Weekend Post #8: Volunteer work in Sierra Leone to support Millennium Development Goals(MDG)

Hi everyone,

Today is indeed a different kind of post but a very exciting one. It's a post on behalf of my dear friend Daisy who is volunteering in Sierra Leone come May 2014 and I am so excited for her!!!. She has to raise some funds to support her charity work so she would be needing a little help and I would appreciate any support anyone can offer to her. So, I am handing you over to her...

"Hi, I'm Daisy and I am a 23 year old from God's own country, Yorkshire! I am currently working as a web based intern for The Children's Society. I'm working on the Young Carers in Focus (YCiF) project and I'm based with one the projects partners, DigitalMe who are a non-profit organisation based in Leeds. I have really enjoyed being involved in this project and working as an Intern as it has confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the charity sector. As my Internship is a 3 month contract, I decided that I would try and achieve a lifetime dream to volunteer abroad. Thus, I applied to the ICS programme and there was good news!!..In summer, I will be volunteering for 3 months in Bo, Sierra Leone. The theme of the programme I will be volunteering on is Youth Participation and Empowerment. This is part of International Citizen Service  which brings young people together to fight poverty. I will be volunteering for an incredible charity called VSO alongside volunteers from Sierra Leone on a project which encourages community development and works towards the Millennium Development Goals. This is a competitive programme that is entirely funded by the Department for International Development . VSO works with communities that have specifically requested their help, and where the skills of young people can make a direct impact. 

When I found out I had been accepted to the ICS programme I was extremely pleased and excited! However, panic hit me when I realised I only had a month to fundraise £800! Although my trip to Sierra Leone is completely funded by the Department of International Development, we are encouraged to fundraise £800 to show our commitment to VSO and to raise awareness of the work they do. VSO needs to raise £10 million each year in the UK to continue its vital work. Although £800 is a fraction of the total cost to recruit, train and send a volunteer to share skills in developing countries, it can obviously help. Why donate? VSO currently works in 43 countries. It receives funding from the UK government and has some corporate sponsorship but it predominantly relies on fundraising and individual sponsorship. The money allows more projects to be established and more volunteers to sent out to impoverished communities. Just £25 can help VSO keep a nurse in Sierra Leone for a week educating local health workers and communities to combat malnutrition, malaria and dysentery.

I have already organised many fundraising events, including a bake sale at Barclays Bank, a bake sale at my Dad’s art exhibition, a charity abseil with a group of family and friends, and I also intend to do the #belowtheline challenge. The charity abseil will take place on the 13^th April at Ilkley Moor. We will be abseiling from a 20-metre rock! Everyone involved in this abseil is willing to gain sponsorship in order to raise money for VSO. As well as being an important part of fundraising, it will be extremely exciting and a fun activity to do. I will be organising other fundraising and sponsored events to raise as much as I can, as well as using my Just Giving Page for any donations and I would appreciate any support. Please also visit my Twitter @DaisyCWilde for updates on fundraising events and activities!" Thank you."