About Us

The Diaspora Volunteering Alliance brings together UK organisations with a common interest in engaging and sending Diaspora volunteers to support projects in their countries and continents of origin.

Diaspora

We recognises that what is, or who are the Diaspora, is very much a contested concept. As a working definition, features of diaspora groups include:self-definition – those who see themselves as part of the Diaspora. Diaspora is not synonymous with being black or an ethnic minority, as people who are in this group do not see themselves as Diaspora.  Also some Diaspora are not visible minorities (for example, white South Africans) 

• de-territoriality – those who have current or distant origins in a country other than the UK

• homogeneity  – they must be a group or organisation not individuals. However the group is again not synonymous with race or ethnicity for example, you can have Asian diaspora from East Africa

• hybridity – those who have emotional, family or financial links with country or continent of origin.