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Lucy Taylor

Dr Gwen Owen, honorary chair of VSO Gloucestershire supporter group

Meet the 96-year-old who helped raise £50,000 for VSO

Over the past 40 years, Gwen Owen has helped raise an estimated £50,000 for VSO, supporting better education, health and livelihoods for the world's least privileged people. Gwen says collecting for a good cause isn't just satisfying, it's keeping her young.
Malawi Unlocking Talent project

Prestigious prize to unlock education potential

VSO’s partner in bringing literacy and numeracy to millions of children across Malawi is in the running to win a multimillion dollar prize established by Elon Musk.
Teacher Grace Chigwechokha in Malawi

The hardest job in the world

Low pay. Lack of respect. Being asked to achieve the impossible with not enough time, resources or training to do your best. Oh, and the future of the world depends on you. Lucy Taylor hears from four teachers around the world about the challenges they face – and what keeps them going, despite everything.
Volunteer Wim visits a classroom in Cambodia

"All children deserve good teachers" - Wim's story

After a forty-year career in education in the Netherlands, volunteer Wim Voskuilen, 67, is sharing his skills developing a new teacher training curriculum in Cambodia. He explains the impact his work is having on the country and himself.
Volunteer Sean demonstrates tablet computer with teacher in Malawi

A chance to give something back: Sean's story

After a personal tragedy, Sean Fitzmaurice decided to use his retirement giving something back by sharing his skills as a VSO volunteer in Malawi. He explains how it's made life meaningful again.
Teacher Grace Chigwechokha in Malawi

The hardest job in the world

Low pay. Lack of respect. Being asked to achieve the impossible with not enough time, resources or training to do your best. Oh, and the future of the world depends on you. Lucy Taylor hears from four teachers around the world about the challenges they face – and what keeps them going, despite everything.
Struggling teacher in Malawi

“I love teaching – but it is so difficult”

Grace Chigwechokha, 41, has 84 children in her class at Chiuzimbi Primary School in Malawi ranging in age from six to 14 years old. She explains how she's seeing her learners overcome these challenging conditions through a VSO project.
Teacher Josephine in Rwanda

“I keep going because I have a passion for teaching”

Josephine earns just £12 a month as a pre-primary school teacher in one of the poorest districts of Rwanda. She's finding creative ways to bring learning to life using old rice sacks and bottle tops, as part of a programme to improve early childhood education in the country.
Volunteer Sylvester in Kenya

Fighting for deaf inclusion in Kenya: Sylvester's story

Sylvester Ochieng, 28, is volunteering for a Kenya where all children have equal education opportunities. Children with hearing impairments face additional barriers to attending and making progress in school. He explains the impact he is seeing on his placement in Bungoma County.
Teacher Isabella in Kenya

“People in this community view my job as a waste of time”

Isabella explains how she copes as a teacher of children that many locals don't think deserve education, and how training from VSO led her on a mission to fight for disability rights.

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