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For Dunoon Grammar School in Scotland, international volunteering has evolved from a single extra-curricular initiative into a core pillar of their community engagement strategy. The program’s success, now encompassing annual cohorts, is rooted in a 2022 IVHQ placement that redefined the high school’s approach to developing global citizens.
Teacher-Led Inspiration: How an Initial IVHQ Placement Scaled to a School-Wide Program
The story began in 2022 when Christopher Barrett, an Additional Support Needs (ASN) Assistant at Dunoon Grammar, embarked on an IVHQ volunteering trip to Ghana. Spending three weeks supporting childcare and teaching, Chris experienced first-hand the impact of cultural immersion and hands-on service.
Inspired by the personal growth he experienced, Chris returned to Scotland to offer international volunteering as an extra-curricular activity. His mission: to encourage and challenge pupils to engage with different cultures while experiencing the rewards of helping others.
Expanding Global Horizons: Annual Group Trips to Tanzania & Sri Lanka
Following Chris’s initial proposal, Dunoon Grammar partnered with IVHQ to launch its first group trip.
- The 2023 Tanzania Cohort: In February 2023, Chris and his colleagues accompanied 17 pupils to Arusha, Tanzania. Students worked across diverse projects, including Construction, Sustainable Agriculture and Childcare, tailored to their unique interests.
- The 2024 - 2025 Expansion: Following the 2023 success, the school returned to Tanzania with a group of 18 pupils. To prepare, the cohort took part in extensive fundraising and team-building activities, alongside specific pre-departure training to ensure they were ready for the challenge.
- The Sri Lanka Connection: Building on the Tanzania model, the program expanded to Sri Lanka in 2026, supporting construction and childcare projects.
I want our pupils to become well-rounded, global citizens who appreciate their own lives and have empathy and an awareness of people and communities who may be less fortunate. Christopher Barrett
The Community Ripple Effect
The impact of Chris’s initial inspiration has now moved beyond the classroom. Having heard the stories from returning students, the wider Dunoon community wanted to be involved.
For the first time, a group of 20 parents and caregivers from the wider school community will travel to Tanzania to share the experience the students had, strengthening the relationship between Dunoon and the people of Arusha.
In March 2026, Dunoon Grammar will host a visit from their Tanzania partners covering the costs for local teachers to visit Scotland and share their culture - a true “full circle” moment for the project.
The Dunoon journey proves that a single inspired staff member can have a profound impact on the culture of an entire school. Through the support of IVHQ, Dunoon Grammar has moved from one solo trip in Ghana to a sustainable, community-wide global partnership.
