Our history
Pilot of South-South volunteering
VSO Bahaginan began its contribution to global development in 1999 when VSO piloted the Southern Volunteer Program in the Philippines and Kenya. We recognized that skilled people, regardless of the country they are born or live in, had skills and experience to share and that they also had a right to participate in volunteering.
VSO Bahaginan undertook the recruitment and pre-departure training of Filipino VSO volunteers, successfully deploying the first batch of five Filipinos to other developing countries.
From a VSO program to an independent partner
VSO Bahaginan was registered as an independent Filipino foundation in 2004. In 2005, it became the Philippine partner of VSO in the Asia Pacific.
Together with other international federation members of VSO, we contribute to achieving shared development goals by recruiting volunteers and raising funds to support VSO's global work .
At the heart of VSO Bahaginan is international volunteering. Since 2000, we have recruited, matched, trained and sent nearly 500 Filipinos, with diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life, to volunteer where they are most needed.
Promoting national volunteering
Apart from international volunteering, VSO Bahaginan also focuses on supporting national volunteering in the Philippines, and in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
KaBAHAGI is our national volunteering program in the Philippines that aims to increase opportunities for people to participate in finding solutions in their community through volunteering. Building on VSO’s global experience, we develop products and deliver training for corporate and non-corporate organizations to help them run successful volunteering schemes.
VSO Bahaginan has partnered with Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN) to run a formal course in Volunteer Program Development and Management. Since 2005, 63 program managers and volunteer coordinators, from more than 35 VSO program partner organizations in 20 countries, have attended the course.
VSO Bahaginan also encourages young people in volunteering for development through the Global Xchange Program.
