Volunteer About volunteering If you are an Optometrist or Dispensing Optician, find out how you can help change lives across Africa. Professional volunteers from the UK and Ireland support Vision Aid Overseas to establish sustainable eye care services in five African countries by: Fundraising Attending AGM and other events Being engaged with us on social media Give talks and being an advocate for VAO Profession Volunteers going on an overseas assignment support by: Providing training to local eye care workers Skill sharing at Vision Centres where patients can access eye care services and glasses Supporting outreach services Why volunteer with Vision Aid Overseas? Vision Aid Overseas exists so that children in Africa who can’t see clearly can learn and get an education, and adults who can’t see clearly can earn to support their families and contribute to their communities. Our professional volunteers are integral to Vision Aid Overseas and help us to achieve our mission to fight poverty by transforming access to eye care and glasses in Africa by supporting sustainable services and training health care workers. Our professional volunteers support, engage with our work and are advocates for VAO in different ways in the UK and overseas. Benefits of Volunteering with Vision Aid Overseas Be part of the solution to transforming access to eye care across Africa Be a part of supporting sustainable health care services overseas Help us deliver our vision and mission Meet like-minded people who want to make a difference Learn about people's lives, cultures and the challenges they face Help change lives Volunteering for Vision Aid Overseas has been amazingly rewarding. I have found it a privilege to use skills that can really make a difference and change peoples lives. Margaret Lawrence, Optometrist How to become a Vision Aid Overseas Professional Volunteer Attend our next volunteer training course Become a member of Vision Aid Overseas Stay engaged with our work as a Professional Volunteer Support VAO Apply for a place on an overseas assignment. (subject to your skills matching the assignment needs and application process) If successful, Undertake some fundraising Plan for the assignment within a team (approx 9 months from selection) Go on an assignment and start making a difference Many of our Professional Volunteers support our country programmes from the UK, email us to find out how you can help Way of supporting our programmes from the UK include: Fundraising Talks Events in your practice Practice donations Remote eMentoring Fundraising target Your first Assignment Next assignment Role £1,700 £1,100 (time frames apply) Team Members £800 Deputy Team Leaders £400 Team Leaders If you would like to find out more about volunteering with Vision Aid Overseas please see our frequently asked questions or email [email protected]. If I was to give any advice it would be to go for it! You'd be amazed how your small actions can change someone's life for the better. Find out more