Welcome to 2Way Development’s – Development through Volunteering – very first blog! The aim of this blog is to keep you informed and updated about overseas volunteering, and careers and news in International Development.

2Way Development was set up in 2003 with the objective of providing a new approach to international volunteering within the international development sector. Our approach is based around the belief that successful and high impact volunteering can lead to an equal exchange of benefits between our partners and the volunteers we send overseas. We provide a vital link between volunteers and country led organisations who request volunteers to improve their capacity in specific areas. Through our matching service our placements are both grassroots driven by our in country organisations and volunteer driven by looking at their relevant needs and skills.

International volunteering has at times been given a bad name through ‘voluntourism’ type organisations that neglect the expertise and knowledge of in country organisations and the individual needs and aspirations of volunteers. However 2Way Development is looking to breakdown this stereotype by providing pre-existing development organisations with the international volunteers they want and need. Simultaneously this provides volunteers a fantastic opportunity to expand their experiences and their CV. Specific placements in the field could be anything from project management with human trafficking NGOs in Cambodia to fundraising proposal writing for HIV/AIDS health campaigns in Uganda. 2Way Development has plenty of placement opportunities and has contacts with over 100 in country NGOs and community organisations in 15 different countries.

2Way Development takes a realistic and practical approach to volunteering abroad allowing both charities and volunteers to gain from the experience and develop equally – to give and take.