VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. In the first of a series of case studies in which we catch up with VSO volunteers, we learn about Patricia Gilhooley’s year in Western Ethiopia working as a continuous professional development (CPD) adviser.

Inspiring creativity in the classroom

More than half of the world’s out-of-school children live in just 15 countries, and nearly three million of them are in Ethiopia. Pupils are frequently passive recipients of knowledge, which can often be ineffective at engaging students to think critically and creatively. Tackling traditional ‘chalk and talk’ methods of teaching is a major challenge. VSO volunteer Patricia Gilhooley spent her year encouraging the use of active learning methods in several primary schools and a teacher training college.

VSO volunteers like Patricia work through the Ministry of Education and at a senior level in teacher training colleges across Ethiopia to help engage students to think critically and creatively.

Here she tells us about her experiences. Read more…

You may be sceptical about ‘alternative health’ strategies, but if they achieve positive results, could they be worth trying anyway? This week we share with you a video about Juan, a teacher in Quito, Ecuador, who enables five-year-olds to use simple ‘tapping techniques’ in the classroom, which appear to boost concentration, raise self-esteem and improve behaviour. He says the results are impressive – so what’s not to like?

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Last time we took a long hard look at planning your finances to get more out of your time living and working overseas. This week we focus on some simple tips to help you get the most out of your overseas stay, from the best ways to stay in touch with the UK to storing your documents safely online and backing up and sending pictures home easily while you’re away.

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