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Join the mapping revolution today! Whether you have a spare hour for humanitarian e-Volunteering, want to attend a Wisdom Workshop, or want to dive deep on an in-Country deployment, join our mailing list today by clicking here. Do you see value in our cause and align with our values of Respect, Curiosity, Volunteerism, and Sustainability? Email us at vcsp@fig.net to start the conversation to support as a partner, or donate now. If you are not a young surveyor, we are sure you have plenty to offer and even learn. We are always looking for Mentors to provide guidance and coaching to our Volunteer Community Surveyors. To apply to be a VCS Mentor click here and please join our mailing list.
The Volunteer Community Surveyor Program (VCSP) is a collaborative global outreach program for FIG Young Surveyors to volunteer their time and skills to humanitarian and environmental causes. We Map the World a Better Place: we bring our combined global energy into the fight for two of the most important issues our generation are facing today: climate crises and lack of equal access to land rights. The VCSP is the signature outreach program of the FIG Young Surveyor Network (YSN), providing young surveyors the opportunity to volunteer and grow by sharing their valued skills with communities globally. The VCSP is inspired by the conviction that volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges worldwide. Every Young Surveyor can become a Volunteer Community Surveyor (VCS) by contributing their time, skills and knowledge through volunteerism. Their combined efforts can be a significant force for achieving development on the ground. Being a VCS can be both challenging and rewarding because it requires the young surveyor to use their skills in a new context. The young surveyor will be challenged to transfer useful knowledge and contribute at the community level while gaining a greater understanding of the issues affecting these communities that are often marginalised and vulnerable. Meanwhile growing personally through experiencing different customs.
If you are a Young Surveyor you might also be interested in the FIG Young Surveyors Network. FIG Young Surveyors Network creates an environment that encourages the active participation of young surveyors in the work of FIG, as well as its 10 commissions. You can read more here.
There are parts of our globe that are not mapped, plastics littering our oceans, vulnerable communities that have no recorded rights to their lands, and countries still recovering years after natural disasters, which are increasing in frequency. At the same time, there is a network of skilled young surveyors who are able to help. The VCSP is the link between the needy and the able for all things surveying. The world today has approximately 70% undocumented land worldwide, increasingly devastating wildfires, cyclones, droughts, floods and sea level rise as we see the first effects of climate change, and rapid urbanization. At the root of these is increasing competition over land - our most precious limited resource. Addressing issues around the management and use of land at global, regional, country and city/municipal level is indeed one of the major challenges of our times, both in regard to addressing poverty issues as well as sustainability issues. Land related issues include unequal access to land and other natural resources, unsustainable land use, insecurity of tenure, weak institutions to resolve conflict, dysfunctional land markets and institutions, and inefficient and inappropriate land administration systems. With the help of FIG Young Surveyors Network, surveyors of all generations have an opportunity to give back to society for self-development, exposure and experience. Surveying is a modern profession with history into ancient times. The VCSP is a powerful driver for both social impact and professional development.
The VCSP is a holistic program, designed with a three-pronged approach that brings together different ways that Volunteer Community Surveyors can make a difference for humanitarian and environmental causes.
Wisdom WorkshopsWisdom Workshops are held one-to-two times per year, and are an opportunity for Young Surveyors who are interested in applying for an in-Country deployment and/or gaining humanitarian surveying skills to meet, network and hear from industry leaders as well as learn useful technical skills. Wisdom Workshops are a great way for Young Surveyors to get hands-on experience with the tools that VCSP Partners use as well as a unique opportunity to meet peers from around the world and form collaborations and professional relationships. in-Country Deploymentsin-Country deployments offer Young Surveyors the opportunity to become Volunteer Community Surveyors (VCSs), spending time immersed within a community for up to six weeks. During this time, they work with one of the VCSP Partner organisations (such as GLTN or Cadasta) supporting land administration efforts. This is a chance to apply their skills and knowledge while gaining important professional experience and a unique cultural experience. All VCSs are supported by the VCSP in-Country Team and by an individually-assigned Mentor for their deployment. in-Country deployments happen one-to-two times per year, with locations varying according to VCSP arrangements with partner organisations. Join our mailing list to stay up to date with these opportunities as they arise. e-Volunteeringe-Volunteering provides an accessible entry point for young surveyors interested in volunteering, and commitment requirements will be flexible depending on the volunteer’s availability. e-Volunteering is the term we give to programs and projects that involve online volunteering, providing FIG YSN members an opportunity to volunteer their time for humanitarian and environmental efforts. e-Volunteering events are held several times a year, often as mapathons, and are a great way for those who cannot spare time off work or away from their family, to be able to stay connected to a global network of like-minded people. Knowledge PortalIn order for the VCSP to sustain through time, sharing lessons and knowledge is vital. The Knowledge Portal is an online platform that Young Surveyors, Volunteer Community Surveyors, VCS Mentors, VCSP Partners and VCSP members can log in to before, during, and after a project. The in-Country programs will make use of, and add to, the Knowledge Portal. The Knowledge Portal is being developed and is planned for release in 2024.
FIG Volunteer Community Surveyor Program
Great soils: Past Core Team members who continue to support the strategic direction of the VCSP
FIG Publication 82: Mapping the World a Better Place: The FIG's Volunteer Community Surveyor Programme (VCSP)
Read more about the publication
If you’re an organisation or business and feel that the VCSP values and initiatives align with yours, we welcome your support. We are open to opportunities to partner for Wisdom Workshops, e-Volunteering events and in-Country deployments, as well as financial and other donations to help us to achieve our goals. We have four partnership types - a VCSP Partner can be one, or a few of these types. All partners will benefit from the FIG, FIG Young Surveyors Network and FIG VCSP brands, which are recognised by tens of thousands of people across many countries across the world. Partner brands and/or products will get particular exposure to young surveyors around the globe or in particular areas of interest.
Funding PartnerFunding Partners provide funding to the VCSP as a whole or in part, and using different funding models. Technology PartnerTechnology Partners provide technical resources and expertise to the VCSP - for example, many projects within the VCSP require fit-for-purpose technology solutions and/or donations of equipment, where these partners bring their expertise. Knowledge PartnerKnowledge Partners act as technical support, experts, and advisers. They support the VCSP through verifying and supporting knowledge transfer in deployments and e-volunteering events or providing expertise for Wisdom Workshops and the Knowledge Portal. Opportunity PartnerOpportunities Partners act as a link to opportunities and often act as the main deployment organization in an in-Country program, and are experienced in deploying volunteers in their regions. In terms of e-Volunteering, Opportunity Partners would be experienced in running online-volunteering. For Wisdom Workshops, these partners could be professional industry or academic institutes. The VCSP Team will work with their Opportunity Partners to identify projects, define scope, choose appropriate volunteers/presenters, then coordinate insurance, flights, and accommodation or workshops.
Join the mapping revolution today! Whether you have a spare hour for humanitarian e-Volunteering, want to attend a Wisdom Workshop, or want to dive deep on an in-Country deployment, join our mailing list today by clicking here, and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Do you see value in our cause and align with our values of Respect, Curiosity, Volunteerism, and Sustainability? Email us at vcsp@fig.net to start the conversation to support as a partner, or donate now. If you are not a young surveyor, we are sure you have plenty to offer and even learn. We are always looking for Mentors to provide guidance and coaching to our Volunteer Community Surveyors. To apply to be a VCS Mentor click here and please join our mailing list.
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