Bolgatanga, June 29, GNA - The Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO) has since 1958 trained 13,000 volunteers as teachers and posted them to schools throughout the country.

Other volunteers had been trained to work in communities to help groups involved in income generating activities and work with the physically challenged persons to encourage them identify their potentials and assist them put their skills in profitable ventures. Mr. Amidu Tanko, the Country Director of VSO, said this during the launch of the 'Global XChange Programme', on the theme, "Education and Climate Change, Securing the Livelihoods of Future Generations", in Bolgatanga.

Mr. Tanko said the VSO was working with Ghana Education Service (GES) and had developed the Global XChange Programme that involves youth from Ghana and the United Kingdom between the ages of 18 and 25 years. It will give them the opportunity to do practical work in communities in the two countries, with a vision to build a world where active global citizens create positive change and build mutual understanding and respect.

The 18 young volunteers from the UK are expected to stay and work in Bolgatanga Municipality for the next three months. They would be assigned to schools where they would teach and form Eco-Clubs to focus on improving the environment. They plan to lead school pupils to grow trees in their communities and campaign against bush burning.

Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister who launched the XChange Programme, said the work of the VSO would enhance the achievement of educational interventions such as the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education Programme.

He said 1.6 million pupils would be given school uniforms free of charge while all children in basic schools would be provided with free exercise books this year and the Capitation Grant increased from 3.00 Ghana Cedis to 4.50 Ghana Cedis. "Government is committed to partner with any organization such as VSO to raise the level of education to meet current global standards", he said. Mr. Woyongo said the government in its quest to fight poverty was collaborating with other stakeholders this year, to provide financial assistance, skill training in business management and access to information to enable women and children benefit from various policy interventions designed to improve mother and child welfare. Ms. Juliet Amoah of the British Council stated that the work of the volunteers in climate change would eventually help mitigate the effects of climate change and advised them to work hard and leave a mark in the area.

The Volunteers would stay with local families in the communities to enable them integrate well in the societies they serve.

Voluntary Service Organisation is an international organization which promotes volunteering to fight global poverty. It has been working in Ghana since 1958.