NEWS

Applications for Volunteer Positions 2011/12 are NOW CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who has applied. Applicants will be contacted by Monday 17th October regarding interview times.

Group Leader Roles Still Available!

If you are aged 24 or over, have some leadership experience and have volunteered on a UCDVO or similiar overseas project in the past, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please email caroline@ucdvo.org for an application form.

Group Leaders are an essential part of each of our overseas projects. Leaders, in collaboration with local partner organisations, co-ordinate the projects pre-departure and on the ground, organise volunteer work schedules, monitor funds and project progress, and ensure that the volunteer team is safe, happy and on target.

More information about Group Leader roles and responsibilities are available on request.

Over the course of this summer, 130 volunteers from UCDVO worked on development projects around the world. Some of the achievements from the work carried out include the construction of two houses in a slum colony in Delhi; a community bakery in South Africa; two classrooms in Nicaragua; fifty six latrines in Haiti; a computer lab in Tanzania; and renovation of school in Andhra Pradesh, India.  Volunteers also worked on education and physiotherapy projects, and continued to build relations with local organisations without which none of this work would be possible. UCDVO would like to extend thanks and appreciation to everyone within the UCD community who has supported their work. Applications for the 2012 projects will open online between 26th September and 10th October 2011. All UCD Students, Staff and Alumni are eligible to apply.

UCDVO Day 2011 raises over €4,500! Volunteers took part in street collections and global awareness projects throughout the day. Thanks to everyone who donated. 

UCDVO Volunteer Niall Murphy arrived in Gros Morne, Haiti at the end of January. He will be based in Haiti for 6 months and will be working with the RJM on community development projects, as well as preparing for the arrival of 24 student volunteers from UCD in July 2011. This is UCDVO's first long-term volunteer placement. You can follow Niall's updates on his blog  http://blancisainmdom.blogspot.com/

The UCDVO Ball 2010 brought together volunteers from all year groups and raised over €3000 for our overseas projects. Thanks to everyone who supported the event. Check out photos on the UCDVO facebook page.

            

Check out this great article about UCDVO in the September issue of the University Observer:

http://www.universityobserver.ie/2010/09/21/home-and-away-ucd-volunteers-overseas/