A group of 18-25 year olds yesterday embarked on an innovative new volunteering scheme, Platform2.

It is aimed at raising awareness of global development and voluntary work amongst young British adults who would not normally be able to afford the opportunity to volunteer overseas.

Organised by Christian Aid, BUNAC and Islamic Relief, the three-year scheme, funded by the Department for International Development, will allow 2,500 participants to experience the realities of overseas development work in countries including Ghana, South Africa, Peru, India and Malawi.

A 10-week placement will see the volunteers living and working alongside communities on a range of projects including conservation and income generation for local communities, and health and sanitation training with schools.

On their return to the UK participants will attend a three day residential workshop where they will design personal activity plans to share their experiences and raise awareness of development issues within their own communities.

Mark Vyner, Platform2 project manager said: 'These young adults are about to have an experience which will transform the rest of their lives.

'Not only will it give them a chance to learn about, and get involved in, the issues that shape their world, we hope they will learn new skills and unlock the potential within them to be better global citizens.'

The first two groups are heading for Africa, 8 to Ghana and 10 to South Africa.

In Ghana they will visit the Afadjato Agumatasa Project, a five-hour drive from the capital Accra.

They will work to conserve the natural resources at Mount Afadjato, help create alternative income generation schemes for the local population, including encouraging eco-tourism, and manage sustainable use of the conservation area.

Activities will include landscaping the visitor centre, creating a plant nursery, clearing fire belts, tree planting and developing the campsite.

Daniel Stone, 18, from Handsworth in Birmingham, one of the volunteers going to Ghana said: 'I already possess the desire to help people reach their full potential and I simply want to make a difference.

'All year I have been looking for an opportunity to volunteer abroad, but have been astonished by the costs.

'Hearing about Platform 2 renewed my hope that I could reach this goal. At the moment I feel that my view of the world is so narrow and that there is so much for me to learn and experience.'

The group going to South Africa will stay at the False Bay Ecology Park and Environmental Centre located next to Rondevlei Nature Reserve, 40 kilometers from Cape Town.

False Bay Ecology Park has a unique and varied biodiversity and is particularly rich in birdlife.

The volunteers will help make the park one of the leading conservation, environmental education, recreation, and ecotourism centres in the country.

The park offers amazing opportunities to provide recreation, social and economic upliftment and environmental education to a large population of low income residents on its doorstep.

The volunteers will work alongside staff members and local volunteers to help construct a camp area and adventure playground for local kids.

Both projects will see volunteers spending at least half a day a week working with local schools and communities on health and sanitation education and activities such as football training, English teaching, drama or music.

Meeting the volunteers last night at the House of Commons, Minister for International Development, Shahid Malik, said: 'It has been a pleasure to meet the volunteers before they start their placements. By taking part in the Platform2 scheme, not only are they contributing to the positive work of international development in Ghana and South Africa, they will also bring the skills they have learnt to positively impact on their local communities, back in the UK.

'I am sure they will return to the UK full of wonderful memories of their time spent working overseas and a new perspective on their lives back home. I look forward to hearing all about it on their return.'

For more information on Platform2, or to apply, visit www.myplatform2.com

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For further press information contact Karen Hedges, Christian Aid press office on 020 7523 2404 or Pippa Ranger at DFID on 020 7023 1607.

Notes to editor

Platform2 empowers 18-25 year olds in the UK to make a real difference to the lives of those in poor countries, through volunteering abroad and raising awareness of development issues back home.

It benefits the individual taking part as it gives these young volunteers the opportunity to use their skills, talents and creativity in the host nation and highlight development issues on their return.

Volunteers will spend 10 weeks in developing countries such as Ghana, South Africa and Peru at no financial cost to them, as this scheme is funded by the Department for International Development.

Platform2 is a global volunteering experience from the Department for International Development and run by Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC.

Find out more about Platform2 at www.myplatform2.com