VSO China strategy information sheets

VSO is progressively extending its programme of NGO (social organisation) capacity building to more than 50 NGOs in
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu, Kunming, Shenzhen and other major cities.. In each city the
programme will focus on the capacity building of (at least) one local volunteering centre and several NGO’s
representing the needs of a broad range of least advantaged groups and across the development sectors of health,
disability, HIV&AIDS, education, livelihood development and environment. VSO will recruit, place and support
international volunteers from its worldwide pool of experts at these organisations with a primary focus on
organisationaland volunteer programme development.
Concurrently VSO is working with corporate partners to build the capacity of employee volunteering programs. We
broker opportunities for staff to get involved part time or one time; in general support or capacity building of NGOs
orin community events and community volunteering.
Partnerships for Development provides companies with an affordable approach to demonstrating social responsibility
and to be part of large programme with a clear development effect; one that can be represented in individual
company CSR reports. It guarantees that partners’ contribution will be appropriately recognised in all publications
and publicity; including the annual Volunteering Expo that featured on CCTV in 2010. Partnerships for Development
offers companies the opportunity to enhance employee job satisfaction, recruitment and retention and to develop
core skills in communication, team work, project management, problem-solving, and conflict negotiation. Employees
also benefit from a range of soft skills, particularly in building self-confidence.
If your company is interested in Partnership for Development email Simon.Brown@vsoint.org or
Michael.Mapstone@vso.org.uk. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have. We offer a free
preliminary Partnership Scan to determine what kind of corporate volunteering programme might suit your company
best. To stay informed about VSO activities in China please visit our websites www.vsoconsulting-cn.com or
www.vso-cn.org.

VSO has more than fifty years of experience in organisationaldevelopment and volunteer programme management,
and in establishing partnerships that work in development. We are open to share that knowledge through web
based guides and best practice, through regular training events and through consulting services.
VSO in China is equipped and actively providing excellent training and consulting services to companies in
• Volunteer Programme Development and Management
• Volunteer Management Systems
• Approaches to Working with Social Organisations
• Organisational Learning Systems
• Organisational Leadership and Development
We can deliver training tailored to individual company needs for up to twenty staff members. We also offer
Employee Volunteering Programme Development consulting and mentoring, delivered through experienced staff and
volunteers.
If your company is interested in Training & Consulting email Simon.Brown@vsoint.org or
Michael.Mapstone@vso.org.uk. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have. We offer a free
preliminary Partnership Scan to determine what kind of corporate volunteering programme might suit your company
best. To stay informed about VSO activities in China please visit our websites www.vsoconsulting-cn.com or
www.vso-cn.org.

Since 1958, VSO has recruited more than 44,000 volunteers of 94 nationalities to serve in more than 90 least
developed countries around the world. After thirty years of bringing more than 750 expert volunteers to China, VSO
now recognises the talent and interest that exists in China for international development through volunteerism and
is including Chinese volunteers in its internationalprogramme.
VSO now recruits Chinese expert volunteers to serve in less developed countries in Africa and Asia. VSO currently has
two Chinese volunteers in Africa (in Nigeria and Kenya working in HIV&AIDS and Youth development). This number
will significantly grow over the coming years , starting with at least ten additional volunteers in 2011/12 and with a
focus on education, health, disability, HIV&AIDS, livelihood skills, environment, youth and gender disadvantage,.
VSO from China will undoubtedly benefit global development and the world’s poor and provides a great opportunity
to demonstrate corporate social responsibility through the sponsoring of one or more volunteers or by getting
directly involved with short term executive or staff volunteering . Such support can be reported in both China and the
host country and is a great opportunity to link corporate sustainability programmes to community development.
For more information on VSO from China email volunteer.china@vsoint.org or visit our website at www.vso-cn.org.
You can also follow us on Weibo at weibo.com/vsoc

Established in partnership with the British Council in 2005, the Global Xchange has directly engaged with over 1,500
youth volunteers in internationalexchanges between 37UK communities and 37 countries around the world.
In China since 2009, Youth Xchange promotes intercultural dialogue between youth from differing countries and the
active participation of young people in community cohesion.
Pairing nine young Chinese (18-25 years) with nine youth from another country to spend three months together in
each country, volunteering more than 6,000 hours in very local communities. Historically limited to China-UK but now
extended to China-EU, China-North America, China-Asia, China-Africa and even China-China.
Youth Xchange is an amazing product and one in which foreign and domestic companies can get involved in through
sponsorship. The third exchange between the UK and China in 2010 resulted in 740,000 media mentions including
socialmedia, TV, radio and print media.
For more information on Youth Xchange email volunteer.china@vsoint.org or Simon.Brown@vsoint.org or visit our
website at www.vso-cn.org. You can also follow us on Weibo at weibo.com/vsoc

Launched in 2010, the Volunteering Expo is a unique event in China. It give space to government, non-government,
corporate and academic sectors to debate the challenges and opportunities of volunteering for harmonious
development in China and to network and showcase volunteering initiatives.
Timed to coincide with the International Volunteer Day each year, it is a moment to reflect, be inspired and challenge
ourselves to further develop volunteerism in China and overseas from China. In 2011 the theme is Partnerships for
Development. This is an outstanding event , widely covered by national media and reaching out to tens of thousands
of people through its website and social media connections.
If your company is interested in participating in or sponsoring the Volunteering Expo email Simon.Brown@vsoint.org
orMichael.Mapstone@vso.org.uk.
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Valuing Volunteering is a partnership between VSO, the Institute for Development Studies of University Sussex in the
UK and other global and local VSO partners to understand what social and economic impact different forms of
volunteering have on poverty. The three year project will be delivered through an innovative and cutting edge
methodology “systemic action research” and will start in China and five other countries in Asia and Africa early in
2012.
Valuing Volunteering researches differing forms of volunteering across China to understand both the social and
economicbenefits of each.
One very important aspect of this will be corporate volunteering; specifically focused on China, this 6-9 month
research aims to understand the effect of corporate volunteering in China and to build a collection of case studies of
companies working with communities through employee volunteering.
If your company is interested in supporting the Valuing Volunteering Research email Simon.Brown@vsoint.org or
Michael.Mapstone@vso.org.uk. We willbe happy to answer any questions you might have.