The process explained
Inquiry and application stage
VSO Jitolee encourages applications from professionals who:
understand VSO’s work and the volunteer process
meet VSO’s core requirements for applicants (for example, more than 3 years work experience)
have skills that VSO partners need
can leave in six months or earlier.
At this stage VSO:
provides all key information to help a person in deciding whether to proceed with the application
upon receipt of your application, gathers key information towards deciding whether to invite a person to an assessment day.
Your move: submit a completed VSO application form
Download the required application form from the VSO Jitolee website. We only process applications using the VSO form.
Completed application forms may either be submitted as an attachment through email or post mail. It is not necessary to do both.
Make sure to indicate your return mailing address and contact numbers when you submit your application via post mail.
There is no need for applicants to submit CVs at this stage.
Assessment stage
VSO assesses the volunteer’s technical skills and key personal qualities (or volunteer dimensions) that have been found to be crucial in successful volunteering experiences.
VSO employs various assessment tools in order to select volunteers who are suited to the majority of situations they are likely to meet in a VSO placement. At the pre-departure phase, volunteer assessment runs from first contact to the time you board the plane. Assessment involves all the people who would be affected once you are deployed. These include:
you, your family, friends and colleagues
VSO programme offices and their partner organizations
VSO Jitolee.
Assessment is divided into the following key stages:
Application form review: A Volunteer and Programme Adviser (VPA) reviews your qualifications and experience as indicated in your application form. Having comprehensive, complete and accurate data is an advantage.
Preliminary interview: If application is successful, a VPA conducts a preliminary interview, which runs for 20 to 30 minutes. The interview aims to build on the applicant's personal and professional data contained in the application form. This is also the time for the applicant to ask further questions about VSO. Based on the interview, the VPA decides if the applicant will be invited to an Assessment Day to undergo the next stage of assessments.
Assessment day (AD): Shortlisted candidates attend a one-day assessment day in a venue (in Nairobi or Kampala). During AD, candidates are assessed on their key personal qualities (or volunteer dimensions). Candidates are required to submit professional and personal references, medical certification, and police clearance/ certificate of good conduct. Candidates with partners are also asked to complete a partner’s checklist.
Medical stage
Successful candidates undergo medical clearance to confirm that the volunteer is physically and mentally fit to undertake a placement and to verify the information in their medical certificate. We also identify appropriate placements for volunteers whose choice of assignments is sensibly limited by their health status.
Matching stage
Our matching process aims to ensure a good enough match between volunteer and job profiles. The VPA and volunteer discuss available placements, timescales, preferences, preparations and concerns along the way.
Pre-departure training
Learning opportunities are integrated at every stage of the volunteer journey. We provide training and learning support to volunteers in addressing the following inter-linked learning needs:
personal learning needs (eg adapting to living and working in a new culture, with different attitudes, ethics, language, etc)
development learning needs (eg HIV and AIDS as a development issue, gender, Millennium Development Goals, globalisation)
professional learning needs (eg training skills, programme development, motorcycle driving).
Travel preparation stage
Once a volunteer is accepted to a placement, processing of travel papers begins. By this time, a volunteer has submitted all key documents such as a genuine passport (valid for at least two years), birth certificate, diploma and professional certification. Volunteers are asked to produce additional documents that vary from country to country and professional field.
Volunteers undergo a final briefing shortly before the departure date.
Set your mind on volunteering? Download the application form now.
If now is not the time for you to volunteer overseas, there are other ways to get involved with VSO.
