International Citizen Service (ICS), is funded by the UK government and a scheme led by VSO, in partnership with a number of respected development organisations

12-week volunteering overseas opportunities open to all 18-25 year olds, funded by the UK Government. All costs for the placement will be completely covered as the scheme is funded by the UK Government; ICS cover all of your costs and provide a living allowance.

For more information and to apply, please visit the International Citizens Service website.

I graduated from University of Birmingham in July 2016 with a First Class Honours in International Relations. All the way through my university years I had been enjoying my course and I knew I had made the right decision to study IR at University of Birmingham. Being passionate about world politics and International Development, and carrying a relatively great amount of academic knowledge gained during my 2 years at university, I applied for the International Citizen Service programme after the 2nd year to gain more real-life experience and to see how International Development works on the ground.

ICS showed me that International Development is a slow and gradual process requiring inspirational and enthusiastic people. After three months of voluntary work in Nigeria, I felt inspired and made a decision to do my best to work with one of the ten International Development organisations delivering the ICS programme. International Service is one of them and I could not be happier to be a part of this wonderful organisation. I started work a couple of days after my graduation and immediately felt like part of the team.

I am an ICS Recruitment and Communications Coordinator, and I have been enjoying work since the day I started. I am grateful to my university and the ICS programme for helping me getting where I am now. Ieva Vysniauskaite, Recruitment and Communications Coordinator, ICS