The Centre's Fido helps businesses and organisations in developing countries
[26 October 2006 | Denis Porter, The Centre for Volunteering]
Australian Business Volunteers Ltd (ABV) is a not-for-profit and non-government organisation (NGO) which aims to contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable development and good governance in developing countries. Canberra-based ABV provides Australian expert volunteers who, by sharing their skills, experience and passion, assist businesses and organisations in developing countries to grow and thrive. ABV focuses on South-east Asia and the Pacific and is largely funded by the Australian Government's overseas aid agency AusAID.
ABV also works with approved clients outside the AusAID program on a fee-for-service basis. This revenue helps fund its work with those clients who are unable to contribute towards the costs of hosting a volunteer.
Many small and medium-sized businesses, community groups, NGOs and government agencies in developing countries need all kinds of practical advice and training but cannot afford to pay professional consultants. ABV requires them to provide accommodation, food and a modest allowance for volunteers. The volunteers are mostly retirees or self-employed people who freely give their time and assistance on projects which generally range from one to three months. They are tradespeople, professionals and business people, both men and women, who draw upon many years experience in their fields.
ABV operates in 11 countries in the AusAID-supported component of its program: Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
Fido assists The Centre's members to recruit skilled and experienced volunteers for short- or long-term assignments roles or one-off tasks. Fido advertises in the Sydney Morning Herald every Monday and Saturday and on the Fido website every Monday. The same jobs are also emailed every Monday to about 1,000 people registered on the website as potential volunteers.
ABV is a regular user of The Centre for Volunteering's Fido, which is a free service. Fido has proved to be a valuable source of volunteers for a wide range of ABV assignments. Below are some of the skillsets that Fido has advertised for this year:
- horse trainer (Cambodia)
- librarians (Papua New Guinea)
- court clerk (Cambodia)
- chefs and hospitality industry advisors (various countries)
- water treatment engineers (Papua New Guinea)
- fibreglass manufacturing advisor (Vanuatu)
- building trades teachers (Fiji)
- small business trainers (Indonesia and PNG)
- nursing lecturer (Indonesia)
- concrete manufacturing advisor (Tonga)
- Montessori teacher (Philippines)
- radio engineer (Samoa).
Visit www.abv.org.au for further information about ABV.
Can Fido assist your organisation to find skilled volunteers? You can search www.fido.com.au for further details about the service. If you would like to advertise a position, please submit it through our website.