Youth Programme Assistant - Univol
UniVol
Closing date: 8/9/2026
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Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.
Volunteer Services Abroad (VSA) connects volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.
We are New Zealand's largest and most experienced volunteering agency working in international development, placing over 100 volunteers each year. For the last twenty years the VSA has been operating our Univol programme, a volunteering programme with assignments specifically designed with recent graduates in mind. Each assignment represents an amazing opportunity to develop your skills in enhancing and supporting capability and capacity uplift.
For all of our volunteers deployed in country, the VSA provides standard support package that includes international flights at start and end of assignment, in-country accommodation, living allowance to support basic living costs, comprehensive pre-departure preparation through a through recruitment and onboarding process, health and travel insurance as well as ongoing mentoring and support throughout the assignment.
As this assignment is a part of our Univol programme, it is one of ten assignments we will be aiming to deploy to in early 2027. This assignment will be focussed on working across a youth programme seeking ways to support and enhance youth development in Santo, Vanuatu.
Our Partner and Assignment Summary:
For this assignment we have partnered specifically with Wan Smol bag Luganville (WSBL), formerly known as the Northern Care Youth Centre (NCYC). The team have been operating in the region since 2002 but have recently moved to a new location in Sarakata. WSBL have around 1000 youth registering each year and they are involved with a number of different activities depending on the skill set and experience of the available tutors.
The team in country are keen to have new skills and fresh perspectives brought in to help support the management team of WSBL in a number of key areas namely around increasing enrolment numbers of youth in the centre, growing class attendance, improving the efficiency of the centre, data collection, and reporting to donors. This assignment will build on work of previous Univol assignments as the VSA has a strong and longstanding connection with the team at WSBL.
A UniVol volunteer on this assignment would be deployed in 2027 to help bring new energy and ideas to help the team come up with novel and creative ways to engage youth in WSBL programming. The skills the UniVol brings with them will be utilised to train the current tutors who will then be able to run these classes by themselves after the end of the assignment. This would go towards diversifying the number of classes on offer.
About Vanuatu: Vanuatu is a volcanic archipelago of 86 islands, where traditional lifestyles exist alongside modern tourism. With over 100 different indigenous languages, Vanuatu has one of the highest language densities of anywhere in the world. The population is predominantly Melanesian, with strong cultural traditions and a largely Christian society. Vanuatu is also one of our longest standing programme countries, the VSA and our volunteers have had a presence in country going back as far as 1965.
In terms of the economy of Vanuatu it is built around the agricultural sector, with approximately 80% of the population working in this space. Key exports are copra, kava, and beef. In terms of location this assignment would largely be based in and around Luganville in Santo, one of the key population centres the VSA operates for all of our assignments including the Univol programme. The Vanuatu programme also has a Programme manager and Programme Coordinator based in country to support volunteers over the course of their assignment.
Skills we are seeking:
We believe that for a volunteer to succeed on this assignment they would need a number of key skills. First and foremost outstanding communication skills, both in the ability to connect with their target audience but also someone who can pick up languages quickly. Willingness to learn Bislama would be key to a volunteer having a positive experience on assignment. Proven experience finding creative solutions and managing resources tactically would also be key skills a volunteer would need on this assignment. Ideally we would also look to see experience facilitating or leading small workshops either in an academic setting or through personal hobbies and interests.
All VSA assignments are focused on building capability and capacity in country, but they also represent an opportunity for our volunteers to enhance and demonstrate a number of their skills including communication, stakeholder engagement, leadership development, project management, resilience, mentoring and innovation. The Univol programme is also a fairly exclusive one as we only have eleven assignments. Combining these factors could easily be leveraged to assist a volunteer in starting out a career in a number of fields including youth development.
Application Instructions:
If this opportunity is of interest, please apply through the link below. If you have any questions about this assignment or the Univol programme as a whole you are more than welcome to check in with the Recruitment team via email at volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
Please note applications will be closing in early August 2026, so get any applications or queries in prior to that as the team will be assessing applications and queries as they arrive.
What’s included
Included when you join us
VSA organises and fully funds return economy-class international flights between New Zealand and your host country, plus any approved domestic travel connected to your assignment.
You’re covered under VSA’s comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy, which also includes emergency evacuation and personal belongings coverage. Before departure, you’ll receive full information on what’s covered and how to access support.
VSA arranges and funds safe, furnished accommodation throughout your assignment, whether you're in a capital or rural location. A housing checklist ensures your needs are met for comfort and security.
You’ll receive a modest monthly living allowance, paid into a local bank account, designed to cover essentials like food, transport, and utilities. This is in line with VSA’s cost-of-living support for volunteers.
Before you leave, VSA provides a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington, fully funded by VSA. This includes cultural orientation, language training, health and safety guidelines, and logistical preparation to get you deployment-ready
From your first day on assignment, you’ll have strong in-country support from VSA staff, Programme Managers and Coordinators, who provide orientation, security briefings, pastoral care, and ongoing assistance throughout your placement.
Preparation
How to prepare?
Be prepared for a comprehensive recruitment journey. This includes initial screening, background checks, and two interviews, one of which is a panel interview with a subject matter expert. Only after successfully completing these steps will you receive a provisional offer and begin the onboarding process. It’s essential to wait for VSA’s confirmation before making significant life changes, such as resigning from your job or selling property, as there may be delays in immigration or medical clearances.
Once accepted, you'll be invited to attend a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington. This course equips you with tools for success, covering cultural orientation, safety protocols, health preparation, and assignment logistics. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other outgoing volunteers.
Volunteering abroad can be both deeply rewarding and personally challenging. Conditions may be unfamiliar, and change is often constant. Bring flexibility, a sense of humour, and a willingness to learn from others, you’ll grow alongside the community you’re there to support.
You’ll need to complete a health screening and ensure all required vaccinations are up to date. VSA provides medical and travel insurance, but you are also responsible for managing your day-to-day wellbeing. Think about how you'll maintain mental and physical health while overseas.
VSA asks volunteers to become ambassadors for the kaupapa. You will be asked to fundraise $1,000 to support the programme and raise awareness about your assignment. We provide resources and guidance to help you share your story and connect your networks with the impact of your work.
The platform we ask you to use is Raisely.
From visa applications to police checks and health forms, there are a few critical administrative tasks before departure. Our team will guide you through the steps to make sure everything is completed on time and with ease.
