Since 1995, BRIF has been welcoming skilled volunteers from around the world for periods of 2 months - 1 year as part of our long-term volunteer programme. So far, we have welcomed male and female volunteers from Australia, Bangladesh, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Hawai'i (USA), India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, South Korea and the USA.

Volunteers have an amazing opportunity to learn much about themselves and the Bangladesh situation by living and experiencing life with local communities. BRIF believes that every Bangladesh community can benefit from the practical and skill-based contributions of volunteers and the experience of dynamic interaction with a volunteer; sharing friendships, ideas, culture and experiences.

Volunteering is a mutually beneficial experience. By working together and sharing skills, placements and activities, the goals of community development are achieved. And by living together and sharing friendships, knowledge and ideas, cultural understanding is valued and developed. We believe volunteering develops the individual volunteer, the host organization, and the local and global community.

To find out more about long-term volunteering with BRIF just click on the links below:

"I'm here at BRIF for six months as a career break, after deciding I wanted to try something new and see more of the world. And so far, it's been an amazing, eye-opening, fascinating experience that is so much more than I'd imagined it would be. BRIF have helped me to get involved in a wide variety of things, from learning about development work and immersing myself in rural culture, to distributing aid during the floods and having nights out in Dhaka. It was a difficult decision to leave my job and volunteer in Bangladesh, but now I'm sure it was the best decision I've made."

"Once I'd decided to volunteer with VSO in Bangladesh my next key decision was choosing the right organisation. BRIF is a dynamic and open organisation that has a real desire to improve both its environment and itself. This positive attitude towards change is essential for the work I'm doing on strategic planning, management skills, monitoring and evaluation and overall organisational effectiveness. This is without doubt the most challenging experience of my life so far, both personally and professionally, but the rewards are even greater as my web site will testify!"

"I've absolutely loved my time volunteering at BRIF. I was thoroughly immersed in Bangladesh culture and learnt many wonderful things from all my Bangladeshi friends. I enjoyed visiting the BRIF projects and participating in the non-formal primary education program and the disabled rehabilitation project. I assisted Habib in the BRIF Head Office and also assisted with the development of the Volunteer programme. I have had an amazing experience!"

"Myself and my partner Bill volunteered with BRIF for 4 months. During my time with BRIF I worked on researching and writing a report looking at the future work of BRIF in five different villages. I enjoyed visiting the villages and conducting interviews with the men, women and children. We also participated in an eye-camp in Joldhaka. I really felt that I was useful at this camp, despite my lack of Bangla!"

"Bangladesh and my volunteering in BRIF was a page of my life full of many different things. Happiness, sadness, experiences, landscapes, sunsets, rickshaws, friends, NGO work, awareness of social problems, smiles of farmers, moments shared with BRIF staff and so much more. Thanks to all the BRIF staff, I found there some real friends!"