volunteering adventure Mrs Wilson left behind her husband Tim and two children, 27-year-old Ben and 23-year-old Jo, who were 24 and 20 at the time.

"I did have access to a telephone and I had a laptop so I could link up to the internet and email, which was a life saver," she said.

Mrs Wilson recommended the charity to anyone who was thinking about volunteering overseas. "It is a very good charity and you are well looked after," she said. "

For more information visit the website www.vso.org.uk