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Press Release
07 August 08
Dragons' Den tycoon advises how to get a world ahead at work
On 14 August thousands of A Level students across the UK will be eagerly awaiting their results and facing the prospect of looking for their first job in an increasingly difficult world economic climate.
One way to stand out from the crowd and get the competitive edge on your CV is by gaining valuable work experience by volunteering.
Platform2 is a free global volunteering scheme funded by DFID and run by
Christian Aid,
BUNAC
and
Islamic Relief.
Open to 18-25 year olds who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to volunteer
abroad, it offers the chance to spend 10 weeks living and working in a poor
community in countries like Ghana, South Africa, Peru or India.
The scheme gives volunteers the chance to learn about development issues as part of a diverse team, experience new cultures and improve their practical, communication and organisational skills.
Duncan Bannatyne, entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den tycoon, said:
"When I employ someone I look for initiative and drive; someone who is a self starter and can work well as part of a team. Volunteering for a programme like Platform2 demonstrates these young people have the desire to do something extra with their lives and help others in the process. These are qualities employers are looking for on a CV and show more about a person than their qualifications alone."
On their return to the UK, participants attend a three-day workshop where they devise interesting and exciting ways of communicating what they have learnt about global issues with friends, family and their local community. They will continue to build on their life and employment skills by making videos, writing blogs and songs, organising talks, putting on exhibitions and getting local press coverage.
Zina Lewis, a Platform2 volunteer from London who has just returned from Ghana, said:
"It’s a life-changing experience...It will be very helpful when it comes to getting jobs because it's quite character-building and shows a lot about you: that you’ve donated your time and gone to live with a group of people that you don’t know, Big Brother-style; that you’re a team player who can work with others and that you have social skills."
Mark Vyner, Platform2's Head of Programme, said:
"Employers have told us that volunteering on a CV looks good - it shows someone has initiative, drive and will have a level of maturity above those coming straight from education. Platform2 offers all participants a great experience and will help them stand out from the crowd in the job market."
Note to editors
- Platform2 empowers 18-25 year olds in the UK to make a real difference to the lives of those in poor countries, through volunteering abroad and raising awareness of development issues back home. It benefits the individual taking part as it gives these young volunteers the opportunity to use their skills, talents and creativity in the host nation and the UK and highlight global development issues on their return.
- Volunteers will spend 10 weeks in developing countries such as Ghana, South Africa and Peru at no financial cost to them, as this scheme is funded by the DFID.
- Platform2 is a global volunteering experience from the DFID and run by Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC.
- Find out more about
For more information, or to interview a Platform2 volunteer, contact Amanda Burney at Christian Aid on 020 7523 2318 or Ginny Reid at DFID press office on 020 7023 1792.
Links
- Press release: How to get a world ahead - 01 August 2008
- National volunteering week - DFID's first young volunteers going on the Platform2 adventure - 5 June 2008
- Press Release: Young volunteers now boarding for Ghana and South Africa at Platform2 - 13 May 2008