Nairobi I was in Nairobi for meetings with colleagues from the Philippines, Ireland, the Netherlands, the US, London, and Kenya itself. Following a few days of work based in the office and in the hotel we actually got a change to go out and see programmes! It's always a highlight for me to see for myself the work that VSO is engaged in, and to meet our partner organisations and volunteers. It's a great reminder for me of why we at VSO, and for me personally, do...

Following the meeting in Delhi, 3 of us headed to Pakistan to meet our colleagues and partners there and hear about proposed re-emerging work. Geographically it's a relatively short journey from India to Pakistan, and a possible direct route from Delhi to Lahore by plane and bus, but given the political and security situation we were advised to fly - west to Dubai and then back east to Lahore, so began a bit of a mammoth journey. I arrived at 3am, and was plea...

It's Saturday night at London's Heathrow and readying for the overnight flight to Delhi and the rendezvous with colleagues. We were all set to see programmes for a couple of days before a meeting at the end of the week in Delhi. A quick stop in Delhi and then we flew on to Raipur in the state of Chhattisgarh, and after an overnight stop we travelled 260km and 6 hours on a bumpy road to our destination, the town of Bhawanipatnam in Kalahandi district - Odisha ...

I left London on a lovely early autumn Sunday afternoon, bound for Malawi, to see our work and meet the team and volunteers. This time I was with my soon-to-be Chairman. It’s always good to see the little VSO sign at the airport when you arrive in a country for the first time especially after an overnight flight I feel. And then off to the office to get a briefing on the health, education, and livelihoods work going on in Malawi. A few striking facts and stat...

Back in San Francisco, the destination last year from New York with Amtrak. This time it was having travelled on Route 1 and through Big Sur from LA by car. Beautiful road and longed to be on a bike doing some of it. Stayed in Mission this time and liked the 'gritty' neighbourhood. A few days of coffee shops and bike shops and a great ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and ferry back from Sausalito. Visited the actual Mission too, one of the 21 which were establi...