VSA 2011/2012 2.38

VSA is run by the 4th year medical students of NUI, Galway. Founded in 1977 by Galway doctor Dom Colbert, the organisation raises funds for healthcare facilities in developing countries. One key principle of VSA is that all our volunteers fund their own travel and accommodation expenses. This allows all our funds to be used to help our partner hospitals and clinics. Where possible, we aim to spend money locally, boosting the local economy and cutting down on transport costs.

To date, VSA has sent more than 450 medical students as healthcare volunteers to , Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, The Philippines, Belize, Vietnam, India, Ecuador and Peru.

Fundraising activities take place right throughout the year, and all of the money raised goes directly towards developing and supporting medical services in the developing world.