Claire Wright and Ben Powell presented on their experience with the International Citizen Service (ICS) program, which sends volunteers aged 18-25 to work on development projects in other countries. Through ICS, they spent 3 months in Ghana working with a resource center for persons with disabilities. Their project involved surveying 250 disabled individuals to understand their livelihoods, health, education, and more in order to suggest future programs and support fundraising. They discussed the cultural exchange and personal growth opportunities the placement provided, and encouraged others to get involved with the ICS program.

1. Who are we?
Claire Wright
Pre placement: Social and community development student
Post placement: 3rd year social and community development course
representative
Ben Powell
Pre placement: Full time baker
Post placement: teaching assistant and college student.

2. Why are we standing before you
today?
• We were privileged enough to be sent on a 3 month development
project placement in Ghana, West Africa as part of the ICS scheme
funded by the Department for International Development.
(International Citizen Service - ICS)
By their own admission:
“ICS is a UK government-funded development programme that brings
together 18 to 25-year-olds from all backgrounds to fight poverty in
overseas and UK communities. You don’t need cash, skills or
qualifications to take part in ICS – just the ambition to make a
difference.”.
Only guaranteed until 2015!!!!
http://www.volunteerics.org/about-ics

3. An introduction to the ICS scheme
working in 5 countries in Africa, South America and Asia as an umbrella organisation
who works with several partners, these are:
• International Service ICS, working in 5 countries in Africa, South America and Asia.
• Lattitude ICS, working in Ghana and Malawi
• Progressio ICS, working in 5 countries in Africa and Central America
• Raleigh ICS, working in India, and Tanzania
• Restless Development ICS, working in 7 countries in Africa and Asia
• Skillshare International ICS, working in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa
• Tearfund ICS, working in Bolivia, Burundi and Rwanda
• VSO ICS, working in 12 countries across Africa and Asia.
All organisations have specific interest areas.
A preference of organisation can be mentioned on application, your skill set and
preference are taken into account if successful. All organisations centre around
making long lasting positive change in the community.
The departure dates run throughout the year starting from January and every 3
months afterwards.

4. International Service
• International service was our chosen partner organisation.
• Personal story – helped run the Resource Centre for Persons with
disabilities in Tamale, Ghana. Created a questionnaire used to interview a
random selection of 250 disabled individuals in the Tamale metropolitan.
These interviews gained insight into livelihoods, living
conditions, health, education and civic participation. We then analysed
results and suggested how future cohorts could setup specific disabled
programs, and to support evidence for future fundraising.
• International Service mission statement -‘Empowering people to achieve
long lasting positive change’
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The language barrier (national volunteers)
Emotional strain of working with vulnerable people(rewarding)
Culture shock
Budgeting
Safety

5. How did we make change?
Last known statistical data on disabled people in
the Tamale region was more than 20 years ago
(world health organisation)
The results from our study are going to help
hundreds of disabled individuals within the
Tamale metropolitan. Future funding and
projects will be established due to the findings
of our research.

6. Support
• ICS is open to everyone aged 18 to 25 regardless
of income, qualifications, disability and work
history. All costs are covered by the Department
for International Development. Including:
– Injections/medicine
– Travel
– Training
– Accommodation
– Flights
All volunteers are asked to fundraise £800 towards their
placement.

7. Cultural Exchange
• Whilst on placement we were posted Ghanaian national volunteers whom
taught us the Ghanaian way to make sure our placement ran as smoothly
as possible...
• Religious beliefs and how it impacts society
• Language lessons
• Shopping (bartering)
• Safety
• Travelling from A to B
We shared cultural experiences from
a developing and developed country
perspective, this was priceless and
we all learnt valuable life lessons.

8. Personal Development
• Weekly group reflections that covered many
global development discussions:
• ‘The millennium development goals are a comprehensive and
accurate focus for global development efforts’
• ‘There is a major link between disability and poverty’
• Post placement job opportunities
• Gaining a multi-cultural perspective
• Empathy

9. What’s next?
• Looking to work with more disadvantaged
individuals around the world
• What we learnt from 3 months in Africa is
going to be put into action for the rest of our
lives.
• Giving more back to society
• Being the voice for the voiceless

10. So how can you get involved?
Websites and contacts:
http://www.volunteerics.org/applynow
If want any guidance or advice feel free to contact
us... More than willing to help 
claire_wright1990@hotmail.co.uk
ben1808@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you for your time... Any questions??