Former volunteers have experience and resources that could be a big help to today’s VSAers.
VSALink puts returned and current volunteers in touch. Across many specialist subjects, the returned volunteers listed below have a range of training modules, templates, planning documents, guides and manuals from past assignments that could be adapted to support today's volunteers.
They also have experience, which they are happy to share in an e-mentoring role via email or skype.
How VSALink works
VSAConnect acts as the scheme's facilitator, a go-between to connect current and returned volunteers.
- If you are a returned volunteer who has resources to contribute and would like to be part of this scheme, please email VSAConnect coordinator Pat Martin.
- If you are a current volunteer who would like online support in the subject areas below, please email VSAConnect coordinator Pat Martin and copy in your Programme Manager.
Returned volunteers involved in the scheme include:
| Subject area | Countries volunteered in | |
| Bede Amarasekara | IT, hardware and networking infrastructure development | PNG |
| Andrew Baker | Building, building trades and teaching building skills | Tokelau, Samoa, Nepal, PNG Bougainville |
| Tony Bray | IT, databases, intranet and web design, open source software | Vanuatu, PNG, Tonga, South Africa |
| Bill Hardie | Finance, accounting and Xero support | Timor-Leste |
| Arnold Hawkins | Building trades, planning and drafting | PNG, Vanuatu, Bhutan |
| Jan Lewis | Sexual and reproductive health | Bougainville |
| Pat Martin | Communications, editing, writing | Timor-Leste |
| Dana MacDiarmid | Communications and marketing | Timor-Leste |
| Chris Smart | Small business advice and training, auditing | Vanuatu |
| Dr Hilary Smith | English as a second language, teacher education | Lao, PNG, Tonga |
| Laurie Williams | Education management and governance, school development planning | Solomon Islands |
Here's the full list of returned volunteers (0.2 MB pdf, 3pp), their expertise and the resources available.