Press Release
13 May 2008
Young volunteers now boarding for Ghana and South Africa at Platform2
Images courtesy of Matthew Gonzalez-Noda
 A group of 18-25 year olds embark on an innovative new volunteering
scheme, Platform2, today. It is aimed at raising awareness of global development
and voluntary work amongst young British adults who would not normally be able
to afford the opportunity to volunteer overseas.
Organised by Christian Aid, BUNAC and Islamic Relief, the three-year scheme,
funded by the Department for International Development, will allow 2,500
participants to experience the realities of overseas development work in
countries including Ghana, South Africa, Peru, India and Malawi.
Minister for International Development, Shahid Malik, said after meeting the
volunteers at the House of Commons last night:
‘It has been a pleasure to meet the volunteers before they start their
placements. By taking part in the Platform2 scheme, not only are they
contributing to the positive work of international development in Ghana and
South Africa, they will also bring the skills they have learnt to positively
impact on their local communities, back in the UK.
‘I am sure they will return to the UK full of wonderful memories of their
time spent working overseas and a new perspective on their lives back home. I
look forward to hearing all about it on their return.’
 A 10-week placement will see the volunteers living and working alongside
communities on a range of projects including conservation and income generation
for local communities, and health and sanitation training with schools.
On their return to the UK participants will attend a three day residential
workshop where they will design personal activity plans to share their
experiences and raise awareness of development issues within their own
communities.
Mark Vyner, Platform2 programme manager said: ‘These young adults are about
to have an experience which will transform the rest of their lives. Not only
will it give them a chance to learn about, and get involved in, the issues that
shape their world, we hope they will learn new skills and unlock the potential
within them to be better global citizens.’
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The first two groups are heading for Africa, 8 to Ghana and 10 to South
Africa.
In Ghana they will visit the Afadjato Agumatasa Project, a five-hour drive
from the capital Accra. They will work to conserve the natural resources at
Mount Afadjato, help create alternative income generation schemes for the local
population, including encouraging eco-tourism, and manage sustainable use of the
conservation area. Activities will include landscaping the visitor centre,
creating a plant nursery, clearing fire belts, tree planting and developing the
campsite.
Daniel Stone, 18, from Handsworth in Birmingham, one of the volunteers going
to Ghana said: ‘I already possess the desire to help people reach their full
potential and I simply want to make a difference. All year I have been looking
for an opportunity to volunteer abroad, but have been astonished by the costs.
Hearing about Platform 2 renewed my hope that I could reach this goal. At the
moment I feel that my view of the world is so narrow and that there is so much
for me to learn and experience.’
The group going to South Africa will stay at the False Bay Ecology Park and
Environmental Centre located next to Rondevlei Nature Reserve, 40 kilometers
from Cape Town.
False Bay Ecology Park has a unique and varied biodiversity and is
particularly rich in birdlife. The volunteers will help make the park one of the
leading conservation, environmental education, recreation, and ecotourism
centres in the country. The park offers amazing opportunities to provide
recreation, social and economic upliftment and environmental education to a
large population of low income residents on its doorstep. The volunteers will
work alongside staff members and local volunteers to help construct a camp area
and adventure playground for local kids.
Both projects will see volunteers spending at least half a day a week working
with local schools and communities on health and sanitation education and
activities such as football training, English teaching, drama or music.
For more information on Platform2, or to apply, visit
 www.myplatform2.com
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