Volunteering in Bangladesh

Welcome to Bangladesh!

Bangladesh is a green and fertile country with innumerable waterways that crisscross the largest river delta in the world.

VSO has been active in Bangladesh since 1974. Over the past 30 years poverty has consistently fallen, with an 81% increase in its Human Development Index. However, rural areas are home to many small-scale farmers, sixty percent of whom live below the poverty line and are threatened by a changing climate that brings more regular flooding, and decreasing freshwater.

VSO is working to improve health outcomes, ensure that more people have safe, sustainable means of making a living, and working with communities to respond to the effects of a changing climate and environment.

Our projects are making real progress, and we’re excited to see what we will achieve in a time of national growth of industry and opportunity.

All the best,
Simon Brown, Country Director

Our volunteers

Liz Hunt volunteer in Bangladesh with farmers

Growing together in Bangladesh

Volunteer Liz Hunt, an employee of Syngenta, discusses her role supporting VSO's 'Growing Together' programme - working to increase the skills and abilities of 10,000 small-scale rice, potato and vegetable farmers in the Rangpur and Dinajpur districts of north western Bangladesh.

Supporting smallholder farmers in Bangladesh: A photo essay

Along with a group of 16 international volunteers, Steph’s been working with marginalised groups of smallholder farmers to support them to grow. Her photo diary of what's been an intense month.

Wedding of 15 year old girl in Bangladesh

Marriage, family and tradition in Bangladesh

Vix is a Team Leader in Bangladesh with our International Citizen Service (ICS) youth volunteering programme. Here she takes a sensitive look at the complex issues of child marriage and family loyalty in Bangladesh.

Useful information

How you'll fight poverty

You'll not be wasting your time on a VSO placement. The changes you make will endure long after you return home.

Staff Nurse Kadiatu Jabbie examining Isatu Sesay, 22yrs and her 4 day old son Ahmed Dean Sesay

Questions about volunteering?

Meet returned volunteers, sign up to our newsletter, or just give us a call. Find out how

Youth volunteering in Bangladesh with ICS

We have fully-funded opportunities for young people aged 18-25 to volunteer on projects lasting around 10 weeks on our International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

In Bangladesh, ICS volunteers work with entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Tasks include market research, business development and marketing.

ICS volunteers also work with community volunteers and national volunteers in youth clubs raising awareness on topics such as sexual and reproductive health rights, health and hygiene and child marriage.

If you are a Bangladesh national interested in volunteering with ICS please contact our local office by email: VSO Bangladesh team

UK nationals interested in youth volunteering can apply on the ICS website.

Kieran Toner (VSO volunteer) with children in Bangladesh — Kieran Toner, VSO volunteer, with children in Bangladesh