Edinburgh Global Partnerships
Encyclopedia
Edinburgh Global Partnerships, or EGP, is a student-run charity based at the University of Edinburgh
that aims to assist in community-led sustainable development
overseas. It was founded as H.E.L.P. (Scotland) in May 1990 as a student society and subsequently also as a registered charity by a philosophy student Benjamin Carey; the acronym 'HELP' stood for "Humanitarian Education & Long-term Projects".
The projects, which range from HIV/AIDS education
to school expansion and infrastructure development, take place in the summer months during student holidays. None of the projects are conceived by EGP; rather they are proposed by indigenous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and accepted according to criteria set by EGP. The rationale is that the work conducted by volunteers will be more relevant and useful to the host community.
The academic year is used to train volunteers and to raise funds for the projects. Volunteers also participate in a Community Links project, located in Scotland
, which involves work such as conservation and/or helping those living with HIV
.
EGP's stated goals are:
EGP are part of the Student Volunteering Overseas Partnership (SVOP) along with InterVol, based in Birmingham and Nottingham; Oxford Development Abroad (ODA); Student Volunteering Abroad, Glasgow (SVA) and Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad (BVDA).
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
that aims to assist in community-led sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
overseas. It was founded as H.E.L.P. (Scotland) in May 1990 as a student society and subsequently also as a registered charity by a philosophy student Benjamin Carey; the acronym 'HELP' stood for "Humanitarian Education & Long-term Projects".
The projects, which range from HIV/AIDS education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
to school expansion and infrastructure development, take place in the summer months during student holidays. None of the projects are conceived by EGP; rather they are proposed by indigenous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and accepted according to criteria set by EGP. The rationale is that the work conducted by volunteers will be more relevant and useful to the host community.
The academic year is used to train volunteers and to raise funds for the projects. Volunteers also participate in a Community Links project, located in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, which involves work such as conservation and/or helping those living with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
EGP's stated goals are:
- To support community led initiatives, working together with people to help them achieve their sustainable goals for development.
- Allow students to develop new skills and a wider perspective on the world we live in.
- To promote international understanding through projects that are focussed on building friendship, trust and respect between EGP volunteers and people across the world.
EGP are part of the Student Volunteering Overseas Partnership (SVOP) along with InterVol, based in Birmingham and Nottingham; Oxford Development Abroad (ODA); Student Volunteering Abroad, Glasgow (SVA) and Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad (BVDA).