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In 2009 and 2010 I spent 22 months working with VSO in Ethiopia. I was placed in the town of Gondar, in the northwest of the country as a volunteer physiotherapist at the University of Gondar Hospital.

I went with professional skills and experience but needed the local knowledge and skills of my Ethiopian colleagues to make the placement a success. Together we developed the existing physiotherapy services, delivered the undergraduate training programme and developed new services within the physiotherapy department.

A highlight of my placement was the development of a therapeutic exercise class for adults living with HIV, designed to help improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. I taught my colleagues how to use the up to date clinical evidence to put the class together and they taught me how best to promote and conduct it in a culturally sensitive manner. They helped me to write a promotion leaflet and translate it into the local Amharic language and together we led a lively and busy class three times each week.

This is a small example of how VSO uses volunteers to work collaboratively with local colleagues to bring about change and help reduce poverty and inequality. 

My challenge is to complete one event per month throughout 2014. I plan to run, swim and cycle my way throughout the year through a series of 5km and 10km runs, a half marathon, three triathlons and two open- water swims! 

I am not a natural athlete so please cheer me on by helping me support the valuable work that VSO is doing throughout the world.

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