Voluntary Work Abroad - Gap Year - Link Overseas Exchange

Background

In 1992, Link Overseas Exchange was granted charitable status, to provide volunteers in parts of the developing world.  Link was formed by Andrew and Vicky Greaves with an aim to provide mutual social, educational and cultural benefits for volunteers and the placements they worked at. 

At its optimum, the number of volunteers going overseas each year through Link stood at around 60.  In total, close to 700 Link volunteers have contributed at placements in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China and Georgia.

Volunteers were placed for 6 months which allowed time for integration into the community they worked with.  Supplementing English language teaching, organising informal classes and activities and becoming active in the local community were the main responsibilities of Link volunteers.  In countries where the learning of English can be vital in improving prospects, the volunteers’ presence will have been of benefit to many.  The experience of adapting to an alien culture and gaining responsibility will have been a positive learning curve for the volunteers themselves.

The last volunteer programme of this kind ran in August 2007, when 14 volunteers worked in placements in India.  In March 2007, Link’s board of directors felt that a refocus of Link’s work was required.  Samanikethanaya was under construction at the time, and it was felt that such aid programmes were to be the new means for Link to meet its objectives.

Link has derived a lot of experience of organising placements overseas for those coming from Scotland.  As people come forward to offer to volunteer at the centre, this experience wil be vital in ensuring that visits are constructive and worthwhile.

Click here to read about the Volunteers’ Stories and also visit the Volunteer Photo Gallery.

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