Brief Overview
Global Xchange is a partnership programme managed and delivered by the British Council (BC) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), and a number of local partners around the world. We are committed to the idea that international volunteer exchanges can develop active global citizens who value volunteering, diversity, community development and social action and through these, take an active role in the fight against poverty and inequality.
The Programme blends the unique contribution of all of the organisations involved to achieve this aim – the British Council through cultural relations and project management expertise; and VSO through international development, programme theme expertise and international volunteering. Global Xchange local partners bring an understanding of community development and volunteering at the grass roots level and experience of working with young people through informal education approaches, techniques and methodologies. By working with local partners in this way we can ensure that the programme remains sustainable, works within the appropriate operating contexts and reflects the needs of local people and communities.
Programme Mechanics
The Programme aims to change positively the lives of individuals and communities through cross-cultural, reciprocal and mutually beneficial international exchanges.
Global Xchange operates across the globe but offers dramatic local impact. Volunteers aged between the ages of 18 and 25 and from all walks of life can join the programme - providing that they can demonstrate flexibility as well as a commitment to working with others and engaging in experiential and reflective learning. Teams of 18 young people undertake the programme, with equal numbers from the UK and a partner country. The volunteers live and work in the host communities for up to three months in the UK and up to three months in the partner country.
Two Programme Supervisors, one from the UK and one from the partner country, develop, support and manage each exchange programme. Programme Supervisors facilitate the volunteer and community learning for the duration of the exchange. Community stakeholders, volunteer hosts, and Programme Supervisors have many opportunities during the programme and as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation process to reflect, share, document and learn from their experiences.
Vision & Aim of Global Xchange
Vision
Helping to build a world where active global citizens create positive change and build mutual understanding and respect.
Aim
Global Xchange aims to deliver international volunteer exchanges and other activities that develop and inspire active global citizens
Global Xchange defines active global citizens as:
"Individuals who learn from the experience of others around the world, have an awareness of issues facing developed and developing countries, and put that learning into action".
Global Xchange Objectives
Global Citizenship
Global Xchange will contribute to the development of active global citizens by ensuring that volunteers and stakeholders utilise skills, knowledge in:
Volunteering
Diversity
Poverty and Inequality
Community Development
Social Action
Volunteering
Global Xchange will strengthen the quality and quantity of volunteering by young people and use this as a platform to promote a wider range of civic engagement by all
Learning and Reflection
Global Xchange will provide opportunities for learning and reflection for volunteers, communities and stakeholders on a range of development and cross-cultural issues, as outlined in our Global Citizenship Learning Framework.
Global Xchange will ensure that all learning and reflection is based on and reports to the Monitoring and Evaluation framework
Community Development
Global Xchange will contribute to sustainable community development through volunteering, and will ensure engagement of community stakeholders in the focus, design, implementation and evaluation of each exchange.
Diversity
Global Xchange will represent the diversity of the countries, communities and partnerships with which we work. This will be reflected in all areas of selection attributed to the Global Xchange partnership and at all levels of the partnership both local and global.
