We offer placements for adults to learn through action, serving the young and the poor while living and working alongside Salesian communities around the world.
Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA) is a volunteer group of the Salesians. It offers opportunities to adults (18+) to live and work with Salesian communities around the world, assisting in their work with young people while experiencing life outside of the UK. Placements last between one month and two years.
The work BOVA volunteers offer varies depending on the needs of the host community and the skills of the volunteer. Previous volunteers have assisted in schools, vocational training centres, office work and administration, youth centres and residential centres, coached sport, led music, taught maths, ICT (computers) and English.
Most importantly, they have been present with young people. BOVA does not charge a ’placement fee’ as we are not aiming to make a profit out of volunteers. However, we cannot afford to make a loss either, so volunteers are not paid and are expected to cover the cost of their training (two training weekends), flights, insurance, visas and so on. The host community usually provides food, lodgings and work.
Where do BOVA Volunteers go?
The Salesians work in over 130 countries — all around the world. So far, BOVA volunteers have lived and worked with host communities in Bolivia, Ghana, India, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya, Azerbaijan, the Solomon Islands, Swaziland, El Salvador and Nigeria …and the list continues to grow. Please note that BOVA aims to match volunteers to communities’ needs, so cannot guarantee a placement in a particular country.
