United Kingdom

In the UK development awareness is the area of our work which promotes public knowledge and understanding of development issues. It’s no good if we spend our time, energy and money working with vulnerable communities overseas, if no-one understands why we do it.

International Service believes that ‘development’ is a process that helps individuals and communities to grow, support themselves, and become able to act and make decisions that change or guide their lives for the better.

We use a range of vibrant projects, activities and events to promote development awareness. Our Human Rights Awards, Same Difference arts project, Better by the Year project and Study Tours help everyone - children and adults throughout the UK, and those working in specialist sectors or professions - understand more about:

• the role that all individuals play on a day-to-day basis, and how our actions have an impact on the world around us
• what ‘development’ and ‘reducing poverty’ mean, and what the opportunities and challenges are
• how all human beings throughout the world are connected, and how failure to reduce global poverty levels will have serious consequences for us all
• international efforts being made to reduce poverty and promote development such as International Service’s overseas work and the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals

Although progress is happening around the world, further progress is affordable, achievable, and – above all - vital.