The World Youth Millennium Awards

With funding from the millennium commission, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), and the Prince's Trust have developed a programme for young people aged 17-25. The programme gives young people in different countries a unique opportunity to work together, to develop and share valuable skills and to make a practical contribution where it is needed in local communities.

Both organisations know from their wealth of experience that volunteering changes the lives of both the volunteers and that of the people in communities in which they work. World Youth combines each organisation's experience of providing opportunities for young people in the UK and VSO provided experience of supporting volunteers in placements overseas.

Each exchange involves an equal partnership with an organisation in a developing country. Participants are recruited both in the UK and in the exchange country. For a period of six months, they live and work in pairs: one from each country. Each pair spends three months living with a local family and working on a local community project in each country. They will:

• Do work which is of practical value to the people in each country.

• Learn more about the diversity of peoples lives -and about themselves.

• Develop values which will help them to playa positive role in their own societies.

• Gain experience and skills which will enhance their employability .

A World Youth programme is currently being set up in Wrexham. Volunteers from the UK and South Africa will be in Wrexham from November to do work of practical value to the community. While in Wrexham the eighteen volunteers will donate over 6000 hours of volunteer work to organisations in the area. In the new year we will be travelling to Mpumulanga province in northern South Africa in October to begin phase two of the programme.

As part of the programme volunteers are expected to stay with host families in the area this is to help volunteers learn more about the community they are living in as well as allowing the family to become more aware of other people from around the UK and South Africa. The VSO is currently looking for anyone who might be interested in becoming a host. They are not looking for luxury, just friendly people with a spare room. Basic costs are covered by the VSO and a Project Supervisor will be in the area throughout the programme.

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a host or further information on how they can help the programme should contact project supervisor:-

Dominic Charkin on 01244 579042

Mobile:- 07713 628449

Email:- Dom.Charkin@mailcity.com