Int’l Volunteer Exchange develops cross-cultural understanding
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—It was not just a regular excursion, but a life-changing experience for seventeen British and Pakistani young people who had been living and working in the southern districts of Punjab for the past three months as part of the six-month Global exchange -- a programme that is rooted in the rationale that international volunteer exchanges can develop active global citizens and build cross-cultural understanding.
A joint initiative of Voluntary Service Overseas and the British Council which partnered with Pattan Development Organization to incept it in Pakistan, Global Exchange brings highly motivated young people together to live and work in host communities in their own and in another country.
The programme brings together young people from different cultures and backgrounds to make a practical contribution to local communities. The shared knowledge and skills gained through the course of this programme encourage active participation in civil society in each of the countries involved. It also gives young people from different countries a unique opportunity to work together, to develop and share valuable skills, and to make a practical contribution where it is needed in local communities.
Moreover, the volunteers and the communities where they live and work have the opportunity of global perspective and to work for positive change in a culturally diverse world. “We have broken down many cultural barriers and have challenged both stereotypes about the West and Pakistan,” said Laura Smith, who is chaperoning the British volunteers, at the end of first phase of the programme.
“There have been lots of tears this weekend as the volunteers were leaving their communities…very emotional scenes. The volunteers were seen as family members and they will be really missed.”
The group is now set to leave for the United Kingdom on December 6, 2005 to live and work with communities in Selby. During the first phase of the exchange that lasted three months, the nine British volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 years were paired up with Pakistani counterparts in the same age group and put up with host families in villages of Khanewal, Muzaffar Garh and Multan districts. While one group helped organize women and girls in Chinaware, Muzaffar Garh to bolster their collective bargaining position with community and local elected representatives, another group facilitated the formation of a Youth Community Board in village Ganja, Muzaffar Garh to increase youth participation in issues important to them.