Minister meets diaspora volunteers in London

22 September 2009

A community project that helps volunteers in Streatham to improve the lives of people in Africa and share their experiences on their return was today praised by Gareth Thomas.

The International Development Minister visited the African Community Development Foundation (ACDF) in Streatham, Lambeth, where he spoke to volunteers who had recently returned from a project promoting secure livelihoods in Kisumu, Kenya. He also learnt how the foundation is striving to resolve community conflict and tackle drug use in the Somali community in South London.

Gareth Thomas visited the successful African organisation to discuss how the DFID Diaspora Volunteering Programme (DVP) is enhancing lives both in Africa and the UK. DVP was set up to allow skilled professionals from diaspora communities to get actively involved in international development by volunteering in their country of heritage.

DFID is providing funding over three years to assist diaspora organisations to either set up or improve their own volunteering programmes. The programme aims to help 600 volunteers complete placements in their continents of heritage. To date 228 volunteers have completed placements, mainly in Asia and Africa.

Gareth Thomas said:

“Giving British black professionals the opportunity to visit their country of heritage, and the chance to see for themselves how development projects work on the ground in Africa, is a great way to encourage people to connect with communities at home and abroad and share the lessons learnt on their return.

“Projects like the African Community Development Foundation have a vital role to play in helping to increase awareness of development work, as well as in encouraging members of the community to get involved in volunteering projects.”

Betty Okot, from the African Community Development Project said:

“People from African communities understand the development needs of their own countries because many have lived in Africa for part of their lifetimes.  They can understand daily hardships and what needs to be done at grass-roots level. This partnership with DFID recognises the role community groups have to play in supporting the work of large government organisations and the importance of transferring knowledge both ways between Africa and the UK.”