Young people believe volunteering can help make poverty history

One in three young people believe volunteering is one of the most effective ways for individuals to reduce poverty in poor countries, according to a survey by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The government department is calling for more young people aged between 18-25 to sign up for its new Platform2 volunteering scheme which gives young people from less advantaged backgrounds the chance to volunteer overseas and is run in partnership with Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC (British Universities North America Club).

The survey, released for International Volunteering Day on Friday,
reveals that 19 per cent of the general adult population think volunteering is effective at reducing poverty overseas, a number that increases to 32 per cent in the 16 to 24-year-old age group.

Mike Foster, Minister for International Development said: "It is really encouraging to see that young people today feel that getting involved is the way to fight poverty. Platform2 gives young people the opportunity to experience the ‘reality check’ of development work first hand. We know this work can make a real difference to people’s lives."

Platform2 offers young adults from less advantaged backgrounds the chance to spend 10 weeks in Ghana, Peru, India or South Africa working alongside communities on education, community development, health, sanitation and conservation projects in order to give them a better understanding of international development issues.

The scheme has also revealed how many young people in this country feel they have never really experienced the feeling of being part of their local community.

Mark Vyner, head of programme for Platform2 said: "We have been struck by how many of the participants have remarked on how they felt really welcomed into the community in the places where they worked, and how that contrasted with their home towns. A programme such as Platform2 offers the volunteers a chance to experience a whole new way of life and perhaps learn from the communities they join."

Chloe Sullivan, 18, from Ealing in London said: "The thing I really noticed in South Africa was that even though they had so little, the people looked after each other and appreciated each other.

"On my estate in London where I grew up, there's not much of a sense of community - people's backs are always up and they complain a lot. I think in London we need to have more values and do positive things in our community.

"My Platform2 trip made me appreciate how much I have and that there are so many people worse off than me; now I work with a youth group in my area and it helps me teach them to act more positively and work together in their community."

Shaun Welch, 21, from Birmingham said, "Although Ghana is very poor, being there opened my eyes to a real sense of community – the kids there all have responsibilities which teaches them respect and to care for one another. I think young people here could learn a lot from the way they live their lives."

On their return to the UK participants attend a three day residential workshop where they design a personal activity plan to share their experiences and raise awareness of development issues within their own communities.