issue
aaction
ction
*
12
BULLYING
LABOUR
SOLDIERS
Bebo
Childline
Bullying
Child Soldiers
Child Labour
Volunteering Overseas
Fun in the Sun?
get stuck in
*Voluntary
Service Bureau
exists to support, encourage
and promote citizenship and
participation through
voluntary activity.
August 2007
contents
contents
contact us
*Voluntary
Service Bureau
Voluntary Service Bureau
34 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DB
Tel: 028 9020 0850
Fax: 028 9020 0860
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.vsb.org.uk
Web: www.youngcitizens.org.uk
North Down and Ards
91 High Street
Bangor BT20 5BD
Tel: 028 9127 0486
Fax: 028 9127 5335
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.vsb.org.uk
Web: www.youngcitizens.org.uk
action
young citizens in
issue
*
us
*Actioncontact
Magazine
12
Editors Message
02
Millennium Volunteers
02
Get involved
03
Why Not ask me Update
04
Bebo
05
Volunteer profile – Childline
06
Bullying
08
Volunteering isn’t the only way to help someone
10
Child Soldiers
12
Child labour
14
Volunteering Overseas
15
Fun in the Sun?
17
VSB website
19
Rogues Gallery
120
First I would like to start on a sad note by saying goodbye to Paul who
is leaving the organisation to slack off as a student once again. I
would just like to bid him a fond farewell and wish him luck in
his course.
Now on to the magazine, our theme for this magazine is bullying.
This means we’ll have information on what to do if your bullied, notice
bullying or think someone is being bullied. We have a large number
of other articles in the magazine also including the hardships of
children abroad, and, what to wear on your skin in the sun (if we ever
get to see any of course!)
On the volunteering side, we have articles on volunteering overseas,
and how you can get involved, as well as Millennium Volunteers and
also a profile on Childline.
A little bit of this…and a little bit of that
Millennium Volunteers give their time and commitment to work
towards completing 200 hours of voluntary work in a year. If
you are between 16 and 24 and are interested in volunteering
you should come in and have a chat
Get Involved!
Young Citizens In Action is the Youth Department within Voluntary Service
Bureau (VSB). The project aims to resource, support and empower young
people aged 16-30 to make a valid contribution to their community through
volunteering. We can offer you the opportunity to get involved in a range of
youth led projects.
Interested in getting involved? Here is a step by step guide:-
It’s free to take part and it won’t take up any extra time!
Millennium Volunteers get involved with all kinds of
paul Wright
Millennium Volunteers
Co-ordinator
[email protected]
The time has come again for
another action magazine. My
name is Chris Guilfoyle and, due
to lack of complaints, I’m back as
magazine editor. This will be my
second magazine as editor and this is
the best I’ve done so far.
Millennium Volunteers
Contact us at Voluntary Service Bureau by: -
organisations including environmental, football clubs, youth
clubs, older people and much more. You don’t have to be
Telephone
028 90200850
little bit of this and a little bit of that, it’s really up to you.
Fax
02890200860
The award recognises your commitment and lets everyone
Website
www.vsb.org.uk
www.youngcitizens.org.uk
Email
[email protected]
doing the same thing and the same hours all the time. Try a
know what you have achieved as a volunteer. You’ll get help
Roisin Timlin
Millennium Volunteers
Co-ordinator
[email protected]
message
get involved
Volunteers
to develop a volunteering plan that gives you the opportunity
to share your own knowledge, develop new skills and gain
experience.
Over the last couple of months Millennium Volunteers have
had training in Mentoring skills and conflict awareness and we
will be have more free training sessions over the coming
If you have any questions about anything in this magazine or would
like to get involved please don’t hesitate to use the contact details in
this magazine.
I hope you enjoy this magazine and will stay tuned for the next one.
If you are interested in finding
Chris *
[email protected] or ring 028 9020 0850 *
months. We also provide someone to support you through
the year.
out more about the programme
then please call in to the office or
contact
Roisin
Timlin
at
Not only can you get involved in Young Citizens In Action projects, we work
with over 500 organisations registered with us within the Greater Belfast
area, and North Down and Ards. Placements depend upon what you are
interested in, the time you have to give and the area of Belfast you would like
to volunteer in.
So why not contact us to find out more! *
page
We also have the usual page on upcoming events and the rogues
gallery which has pictures of the volunteers who helped make this
magazine possible as well as more pictures of me for my grannies
scrapbook.
We will arrange for you to come into the office for an informal chat and take
you through our volunteer registration form. Once the registration form is
completed, we will look at what your interests are and match you with a
suitable volunteer placement.
Emma Ward
Project Worker
[email protected]
editors
3
why
not
ask
me?
Launch of
“Why not
ask me?”
“Why Not Ask Me?” - the findings of a recent study by
Young Citizens in Action into Volunteering and Community
Join us on
Join Bebo!?
us on Bebo!?
• That 9 out of 10 young people who are not currently
volunteering would volunteer if they were asked
Relations amongst young people - was launched on 16th
April at VSB. The launch was hosted by the BBC’s John
Daly
and
attended
by
people
from
voluntary
organisations, schools and colleges and by young
• That 91% of respondents said they believed that
volunteering can contribute to an improvement in cross
community relations
volunteers.
• That young people who volunteer say it is a great
YCIA have produced a summary report of the research for
opportunity to gain new skills, experience and
organisations as well as a summary specifically for young
confidence whilst making friends, being part of a team
people, which were both officially launched on the day.
and having fun!
Some of the findings included:
For more information about “Why Not Ask Me” contact
The world of Bebo, (for those of you who are not familiar with
the term) “the next generation social networking site,” has
taken the world into a frenzy and has almost become the most
popular social networking site in the world with 26 million
registered members worldwide. Particularly popular with
teenagers and those in their early to mid twenties, Bebo has
provided internet lovers with the ability to stay in contact with
friends, family and even make new friends of similar interests
from all over the world.
business development, Jim Scheinman, and he put forward
Bebo’s case in terms of how they have made Bebo safe to use
“We are also working hard to educate and dispel the myth that
you are anonymous online. Every website's IP address is
unique. Even if fake e-mails and fake addresses are used, a
computer can be traced...we are working to communicate to
individuals, including teens, that nothing is anonymous online.
In essence, a "digital record of bad behaviour" exists and can
be retrieved.”
It is an easy system to use and offers a range of activities, such
as leaving messages on people’s notice boards, to its users.
Once signed up as a member it is possible to find new contacts
by viewing other people’s contact list and it is possible to find
and add people who you know, and perhaps do not know but
would like to get to know. Because of this easy access to other
people’s homepages, people can become easy targets to
bullying or even worse.
It is clear that Bebo are doing everything in their power to
ensure that users are as safe as possible however, children and
teenagers face risks online everyday and with so many internet
chatrooms being open to all sorts of people it is up to parents
to ensure that they put the proper controls on their computers
to ensure that their children don’t fall victim to the evil side of
the internet. Sharon Irvine *
[email protected] *
page
Bebo’s maker’s have recently been criticised for creating a
monster by enabling predators to verbally abuse others on the
internet and publicly humiliate them by perhaps leaving
insulting comments. Bebo however answered these comments
in various press conferences throughout the world by
reassuring the public that various measures, such as placing
anti-bullying moderation tools on the site and also by
empowering users with the ability to report offences to the
customer care team. Any suspicious users can also be
reported and investigated by a safety officer. ‘Ypulse’ online
magazine recently interviewed Bebo’s vice-president of
5
Volunteer
Profile
Volunteer Profile - Childline
3. What is ChildLine in your own words? It is a UK wide
service that provides a vital telephone helpline for young
people in need of someone to talk to about any issue they
feel affects them. A young person could phone anywhere
in the UK and speak to a counsellor in any of the eleven
bases nation-wide.
4. How did you hear about volunteering for it? - I
stumbled across an online advertisement for ChildLine in
relation to a bullying campaign that was being run at the
time and I started to wonder who the people behind the
famous 0800 1111 number where. I searched for the
ChildLine website and began to explore just a bit further
about volunteering.
5. Why and how did you join? After finding the
volunteering section of the website, I sent away for the
information pack. It came really quickly and I read through
all the information there. I decided to fill in the forms and
apply because I wanted a fresh challenge in my lifesomething that was really worthwhile both for me and for
the people I'd be helping. ChildLine is a young people's
organisation- so it made a lot of sense to be part of such a
great team that span the groups of age and cultures. It just
seemed an amazing opportunity.
2. What age are you? I am 17 years old.
7. Do you enjoy it, is it hand work? As with anything
worthwhile - it can take a bit of time to get started and get
yourself used to procedures and paperwork, but after a
short while, it becomes so natural. The training you get in
counselling is just amazing! I found myself sitting at a
telephone a few months later in amazement at how far I'd
come; from being so nervous at the beginning, to being
able to talk to someone competently and confidently over
the helpline.
8. Why do you keep volunteering at it? Because I just
couldn't stop! It's just addictive- the people who volunteer
at ChildLine like the Switchboarders, my fellow counsellors,
the brilliant team of Supervisors and Administration staff
just make volunteering there such an amazing experience.
The buzz of helping people across the helpline is simply
mind-blowing. The impact you can have on one person's
life just by talking to them over the phone is incredible and
immensely worthwhile.
10. Do you feel that childline helps people? Most
definitely. You're a vital part of that young person's life
when they phone ChildLine. Regardless of how highly you
rate your ability, you can help a lot just by being a friendly
voice to chat to over the phone. ChildLine in 2006
celebrated its 20th birthday, over which time some
tremendous statistics have been recorded away from the
phones (which can receive thousands of calls every day).
ChildLine has been influencing government policy
involving Children since 1986 and has published dozens
of briefings for organizations dealing with children on
issues such as Truanting, Alcohol and drugs. It's safe to say
that ChildLine's vital work does not just stop at the phones
and its influences can be felt in almost every major
organisation today.
11. If someone would want to join who do you contact?
You can request an information pack at
http://www.childline.org.uk/ or call the Northern Ireland
offices on 0870 336 2945. *
9. Would you recommend it? In short, definitely! It's
something that is simply very good for you and very good
for the person at the end of the phone. It is providing a
service for young people out there in desperate need of
help and attention and it's a privilege to be a part of that.
page
1. What is your full name? David Lyness
6. What do you do? I'm a counsellor in the Belfast Base. I
would take calls that come in from all over the UK about
any issue that could affect a young person's life. I would be
counselling typically once a week for three hours- which is
all ChildLine asks for. The shifts are really flexible and the
supervisors- who are always with you on shift, are so
friendly and supportive; it's sometimes hard to leave at the
end! I'm also a new member of the newly formed CYFNI
(ChildLine Youth Forum for Northern Ireland) a new
initiative to get young people more involved in the policies
that ChildLine makes about its service and to get feedback
from young people from every walk of life.
Volunteer
Profile
Volunteer Profile
- Childline
7
help someone
Bullying
Bullying
Bullying is not easy to define. The word 'bullying' is used
to describe many different types of behaviour ranging
from teasing or deliberately leaving an individual out of a
social gathering or ignoring them, to serious assaults and
abuse. Sometimes it is an individual who is doing the
bullying and sometimes it is a group. The important thing
is not the action but the effect on the victim. No-one should
ever underestimate the fear that a bullied child feels.
Bullying Statistics
-
54% of both primary and secondary school children
thought that bullying was 'a big problem' or 'quite
a big problem' in their school.
-
51% of children aged 9-10 reported that they had
been bullied during the preceding term compared
with 28% of children aged 12-13.
-
15% of primary school students, and 12% of
secondary school students said that they had both
bullied other children and been bullied themselves
in the last year.
-
-
Up to 40% of secondary school students feel that
their teachers are unaware of the bullying which
goes on.
Primary School students are more than twice as
likely to be bullied as those in secondary schools.
Volunteering isn’t the only way to help someone
What bullying does to children
Bullying breaks children down. It is shameful, humiliating
and frightening, and young people often feel powerless to
stop it.
And it doesn’t just affect children’s social lives.
Concentration lapses and even outstanding students skip
classes. Some even refuse to attend. A very few find life so
unbearable that they attempt suicide. Many more carry
the effects of bullying long into their adult lives.
However it is encouraging to know that it is possible to
succeed, in spite of being tormented at school. Some
famous bullying victims include Ms Dynamite, Tom Cruise,
Gareth Gates, David Beckham, Sarah Cox and many
others.
If you are being bullied?
-
You shouldn’t be ashamed about being bullied. It’s
not your fault – but it is important that you get help.
-
Talk to someone you trust.
-
When you’ve decided who to talk to, tell then what’s
happening and how it’s making you feel. They
might be able to tell you what you can do about it,
or can help you decide what you want to do next.
-
If you’re being bullied at school, ask someone (such
as a teacher) to tell you about the school’s
guidelines on bullying. Most schools have a written
policy on bullying, and this may give you an idea of
what you can do and what your school should do.
-
-
-
Don’t give up if talking to someone doesn’t help.
Sometimes you may need to talk to more than one
person.
Trying to remember things accurately can
sometimes be difficult, so keep a record of what
happens to you. Writing it down is often a good
way.
It’s important to feel safe. Are there ways for you to
keep yourself out of harm’s way? For instance, you
could walk home with friends rather than on your
own, or ask someone to stay with you if you feel
threatened.
http://www.scre.ac.uk/bully/whatisbul.html
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/childrenteens/childrenteensi
ndex.shtml
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/
http://www.childline.org.uk
Bullying at School: Advice for Families (1997).
If you witness bullying
-
-
what you saw.
Teachers are often the last to know that bullying is
going on. If they are going to be able to do
anything about it, they need to know what’s
happening.
If you are concerned about someone who is being
bullied or want some more information you can call
Child-line on 0800 1111.
Calls to Child-line are free. You can either call the helpline
on 0800 1111 or write to Child-line, Freepost NATN1111,
London E1 6BR.
Children who are deaf of find using a regular phone
difficult can try Child-line’s text-phone service on 0800
400 222.
To read more about bullying, please visit the Child-line
website at www.childline.org.uk.
For a booklet on
bullying for secondary school students go to
http://www.childline.org.uk/pdfs/info-bullyingsecondary.pdf
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/childrenteens/childrenteensi
ndex.shtml
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/
http://www.childline.org.uk
Is a friend/family member being bullied?
Don’t ignore what happens.
-
Let the person who’s being bullied know you’ve seen
what’s going on and are concerned.
Brothers, sisters and friends often know that someone is
being bullied long before teachers and parents do.
-
Encourage them to tell someone.
*
-
If it is in school and you are worried about it, you
may need to report the incident. Try to find out who
to report bullying to. If you are worried about
putting yourself at risk, can you tell someone about
the bullying in confidence? Write them a note about
*
What should they do? Sometimes the person being
bullied asks them not to do anything. Sometimes
they do nothing in case the bullies start to pick on
them.
But doing nothing usually means that the bullying
carries on, or that the bullies become more
page
-
9
Child labour
Bullying
Child Labour
Bullying
confident and choose more victims. Part of the fun
that bullies get comes from the reaction of
bystanders. If you do nothing the bullies may
think that you approve of what they are doing.
Here are some things you can do.
Summary
*
*
If any of them do not work, don't give up. Try something
else.
*
*
*
Persuade the person being bullied to talk to an
adult or yourself or offer to speak to an adult on
their behalf
Let the bullies know that you are not so frightened
of them that you will do nothing and that you are
determined to see that they stop.
Raise the issue of bullying with the student council
(if the school has one); involving as many people
as possible. In particular try to make sure that
teachers know what is going on.
Most of all, talk to somebody.
Here are some things you should not do.
*
*
*
Do not use violence against the bullies – this can
make you a bully yourself.
Do not tell the person being bullied to deal with
the problem on their own - if they could they
wouldn't have asked you for help.
Do not try to deal with things on your own
*
*
If someone in your family is being bullied at
school - you must talk to a teacher and work with
them to make the school safer.
If you are not satisfied with the school's response,
do not give up - other sources of help are
available.
Support and understanding at home are
important in helping people to cope with bullying
- do all you can to help children and young
people value themselves.
Children and young people who become aware
of bullying should know to tell a responsible adult.
If you are being bullied:
*
*
It's not your fault that you are being bullied
You don't have to face this on your own.
Child Labour is a widespread problem prevalent in many
less economically developed societies where people tend to
live in poverty. Employers, businesses and corporations
choose to use child workers as they provide a cheap,
expendable and unquestioning workforce. Parents, living
in poverty of an unimaginable scale, are forced to send
their children to work to supplement the family income,
sometimes never seeing that child again.
Away from the public eye,
millions of girls and women
are particularly vulnerable
because of the private nature of
their work as domestic workers. Abuses committed against
these workers include physical, psychological and sexual
abuse: forced confinement to the workplace, non payment
of wages; and excessively long working hours with no rest
days. In the worst situations, women or girls are trapped or
have been trafficked into forced domestic service, in
conditions akin to slavery. As well as governments, some
large corporations have been shown not protecting their
workers, and have claimed to be unaware of the cultures
of child labour which exists in these countries, despite the
conditions being very financially favourable
There are no easy answers on how to tackle child poverty
as economic development is needed in the countries where
it exists. Children need programmes for rehabilitation and
need an education.
You can make a difference by raising awareness in this
country or have a look at our volunteering overseas article.
Cathryn Smyth *
page
The international labour organisation sets a minimum age
of eighteen for any type of employment which by its nature
is likely to jeopardise the health, safety or morals of a
young person. Children of sixteen and older are allowed
to work so long as the work is not hazardous and their
health and morals can be protected. Two hundred and
eighteen million children are known to be engaged in child
labour around the world. The vast majority or some sixty
nine percent, work in agriculture. Child labour is common
in the sugar cane fields of El Salvador where children as
young as six are reported to work. In many areas the
majority of boys between six and thirteen begin working
on the sugar cane fields, as well as some girls. Sugar cane
cultivation requires the use of machetes and other sharp
knives. A sixteen year old from San Miguel is reported
saying ‘sometimes when you’re cutting the knife jumps off
the cane and cuts your hand’. If the knife passes all the
way through the cane it can cut your foot’. Almost all
children will suffer injuries of this nature, and medical
treatment is usually not available on these plantations. The
injured child, or the child’s parent, usually will have to pay
for medical treatment privately causing many children to
forgo medical treatment. El Salvador law states that any
worker who takes time off work with a work related injury
is entitled to some money on which to live or support their
family. Children, however, are usually listed as ‘helpers’
rather than full time workers, and are entitled to nothing,
meaning that many children work while seriously injured.
Salvadorian laws generally conform to the minimum age
convention, but in addition authorise employment of
children under 14 ‘when it is
considered
to
be
indispensable
for
their
survival or that of their
family’. This loop hole means
that children of any age can
work. Often too exhausted
from work to benefit from any
education, children perform
poorly in school.
11
Child Soldiers
Child Soldiers
What does it mean to be a teenager? To hang out with
friends, catch a movie, have a good night out, date and
find the odd time to focus a little bit on schoolwork? Or
does it mean wielding AK-47s in battle, killing every
innocent man, woman and child you meet, simply
because they are different from you? Does it mean being
forced into an army training camp for the express
purpose of being gang-raped? Because that is exactly
what happens to thousands, if not hundreds of
thousands of teenagers across the planet.
Across Africa, thousands of children are recruited every
day for civil wars that have been fought for the last two
decades.
But let’s come back home for a bit. The UK has ratified
the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
but still sends under-18s routinely into the battlefields of
Iraq. British child soldiers were among those killed in the
First Gulf War and the Falklands conflict and there were
50 British teenagers in Kosovo, as part of the United
Nations peacekeeping force, despite the ban on child
soldiers in UN peacekeeping regiments. The British
Government feels that if there is a genuine military need,
then it should reserve the right to send 16 and 17-year
olds to war, and this stance is in direct opposition to the
Protocol.
So the debate rages. Should teenagers be sent to war?
Being a teenager is all about finding out about life and
more importantly, having fun, before the real, adult
world of mortgages, marital problems and mid-life crises
take over. But should teenagers’ first experience at life be
as shocking and as bloodthirsty as war? To find out more
on this issue and to get involved, go onto
http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/index.htm for Human
Rights Watch or www.savethechildren.org.uk.
Anurag Deb *
Child Soldiers
“life
through
their
eyes”
the daily
experiences of
a child soldier
page
“When the mayi- mayi attacked my village, we all ran
away. In our flight, the soldiers captured all the girls,
even the very young. Once with the soldiers, you were
forced to "marry" one of the soldiers. Whether he was
as old as your father or young, bad or nice, you had to
accept. If you refused, they would kill you. This
happened to one of my friends. They would slaughter
people like chickens. They would not even bury the
bodies they slaughtered... I even saw a girl who refused
to be "married" being tortured… ”. is what a girl from
the Democratic Republic of Congo recalls. In situations
like these, the boys are given weapons and the girls are
turned into sex-slaves. In some cases, these children are
younger than ten. Children are seen as the perfect
soldiers - low maintenance, high obedience and they
hardly ever think for themselves. They are either used for
direct warfare or for reconnaissance missions behind
enemy lines. The risks that these operations carry are
high and children are seen as a practically endless
resource.
But Africa isn’t the only continent with a problem. Maoist
rebels in the jungles of Nepal and northeast India use
children for many so-called ‘missions’ to achieve their
objectives. The countries that were born from the breakup of the Soviet Union also use children in military
activities, forcibly recruiting orphans and children to
fight their wars. And there seems to be no dearth of child
recruits in separatist armies like those of Chechnya and
Central Asian Islamist opposition groups.
Child Soldiers
13
Volunteer Overseas
Volunteer Overseas
Volunteering Overseas
Volunteering overseas, or international volunteering as it is
also known, can be an exciting opportunity. It allows you
the chance to see the world, broaden your hoizons, meet
new people, gain new personal experiences and enhance
your work experience in one fowl swoop.
However there is a lot of planning involved before you can
leave and hopefully this guide will help you over those
hurdles.
Questions to ask yourself
It is important to make the right decision about where to go
and what to do, so ask yourself these questions:
How much time do I have to spend in a different
country?
How much money can I afford to spend on my time
out?
What country would I really like to travel to?
Do I have any skills I would like to develop through
an International Volunteer Placement?
Do I want to learn new skills for a future career, or
gain work experience?
Is there anything I really don’t want to do, or a place
I don’t want to go?
Do I want to travel alone, in a group or with one or
two friends?
Raising Funds
The cost of an International Volunteering experience may
seem a bit daunting at first. In some cases, the charitable
organisation may have sufficient funds to cover your flight
and accommodation but this is rare. In most cases, you
will be asked to cover some, if not all your own expenses
yourself. Don’t let this put you off! – there are plenty of
ways to raise money. Here are a few ideas to help you.
b
Work - not the most fun way to raise the cash but its
certainly effective. If you can’t get a job, persuade your
family and friends to pay you for doing odd jobs or
organise a car wash (ask the local police’s permission first)
Seek Donations - tell your family and friends about your
plans, they may wish to help. Your local church or college
might have some available funding to help you.
Before Going:
Passport - check you have one, and that it’s valid for at
least 6 months after you intend to return.
Travel Insurance - look around for the best cover for where
your going and what your doing. You can get free/low
cost health cover in the European Economic Area with a
Form E111 (available from your GP, Post Offices and
online at www.doh.gov.uk/hat)
Consult GP - ensure to get vaccinations, existing
medication, your blood group and medical tips for long
flights.
Bring Sun cream and Insect Repellant.
While Away:
Water - only drink sterilised or bottled water, don’t take ice
in drinks as it is tap water.
Food - avoid food that has been reheated, kept warm or
exposed to flies, also pre-prepared uncooked foods e.g.
salads
Animals - avoid animals due to rabies
HIV and AIDS - never ever have unprotected sex or allow
yourself to be injected with a used needle.
Blood Transfusions - if someone needs a transfusion
abroad, it may be safer to donate between friends.
Swimming - don’t swim unless your sure the water is safe.
Travel Awards and Grants - lots of other institutions offer
travel awards and grants for volunteering overseas to
allow their young members to develop their skills. For a
comprehensive list check your local library or contact the
Young Citizens in Action office for The Youth Funding
Guide - Nicola Eastwood and The Grants Directory from
the Directory of Social Change. Here are a few places to
start your search:
Prince’s Trust - www.princes-trust.org.uk
Professional Institutions related to your career e.g. Institute
of Mechanical Engineers.
Most Universities. Ask at your faculty office.
Charitable institutions e.g. Rotary Club, Lions international
or women’s groups.
Some large commercial corporations or even smaller local
businesses may help for a bit of publicity in newspapers.
Important Points about Travelling Abroad
v
j
List of Organisations
Since we don’t have enough space in this magazine to
give details on all the different organisations that offer
volunteering abroad we will just give some of the larger
groups websites.
Springboard is one of the largest resources. It is a
website that gives young people advice on courses,
careers and gap year opportunities open to them. It
contains a search engine, which allows you to search for
organisations that provide both paid and volunteering
opportunities in various countries around the world.
http://www.springboard.hobsons.co.uk/
AFS International
http://www.afsuk.org/
Concordia (YSV) International Volunteer Project
http://www.concordia-iye.org.uk
Gap Activity Projects
http://www.gap.org.uk
Habitat for Humanity
http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk
International Voluntary Service – NI (IVS)
http://www.ivnsi.org/
The Princes Trust
Raleigh International
Red R
UNIPAL
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
http://www.raleigh.org.uk
http://www.redr.org
http://www.unipal.org.uk
Voluntary Services Overseas and Millennium World
Youth Awards
http://www.vso.org.uk
Youth for Britain (YFN)
www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk
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One of the most common questions VSB gets asked is
about volunteering overseas. However, since vsb is a local
organisation it doesn’t offer volunteering overseas. But,
since there is such demand, we have decided to print this
guide on volunteering in other countries.
Volunteering Overseas
15
Fun in the Sun?
Fun in the Sun?
Fun in the Sun?
Fun in the Sun?
Tips to stay safe in the sun:
•
If an unusual spot is identified,
Record temperatures provoke warnings about
very strong. This is probably due to overexposure to a
skin cancer
strong source of sunlight the skin is not used to. Another
consult a doctor. Most skin cancers
factor could be that people are so desperate for a darker
As the temperatures rise for what has been predicted as the
hottest summer yet, health experts are voicing their concerns
about the harmful effects of overexposure to the sun.
A tan may make you think you are healthy but according
to many health experts the truth is a very different matter.
A tan is not a sign of health; it is a sign that the skin has
been damaged by ultraviolet radiation. When cells are
damaged by the sun, melanin rushes to the surface to
provide protection against the next onslaught. Your skin
darkening is a response to damage on top of damage.
This continuous skin damage leads to a range of problems;
from prematurely aged skin, damaged skin filled with
freckles and moles, to most worryingly, skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the second most common cancer in the
United Kingdom. There are three types of skin cancer: the
two most common are Basal cell and Squamous cell
Carcinomas. They are easily treated and rarely fatal, the
third and most dangerous is the malignant
Melanoma.
About 1500 people die from
Melanomas in Britain every year.
There’s
strong evidence that Melanomas occur on
sun-damaged skin and that people
are particularly at risk when
bursts of sunlight on holidays
in places where the sun is
tan that they lie in the sun for prolonged periods of time
on ears and neck and wear loose
early.
with insufficient sun protection.
fitting clothing to protect your
•
shoulders, arms and legs.
Leona Schreiber *
Scientists have taken steps to advise people to wear clothes
made from tightly woven fabric such as wool and jeans,
•
Seek shade, especially during the
and a hat which shades the face, neck and ears as they
hottest part of the day between
are more effective at protecting against UV rays than
11am and 3pm.
sunscreen. They also reiterated the need to stay out of the
sun at peak times between 11-3pm.
•
Use sunscreen of at least SPF15
Sandra Gordon, melanoma strategy co-ordinator for
•
Check skin regularly and be aware
Ulster Cancer Federation, outlined their warnings.
of any new spots, or existing spots
that have changed colour, size or
“UCF’s message is that you don’t need to be sunbathing to
The outcome of too much sun.
Skin cancer can appear in
different forms, see below.
shape.
get skin cancer, rather it is over-exposure to ultraviolet
radiation (UVR) that is the risk factor.”
“If you are going to be out in the sun between 11am and
3pm for an extended period of time, it is essential to use
sun protection. Skin is very susceptible to damage from
over-exposure to UVR, which cannot be seen or felt, but
which can cause serious damage over time.”
“people with fair skin, those with lots of freckles or moles,
those with a family history of skin cancer or anyone who
has had skin cancer should take measures to avoid
burning”
page
they have sudden, short
Cover up- wear a hat, use sunscreen
can be treated successfully if treated
17
VSB Website
YCIA Website
VSB Website
YCIA Website
www.vsb.org.uk www.
Have you, or some one you know volunteered with VSB at any time over the last 40 years?
What is YCIA??
If so, we would love to hear from you....perhaps you yourself have benefited from the support of volunteers, or witnessed at
Young Citizens in Action (YCIA) are the youth department of VSB. The programme is youth-led and exists to support young
first hand the difference they have made to someone's life. We want to gather stories - funny or touching - so your
volunteers and to make them more active in their community through volunteering and through raising awareness of relevant
experiences may inspire others to get involved. *
youth issues.
youngcitizens.
org.uk
Check out our Website!
The Young Citizens Website (www.youngcitizens.org.uk) is the place to go to find out about citizenship and participation in
society, information on volunteering opportunities, voting and lobbying. There is also a message board – get on and let your
voice be heard! If you would like to contribute anything to the website around the themes of citizenship or volunteering,
contact Emma at VSB or email [email protected]. *
page
19
rogue’s gallery
Rogue’s Gallery
*
This magazine would
not be possible without
the tireless efforts of
the editor and his
band of cohorts
Are you interested in Journalism and Writing?
Why not get involved in writing for Action Magazine!
We are always looking for volunteers to be part of our
youth led project so get in touch.
us
*Actioncontact
Magazine
contact us
*Voluntary
Service Bureau
Voluntary Service Bureau
34 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DB
Tel: 028 9020 0850
Fax: 028 9020 0860
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.vsb.org.uk
Web: www.youngcitizens.org.uk
North Down and Ards
91 High Street
Bangor BT20 5BD
Tel: 028 9127 0486
Fax: 028 9127 5335
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.vsb.org.uk
Web: www.youngcitizens.org.uk
action
young citizens in
Voluntary Service Bureau exists to support, encourage and promote citizenship and participation through
voluntary activity. Young Citizens In Action is a Voluntary Service Bureau initiative supported by:
*
get stuck in
Community Fund
Youth Council for Northern Ireland
Millennium Volunteers
CVS
Peace II Programme administered through Community Foundation
I’m off to help build a school,
thought I’d bring a few bits
and pieces with me...