Frequently Asked Questions
We have tried to answer some of the more frequently asked questions for you here but if there are any other questions you would like to have answered or have us add to this page please email enquiries@vesl.org.
- Where does VESL send volunteers?
- How long are your placements?
- How much work will I do each day on my project?
- What are you looking for in a volunteer?
- How old do I have to be to volunteer?
- What makes VESL different from many other organisations?
- Do I have to contribute towards the cost of my placement?
- How do you ensure my safety overseas?
- Can you put me in contact with a former VESL volunteer?
- Why do I have to attend a training programme?
- Why do I have to attend a selection day?
- What is the VESL education fund and who does it support?
- How do I contact VESL?
- Where do volunteers normally live while on their projects?
- Do volunteers ever go alone?
- Can I volunteer with a friend?
- Do you have a child protection policy?
Where does VESL send volunteers?
VESL currently send volunteers to projects in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Each year VESL sets up a variety of projects for volunteers in rural communities across both countries.
How long are your placements?
Summer placements are 4 to 5 weeks long. Teacher workshops projects are 2 weeks long. All other projects are 3 to 6 months long. After the projects are finished volunteers are free to stay on and travel around the country as they wish.
How much work will I do each day on my project?
This is different for each project. As a benchmark, most volunteers work from Monday to Friday for between four and six hours per day. Volunteers will also be expected to do some lesson preparation work each day.
What are you looking for in a volunteer?
An interest in Asia and experience of working with children and/or teaching would be helpful. Experience of overseas travel would also be useful, however, enthusiasm, adaptability and sensitivity are the top attributes we will be looking for in any volunteer.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
VESL will only consider applicants over 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.
What makes VESL different from many other organisations?
please read 'Why volunteer with VESL' page.
Do I have to contribute towards the cost of my placement?
As VESL is a charity, run almost entirely by volunteers, you will have to contribute towards the cost of the placement. The contribution covers project set up costs, transfers from airport to project, insurance, food, accommodation, training, a teaching pack, in country co-ordination, back-up and support costs for the duration of the project. It is important to us to be as transparent as we can about how your money is spent, details of which can be found in the Volunteer Contribution section. We are happy to give advice on ways to fundraise this amount and have produced a fundraising pack for all volunteers. VESL is non-profit making: your contribution will only be used to cover the costs of your trip.
How do you ensure my safety overseas?
All the projects are vetted and risk-assessed. We also take advice directly from the Foreign and Commonwealth office on the safety of the areas in which we work. The security situation is closely monitored at all times by our programme managers, in-country coordinators and representatives. VESL takes out comprehensive insurance for all volunteers. A copy of our 'Ensuring volunteers are safe' policy can be emailed to you on request.
VESL is aware of the support volunteers require overseas to ensure that they have the best time possible on their projects. During the summer programmes, VESL employs full time coordinators who work alongside projects and are on call twenty four hours a day in case of an emergency. In India and Sri Lanka, VESL has several resident representatives who help ensure the smooth running of our programmes. In the UK, VESL programme managers and trustees are in regular contact with coordinators, representatives and with volunteers. We are also available to speak to volunteers' relatives if needs be.
Can you put me in contact with a former VESL volunteer?
We would be more than happy to put you in contact with someone who has previously been a VESL volunteer. Please contact us and we will send you the details of previous volunteers you can contact.
Why do I have to attend a training event?
VESL wants to send volunteers overseas who are fully prepared for the challenges ahead. We think a training event is the best way of doing this. It gives you an opportunity to meet the VESL team, meet the other volunteers and learn some of the skills and information you will need to make a success of your time overseas.
Why do I have to attend an information and selection day?
We believe that the selection day is as much about you choosing us, as it is about us choosing you. Selection is an excellent opportunity for you to get to know VESL, and find out if we are the right organisation for you. It also gives you a chance to ask all those questions you might have. For us it is an invaluable opportunity to meet you and make sure we can match you to a project and country that we know you will be able to make a difference in and that you will enjoy. The project - volunteer matching process is extremely important and often the success of your placement depends on it, therefore it is essential the VESL team get to know you before making decisions. We are aware that it does take a bit more of your effort to attend selection, but we think it is well worth it in the long run.
What is the VESL education fund and who does it support?
By establishing an Educational Fund VESL can act as a grant-giving body to projects and help fund other organisations within Sri Lanka and India to provide resources and other services for education. If you think you have a suitable project that you think the fund can support, then please email tom@vesl.org. The VESL trustees make all final decisions on funding.
How do I contact VESL?
Check out the 'contact us page.
Where do volunteers live while on their projects?
Accommodation varies from project to project. In almost all cases, volunteers are housed with a local family near to where they work. This gives volunteers the opportunity to really experience life in the country they are living. In some cases volunteers get their own accommodation.
Do volunteers ever go alone?
For most summer placements volunteers are placed with a partner or in small teams. For longer term placements volunteers are normally placed in pairs but can go alone if they prefer.
Can I volunteer with a friend?
We are very happy for friends to apply and attend selection together, however, we don't usually place friends together overseas. We feel that the VESL placements offer a unique opportunity to do something different and this includes living and working with new people. Our experience shows that partners who didn't know each other before they went overseas often got on better than those that did!
Do you have a child protection policy?
Yes. This can be obtained by emailing tom@vesl.org