We say goodbye and Good Luck to Ashlea.......destined for Madagascar

As the monsoon draws to a close we return to clearer skies and awesome cloud formations, resulting from temperature and
humidity changes over the Himalayas.

When called in to help with some interviews for an operations manager post here in the VSO Nepal office, it brought it home to me once again that the work of this International Non-Government Organisation is all about bringing people together, to promote change. When talking to the job candidates it soon become apparent that much of their experience in the area of logistics related to moving 'stuff' about, from storage depots to areas of humanitarian need. By contrast here at VSO its all about moving people to placements, workshops and meetings where their work is to facilitate a pathway which reaches the long term goal of reducing poverty and improving choices for poor and marginalised families.

Bringing people together takes all sorts of guises. I guess the experience of a long term health volunteer like Liz, a Scottish nurse based in a very remote high altitude settlement in Mugu district is very different to mine here in Kathmandu. After walking for 2 days to reach her district, she works for months on end alongside fellow Nepali health workers in the local hospital and community where she shares her knowledge and builds their capacity. Her placement shows not only the positive impact that she is making but also demonstrates the importance of another sort of human contact that VSO provides. Liz's placement is an illustration of most placements where volunteers find themselves in an isolated rural location, for long periods, where self resilience and determination are essential personal traits. However, the support of VSO staff in a situation like this makes a huge difference. To know that there is someone to turn to when the going gets tough. That someone, who with a listening ear and supportive word, often makes a real difference to the quality of the volunteering experience.

Ashlea, has been the point of contact for Jude and myself over the past year. She is based back in London, so our communications have all been via the net. Looking back to times when the inevitable happens and the placement experience is less than perfect, or during the aftermath of the earthquake, those friendly supportive emails were a real life saver. Her advice was always friendly, chatty, supportive but at the same time tinged with reality. She has brought another very meaningful and positive dimension to our placements.

We finally meet with Ashlea our VSO UK contact during our trip back home. She updates us on her work with VSO donors and her own plans to volunteer.

However, like all good things it must come to an end and this is Ashlea's last week with VSO. She has decided to try international volunteering herself and is destined to work in Madagascar later this autumn. Jude and I had the privilege of meeting up with her when we returned for our short break to the UK this summer. Sitting chatting over a cup of coffee, hearing her plans, we were once more struck by how important it is to 'bring people together for change' not just on our placements but from the support team and donors. We are all together sharing a common goal, playing different roles. Part of Ashlea's role has been to support us and she has done a fantastic job. We wish her good luck for the future and on her volunteering experience. Madagascar is very lucky to have her!