READ explains the difference between a successful and unsuccessful placement.

READ International was set up by gap year students in 2003 who were shocked by the lack of resources in East Africa. On their return to the UK, they made it their mission to collect as many books as possible and distribute them to schools in Tanzania. Six years on, they're hoping to take their project global. Here is their story about responding to volunteers who apply through Do-it.

Successful placement

This volunteer approached us because she was attracted to not only the concept of READ but also the opportunity to work abroad, particularly in East Africa.

We spoke to her within two days of her application through Do-it and sent her an information pack on volunteering with READ. We followed this up with a short email explaining what to do next if she did decide to volunteer with us.

We always like to make sure that the opportunity is suited to the volunteer, so after she returned the application form we had a further discussion and organised a face-to-face meeting. This was done to make sure we covered everything there is to know about the placement and answer any questions or worries that she might have had about the trip. We believe it's important to give volunteers lots of support before they start their opportunity, so sent a more detailed description of the project.

The placement involved working in the Lini region with four other students from the UK. Six weeks would be spent working with local education officials to deliver resources to 200 schools in the region, the rest of the time would be allocated to working on a library refurbishment in a local school.

We met once again before she left to answer any last-minute questions, I also put her in touch with other volunteers with whom she'd be working alongside.

The placement is going very well for her and she has already expressed an interest in volunteering for READ when she returns home, so I will put her in touch with the necessary people at the end of her placement.

We are really pleased with the way this placement worked out and look forward to working with her again when she returns to the UK.

Unsuccessful placement

This volunteer applied to be a READ Project Leader for our Book Project.

We contacted them within two days of receiving their application to discuss what the opportunity involved and what they wished to gain from it. Unfortunately, they were unsuitable for this opportunity because they were in full-time employment – one of the specifications is that they are a university student.

However, I did talk about the other ways they could get involved with the Book Project as a regular volunteer. I explained that they could help out with the project on a flexible basis, rather than a Project Leader, and encouraged them to organise their own events. I also offered to provide them with all of the information and resources they would need to do this.