Past Events

We now have everything finalised. The Council of City of Edinburgh has been very supportive, and they will order between 30-40 trees for our event. They need oak and beech trees for the park. Previous trees were killed by Dutch elm disease so they require a replacement. The planting of the trees will be as follows:

Date: 12 November 2011

Location: Figgate Park in Duddingston area

Time: 11.45am *Meet outside the gates of Duddingston Primary School, 70A Duddingston Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH15 1SW

Health and Safety: Please wear suitable footwear and clothing - as you know it is autumn and the weather is unpredictable

The park warden will meet us at the above time. He will have a van with the trees and tools and he will take us to the actual part we need to plant the trees. If you have spare tools bring them along.

We are not sure how long tree planting will take but after it is over the plan is to go to Beef Eater, at 228 Willowbrae Road and make a toast to Wangari Maathai. We can buy the drinks at the bar which I was told will be busy for that time of the day. They have agreed to reserve us a room if I can confirm the number.

If you intend to attend please do send a message to me because I will need to inform the council and the Beef eater too of the numbers.

Thanks Mary mmnjoki2002@yahoo.com

The links on facebook are group on face book is called A tree for Wangari Maathai http://www.facebook.com/groups/276713132353625/ and then there is an event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129479413818244

Please respond to Mary mmnjoki2002@yahoo.com as she is collecting the numbers, and pass the message on.

Pamela Mwanachiwena is visting from Zambia as a Commonwealth Fellow, and will give an informal talk on Friday 11th November at 7pm.

She will cover her work here and at home, and a bit about the Commonwealth Fellowship programme.

Do come along. There will be some snacks and drinks.

If you need any more details do get in touch, Fiona.

On Wednesday 19 October, The Stand have kindly offered to host Children of Songea's very first Comedy Night, and a selection of comedians have agreed to waive their fee to help them raise as much as they can.

Tickets are great value at just £7 and are available now by following this link http://bit.ly/gy3bnZ or by phoning 0131 243 2637

As this date for our AGM coincides with the usual pub night, the pub night is cancelled.

Though this is AGM it will be very informal. Do bring something to drink or snacks to share. Venue at Richard Ellis's home. Time is 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Draft minutes of last year's AGM are in the documents section of this website.

Planning Meetings are held every 2 months at 6.30 before the pub nights at the nearby Volunteer Centre. So come along and contribute your ideas in a big or small way in a friendly, welcoming, appreciative, informal atmosphere.

VSO SUPPORTER REGIONAL MEETING - EDINBURGH

What will VSO look like in 2018? What countries will they be working in? What types of volunteers will they be recruiting? Will they be using volunteers at all? These are the sorts of questions that the organisation has been grappling with whilst developing their new strategy, 'People First'.

Now we, the VSO supporter group in Edinburgh, are pleased to be able to facilitate a session for VSO to come and share this future vision with you. They are keen to hear the views of as many supporters as possible and discuss these questions in more depth.

The meeting will run for two hours. VSO senior management will give a presentation on these exciting changes and a sneak preview of the new brand (due to launch in late March). There will be plenty of time at the end of the presentation to ask questions and discuss how you could get involved.

The meeting details are:

Venue: Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Arts & Education Trust

Directions can be found on their website

Please RSVP by emailing back at nick@vso-edinburgh.org.uk 

P.S. If this meeting doesn't suit, click here to find out where other regional meetings are being held. 

Kirsteen Powell, not long back from Kenya, will talk about her experiences there, working in the area of "Organisation Development". If you want to hear what that is all about do come along.

Or come along to hear about Kenya, or about volunteering with VSO in general, and to ask questions; this is always a very informal session. If you can bring along something to drink or snacks to share, that would be good.

To find Carlyle Place, go along London Road heading east, across Easter Road and then a bit further along turn left at "Bumbles Cafe". Down the steps and no. 29 is two thirds the way down on the right. Buses 26, 44, 19, 4, 34, 1, 5, 15 all stop pretty close to the top of the road on London Road.

Our Xmas Meal will be on the second Tuesday of December - so no pub night that day.

The venue is Hanedan Restuarant a Turkish restaurant, which is described as follows: "It brings to Edinburgh a delightful taste of Turkey
with its authentic delicious dishes in a restaurant which is restful and airy. "

http://www.hanedan.co.uk/

We have the whole restaurant so space for 24. However we do need to prebook our food, so to book a place go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9BX3BD8

Please do this by 9th December.

Please send an email to me too and I can advise how to make your deposit too.

Fiona.

Shona will host and talk about her experience as an Education Volunteer in China. All welcome. Bring some snacks or drinks to share.

Contact Shona for venue details by emailing her.

Children of Songea Trust - BIG SHINDIG 2010

Tickets are available now from our website at http://www.childrenofsongea.org.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=47&category_id=14&option=com_virtuemart&itemid=64&vmcchk=1&itemid=64

VSO Friends, Family BBQ Fundraiser

When? 22^nd August, 2010

Time? 12 noon until 7pm (drop in when you are free!)

Why? Raise money towards Sam’s VSO £900 target

How much? £5 donation for entry

What will be available on the day?

BBQ: Sam will supply basics – burgers, sausages, buns, plates, cups, soft drinks, ketchup, brown sauce, mustard (separate BBQ for vegetarians will be available!)

Jumble sale: Pay what it’s worth... minimum donation £1 per item, bargain!

Tombola: £1 a go

Games/ toys: Try the hula hoop, Poi, Skipping, Frisbee, juggling

What can I do to help?

Please bring along extras for the BBQ (salad, chicken, pudding), donations for the jumble sale (clothes, books, bags, toys, cakes, plants...), prizes for the tombola, but most importantly: some cheek, playfulness and cheer!

Please e-mail: Sam to book a space, this will help her ‘gestimate’ how many burgers to get! Do let her know if you are vegetarian.

Felicity has spent a lot of time working in Angola and will talk about her observations and experiences of the political and social issues.

Bring along some snacks/or drinks to share.

Auchterarder Audit – Saturday 26^th June, 1pm, Auchterarder Church Community Centre

Five years on from the iconic Make Poverty History events and the G8 summit in Gleneagles Oxfam Scotland is bringing together activists from around the country to look at the progress that has been made on the promises delivered at the G8 meeting in Gleneagles and the work that remains to meet these pledges.

What is your memory of the Make Poverty History campaign – the white wristbands, the march around Edinburgh or the opportunities it created to make world leaders listen and realise global injustice is not acceptable in our world?

Join us at Auchterarder Church Community Centre on Saturday 26^th June for an afternoon of lively discussion and to take part in a series of workshops on topics such as debt, trade justice and climate change. At a time when world leaders will be meeting in Canada for the G8 summit let your voice be heard and let’s make clear the need to Make Poverty History.

To book your place or for more information please contact Sara at scowan@oxfam.org.uk or 0141 285 8874, buses from Edinburgh and Glasgow will be running but places are limited so please book in advance.

You can find details of Refugee Week Events here:

http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/Resources/Refugee%20Week/Documents/PDF/Refugee%20Week%20Scotland%202010%20Programme.pdf

Many of them are in Glasgow but there are some film events and a concert on Saturday night. Also the Simple Acts Campaign at the end of the brochure has some great ideas.

I have added the flyer to the documents section.

Join us for a Walk along the Water of Leith with the Global Exchange volunteers presently working in Edinburgh. Volunteers are from Bangladesh and around the UK. We are going to meet at the Waterline pub from 6 pm with the aim of setting off to walk along the Water of Leith at 7 pm. The pub is at The Shore in Leith and the bus number 22 stops almost right outside it. If people want to bring something to eat en route that is up to them.

Contact Cathy if you are interested in going.

BANANAS!* Fredrik Gertten | Sweden 2009

Filmhouse, Lothian Road, Mon 7 June 18:15 (also Tues, Weds)

Juan 'Accidentes' Dominguez is on his biggest case ever. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers he is tackling Dole Food in a groundbreaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility. Can he beat the giant, or will the corporation get away with it? In this suspenseful documentary, filmmaker Fredrik Gertten sheds new light on the global politics of food.


Book tickets | View trailer

A brainteasing evening of questions, answers, socialising and fun. Come as a team of VSO members, friends, workmates, family or a combination of all of them. Or come on your own and we'll put you in a team and you can meet some nice people.

Entrance is a £5 donation to VSO and there will be snacks for sale, a bar and a prize draw. Top Friday night entertainment.

So start holding your trials and once you have put together your team of 4 or 5 people email me and I will reserve the places. If you're coming on your own or don't have enough to make a whole team, email me and I'll put a team together. There is only room for 10 teams so get in touch asap to avoid disappointment.

Directions: The Artisan is on London Road just beyond Easter Road if you're coing from town. Buses 15, 26, 19, 44, 5, 4 all stop just about outside.

The AGM comes round but once a year (hence the word annual) so it would be a shame to miss the once every 52 weeks opportunity to come along, talk about what we've done, what we're going to do and how you might like to get involved (no obligation).

It would be great to see some of the people who have been along to pub nights, to come and say what kind of thing they would be interested in..

Planning meetings are held every 2 months before the pub night to progress events and plan new ones. Come along with your ideas of what the group could be doing. All welcome.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THIS MONTH ONLY

"Life after VSO - working with MSF"

Jan Raymond was a VSO in Tanzania in the 1990s. Since then she has worked for Medicine Sans Frontier in different parts of the world. She will talk about some of the work she has been involved in.

Feel free to bring refreshment to turn it into a social occasion!

VSO are supporting this year's Take One Action film festival which explores global citizenship. Full details, including how to book tickets, can be found at  http://www.takeoneaction.org.uk

Born Into Brothels

Winner of Oscar for Best Documentary, Born into Brothels tells the story of photographer Zana Briski's attempts to inspire children of Calcutta prostitutes to photograph their lives, and glimpse their dreams. As the kids excel in their new found art, the filmmakers struggle to help them have a chance for a better life away from the miserable poverty. Following the screening VSO will lead a panel discussion on the subject of is education the key to development?

VSO are supporting this year's Take One Action film festival which explores global citizenship. Full details, including how to book tickets, can be found at  http://www.takeoneaction.org.uk

I Am Because We Are

Set in Malawi, produced and narrated by Madonna this film explores the meaning of dignity in a culture torn apart by poverty and HIV. Following the main screenings, VSO will lead a panel discussion, which explores the role and responsibility of documentary filmmakers and the developing world they choose to explore. Panelists will include Charles McGhee; former editor of the Herald, Alan Smith; Head of VSO’s work on HIV & Aids, Agnes Holmes; the Africa Centre

Caroline Pitcairn and Jonathan Ssentamu both volunteered in Malawi, where they met - Caroline as an education development facilitator and Jonathan as an HIV/Aids coordinator. Caroline is from Edinburgh and Jonathan is Ugandan. They will talk about their postings in Malawi and the difference in attitudes and expectations between South/South and the more traditional North/South volunteering model.

Feel free to bring nibbles and something to drink.

Anne Thomson an RV says: "I have written a book about being a VSO in Zambia between Oct 2000 and Mar 2003. It's published by Librario and is called Wash My Bikini (an aide memoire given to me when I was trying to learn the local language. The word for Good Morning in Bemba is Washmibukeeni.) My royalties from sales of the book are going to VSO and Jonathan Dimbleby has written the foreword to it. It will be launched at Blackwell's, South Bridge, Edinburgh on Thursday 30th July at 6.30 when Susie Darcy has agreed to do the introduction.

We have booked a benefit night at the Stand and I am in possession of the tickets - the deal is we get the ticket proceeds. We will be in touch nearer the time about selling tickets, doing the door, raffle prizes etc.

Fundraiser for VSO organised by Rachel Campbell who is going to work abroad with VSO later this year. The concert will be held in:
Hyndland Church (main Sanctuary), 79-81 Hyndland Road, Glasgow, G12 9JE on Friday 12th June at 8pm.

Music from Limelight Concert - they play music from Broadway classics, West end hit shows, Scottish and Irish songs, some comedy and a few items from light opera.

Contact: rachelmarycampbell@hotmail.com

As part of the current VSO campaign "Help Women Help the World" we will be holding an evening looking at some of the issues presented in the book "Miss Chopsticks".

We can also get involved in some of the actions suggested in the VSO action pack at:

http://www.vso.org.uk/get_involved/Issues_and_Campaigns/help-women/index.asp

As it's a Friday evening, we thought we'd order some food in to make it more of a social event. So even if you don't get round to reading the book come along and join in.

The Fourth Edinburgh World Justice Festival (EWJF) will run from 18th - 31st May 2009. All events are FREE (except the festival gig starring Dave Rovics and Attila the Stockbroker) and all are open to everyone. The festival is run voluntarily by local people and gathers together diverse campaigns and groups under the common value of seeking justice for all, rather than for a privileged few, which will undoubtedly strike a chord with many people this year as the effects of this economic downturn become increasingly apparent.

The EWJF is now in its fourth year, having been inspired by the Make Poverty History demonstrations and the G8 alternative conference. In light of the economic crisis in which we find ourselves, millions of people are demonstrating across the globe for a better world. The EWJF seeks to offer the people of Edinburgh a platform through which to gather together, share ideas and work towards positive change in our own communities and as global citizens in this troubled world.

Events include music, film, discussions and presentations, as well as an all day bookfair offering talks and performances from local musicians throughout the day. The EWJF seeks to enable people to engage with justice issues at varying levels, covering issues such as climate change, fair trade, human rights and international development.

Jennifer Purves was a volunteer in Ethiopia training teachers returning to the UK last year. She will be talking about what she did and showing some slides.

I expect we will be drinking drinks and nibbling nibbles.

To get to Dense's/Nick's - we are just off London Road in Abbeyhill colonies. Coming from town get to the first busstop on London Road after Easter Road . You will see a wee cafe called Bumbles. Go down the steps next to the cafe and no. 29 is on the right two thirds the way down.

The AGM comes round but once a year (hence the word annual) so it would be a shame to miss the once every 52 weeks opportunity to come along, talk about what we've done, what we're going to do, how you might like to get involved (no obligation), see Richard's fine abode and eat crisps. When was the last time you had the offer of such a top Tuesday night out?

It would be great to see some of the people who have been along to pub nights, to come and say what kind of thing they would be interested in..

Bring a couple of nibbles and something to drink.    

VSO London and VSO Scotland are looking into the possibility of bringing the supporter groups from across Scotland together to discuss how to develop the network of groups. It has been suggested that the event could be held in Edinburgh and we could offer an evening event and accommodation if needed.

Watch this space for further details. 

VSO and Amnesty Scotland are joint supporting the showing of the film War Child at the Edinburgh Filmhouse. As it is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights look out for other films on around this time to mark the occasion.

Do come along to see an amazing film about an amazing person, Emmanuel Jal. (Fiona saw it during the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008, and will be going to see it again - it's that good!). We will have having an information stall before the film, and there will be a short discussion afterwards, led by Amnesty and VSO.

It might be a good idea to check availability of tickets at the Edinburgh Filmhouse http://www.filmhousecinema.com/ and get tickets in advance as it is likely to be popular with the general public.

About The Film: (from http://www.warchildmovie.com/ )
“War Child, an award-winning documentary directed by C. Karim Chrobog, chronicles the tumultuous, shocking, inspiring, and ultimately hopeful odyssey of Emmanuel Jal. A former child soldier of Sudan's brutal civil war, he is now an emerging international hip hop star sharing a message of peace for his war-torn land and beloved Africa.”

Thank you Fiona for organising this event.

Thanks to Shona Harper for organising the  Christmas Dinner on Tuesday 9 December at Chop Chop on Morrison Street. A table has been booked for 7.30pm.
 
The Christmas banquet is £19.50 per person. (if you want to see what you get, go to http://www.chop-chop.co.uk/christmas_banquet.htm)
 
We have been asked to pay a £5 per person deposit (preferably by the end of the month.) Please get in touch with Shona to book your place and to arrange where to send your deposit. (She'd like to give as accurate a number as possible for the booking by the end of the month, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to come.) Please also let me know if you're vegetarian so we can make sure there are enough dishes for you!
 
Any questions or queries, please let her know!
 

Denise Horn has been in touch with Linknet Mentoring and Drummond High School about the proposed project to involve a small group of RVs to  get together 3 or 4 times with the ultimate aim of producing an exhibition of photographs. They are now putting together a joint funding bid. We hope to hold the first meeting in November.

Details to follow.

Because of the difficulties the Global Xchange Group had with people arriving late to join the project, they have had to rearrange their programme and will not be around the weekend of the 24th. Apologies.

We will therefore go back to the original VSO model and encourage people to organise their own events ie invite friends round for a curry and ask them to donate to VSO.

This does not have to be next weekend - anytime in October or November would be great.

Feel free to invite people from the group if you'd like to. You can do that through me or by starting a discussion.

For more details and ideas go to http://curry.vso.org.uk/

Richard Ellis was a volunteer in Libya in the 1960s. Will Bryson has recently returned from Tanzania. Come and hear what's changed and what hasn't!

You are welcome to bring something to drink and possibly some nibbles if you happen to be passing a shop.

Tom Harrison has been appointed by VSO London to carry out a consultation on the role of VSO in Scotland.Come along and have your say.

Please let me know if you're thinking of coming as I might have to book a different room if there are more than 15 people.

This event has been cancelled - sorry for any inconvenience

VSO's latest campaign is entitled "Women Matter". Many women in developing countries can't ask their husbands to wear a condom. Even if they know he's been unfaithful. Even if they suspect he's HIV positive. If they insist, they risk being abandoned, beaten or raped.

VSO is asking people to take action now to help millions of women worldwide who are affected by HIV and AIDS because of violence and discrimination.

Come along and find out more about the issues and take some action.

Elspeth has kindly offered to mark Shrove Tuesday with a pancake or two.

The Children of Songea Trust are hosting a Burns Supper at 7pm on Sunday 3rd of February at Fenwicks Restaurant on Sailsbury Place.

The three course supper will have traditional or vegetarian haggis on the menu, and the starter and pudding are suitable for veggies.

It promises to be a cosy night! If you would like to come along please visit the web site for tickets www.childrenofsongea.org.uk or contact me directly linny103@hotmail.com

Hope some of you can make it!

Caroline

Yes that's right we are breaking new ground by having an RV talk on a Saturday night! Can you believe it!

Felicity Harwood is going to talk about her experiences of teacher training in Mozambique.

We might well go out for a drink and something to eat afterwards.

A lovely night out, good food, good company, and it's bring your own bottle!

If you would like to come along please email Elspeth.

5.30pm – 8pm
Enjoy an evening of African food and music at the Counting House and help launch the Children of Songea Trust Christmas Gift Cards. This is a great opportunity to help support children and families in Tanzania by purchasing these unique gifts for your friends and family.

£5 per person (kids are welcome for free!) If you would like to come along please email us at childrenofsongea.org.uk to book

Not a lecture. Not a workshop. Not a formal discussion group.

It's a chance to find out more about a topic that's in the news. Some people might know lots. Some might know (or think they know) next to nothing. Come and share what you know and fill the gaps in what you don't.

The topic for discussion is Darfur. What's the background? Who's involved? What's going to happen?

I know everyone is capable of googling Darfur but to get you going you could try:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5316306.stm

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/podcasts/2007/09/audio_julian_borger_on_darfur.html

Sarah Ward soon to be VSO has organised an 80s disco at:

The Grange Club, Portgower Place, Stockbridge,

on Saturday 17th November 2007.

Tickets £7.00.

email: vso80sdisco@yahoo.co.uk

Meet at the Edinburgh Filmhouse to see the film Bamako, and get together afterwards in the Filmhouse bar.

Bamako (Mali/USA/France 2006) is a rich film about poverty, exploitation and desperation. Full of colour, music and vitality, it combines gripping drama and sharp satire to create an inspirational, often humorous and sometimes moving insight into contemporary Africa. To find out more about the film or the Africa in Motion Film Festival visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk

To book tickets, visit Filmhouse in person or call the Filmhouse box office on 0131 228 2688.

The Children of Songea Trust will be hosting its annual ceilidh at the Corn Exchange on October 27th at 7.30pm.

The Trust aims to improve the life chances of children affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. We aim to have 200 people at this year's event, and would love to see an RV table there! Put it in your diary and bring along your friends!

EVENT SOLD OUT!!

www.childrenofsongea.org.uk

Caroline Mathers

At the AGM it was decided that Quarterly Planning Meetings (June, September, November) would be held at the Volunteer Centre. The ones in July, August, October, December will be more informal updates of ongoing plans held in the pub before the pub night.

.

So come along and get involved in the group in a big or small way. Have your say about what we should be doing and how we should be doing it.

Robert was a volunteer in Kenya and has been back in Edinburgh for a couple of years - so he's not a new returnee! However, he never got around to doing an RV talk when he got back but he has kindly offered to tell us about his expereince in Kenya now. Robert returns to Kenya regularly so will have a lot of interesting stories about how things have changed at the project he volunteered at.

Buses 7 & 11 stop very close to Robert's flat. Black close door, Muir on the buzzer.

Bar-B-Q on Sunday 2nd September from 3pm to 7pm at 2/2 King Street. Entrance to the communal garden / parking area is up steps from Mill Lane.
Joan will supply some general food (e.g. salad, bread rolls, marshmallows and choc biscuits) and two disposable Bar-B-Qs, one for meat and another veg - so that people can cook what they bring with them.
If possible could you send Joan an email by Monday 27th August to say that you are thinking of coming

frasertharby@macunlimited.net

Telephone:  0131 - 553 - 1728 0r 0114 - 266 - 0004.

Elspeth Mackay will organise a social event during the festival.

This is in the idea stage so if anyone comes across a really interesting event in August that might be of interest to the group, let Elspeth know!

More details on this in the near future.

Join the Scottish African Party! Jumpin' live bands that will go straight to your feet (apparently!), great DJ's, lots of dancing, drummers, African food and special guests. Cost £5/7.

If anyone is interested in a fun night of African music, food and dance please come along! A few of us will meet at the City Cafe (Hunter's Square) at 9pm then go to on the Bongo Club. Everyone is welcome to this impromptu night out; hope to see you there!

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=98982007

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=220202007

Alan Grey will be giving a RV talk about his experiences in Uganda.

 Log on to the Website to get details of how to get there..

best wishes

Jane Hislop

On Saturday 10th March 2007, thousands of people across the UK will be cooking, snacking, tasting and chatting as they get together to share a meal for VSO's fourth Big Curry Night.

Whether you're a curry novice or a spice connoisseur, this year, it is even easier to join in the fun with even more delicious recipes and our new look recipe and fundraising pack.

You will find details of this event on the VSO website: http://www.vso.org.uk/bigcurrynight/