Financial package

We cover all the costs for you. Our financial package for volunteers includes:

  • in-country funded allowance: a modest living allowance paid by your employer and/or VSO
    return flight to the country in which you’ll be volunteering

  • accommodation – provided by your local employerMedical and travel insurance cover for the duration of your employment

  • visas and work permits – all arrangements will be made by VSO

  • home country funded allowance  – paid to you before, during and at the end of the time overseas by IVO

  • holidays – guaranteed four weeks per year.

The VSO financial package can be divided into two parts: cash component and non-cash component.

Cash component

This includes home country and in-country funded allowances that are given to volunteers.

Home country funded allowance

Volunteers are supported by allowances at two stages, preparation payment and coming home payment. A volunteer who completes two years of placement receives a total of £2,920 (Rs. 78= £1 please note that exchange rates vary widely). The home country funded allwowance is paid at the rate of £4.00 per day for the duration of the time the volunteer is overseas.

The home country funded allowance of £2,920 is paid as follows:

  • £300 pre-departure preparation allowance

  • £1,160 on completing 12 months of assignment

  • £1,460 on completing 24 months of assignment

In-country funded allowance

This is given every month to a volunteer while he or she is in their placement country in the currency of the placement country.

The allowance is calculated based on cost of living of your country of placement. VSO insures that all volunteers get an allowance is good enough for a healthy lifestyle but not enough to save and send back home.

VSO volunteer allowance chart 2011/12

Non-cash component

All VSO volunteers are provided with accommodation. This is basic accommodation provided by the programme office. Accommodation may vary from country to country depending upon what is available. VSO strives to provide every volunteer with his or her own bedroom in safe and clean accommodation.

While volunteers are overseas they are medically covered by VSO. The cost of the insurance is about Rs. 77,000 for two years. VSO also pays for a volunteer’s visa and airline ticket. This cost on average Rs. 80,000 per volunteer.

Godfrey Canwat and Mukto Akash (Bangladesh - HIV and AIDS)

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If you’re a business, education or health professional looking for a unique challenge, your skills could make a valuable difference to local communities.


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