Vocational Training Teams
Vocational Training Teams
VTTs have been described as the successors to Group Study Exchange (GSE), although that is not strictly accurate - they are a significant development of Rotary's international commitment. There are several ways in which a VTT can be formed to undertake a project. The most common is for a VTT of one leader, a Rotarian, and four members, not all Rotarians, to travel to a part of the developing world in which a need has been identified, which their professional and vocational skills will be able to address, and where they will achieve identifiable and sustainable outcomes for the benefit of the community they visit. GSE Teams have normally been young professionals; the age band for VTTs is much wider and recently retired professionals have been useful and productive contributors.
A VTT usually comprises professionals of the same vocation - education and medical are common, but they could be engineers, environmentalists or economists. For example, VTTs have worked energetically to raise standards of teaching in black African primary schools and to improve post-maternal care in India.
Two Rotary Clubs and their Districts are involved in a VTT visit. One club (the host partner) is located in the area to where the VTT will travel and the second club (the international partner) is, in our case, a club located in RI District 1170. The International partner recruits the VTT and arranges their transport; the Host partner manages and supports them during their visit.
VTTs are funded by Rotary Foundation Global Grants although both partner clubs and Districts contribute funds.
Recruiting, forming and managing a VTT to represent their vocation and Rotary, and enabling them to deliver a service to people who desperately need it, is probably one of the most fulfilling international commitments in which Rotarians can participate. If your club would like to explore and discuss the possibility of supporting a VTT (as they say, without obligation!),
